Confidence drop??

[justsomeguy]

Hiya - :spudwave:

Any of you'll experienced a stage where you felt a drop in your confidence levels??

I learnt to ride in Dec04 and have been riding regularly since late Jan, done bout 35K's of mostly weekend rides since then.

Suddenly I can't ride. I wasn't that great to begin with but now I'm having problems with the absolute basics..... I was a lot more efficient 6 months ago.....:argh:

What did you guys/gals do to get out of your rut??:scratch:

JSG

[Riff Raff]

Yeah mate I've lost a lot of confidence since my bin - and my biggest fear at the moment is not actually about riding, but that I might hurt myself and not be able to complete my qualification. I think once I've got that out the way I will start feeling a lot happier. I was riding like a complete nana at the trackday until I had that session as pillion with WT. After that I had more confidence about leaning my bike over and going a bit faster into the corners. Work out what is worrying you with your riding and work on correcting that. I'm sure your confidence will return.

[SixPackBack]

Hiya - :spudwave:

Any of you'll experienced a stage where you felt a drop in your confidence levels??

I learnt to ride in Dec04 and have been riding regularly since late Jan, done bout 35K's of mostly weekend rides since then.

Suddenly I can't ride. I wasn't that great to begin with but now I'm having problems with the absolute basics..... I was a lot more efficient 6 months ago.....:argh:

What did you guys/gals do to get out of your rut??:scratch:

JSG

:baby: :baby: :baby:

[justsomeguy]

Yeah mate I've lost a lot of confidence since my bin - and my biggest fear at the moment is not actually about riding, but that I might hurt myself and not be able to complete my qualification. I think once I've got that out the way I will start feeling a lot happier. I was riding like a complete nana at the trackday until I had that session as pillion with WT. After that I had more confidence about leaning my bike over and going a bit faster into the corners. Work out what is worrying you with your riding and work on correcting that. I'm sure your confidence will return.

Cheers RR

I know I can lean further and ride harder (done it before several times) - but for some reason I can't seem to do it:stupid: ........

My fall actually made me more confident - I now LOVE riding in the rain. I was fastest at the session where it rained yesterday - I even remember passing a few people........:laugh:

[justsomeguy]

:baby: :baby: :baby:

Yeah Andy I love you too. Come on, don't ya have any pearls of wisdom??

[Coyote]

Only out on the road because of the cagers, dodgy roads and plastic tyres. The track is different

[Pathos]

Please click one of the Quick Reply icons in the posts above to activate Quick Reply.

[bugjuice]

you can ride..??

[Zapf]

should have taped up ur speedo! :)

[HDTboy]

Just ride the fuckin thing. You've done more Ks than me, been riding longer, have the same bike, and crashed fewer times.

What's stopping you from being a better rider than me?

[Gremlin]

You also have days where everything goes completely wrong, everything feels weird etc etc.

Time... it will all eventually come back. After my offs, I was over-cautious, seeing and imagining huge danger in ridiculous places...

[RiderInBlack]

Your probably just about to make a brake-through. It's not that your riding has got worse (you only think you were better but you didn't have the experience at the time to know that),it's just you are just starting to realise just how much you need to learn. This is the point you have just enough riding experience to know that your riding lacks skills but not enough knowledge to know what you need to improve. Relax and let it come. Hold your lines, don't do any silly moves and it flow. I ride like shit when I second guest myself (very dangerious if it happens in a corner), but if I just chill the flow soon comes back.

[SlowHand]

His front brakes - connect them back up!
And the lack of fairings affecting aerodynamics.
The cure - sell the fucking bike and give up. Pick it up when your manhood is back. Oh, and get a watch with an alarm....

[WINJA]

look at the bike check your tyres and preasures , get a second opinion on the bike b4 you think its a lack of confidence, have you had an eye test , do you need sleep?

[NhuanH]

you need more strength. Go spend some time at the YMCA, with Maurice. Dover can hook you up.

With Maurice behind ya, you'll be riding real fast buoy...

