Quote:
Originally Posted by South Thai Midget
The reason that I wear flip-flops, all of the time that I'm not dressed for work, is, here in Thailand, it is, for most of the year, too hot to wear jeans, so I wear shorts, all of the time, so; flip-flops.
What do other riders in Thailand (and the tropics in general) wear on their feet for riding?
Probably a question, all by itself.
Is the 2-way changer, that bad an idea, that nobody wants even to discuss it?
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The gear change pedal on the CBR250R has a linkage connecting it to the shaft that comes out of the gearbox.
On the Wave the shaft comes out of the gear box near the foot rest, so the gear change pedal goes straight on the end of it.
Rigging up a fore and aft arrangement for the CBR250R would probably be difficult, and frankly not necessary. It is just a matter of learning to use it the way it is, which is the same as on most other motorcycles these days.
I take it that you are aware that the gear change pattern is different for the two bikes.
For the Wave (and most similar bikes) you press on the front pedal to change up, and press on the back pedal (or lift the front with your toe) to change down. It is what is often called a "4 down" change pattern, with neutral at coming after 1st. If the bike is stopped you can also slip it into neutral from top gear by pressing on the front pedal.
For the CBR250R the pattern is "1 down / 5 up". Neutral is between 1st and 2nd. You press down on the changer to go into first, then you lift it up for the remaining gears. It is easier on your foot if wearing enclosed footwear.
That pattern is fairly much standard these days for "proper" motorcycles. It was not always so. I have ridden bikes with other patterns, and the gear change on the right. The father of a classmate at school had a WW2 surplus army model Indian with a foot clutch and hand change.
You'll find that many on this forum, and no doubt others are motorcycle enthusiasts and ATGATT evangelists, who make a big thing about gear..... and give you a hard time if you don't dress like them.
Sure it can save a bit of skin if you do go down, but it is the last line of defence and only a small part of a big picture regarding risk management on a motorcycle.
In Thailand most people who ride motorcycles do so to get around. What they wear is determined by what they are doing, not by what some zealot says they should be wearing. Most are not traveling all that fast on their little scoots, so when they do have a spill injuries are usually relatively minor, and accepted as normal in the rough and tumble of daily life.
It is up to you to decide what is appropriate for your lifestyle and level of risk.
