Increasing confidence

[GS Jenn]

Hello all,

I am looking for some suggestions of how to increase my confidence on the bike. I am very new to this, had my licence less than a month, and I'm a cautious personality in general (the slowest snowboarder on the hill, etc). I know taking it slow at first is good, but I am afraid I'm actually taking things too slow... someone's going to hit me because I won't be moving as fast as car drivers expect from a motorcycle. I don't think it ever occurs to drivers that there is such a thing as a beginner motorcyclist!

I am reasonably comfortable in the city but highway speeds, at this time, scare me... and I want to be able to use the bike to get to my work, which involves a long spell of highway.  I am seeking out quiet roads, at quiet times of day, to get more miles without traffic around, and my boyfriend, who is an experienced motorcyclist, comes with me... he'll set me a target speed and instruct me to try to keep up with him, and then gradually increase speed... I can handle up to about 70 kilometres per hour before I start to feel afraid, but I need to be able to go faster than that.

I really do love riding and I want to get over this nervousness... any help appreciated.

[Dwn4whadever]

just take it slow believe me everthing comes in time.I got my bike in Febuary and it was the first time i have ever riden a bike. When i first started riding i thought 40mph was fast. i was kinda scared. But in time it will pass and you will fell better about riding at speed.

[scratch]

Speed tolerance.  You want to build up your speed tolerance.  Hmm...driving with your windows down in your car...go to a video arcade on your motocycle, get in one of those Indianapolis 500 type racing games, for like half an hour, and then ride home.  I'm trying to think of legal ways to increase your tolerance.

[Dwn4whadever]

Lol, I played lots of Racing games in my days and nothing had prepared me for riding. Your just so out in the open. I got hit by a wind gust the other day that made my heart skip a beat. Needs for Speed Most wanted never did that. 

[bargovic]

I just turned 2000 miles on my gs (first bike).  When it was new i thought man its fast, now i cant get on her had enough. 80 used to scare me, and now its just breezy.  I didnt get that used to it ( confident ) by redlining around everywhere, but rather.. some days when i went out it felt like a 4k rpm putter day, and other days just felt like i want to go fast.  So gradually after enough "i feel like going fast" days, i got used to it. 

Im a big fan of riding alot to improve, but its alot more comfortable when your not pushing yourself.  You want to be excited going fast, not worried about all thing things running thru your head.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

4d

[ajgs500]

Practice and..... the only way you will ever get used to it. 

[bbanjo]

Practice and..... the only way you will ever get used to it. 

The man's right. Also, get to know some of the basic mechanicals of your bike (checking fork seals, loose bolts and screws, oil level, chain, and tire pressures) before you go fast and you'll have a very good idea that the controllable  things shouldn't let you down when you do go fast. Just remember that if those things are in order, the bike's absolute top speed won't push ANY of those things to 100% of their tolerances.

Running the thing to the RES level on the fuel (it'll start to buck) and learning to reach to turn the petcock at 30 or 40 MPH will be better than doing it the first time at 100 

[mike_mike]

Parking lot practice. Keep on practicing the basics, until you're beginning to understand the motorcycle.. (i've been riding the GS for about 3000km now and i'm still not quite used to its little quirks so i frequent the parking lot for practice).

I practice in the parking lot and ensure the fundamentals are solidified in my head. I find that the more i practice the BASICS the more i'm able to concenrate on the road/traffic conditions and the more confident i feel. The less you have to worry about your riding skill on the road the more you'll be able to pay attention to everything and anything on the road that one should observe while riding.

(my opinion here)
- I think gear has a lot to do with how you perceive safety while learning riding... if you're riding in running shoes, try riding in boots and see how you feel, see how your shfiting feels,etc.

- Travel on 80km/h roads whenever you can. Ride for an hour or more on 80km/h roads.. with traffic lights. It is good practice for traveling at up to 100km/h, riding with traffic at higher speeds, slowing down from high speeds @ traffic lights. The more you travel on higher speed roads that are NOT restricted access highways the more you'll find your skills improving on limited access highways when you ride on them. I know.. i know, it seems kind of backwards.. how can you improve highway driving, by not riding on the highway? easy, practice on non restricted access 80km/h + roads and learn how to ride at high speed without the hassles of restricted access highways (trucks, many lanes, merging, virtually no room for error, etc.)

[TragicImage]

Practice and..... the only way you will ever get used to it. 

The man's right.

uhhh... you mean "Lady"....


I use the term "Lady" loosely.

[ajgs500]

Practice and..... the only way you will ever get used to it. 

The man's right.

uhhh... you mean "Lady"....


I use the term "Lady" loosely.

You ass!!!

[TragicImage]

it the trueff thou my nukka

[bbq]

And get some good protective gears if you don't already have some.

Wearing the full gear make me feel more confident since I know even if I were to go down, I will still be somewhat "protected". In reality that may not be always true, but mentally it does help to boost my confidence.

[galahs]

I found a huge confidence booster was the realisation of counter steer when taking corners at speed.

My cousin tried to tell me to lean more, but it wasn't till I found out about this concept that I could match his riding. He then thought about it and thought, oh yeah, thats what I do to!

Suddenly corner that were impossible to take became a piece of cake!

Do a google search on counter steering, but it is basically initially pushing the handle bars in the opposite direction than the one you want to take (pushes the bike over alittle), and then you start leaning in the correct direction.

[Queso]

Better to have to build confidence than keep it check I would say. I was out on the road for the first time last Sunday, already I find myself having to keep slowing down cuz I'm doing 70mph in 50 I'm not too keen on getting a ticket my first week on a bike... Full gear definitely helps! First time I putzed around on a bike, I had only a helmet, and wouldn't go past 30mph. Once I got my GS and a full set of gear, it put the idea of death further back in my mind and helped me keep my thoughts on the more important things.

[GS Jenn]

Thanks everyone. It is reasurring to hear that it will come with time and I am not doomed to ride like a little old lady the rest of my life. I already have decent gear... I like the idea of getting more familar with the bike mechanically... and my parking lot sessions have helped a lot so far. Weather permitting I'll be out a lot this weekend, I'll keep you posted!

[domas]

Fear of speed is a good thing It makes your bike feel monster-fast, and keeps you out of trouble. When that fear goes away you will start to go faster and thus be in more risk.

Also try to relax on the bike and dont think about how to control it, just think where you want to go.

[bbanjo]

Practice and..... the only way you will ever get used to it. 

The man's right.

uhhh... you mean "Lady"....



I use the term "Lady" loosely.

I do? Oh, I do......... I think. Yes?

[bbanjo]

Practice and..... the only way you will ever get used to it. 

The man's right.

uhhh... you mean "Lady"....


I use the term "Lady" loosely.

You ass!!!

I guess I missed all of the posts concerning genitalia. For that, I apologize 

I like your avatar............

(quietly backs away from the computer to think of new screen name)

[3imo]

I rode for two years before I took the safety course.  I wrecked twice and made every mistake in the book.
I didn't know how to ride when I bought the bike and did not have biker friends.

Your confidence will build over time. A safety course will be a big boost.

I took the experience rider class, and learned so much about controlling the bike. I mean I was amazed at the difference.

I was braking wrong, turning wrong, doing everything wrong. I practice what I learned all the time, especially keeping my eyes in the proper spot.

now I worry about being over confident. everytime I leave a curve I can't help thinking I should hit it faster and came out faster. Wind gust are no longer a pucker factor, even at 80mph.

All in due time, take a course if you can.. be safe and good luck