Stick with it, everyone's first attempt sounds rough. Your timing will get better with practice, I promise.

Hang on a sec, the year isn't really the thing that matters most here. It's more about the specific model and what kind of work you're doing. A 2012 manual that's totally beat up and used for rough carpentry is gonna feel way different than a 2024 model made for finish work. I've seen old beaters that cut like butter after a good honing, and brand new ones that chatter like crazy out of the box. Its all about how they've been treated and what you're cutting with them. Just saying, the year alone doesn't tell the full story.

Idk that "save as much of the canopy" part really hit me. I had a similar thing with a big maple where the homeowner just wanted it salvaged for firewood, and taking the time to rig pieces down instead of dropping them saved me a ton of cleanup later.

Honestly, you're saying you "walk away" now, but that $4,000 loss is brutal. How do you actually spot those liability-shifting clauses before things go bad, or do you just have a hard rule against any changes now?

Interesting take. Are you saying someone who learns proper technique and control from day one on a 50 is doomed, or is it more about how long they stay on that bike? I've seen plenty of riders start on 600cc sportbikes and be totally fine three years later because they actually took a class and practiced slow speed maneuvers. But I've also seen dudes on 250s who still ride like they're terrified of leaning. It's usually less about the bike's displacement and more about what the rider does with their brain between rides. What specific bad habits do you think a 50 ton teaches that a 30 ton avoids?