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
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
dont ride ;)
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.
I stayed in town for the first 500 or so miles :roll: , and once I felt comfy in traffic, I reached out from there and have since put 2,500 additional on in about 3 weeks :P . 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( :) 8) 20 hours of light ;) ).
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
Quote from: RoundBall:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
dont ride ;)
Thanks for the boost of confidence :nana:
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.).
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.
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
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.
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.
Quote from: LauraHave 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
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.
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.
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.
:o
Smooth Dave
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
:thumb:
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.
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.
Quote from: mp_3eb_toolBig 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.
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.
Quote from: EvilScooby...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.
That's funny, I have the opposite problem. I get nervous when I drop below 55mph :lol: . Lately, I've been getting dangerously close to the "10 miles over the speedlimit" rule. If someone is on your tail, move over or get on the throttle and get down the road where you can safely maneuver. Trust no one and treat the cagers like the plague. Always keep an eye on your back for the A**holes who like to get right on top of you.Quote from: EvilScoobyToday 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
Practice and exposure to the highway builds confidence and familiarity. Always try to look down the road for possible hazards so you can react and maneuver around potholes, etc. (or at the very least brace yourself.) Also, definitely keep your distance from the vehicle ahead of you to give you more reaction time and an avenue for escape. Your only nervous because your not comfortable with the situation. Heck, any new situation would make me nervous. Once you overcome it and know how to react to it will it become natural and second nature.
I agree with some of the previous posts in that its OK to be fearful to a certain extent, but you've also got to have faith that you can handle situations that come up. Besides taking the MSF course, read as much as you can about motorcycling. There are couple of good books I would highly recommend: Proficient Motorcycling by David L. Hough, Total Control by Lee Parks, and Ride Hard, Ride Smart by Pat Hahn.
I've only had my GS twin for a month. I'm still getting used to it myself, but I feel more confident having read these books. They ain't cheap, but the first two especially are worth the money and time.
I definately hear you on the 55+ mph issue. My problem isn't so much the speed, but the buffetting I'm getting from the wind and passing trucks.
Quote from: jgl323iMy problem isn't so much the speed, but the buffetting I'm getting from the wind and passing trucks.
getting a windshield of any size, as well as replacing this suspension help with this feeling tremendously. i felt a whole lot better on the highway after i got those things taken care of.
Hi, just purchased a GS500F and have been riding for a week... I found some very useful tips in here. I still get a bit nervous but am loving it. I ride 50km to work and back each day, which helps.
Well I ventured out this morning and did a small cruise on a back road about 50 miles into Southeastern Indiana. I was a little nervous at first but after a few miles into it, I was feeling really good about how I am progressing in the curves and moving over 50+mph
I have learned for me anyway that its seems easier to curve to the left than it is to the right. not sure why, maybe its just me.
But I'm getting there
:thumb:
when i travel trips I like to travel 75 to 80 but i am paranoid that i am going to have a blow out.
overconfidence / lack of concentration is a bad thing. The other day i was coming home from work on one of my favorite stratches of road that i've ridden a thousand times and at speeds much faster than i was going this particular time. I had a bunch of stuff on my mind and lost my concentration for just a couple secs and pretty soon i realize i'm taking this sweeper way too wide and coming dangerously close to a nice big patch of gravel on the the edge of the road. I didn't panic just pushed down harder on the bar and tightened up my turn. I was kicking myself the rest of the way home for losing my concentration. I actually stopped a mile or so down the road and had a smoke and replayed it in my mind and the mistake was all mine.
moral of the story.... it's okay to be nervous, it's okay to e vigilant. I could have learned a hard lesson yesterday, but i utilized what i've learned from MSf andfrom reading and from this site.
ride safe
jake
being underconfident is a huge problem, somedays you just don't have it in you, i don't know why, there's days every turn feels perfect, and other days i seem to mess up every turn, you just have to know when to call it quits for a day, not stop riding, but don't try and lean it over like you usually do, just take it easy, just cause you've taken a turn a ton of times going 65, doesn't mean you can't mess it up going 45,
and evilscooby, something that's been helping me out a lot, is just sticking to the same few roads all the time, i do ride other ones, but if i wanna ride hard, i've got about 3 roads that are my favorite, that i know every single bump and patch of gravel, i used to ride with my friend all the time, we'd mostly just screw around on the highway and what not, and then he accidentally flipped his bike over :dunno: and me not wanting to screw around by myself, i started to spend all my time on back roads, and noticed i wasn't all that smooth at them, so i'm kinda trying to start from a clean slate, i noticed i was riding half way into the turn with my front brake on, that's a bad move, so anyway, yeah, just try to get comfortable with a few of your favorite roads, and any time you wanna try to practice riding, stick on those ones,
One- I had a huge boost in confidence when I upped the suspension. I switched out the rear shock to an '01 Katana, progessive fork springs and a set of radials. The bike was soooo much more commanding.
Also- read some good books. After poking through a couple, I prefer Total Control by Lee Parks. He mentions some interesting concepts about fear and pushing past your fears and finding new safe riding limits. I recommend you read it.
Being nervous is ok- as long as your not nervous about your ability to ride and control your bike. When you become nervous or scared, your brain has certain natural (almost programmed) responses- some of these responses can kill you on on a bike. Look deep into the source of your nervousness and if it lies with you, maybe you should do your kids a favor.
