[Bluejeans]

Okay...I'm having a bad day. Day 7 on the new bike.

I dropped my bike on the first day, turning right from an stand still on an uphill slope. I know what I did wrong and I've learned from the mistake. After that, I've had a great week of riding every day, through traffic, along quiet roads, and a whole host of other situations. And done well. I was proud.

I went out this morning for a nice mid-morning ride. All went well and I had a great ride. Then I made a sharp right into the driveway (which is dirt and gravel) and I dropped the bike again. I wasn't hurt and this time, neither was the bike. I fell in soft dirt and it was fine...but it shook my confidence. Bad.

I was nervous all day after that. Everytime I round a corner, I panic! I found myself turning way too wide when I try to turn onto streets. Particularly right turns. I was sitting here at my desk around 5:00 this evening, thinking about going out for a last ride of the evening, and I was actually feeling afraid of my bike! What is wrong with me? Is this normal?

I went for that final ride, but I was very uptight so I cut it short and came home. Help! I gotta get over this.

 

[Madura]

Get back up on that horse and ride. I had bad jitters for a long time. When you get to feeling your bike, learning what it's doing under you, you'll be more comfortable and then develope skill. I honestly think that the first 6 months is like just trying not to die. From there it's skill development.

But then, I'm a newbie.

 

[Louis]

I'm a newbie too. Relax before you go riding, think positive. Go slow at a pace your confident. Get back on that saddle girl! 8)

 

[Va bene]

Okay...I'm having a bad day...I dropped the bike again...I was actually feeling afraid of my bike! What is wrong with me? Is this normal?

...Help! I gotta get over this.

Hang in there girl! You are doing great. I mean it. Gravel is a lot more squirrely than pavement. Don't get discouraged.

I had a similar bad experience (although mine happened the first time I dropped it). I started to wonder what the heck I was doing. Turns and cornering which had been fine were suddenly scary. I was afraid to go slow as I might drop the bike and afraid to go fast because I might shoot out into the other lane or into a ditch.

What I did that helped was go to a parking lot with a hill and practiced like crazy. I was struggling with tight uphill turns from a stopped position so that's what I did -- over and over until I got it. I took another rider with me to help and correct me. In the beginning, he stood right by me as I took off and tried to turn. The idea was that if I couldn't keep the bike up, he could help. Since I was just starting off it would have worked. I never needed his help but it helped my mental state to have him there.

After I got that, then I practiced figure 8s and tight turns. I practiced turning with and without turning the forks. Basically I just tried to drill all the right stuff into my head so it would be more second nature.

I know it sounds elementary but it worked for me. The drilling was a confidence builder.

BTW, all the stuff you've done in 7 days is amazing! I didn't ride my bike home from the dealer -- you kick butt! Now go be that Savage rider that you are!

 

[Uncle Bob]

Just go back to square one and practice the low speed drills until you get your confidence back.

 

[shumanrog]

Been there, Done that!

Been there, done that. I found that even though I was enjoying the rides I was pushing too hard and it was becoming a task instead of a treet. Take your time. You have years of good riding ahead of you, relax. I was like you when I first got my bike. I felt like I had to be out riding every day or evening. Its great practice and learning for a newbe but riding fatigue sets in even if you don't realize it. I felt "guilty" if I wasn't out riding when I had waited so long to get the bike and go riding. Once I had the bike I felt "guilty" if I wasn't riding it. Take your time , relax and enjoy. It'll come to you. Good luck and stay safe.

 

[maniacmedia]

One Mainer to another... sit back, have a whoopie pie, think about how good life is. Then, jump on the Savage and enjoy it. The only way to truly rebuild confidence in yourself with anything is by doing.

You've had two mishaps. The first, both you and the bike sustained some sort of injury. In the second, both you and the bike were fine. Who says there will ever be a third? Seems to me that you're improving, otherwise the outcome of the second would have been closer in tone to the first.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Bluejeans]

Thanks guys (and gals)...all the pep talk really helps. I did ride again yesterday after the fall, but like I said, I was nervous. Today, starting fresh in a new day was a little better.

I'm headed over to the town hall later today (because they're closed) and use the parking lot for slow turn drills and figure 8's.

I appreciate all the words of encouragement. I'm gonna get over this...

And shumanrog, you nailed it... I have to let myself take some time off. I've been riding everyday, whether I have anywhere to go or not. Sometimes I go out two or three times a day. Today, after the parking lot drills, I'm gonna give it a rest and spend some time with my family. Maybe a break is what I need.

Y'all are the best!

...And I gotta lay off the whoopie pies or I'll exceed the payload on my bike! The unwritten law is, Thou shalt not weigh more than thy motorcycle.

 

[bhamon]

...And I gotta lay off the whoopie pies or I'll exceed the payload on my bike! The unwritten law is, Thou shalt not weigh more than thy motorcycle.

Don't worry about it, you can always buy a bigger bike!

 

[andys2k]

Well there is always CC rider in California. A Motrocycle safety course tha tI took even thoguh I knew how to ride. I am sure stufff like that is avalible in other states too. I am not saying I will never fall, but that course helpmed me a lot with certain emergency manuevars and how to make turns etc... Getting tips from Pro's and having them ride in front of you to how you how much to lean, how much to turn and where to look is priceless.

 

[bsteff]

Confidence

I am 55 years old and hadn't ridden since 1972 ( when I was 23). Got a Volusia in August 2003 and promptly dropped it a week later while turning at very low speed, because the front wheel went into sand and I lost traction. The instructor at my MSF course said that there are onlyt two types of riders: those who have already dropped a bike and those who will.

Try this site for instruction from the MOTORMAN, Jerry Palladino: http://www.ridelikeapro.com/. This is the BEST I have ever seen or heard. Highly recommended.

To be a student of safe and enjoyable riding, read anything you can get from David Hough. Although I ride a cruiser, I also read stuff from sportbike riders/instructors. You can get all of these things at this site:http://www.whitehorsepress.com/. They have a great selection of books and videos on safe riding and on increasing your riding skills. David Hough writes for "Motorcycle Consumer News"

Gettting this information will enable you to learn from your mistakes and prevent making more mistakes. Experience is a great teacher, but a painful one (I got a chip fracture on the outsideof my left ankle from the above fall. The fact that I am a physician makes it all the more painful, since I knew immediately what I had done to myslef). Better to avoid the mistakes. Thus the admonition to read and get Jerry Palladino's video.

 

[Bluejeans]

bsteff,

Thanks for the links Looks like I'll be stocking up on videos and books for the long Maine winter. By spring, I'll be a pro!

 

[Madura]

bsteff,

Thanks for the links Looks like I'll be stocking up on videos and books for the long Maine winter. By spring, I'll be a pro!

Stabil is your friend. Carb goo is not.