[Marmoot]

look at the bike check your tyres and preasures , get a second opinion on the bike b4 you think its a lack of confidence, have you had an eye test , do you need sleep?

true wot he said.
Inflating my tyres usually helps.

Unless if it is caused by accidents (or witnessing an accident)

[Str8 Jacket]

I had a couple of accidents within a month of each other a while back. The first accident being a write-off. After the second accident I started to think that "someone" was trying to tell me something and for about a week started making plans to sell the bike etc etc.
Anyway, long story short I have found that taking things reeeaally slowly by not going out for a ride if your not feeling a bit off (mentally and physically). I also found that riding familiar roads over and over again by myself really helped. why I say by yourself is that its just you and your bike, no one to keep up with absolutely no pressure..... you'll find that it'll just come back to you.

[The_Dover]

you need more strength. Go spend some time at the YMCA, with Maurice. Dover can hook you up.

With Maurice behind ya, you'll be riding real fast buoy...

Fuck, you'd think Nuanh was on commision for promoting my stable of man whores!:stoogie:

JSG, just button off when you feel you're riding like shite. Wish I'd taken my own advice a few times! But you will find days where you go out after a good nights sleep, the weather is fine, you know your scooter is in fine fettle and you are mentally focused. Then give it tits and you'll see that it's just a feeling.:ride:

You can't have gotten any shitter anyway!! :tugger:

[NhuanH]

Fuck, you'd think Nuanh was on commision for promoting my stable of man whores!:stoogie:
I don't even need to collect my commission in cash...

[avgas]

I actually had a dead spot in my motorcycling life when i hated them (11-13), this just came down to a fear thing cos i had crashed too often.
Just sit on the bike in the gargage, rev it a bit in there, and each day go for a short ride (longer each day) - the confidence will slowly come back.

[Macktheknife]

JSG, most riders feel a bit like that after a bin, dont let it worry you. I learned from a good friend that one good way of restoring your confidence is to go back to BASICS, preferably in a carpark somewhere and do your slow speed handling skills for an hour or so. Then do medium speed, then go find your favourite piece of road and do a ride on that just focussing on the basics you have just been practicing. This helps you to remind yourself of how much you have learned and freshens the skills a bit. Another idea is you can do a medium speed test on your favourite road, note down the time and set your self a MAX speed limit on that run (eg.110km), without increasing your MAX speed limit how much time can you take off your run time? This makes it all about skill improvement not speed. Hope this helps,
Mack

[The Stranger]

What do you mean?
I saw you doing about 180 down the back strait.

[Teflon]

Hiya - :spudwave:

Any of you'll experienced a stage where you felt a drop in your confidence levels??

I learnt to ride in Dec04 and have been riding regularly since late Jan, done bout 35K's of mostly weekend rides since then.

Suddenly I can't ride. I wasn't that great to begin with but now I'm having problems with the absolute basics..... I was a lot more efficient 6 months ago.....:argh:

What did you guys/gals do to get out of your rut??:scratch:

JSG

Yes, when i lowsided and came close to going over a cliff. i'm still only riding around half the pace i use to ride, even slower on the Raglan road where it happend.

Have you played with the suspension on the CBR?.

I'm finding the TL difficult to ride compared to the VTR, you could be having the same sort of trouble.

[stevedee]

Mate I think everyone gets this on occasion. Make sure when you ride you are in ride mode, not thinking of work mode, argument with girlfriend mode or I ain't got no money mode.

I rode a few weeks ago after having a particularly shit week at work, I did all things I never do. I stopped at Upper Hutt for a coffee with a mate and then rode home. It's been around 30 years since I started riding but that day I was a learner again. I gave it a rest for a while, thought about the dumb arse things I did, (braking hard with the front in the rain pitched over, going way to deep in to corners, undertaking, ignoring the white lines in the light rain that was falling...) and now I am back to normal. I did find a carpark and rode around a bit, and I did get out the good old "Proficient Motorcycling" book and read a bit. Good things take time. Don't sweat it to much.

spd:-)

[Oakie]

Your probably just about to make a brake-through. It's not that your riding has got worse (you only think you were better but you didn't have the experience at the time to know that),it's just you are just starting to realise just how much you need to learn.

