Why I am still so nervous?

[EvilScooby]

Now that I have my first street bike. got tons of protective gear. I still feel nervous when I am riding?

I have been riding around my town for the past 3 weeks and want to venture out further. But I am still chicken.

Do any other newbies have the same problem as me?
Maybe its cause I am older and not as adventurous as I once was.
40 with 3 kids keeps me on my toes

[RoundBall]

:mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:
dont ride  

[Pragmatic]

This is my first year as well.

I commute to work now but I still don't feel comfortable.  I don't know how you experienced riders feel on the bike but I'm constantly in "Red Alert" mode.  Checking the road ahead, looking for potholes (particularly nasty here in Winnipeg), etc.

Unfortunately there is a practical part of me that doesn't enjoy driving the bike but I have made it a plan to beat that part of me to death.  I do this by leaving at 15 minutes early for work and watching the sunrise as I take the long way there.

So I guess I'm trying to say enjoy driving the bike where you feel comfortable.

[jakers the 1]

I stayed in town for the first 500 or so miles , and once I felt comfy in traffic, I reached out from there and have since put 2,500 additional on in about 3 weeks . Man is it a great thing to be out of the cage on the open road.
                                     
ALWAYS RED ALERT ANWAY, best thing you can ever do, never let your gaurd down, take the MSF, it's the best thing for riders, I've done mine and I'm going back to take the experienced riders section ASAP. Have fun most importantly.

RIDE HARD!
RIDE SAFE!
HAVE FUN!
PARTS ARE PARTS, SOME ARE REPLACEABLE.

P.S. I just did 300 miles last night(   20 hours of light   ).

[EvilScooby]

I dont mind the traffic as much as going over 55-60 on the back roads that scares me. too many bumps.
The GS500's suspension jsut doesn't seem too steady at 55+

Maybe its just me, I need more practice. One of these days I will venture out and drive it to work

[EvilScooby]

:mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:
dont ride  

Thanks for the boost of confidence :nana:

[mp_3eb_tool]

Just be confident in your abilities.  View every other vehicle/object in and out of the road as a possible danger.  Make sure you are ready for the worse possible scenario and will be able to react to it if it happens.  If you're lack of confidence is specific, work on those aspects of your riding.  Practice braking in a parking lot, practice your turning etc.  Practice makes perfect and if you aren't confident with your ability to control the bike, you don't have complete control of the bike.  I have only been riding since December and, like all riders, have had many people not notice me but, I am always waiting for them to try to change into my lane or make that left in front of me so, I have had almost no close calls b/c I realize how stupid people are, and I compensate for their stupidity(big SUV w/ cell phone and mascara etc.).

[dublinjail]

Every now and then at around 75 to 80mph I'll think to myself Damn I hope my tire doesn't blow. Or- I'm screwed if a deer hops out right now- or that idiot is so close to my ass what a Buddha Loves You it would be to get hit.
i think it's inevitable to have a thought or two during every ride. In the msf class my instructor bascially said if you go down or get hit it's your own fault. Meaning you should be in Red Alert mode at all times because your better off safe than really sorry.

[Laura]

Have you only been riding for 3 weeks? Still being nervous after 3 weeks of riding on the streets seems pretty reasonable to me.  I think I was nervous every time I went out for  a lot longer than that. It's good to be hyper-vigilant. Are you nervous the entire time you are riding, or just nervous before you start riding? How many miles have you put in? As long as you aren't so nervous that you aren't enjoying it, I'd just keep going out regularly without. Maybe when you are ready to go out farther and faster, plan your route out first and drive it first in your car, just to make sure the roads seem good, and that you know your way.

Laura

[johncam4]

BEING NERVOUS AND CONSTANTLY ALERT IS GOOD....YOU NEVER WANT TO BE TOO COMFORTABLE CAUSE THATS WHEN YOU LET YOUR GUARD DOWN. :kiss: GOING FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF TRAFIC HELPS ME CAUSE ALL THE CARS ARE COMING TOWARD ME NOT FROM BEHIND.

[mp183]

I was run into twice.  That is what dropped twice means.  Most of your problems will be around town.  I feel more comfortable going into Manhattan and driving in Manhattan than I do around my town.  The SUV crowd does not fear for their personal safety in their monster vehicles.  They are constantly on their phones.  They are distracted by the kids they are driving around.  You will find that you  will eventualy let your guard down around you nighborhood and that is where you will get nailed.  But a little fear is good.  I am constantly on red alert.  That is what it takes to stay safe.  If I was not constantly on red alert I would be eating taxi bumper for lunch.  Good luck.

