It’s much the same with cars back home. I love manuals dearly because you feel like you’re actually driving, however I had to stick with auto simply because of the sheer tedium of driving in stop-start traffic every day. All about trade-offs.

Hey, sounds like you have some bike experience I could benefit from & I’m in the market to buy a new one. Are you interested in giving me some feedback on a few local models? If so, I’d love if you could contact me through my website (so neither of us have to publish our email address here).

PS – she’ll improve.

I just hope that people don’t assume that because the bike is an automatic that it is easy to ride. I think that it is easier to start riding, but there is still a great learning curve. While I am in stop and go traffic, I am happy that I don’t have to deal with a clutch. But I sure miss the clutch when I am making tight turns.

Thanks, for you input.

I think you’re a little biased due to the recent crash of a loved one. There’s nothing wrong with autos, and in fact, in some ways they are safer. My auto accelerates faster off the lights than the surrounding manuals, and picks the right gear quickly when I need it, allowing me to accelerate out of danger fast. My brakes are well maintained and very effective. I use the front brake at all times, and the rear for stability and extra power when needed. If you train yourself to think “right-hand stop/go” then you don’t have issues with instinctively accelerating when in trouble.

I’ve seen enough girls struggling with gear changes, all the while reducing their attention to the traffic, to know that a “bike” is dangerous regardless of it’s variety. For many people, having too many things to think about on the road is the real problem. A manual introduces more things. On an auto one can focus on your surroundings, a very important factor in Saigon.

Bottom line – learn how to ride whatever you choose. No disrespect, but your wife’s accident was a result of inexperience, inability or both, not the bike.