Yeah, wot he said! In HR circles it's called 'The Dance of Learning'.
First Step is called 'Unconciously Incompetent' and is when you don't know what you don't know.
Step Two is called 'Consciously Incompetant' and is when you know you don't know stuff
Step Three is 'Consciously competant' and is when you know how to do it but have to think about it.
Step Four is 'Unconsciously Competant' and is when you know it all and it just happens without you having to think about it.

I'd say you're moving from step one into step two. Don't fret. It'll come back and the confidence will be real ... not just feeling good because you don't know any better.

[texmo]

Just ride the fuckin thing. You've done more Ks than me, been riding longer, have the same bike, and crashed fewer times.

What's stopping you from being a better rider than me?
His tyres you have gp70's

[chickenfunkstar]

Hiya - :spudwave:

Any of you'll experienced a stage where you felt a drop in your confidence levels??

I learnt to ride in Dec04 and have been riding regularly since late Jan, done bout 35K's of mostly weekend rides since then.

Suddenly I can't ride. I wasn't that great to begin with but now I'm having problems with the absolute basics..... I was a lot more efficient 6 months ago.....:argh:

What did you guys/gals do to get out of your rut??:scratch:

JSG

Mate, I think you you should just stop thinking about the whole confidence issue and just ride. The more you think about it the more you'll doubt your self. I think it was Ben Harper who said 'The less you expect the more you'll be pleased'. If its any consolation you seem much quicker than you did a couple of months ago.

If I were you i'd stop trying to hang off the bike and focus on getting the bike leant over in the turns. I can corner ok without hanging right off the side of my bike.

Thirdly, definatly listen to Strat and get a watch with an alarm...:Pokey:

[HDTboy]

His tyres you have gp70's
I'd be keen to swap bikes and try your theory out, cause I know mine's well set up

[Motu]

RIB's got it - you couldn't ride for shit before,and thought you were oh so shit hot - now you realise just how useless you are,and have to learn all over again.Like Oakie says,it's steps...some are big,some seem to get you nowhere,some seem to go backwards...just keep on keeping on and you'll get to even more steps.You think I know how to ride after 35 years non stop?

[SixPackBack]

I wonder if the lack of confidence is anyway connected to your much discussed Erction problems.....just a thought but maybe Viagra would harden you up [ if you know what I mean:whistle: }

[Zapf]

I support what Motu and RIB has said.... think its true that previously you rode without thinking... hence so many ppl saying there was issues with your riding... and now that you are thinking about it, you are thinking about all the things that you were... and wernt' doing before. So good on ya.... what ever you need on this learning process just sing... e.g a ride out to somewhere.... we can just keep a constant speed and concentrate on bike balance and handling.

[Sketchy_Racer]

IMHO its sounds like your thinking about it too much.

stop thinking about it and just ride..... you feel more 'free' and be able to enjoy your self and most importantly, go faster.

like for me, the night before racing is when i do all my thinking, what needs to be done, whats the track like, am i gonna fall off etc..

then on the rade day, i like to listen to some music, talk to some freinds and gennerally relax, i improved my lap times 10 fold since using this technique

Cheers, Glenn

[Skyryder]

Yeah Andy I love you too. Come on, don't ya have any pearls of wisdom??

Actually I think SPB does. Not too sure if he knows it. Loss of confidence can not be regained by doing any one thing or even several things. Confidence will be regained by doing nothing........................ except riding.

Skyryder

[justsomeguy]

look at the bike check your tyres and preasures , get a second opinion on the bike b4 you think its a lack of confidence, have you had an eye test , do you need sleep?

Hahaha, Dougal did say I had the worst forks he'd seen in a long while,

However the tyres had done bout 1000 k's........

Eyes?? Naah, have 20/20 vision......

Sleep?? What's that?? Get bout 5 hours on avg.....

