I don't mean to argue against your methods, but you missed the point there. Learning to drive a manual isn't an alternative method to learning how to ride a motorbike, but it's about as effective as the theory that learning how to control a manual ATV would ensure success on learning how to ride a bike. It's the experience on two wheels, balance, steering and counter steering, thottle control, and dodging traffic that makes the different. With dirtbikes, you learn most of it except dodging traffic and harnessing incredible speed. Any idiot can eventually learn to shift and twist the thottle, it takes no brain power. And nothing you learn from before will guarantee safe riding except saddle time.