Confidence drop??

[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

[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!

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!!! ). 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.

[SixPackBack]

[QUOTE=Riff Raff]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!!! ). 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.[/QUOTE]

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......

[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.

[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.

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!!

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!

jo