Excuses, excuses, Frosty told me ages ago -- I think too much, kinda wonder how as I'm so dumb to begin with?? :scratch:

Ah well, it'll come to me...... I guess, no hurry in either case...

[justsomeguy]

What do you mean?
I saw you doing about 180 down the back strait.

I only managed to reach 170 a few times...... besides I don't care about straightline speed...... anyone can do that...

[texmo]

Who cares how fast you are as long as your having fun...

[justsomeguy]

I support what Motu and RIB has said.... think its true that previously you rode without thinking... hence so many ppl saying there was issues with your riding... and now that you are thinking about it, you are thinking about all the things that you were... and wernt' doing before. So good on ya.... what ever you need on this learning process just sing... e.g a ride out to somewhere.... we can just keep a constant speed and concentrate on bike balance and handling.

Yeah, some days it all feels great, others the opposite......

Ah screw it.... gonna get a service done this weekend and take it from there......

Cheers for the input all you guys:niceone:

[justsomeguy]

Who cares how fast you are as long as your having fun...

It's not about speed - speed is a by product, what I'm bothered about is not being as comfortable as I was before and if I don't feel a hundred percent I DON'T ENJOY IT......

When I am enjoying it my mind goes blank and the miles just dissappear.......

[N4CR]

I'd be keen to swap bikes and try your theory out, cause I know mine's well set up

I have some of the shittest tyres money can buy, I think they make a difference if you are not used to the bike sliding and stuff like that. The road has to be perfect for my tyres to perform decently.

I will be looking forward to getting new ones and seeing what a difference it makes!

Just take it easy JSG, sometimes I loose confidence as well - it just happens. Then after a while I'll have a nice ride by myself and loose the strips.. 'it just happens'. kinda like speeding tax...

[John]

just ride, thats the problem with you poofs - JUST FUCKEN RIDE.

YOUR JUST A SCARED POOF STOP BEING A SCARED POOF, HAVE A NICE CURRY AND THEN GET A HOOKER, AND GO FOR A RIDE YOU SHOULD BE SWEET.

[Zed]

Any of you'll experienced a stage where you felt a drop in your confidence levels??Without reading anyone else's response, I'd say sure, we all have our off 'days', but if you are experiencing a decline to where you may seriously hurt yerself, then buddy you need to sort it out quick smart!


I learnt to ride in Dec04 and have been riding regularly since late Jan, done bout 35K's of mostly weekend rides since then.

Suddenly I can't ride.To me that's a lot of kms, and your skills should only get better as a result, I can't understand why some people's don't? Surely JSG, you felt as though you were becoming a better rider before this sudden decline in skills? If that was the case then maybe you need to get yourself checked out.

If I was in your predicament I would firstly get a full check-up done asap. If there is no problem with me, then I would be about practising practising practising and concentrate on improving. Where there is a will there is a way my friend. :ride:

[M1CRO]

Any of you'll experienced a stage where you felt a drop in your confidence levels??

What!!!??? After being a pillion around Taupo on the Busa, you should be full of motivation! :gob:

Remember the old saying... You can do whatever you set your mind to, and remember there are plenty of us to give a helping hand.... :eek:

I (for one) still believe in you, so get out there!!! :done:

[justsomeguy]

What!!!??? After being a pillion around Taupo on the Busa, you should be full of motivation! :gob:

Remember the old saying... You can do whatever you set your mind to, and remember there are plenty of us to give a helping hand.... :eek:

I (for one) still believe in you, so get out there!!! :done:

Holy COW!!!! - That run down the back straight - WHEWWWWWWWW - never felt acceleration like that ever.........now I know why the Busa is the worlds fastest bike.........:eek:

huge thanks for that pillion session - woohoooo :banana:

I've got plenty of practice planned.

[justsomeguy]

Without reading anyone else's response, I'd say sure, we all have our off 'days', but if you are experiencing a decline to where you may seriously hurt yerself, then buddy you need to sort it out quick smart!

