Trail-riding is the latest activity Srey-Yuu has been doing to hone her motorcycle skills, and we do it all on motorcycles most Khmers consider too underpowered or old-fashioned.
🏡 The Cabin Is Vacant 🛎️
We finally finished moving out of the cabin and back into the brick home because we want to free the cabin up for a potential long-term renter or various short-stay visitors. If we can get some grass growing soon we'll be able to offer a mud-free experience for guests during the rainy season, and with that upgrade we can probably list the cabin on AirBnB and not have to worry about potential negative reviews.
🤔 Reliving Childhood Memories 🛵
Now that Srey-Yuu has here own motorbike we have two motorbikes for the family, my vintage SuperCub 90 and her modern SuperCub 50 FI, we have a combined 140cc of combustion, and riding along the old highway path is now one of my favorite things to do with her. I don't know if she enjoys this as much as I do, but it brings back my own childhood memories of riding quadbikes in the forest when I was her age.
She's still a bit nervous on the highway, so the off-road trail that was once a highway is a good place to practice balance, shifting gears, using engine-braking to descend hills, and various other motorbike skills that will serve her well. Despite her moto being only 50cc, 1st gear is extremely low and good for descending, and luckily for her, her legs are long enough to crabwalk the bike in 1st gear up slow hillclimbs.
⤵️ Down We Go ⛰️
There are easier ways down the hill than the middle path full of rocks, but this is now Srey-Yuu's preferred route, I assume because she likes the challenge a bit. It doesn't look that steep in the above GIF, but if the hill was any steeper her she could slide down the hill on her street tires with back brake doing little to slow her down. Getting comfortable off-road first will make road-riding seem a little easier when she's ready to take it on.
With her all-black moto and her black clothing, she's like a ninja on her SuperCub 50. The engine is so quiet that it makes the gearbox seem loud, and when turns the key you can hear the fuel pump pressuring the system, and because it kind of sounds like a robot, I always make robotic movements when she turns on the bike, usually not impressing her with my dad humor.
🛣️ Back Home To ChairWoman Meow 🐈⬛
Although Srey-Yuu doesn't think she's improving, I have noticed how much quicker she does the trail-ride each time, and I also notice she is putting her feet down less and less and using her balance to keep the bike upright. The hardest part right is coming to a somewhat quick stop by downshifting through the gears smoothly and using engine-braking along with the 70% front brake and %30 back brake to come to a complete stop.
We ride without helmets because we only have to hop on the highway for five seconds to get back home after the trail-ride. Lately I've noticed I'm the only one who proposes the idea of riding, so I have decided to put her bike in the house and let her be the one to propose a trail-ride with me. So far it's been more than a week and it hasn't happened yet, so perhaps she doesn't enjoy riding as much as I previously thought.
Either way the main thing is that I don't want to put pressure on her to learn moto skills. Learning how to ride a motorbike is a crucial part of learning how to be independent in Cambodia, and a critical skill for life in the USA where we won't be able to afford a family car nor the petrol and maintenance costs that come along with it. There is a always a cute ChairWoman Meow waiting for us outside when we return from trail-riding, a little icing on the cake at the end of our rides.
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Cabin looks great dude! That bike seems more than adequate as well. It has been nearly 4 years since I last owned a motorbike because it isn't necessary in the metropolis that I live in now although I think I am missing out on a lot of the nature stuff that is 20km out of town or so because I don't own one. I think I'll join the parade of bike ownership once i can secure a longer term visa than I am currently on.
I can understand that, even in Phnom Penh, whose traffic is probably comparable to a mid-sized Vietnamese town, I can spend minutes and minutes just waiting at traffic lights. I've heard it's a bit more difficult to own a moto over there, especially something larger than 125cc. I assume there are some strict laws in relation to engine size and licensing.
without a TRC (residence card) getting a license at all is almost impossible. The police are very reluctant to accept international licenses here but I think this is more to do with them wanting some "tea money" than it is the enforcement of any actual law. Bikes under 50cc do not need a license so most foreigners just putter around on that sort of thing.
I see, well good luck on your motorbike search. If you choose the less complicated route and go with 50cc, I am surprised to say that my daughter's bike is even fast enough for my tastes.
well until I get a longer term visa I have no intention of getting a motorbike. I live in a very urban area so it doesn't make much sense to me to ride a scooter when I can just get a taxi to literally anywhere in the entire city for $1
I noticed the new fixed gear ride, gonna have legs of steel soon.
Wow! Way to go @Srey-Yuu. You learn fast! Just make sure safety first.
I guess kids nowadays are very adventurous and brave too.
Now you have a very excited helping hand @justinparke. Always asking if she can ran errands for you so she can ride her mechanical noble steed.😆😍
Yes, if/when she gets her confidence and skills up to par she could help me so much, even just doing grocery runs would save me several hours a week that I could add to my sleep schedule and start getting close to 8 hours a night 😆😆😆
Soooon, you will have your handsome rest!hahaha😍😍
She needs to practice a lot to build more motor skills and confidence.
Kids learn fast so in ni time she will have that.
She's already learned so much in a short time even if she doesn't realize it yet.
Looks like so much fun! Love reading about your adventures!
I grew up riding three-wheelers in the USA, so it's a bit like reliving my own childhood with my oldest daughter.
That motorcycle looks tough 😲
The SuperCubs, I think, are the most reliable and easy to maintain motos in the world.
Oh My God! Be careful baby!
So far so good, always safety first.
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I do enjoy riding motorbikes with her and teaching her all the skills and safety tips that will keep her confident on the road. Most Cambodian parents just toss the kids the motorbike key and go back to playing cards or drinking, leaving the kid to either crash and get hurt or figure out how to ride, often carelessly and without basic road knowledge.
If you ever visit Cambodia, you are welcome here. Air Asia tickets are cheap, and there are plenty of folks from your country that work in the international English schools here. The pay is good and the cost of living cheap here. I worked with Filipinas in English schools for my first 5 or 6 years here.
I'm still nervous for her, but I hope it goes away in time. You're welcome at our place in Cambodia anytime.