[pug]

I road my bike around the parking some in just first gear getting used to the throttle and braking. Which did help but I had to stop after about 10-15 mins because I was just to scared to ride anymore. Maybe in a little bit I can ride some more in the parking lot.

I always feel like I'm the only one that has gone through this.

Also another problem is the apartment parking lot is slanted all over a little bit so I can't really ride on a flat surface.

 

[Clint]

It's "rode". RODE. You rode on the road. Well, on your shiny bike on the road.

That fear will keep you alive later. Just try to relax and remember the fundamentals. Parking lots are actually more difficult than streets because you constantly have to worry about the next turn. Can you find a quiet neighborhood to tool around it?

 

[pug]

Sorry I'm horrible at grammer. I was a computer science major.

There are but I'm scared to even leave the parking lot.

 

[inspiron]

Like Rowdy said, that fear is what will keep you alive later. You need to turn that fear into respect - respect for the power of your bike, respect for the ignorant cagers, respect for surface hazards, etc.

What you should NOT do is let the fear paralyze you! The worst thing that you can do is let the fear turn into panic - you have to keep a cool head, and remember what you learned in your MSF course - look where you want to go, treat the throttle with respect, use the rear brake when moving slowly and both brakes when moving faster, yadda yadda yadda.

If you don't remember what you learned in the MSF, go pick up a copy of Hough's book Proficient Motorcycling and read it. He covers most of the techniques that you need to know.

Hope this helps!

BTW - I was also a Computer Science major, and I've been living in a foreign country for 15 years ... no excuses!

 

[Gixxerdale]

It's like learning to drive a car or ride a bicycle. Time and patience and you will master the SV.

 

[pug]

Thanks for the confidence...

 

[pug]

Road for about another mile or so. (going to start talking about my rides in miles instead of minutes)

This was all in the parking lot and you guys helped me get over the fear some also. I still have it and I'm glad I do but now I feel like I can respect it a lot more. I praticed just stopping and going and also some turn arounds at slow speeds. Which it seems is harder to do on a sportbike cause you need more room to turn around.

 

[Clint]

Road for about another mile or so.

LOL! I guess I'm a lousy teacher.

And its "grammar". :smile:

 

[pug]

Crap I did it again...Dangit

I RODE

 

[Clint]

Which it seems is harder to do on a sportbike cause you need more room to turn around.

Harder than what? Have you ever tried to turn a cruiser?

Your SV turns about as tightly as any bike out there.

 

[Texas Jay]

You need to find a place where you don't have to worry about traffic and there's plenty of open space to practice. Try to find a nearby school or office park and go there on weekends. You can practice everything there (under 30 mph).

Another option is what I did. Near my house, there is a new development and the homes haven't been built yet. There are miles & miles of empty roads with hills, intersections, etc. There is *never* any traffic out there. I practiced in that new neighborhood for six weekends before I went out into normal traffic. After practicing for so long, it was easy getting on the street with the cagers.

Good luck!

 

[pug]

The university is out for X-mas break for a month. Their parking lots are completly empty and there is a road that goes all the way around campus. If I feel safe enough I might try to ride it over there and do that. But getting it there and back will be hard enough.

 

[pug]

Harder than what? Have you ever tried to turn a cruiser?

Your SV turns about as tightly as any bike out there.

I meant at "slow" speeds. Maybe its just me getting used to this.

 

[Freakinout]

I meant at "slow" speeds. Maybe its just me getting used to this.

Its you getting used to it. It takes LOTS and LOTS of practice. keep riding till you have it down as first nature.

 

[Texas Jay]

It will take a while to get it all down. Believe it or not, you'll do it and then you'll relax. I started in October. My first 80 or 100 miles were scary. I was tense and my arms were as straight as boards. Then (at about 100 miles) everything clicked in and I was fine.

I really think riding a motorcycle combines just two simple abilities: 1) you must be able to ride a bicycle, and 2) you must be able to operate a manual transmission. Both of these are easy - when done separately. I've been riding bicycles for 35+ years and handling manual transmissions in cars for 25+ years. But doing them at the same time is challenging. It takes a lot of practice.

I still have occasional problems, but now I'm in control. In that first 100 miles, the bike was in control.

 

[pug]

Sounds just right TexasJay

 

[Gixxerdale]

I've been riding bicycles for 35+ years and handling manual transmissions in cars for 25+ years. But doing them at the same time is challenging. It takes a lot of practice.

I still have occasional problems, but now I'm in control. In that first 100 miles, the bike was in control.

I think having a good reaction time and good coordination also makes getting started in riding a lot easier.Wow, Claims Adjuster that rides! Must be in Property not Auto? :mrgreen:

Oh Clint, I aint dun no roadin two day! :bluethum: Just kidding honest! :gbounce: I knew I should have stayed in school!

 

[Nexus242]

Well not that it be said but I'll say it anyway. If your worried about messing up your bike by dropping it again while riding, your thinking of the wrong thing and should be at home and not on your bike.

If you think your going to ride and ride as smoothly as you did in the MSF class then you will. Remember you look where you want the bike to go and you must THINK that your going to ride smoothly and with confidence or don't get on the bike.

My first time on my bike all I could think of and hear was Donna's voice screaming at us during the MSF class. I remembered her hand signals and the patterns we did over and over and the techniques we practiced over and over and how I did them. I didn't not fear my bike nor did I fear dropping it, I feared getting T-boned but **** happens eh! So Mr Pug you need to draw on the MSF class and focus on what your learned and nothing else while ridding. Just knowing that I passed my MSF class final test gave me the confidence that I was able and capable of riding a motorcycle not to mention that a FHP moto officer was the assistant instructor also grading our final riding test.

So just like Maverick had to let the memory of Goose and the flat spin that killed him go in Top Gun you also must let go of the memory of the dropped bike, get back on it and engage with Iceman and Slider cause they're in deep **** with 5 Mig 28s!!!!! Now engage god damn it!!!!

 

[Va bene]

Pug hang in there. The best advice I can give you is to retain that healthy respect for your bike. The most dangerous time for a new biker is when you think you finally have it figured out and end up relaxing too much. Don't get me wrong, relaxing is good...just remember when the time comes, not to get too confident. You will keep learning for a long time. Have fun and be careful!

 

[pjd]

Practice, practice, practice. Keep at it Pug.

Have you signed up for a riding class yet?