To me that's a lot of kms, and your skills should only get better as a result, I can't understand why some people's don't? Surely JSG, you felt as though you were becoming a better rider before this sudden decline in skills? If that was the case then maybe you need to get yourself checked out.

If I was in your predicament I would firstly get a full check-up done asap. If there is no problem with me, then I would be about practising practising practising and concentrate on improving. Where there is a will there is a way my friend. :ride:

Cheers Zed....

What do you mean by a full check up?? You not suggesting seeing a duck (quack, quack) are you?? I've not seen one of those in over 3 years and am in no hurry.

I've now owned the CBR for 9 days mebbe dat has sumthin to do wit it??

I'm gonna give it a proper service over this Christmas long weekend, then gonna do a bit more riding.......

[T.W.R]

Hiya - :spudwave:

Any of you'll experienced a stage where you felt a drop in your confidence levels??

I learnt to ride in Dec04 and have been riding regularly since late Jan, done bout 35K's of mostly weekend rides since then.

Suddenly I can't ride. I wasn't that great to begin with but now I'm having problems with the absolute basics..... I was a lot more efficient 6 months ago.....:argh:

What did you guys/gals do to get out of your rut??:scratch:

JSG

its better to have a confidence drop after a year on the road rather than a confidence surge & end up getting yourself into trouble. you never stop learning on a bike & it comes in stages, its just normal growth, its part & parcel of biking.
if its a case of coming back after a bin its best to get back into it ASAP to overcome any hesitation or apprehension that may have appeared.

when i had my big bin 10yrs ago (totalled bike & destroyed elbow (11 days in waikato hospital) ) the 2nd week out i had to go back for a update x-ray, i was living in huntly & rode my other bike to the hospital with my arm in cast, needless to say the doc wasn't overly impressed but i conquered any doubts that had rared their head.

[justsomeguy]

if its a case of coming back after a bin

Nothing to do with binning, I binned many months ago in rainy weather, I was out the next day riding a semi broken bike loving every minute of it.

It's as though I have developed go slow reflexes that cut in when they are least wanted.

Anyway - just venting......

[buellbabe]

STOP thinking about it, yr turning it into a huge issue for yrself... just ride and enjoy. Jeez I've been riding for 20+ yrs and I can still have the odd day when nothing seems to click and I feel totally uncomfortable on the bike, its freaky but I get over it, its mind over matter! And theres always the radical alternative of ditching ya bike and getting a totally different model! That'll give ya something WORTHWHILE to focus on.
Just DO IT:headbang: :grouphug:

[RiderInBlack]

its better to have a confidence drop after a year on the road rather than a confidence surge & end up getting yourself into trouble. you never stop learning on a bike & it comes in stages, its just normal growth, its part & parcel of biking.Exactly. I'd rather rider with a average Rider that does not think he is "shit hot", than ride with one that only thinks he is "shit hot". Those ones are more likely to do something stupid and get themselves killed (if your really unlucky, they'll take you with them).

[Riff Raff]

What!!!??? After being a pillion around Taupo on the Busa, you should be full of motivation! :gob:
Don't underestimate the power of being a pillion with a really good rider. When WT and I first got together it was not long after his wheelie in the wind incident and he was bikeless. So he rode my bike with me as pillion over the Rimutakas - and it was a fast ride. After that I had a lot more confidence in my bike and my riding showed an immediate improvement after that. My cornering became a lot smoother as I knew that I could lean it much further.

And again at the track on Sunday, by going out as pillion on my bike I was reminded how well it does handle and corner (and wheelie!!! :devil2:). My next session on the track was vastly improved.

So, JSG, maybe you need to find a really good rider that you have confidence in, to take you for a ride on YOUR bike.

[buellbabe]

Exactly. I'd rather rider with a average Rider that does not think he is "shit hot", than ride with one that only thinks he is "shit hot". Those ones are more likely to do something stupid and get themselves killed (if your really unlucky, they'll take you with them).