As a long time rider I think you need to stay at orange alert. Red alert for me is no fun. You always need to be on alert for obstacles, cages, gravel, potholes, animals, Etc. scanning the road ahead. You can't let your mind wander and lose concentration, but you've got to have fun. With experience things should come more naturally. At three weeks, riding is still new to you. If you're still not having fun after riding for three months, and you're not feeling any safer out there, motorcycles might not be for you. I do hope you get to the fun zone of biking. :cheers:
Quote from: FlashQuote from: EvilScooby...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.
That's funny, I have the opposite problem. I get nervous when I drop below 55mph :lol: . Lately, I've been getting dangerously close to the "10 miles over the speedlimit" rule. If someone is on your tail, move over or get on the throttle and get down the road where you can safely maneuver. Trust no one and treat the cagers like the plague. Always keep an eye on your back for the A**holes who like to get right on top of you.
Sound's like the way I ride Flash. :thumb: I don't feel so much nervous under 55, just bored. :roll: I've found an indicated 80-85mph is great on the open road. And, with speedo error that puts me about 10 over the 65mph limit. :) I absolutely agree about the cages too. :cheers:
Quotesomedays you just don't have it in you, i don't know why, there's days every turn feels perfect, and other days i seem to mess up every turn, you just have to know when to call it quits for a day, not stop riding, but don't try and lean it over like you usually do, just take it easy, just cause you've taken a turn a ton of times going 65, doesn't mean you can't mess it up going 45,
There are still some days when things just don't feel right, and I end up not going out at all. Then there are days, like this past Saturday, that it seems like a great day for riding, but aren't. I was really excited about going out, but then once I started riding I kept screwing up. Nothing bad happened, but I kept making little mistakes. I have no idea why. Plus it seems like everyone else on the road were driving like morons as well. So I cut my ride short. That was not fun. Most days things go well, but then there are off days. Maybe I was tired. I don't know. I don't know why I'm even sharing this!
Laura
Starting out, it is good to be scared, that's what keeps you alive. But, later you will gain confidence, and no longer be scared, then you will be experienced. It takes awhile. Took me one and a half years to become a knowledgibly decent motorcylist. Patience Grasshopper. There are old riders, and there are bad riders, but there are no old, bad riders. I'm 36 BTW.
Determination and the will to become a better rider will do you well. Pretend you are invisible, that is the key to survival. But suvival is not what riding a motorcycle is all about. It is the enjoyment of the experience. The wind in your hair and the bugs in your teeth...ok, well maybe not. But the freedom and exhiliration you experience is wonderful. As is the sensation of being closer to nature (rushing by you :) ); no doors or windows to seperate you from God's creation. Every bump, rock, car and fellow motorcyclist is in this wonderful interaction we call life. Be apart of it. Keep riding. You'll be fine.
Hey Evil Scooby,
Don't worry, you are right where you should be. Last summer I jumped on my boyfriends F4 for the first ride ever. I had no fear because I didn't understand the things I understand now.
About three months ago I got my GS and have put almost 3000 miles on it.!!!! I have fell over three times sitting still, and wrecked in the mountains three weeks ago going 25mph on a curve and almost got downned by a falling phone or powerline last weekend. NOW, I got butterflies everytime I even think of riding. My hands and legs shake
when I gear up , my breathing gets faster and I break out in a cold sweat. Until I get going anyway. I go through my neighbor hood once or twice to warm up my tires and shake the willies off.
I want to take the class as soon as I can afford it. I hear it is the best thing for a new rider to do. So if you haven't, do it.
My advice: Ride where you are comfortable. When you get the itch to go further then it is time , you just have to pick the safest time to do so. Like a Sunday morning for city and a weekday for mountains. That way there is less traffic for both of those situations.
And as far as speed goes, if you can do the speed limit, you are fine. Speed comes on it's own with time in. BEWARE of riding with others because it is natural to try to keep up even if you don't realize you are doing it.
Good luck and be cautious but have fun.
Well, I'm glad I am not the only one, Just as everyone is saying it takes time.
Sunday I had a great ride, with only one issue: A harley rider came up behind me, I was doing the speed limit 45 and he was right on my tail, I had all my gear on and he had tanktop and shorts on, he starting beeping at me then passed me on a curve, which kinda pissed me off more than scaring me.
But otherwise it was awesome. I found this great stretch of road in SW Indiana that runs about 15 miles with very few cars on it. Its got the curves, hills straights.etc... All the things I need to practice on
Quote from: EvilScoobySunday I had a great ride, with only one issue: A harley rider came up behind me, I was doing the speed limit 45 and he was right on my tail, I had all my gear on and he had tanktop and shorts on, he starting beeping at me then passed me on a curve, which kinda pissed me off more than scaring me.
i'll pass 3 tomorrow for you to even it out :thumb:
Quote from: Zarathustragetting a windshield of any size, as well as replacing this suspension help with this feeling tremendously. i felt a whole lot better on the highway after i got those things taken care of.
I put on a little Givi screen and that does help if I get down behind it. But I can't ride for long crunched over in my aerostich like that.
How difficult is replacing the suspension? So far the most difficult thing I've done to the bike is adjust the rear wheel to get rid of a little brake pad scrap.
Fear is a good thing.... keeps you on your toes.... but you should feel comfortable on your bike before you venture to far out........... for your own safety and others.
Stay Safe :thumb: