Hey Dad, is that why they call it a suicide shift?

they call it a suicide shift?

Of course my son and his friend were rolling on the ground laughing, after my white knuckle ride of terror.

I started my antique motorcycle for the first time on Sunday. It started right up and so I figred what the heck..go for a ride right? :(

Well a bike this old has a foot operated rocker clutch, and no front brake.

I was OK starting off, and while the clutch was mid way in start gear, everything was hunky dory, then I hit a bump and the shift went into high gear... :umno: I was rocketing along a grass covered right-of-way complete with dips and bumps, at around 45mph.

My son said I had a look of abject terror on my face as I could not get all three activites to stop the bike coordinated in that state of mind...so I opened the compression release and killed the engine.

After a little practice, I started to get the hang of how to operate everything. Now mind you I grew up in a house where my Dad rode the old Indian Motorcycles, and I used to ride dirt bikes...but this was a whole new experience.

I think Alia's helmet rule just came into play 8O

The bike is now quietly resting in the shed until I get the "stones" to try this again.. :?

What a heck of a start to a Sunday :P

And no I was not a-skeered...I was ummm...concerned...

edited to fix the umpteen spelling and grammer errors that Alia found.

Ranger