YEAH Mate! I guess thats what I was trying to say...every ride is different and a learning experience. The rider that reckons they know it all is someone to avoid.
:sunny:

[SixPackBack]

Don't underestimate the power of being a pillion with a really good rider. When WT and I first got together it was not long after his wheelie in the wind incident and he was bikeless. So he rode my bike with me as pillion over the Rimutakas - and it was a fast ride. After that I had a lot more confidence in my bike and my riding showed an immediate improvement after that. My cornering became a lot smoother as I knew that I could lean it much further.

And again at the track on Sunday, by going out as pillion on my bike I was reminded how well it does handle and corner (and wheelie!!! :devil2:). My next session on the track was vastly improved.

So, JSG, maybe you need to find a really good rider that you have confidence in, to take you for a ride on YOUR bike.

That would have to be by far the best advice I have heard in a long time for both increasing skill level and regaining confidence

[T.W.R]

It's as though I have developed go slow reflexes that cut in when they are least wanted.


that really isn't a case of lost confidence then, its more likely related to becoming relaxed in your approach to your riding. it isn't something to dwell on as if you do the worse it will get (or the harder you try to compensate for it the bigger the likelyhood of errors occurring).

experiencing the use of your bike (being a pillion) at the hands of good fast competent rider is as R/R & SPB said a good way to advance your own skill & understanding of your bike but:
A) don't try to emulate what that rider achieved whilst on your bike
B) absolutely no-one rides the same or has exactly the same riding style
C) it only displays to you what your bike is capable of & what the rider at the controls is capable of.
your far better to take the experience and develop from there, its far more desirable to be able to ride competently at 7 or 8/10 than try & ride incompetently at 10/10.
Motorcycling is a continual learning curve & no matter how long someone has been riding there will be occassions where they'll ride like a complete twat & do the stupidest things.
years ago myself & they guys i rode with used to go out to a quiet country road & just practice all the fundimental basics, & we chipped in together & brought a old XR250 & used that for learning to do crash evasion & laying the bike down & bailing off.
its easy to over-look the basics after a while but when it comes to the crunch ( hope it never does!) the sub-concious mind is a great tool & will draw out the things you've learnt automatically.

[ManDownUnder]

Find some friends you like riding with and ride with them.

Choose a nice day, and go somewhere fun. Start off easy and work your way into it.

Give it time - you'll be sweet.
MDU

[Marmoot]

Nothing to do with binning, I binned many months ago in rainy weather, I was out the next day riding a semi broken bike loving every minute of it.

It's as though I have developed go slow reflexes that cut in when they are least wanted.

Anyway - just venting......

Much fear I sense. Fear you must beware. Leads to the darkside it will. Driving cages with babies on board you will......
:mellow:

[Lou Girardin]

You may be going through one of the stages of learning;
Unconscious incompetence - you doing it wrong and don't don't know why.
Conscious incompetence - you start to learn what you're doing wrong.
Uncoscious competence - you are instinctively doing it right, but not sure why.
Conscious competence - you ride well and know why.

Or you could be like me on Sunday, just barely conscious. (Great work do though)

[Angry Puppy]

You may be going through one of the stages of learning;
Unconscious incompetence - you doing it wrong and don't don't know why.
Conscious incompetence - you start to learn what you're doing wrong.
Uncoscious competence - you are instinctively doing it right, but not sure why.
Conscious competence - you ride well and know why.

Or you could be like me on Sunday, just barely conscious. (Great work do though)

Hmmm. THe trouble with this is that most cagers come under the classification of Unconscious incompetence - You think you're doing it right, but we don't know why.:sherlock:

[mv.senna]

I'm reading through this thread, and I can honestly say, this is by far the most positive and helpful collection of posts i've seen in a very long time. :grouphug:

big ups to you JSG for putting your hand out for some help/advice....you've recieved some really good pearls of wisdom throughout this thread...

and big ups also to the KBers that have replied in an effort to help out JSG. Good on ya guys!! :2thumbsup

I wish I'd had the "balls" to ask for help/advice after my bin, and subsequent loss of confidence.

Anytime you want to go for a confidence boosting type ride JSG, count me in....we can get our shit sorted together! :yeah:

jo