Update: I finally got my cousin out for his 1st ride... I 1st took him to an open area where he could learn and practise some basic skills, example what to do when you don't make it up the hill climb, how to cross wet logs, proper balance, keeping your feet on the pegs, etc. while he was practicing, I was playing on some of the hill climbs, 2nd and 3rd gear wheelies up the hills. To me its nothing big, but to him it looked like a 12 story building... he stated my bike can't go up there... so of course I had to take his bike up all the hills he swore his bike could not make... We then hit the trails.. He did very well especially considering we've had a lot of rain, and the puddles were often and deep... I tried to pick the "easier" trails. Making sure he followed my tire tracks. He picked it up very quickly. We came to an area where the quads and utv's like to wallow in the mud. I rode along a few trees and was able to miss the deep water. He asked can I go through that...
sure give it a shot... the puddle was only 3 feet wide, but 2+ feet deep... when the front tire disappeared under the water, he panicked and hit the gas, shooting the bike 15 ft down the trail, while he was sprawled out just beyond the water hole.... I fell over from laughing too hard... the look on his face was "priceless".
As far as the bike, the TTR was the right choice. It's docile enough to where he can handle the terrain, but still has enough power to have some fun.
The one thing he found is that riding bikes is very demanding on the body. I'm sure he had a death grip on the bars, (even after I kept telling him to relax) he was also squeezing the tank with his legs. He was physically spent in a short amount of time... At the end of the ride, he said, I'm hooked... I haven't had this much fun in a long time... I had given him an old pair of MX boots and pants to wear, he has since purchased 2 sets of pants, and jerseys... Yep, I'd say he's hooked.
Next on the list is to get him on a smoker... although my 300 scared the chit out of him...