[EvilScooby]

Have you only been riding for 3 weeks? Still being nervous after 3 weeks of riding on the streets seems pretty reasonable to me.

Yes, I have been street riding for jsut about 3 weeks now. put on about 500 miles, jsut driving around my little country town.
I was a very daring dirt bike rider in my younger days, had no fear of anything. But street riding is very different

I am very confident riding at normal city speeds.
I do get nervous at speeds over 55+, and also when some jerk gets right on my tail when I am doing the speed limit. But I am sure thats everyones fear.

Today I went out pretty far. Staying on back roads. Went out on a back hiway, but when the speed limit went up to 55 it does seem a little intimidating, especially with some of the manhole covers and small bumps in the road.


But I am getting more and more confident

[Cincy]

EvilScooby,

I still get nervous and have only been riding a week on my own bike after taking the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course.  (If  you haven't taken this course, I can't say enough nice things about)  Anyway, I try to stay very aware of what is going on around me and have only ventured about 5 miles away from home.  My plan is to continue to learn and get accustomed to driving in the real world on some country road prior to heading into town.

By the way, my instructors warned the whole class to worry about getting over confident with our abilities... so nerves are a good thing.  

Enjoy.

[chimivee]

Just keep riding and it'll all be good.  I got physically ill the first few times I rode form being so nervous... but that was more around city streets.

Try an extended trip.  You don't have to go far if you don't want to, but take a few hours and go through a good tank of gas or so.  Stop once in a while to walk around.  Get something to drink.  But keep riding.

I think by being on the bike longer you reach a point in the ride where you feel very comfortable and confident and really enjoy it.  With short rides, you don't have enough time to get past the nervousness, and then it "resets" back to zero the next time your ride.  By ending the last ride w/ more confidence, you start the next ride with more confidence.

[SmoothDave]

Yeah, EvilScooby, I'm with you.  I've got 6 weeks under my belt now, and tomorrow, one of my buddies is coming by on his sportbike.  We are riding 50 miles up the interstate for the Thunder in the Valley motorcycle rally.  We picked the last day to go up because we figured there won't be as many people for me to crash into.  I'm nervous.  50 miles of interstate.  Then crowded streets full of thousands of bikes.



Smooth Dave

[EvilScooby]

SmoothDave, that sounds like fun, and I know what you mean by riding on the interstate. I am not allowed on the interstate yet, still have my temps, plus wife would freak out on me, she bought me all this joe rocket gear, hmmm   maybe she does love me after all

[Zarathustra]

being nervous is ok, because that means you're taking responcibility for what you're doing, and you know that it is dangerous.  it's commendable that you're taking these precautions, especially with kids at home.  however, if you're scared to be on the highway, and going fast, that that means you need to practice up more, and make sure you're comforable with what you're doing.  you should never feel complacent, but feeling confident, and conplacent are two different things.  so, all i can say is that 3 weeks is not a long time to be on a bike.  practice up, get comfortable, and don't do anything you're not ready for.  being a good motorcyclist, and feeling good about what you're doing is not a goal you have to race to; so just make sure you're good to go.  i didn't want to get on the highways around minneapolis for a long time, longer than 3 weeks.  so no shame in that at all.  keep on biking, and the more miles you get on, the more comfortable you'll get, and the more ready you'll feel.  just never feel complacent.

[Piper5177]

Take your time.  You don't have to be Valentino Rossi.  Everyone adjusts differently.  BTW the GS can handle speeds above 55.  On stock suspension 80 is doable with confidence.  Have faith in yourself and the machine and build up gradually.  Happy riding.  Congrats on the GS, good choice.

[The Buddha]

Big Snip... their stupidity(big SUV w/ cell phone and mascara etc.).

Often at the same time... mascara and cell phone.    Very funny... sounds like a blond joke waiting to happen :mrgreen: . Anyway How is the bike man, and you too.
Cool.
Srinath.

[pantablo]

ES,
take your time and gain confidence slowly. I was fearful for months when I started. Every now and again until recently I found myself getting a little nervous but with the new bike I've gained heaps of confidence again, like my learning curve started anew.

Good luck and keep pushing your comfort level slowly to gain confidence.