Huge lack of confidence =( how do i get over it?

[beyond]

When I was 18 and got my first bike because Jap Imported cars didn't exist and it was the only means of transport most people that age could afford, my Dad was against it big time. In the end the only way I got the bike was to take out a life insurance policy that would cover my funeral. That was the condition he put down for me owning a bike.

I was a stupid hoon. Had a 1972 T250 Hustler Suzuki which went real well back in those days. Put 35,000 miles on it in 9 months and wrote it off twice and nearly called on my life insurance policy three times.

After an abscence of 25 years from owning a bike, I bought my 1400 last year January and have now covered 25,000kms all for fun.

Getting back on a bike, brought all the feelings back when I started when I was young. Intrepidation, vulnerability (especially around traffic) sense of doom and danger, feeling really exposed and worrying about every person on the road around me.

But at the same time, the sense of freedom, liberty, joy of cornering, power, speed and manouevrability and feeling of being in "the Zone" when it all comes together so you are one with the bike, all came back to me as well.

It's going to take more than a week. It's going to take lots of riding and the more you ride the better you will get and the more you will want to ride and the more you will accept traffic around you and then be comfortable with whats happening around you. You will become more alert, your senses will be more in tune, you will drive a car better, you will be better prepared for incidents, you will cope with stress better, even in other areas of your life.

Then one day, you will find yourself on a ride in summer, where you hit 'the zone". It doesn't matter what bike you ride, when you hit that zone, all the years of learning will have been worth it, the possible accidents you might have, the fear now, will become a thing of the past. You will get a 'hit" from the world of biking Nirvana and like a drug you will want to reach that plain over and over again.

You will find at that moment in time, that the bike becomes an extension of your mind and everything falls into place, you will throw the bike from side to side through the twisties, take the exact right lines, brake at exactly the right time and power out of the corner in full control but at speeds you would never think possible right now. The sense of freedom and the rush will bring you back to this place over and over again.

Enought now.....

It's bloody worth it.

[ZeroIndex]

Another thing that I don't think has been covered here is learn how to fall off without killing yourself.
When my Uncle was teaching me to ride he showed me how to minimise impact in a fall. Best way is to get on an old clunker (dirtbike) and blat around. Good gear is a must and above all get around some people who have ridden for a long time.
Crashes are a fact

the best way to fall off is NOT over the handlebars.. your knee normally catches the petrol tank on the way over, and it is a longer way down to the ground when going over the handlebars.. lowsiding is always a better way to do things, as you don't have as much forward momentum, and your downward impact speed is minimalized..

Just watch MotoGP (preferably recorded), and just watch the crashes over and over again.. I know it happens very quickly, but most of them walk away / run away 2 seconds after they start sliding..

[ZeroIndex]

....Then one day, you will find yourself on a ride in summer, where you hit 'the zone". It doesn't matter what bike you ride, when you hit that zone, all the years of learning will have been worth it, the possible accidents you might have, the fear now, will become a thing of the past. You will get a 'hit" from the world of biking Nirvana and like a drug you will want to reach that plain over and over again.

You will find at that moment in time, that the bike becomes an extension of your mind and everything falls into place, you will throw the bike from side to side through the twisties, take the exact right lines, brake at exactly the right time and power out of the corner in full control but at speeds you would never think possible right now. The sense of freedom and the rush will bring you back to this place over and over again....

I know exactly what you mean.. my ride back from Whangamata yesterday (via Kopu) was full of "Zone"

My bike is really slow (was sitting full-throttle most of the day, just on 100km/h), but it was fun.. hitting some of the 65km/h posted corners, throttle still on full at 100km/h.. I really learnt a lot about my bike yesterday.. way more grippier in the wet than I originally thought..

[2much]

Buy a Honda, they're a good pussies bike to start out on!

WTF? Wash your bloody mouth out! Recommending a fucking Honduh? There's no good reason to buy a honda. He/she already has a Suzuki, the best of the best. Stick with it m00sie, you've made a good choice.

Ohh and they crash well.... aye Bruce

Hook up with 2much from down your way, no wait he falls off more than me

It's all about learning HOW to crash... they say practise makes perfect so I must be damn near a pro now

TwoMuch - like his name suggests is a bit too much - don't know if he can ride slow, but try anyway

WTF? Unlike many believe, just because someone can ride fast it doesn't make them a good rider. The knowledge that there is a time and a place for such riding is a much more important measure of one's riding ability.

Ofcourse I can ride slow.

All you need is more road time. Can help you out mate and I'm not as fast as 2much.

So what? I still fail to understand what speed's got to do with one's ability to teach someone to ride?

I taught wybmadiity to ride and believe I was very successful. Her riding ability is proof of that, just ask someone who has seen her riding in recent months, especially those who have seen her progress from the beginning. However I won't take all the credit, as I do feel that the main reason for her continued improvement is her willingness and ability to listen to and take advise (including constructive criticism) and her patience.


m00sie, there has been some good advise offered on this thread, it's up to you to filter through it and take what you wish from it. The unfortunate fact is that you will drop your first bike, it's all part of the learning experience and don't be discouraged by it. Perserverance and patience are your two biggest assets when learning to ride.

I highly recommend that you do get someone to give you a hand with the initial learning process (you never stop learning, just ask the old farts on here). I am more than happy to take the time to give you a hand and teach you some basic riding skills and provide you with continued support/advise (just get in soon as my bike's coming off the road for a few months in the next couple of weeks).

I am sure Saul will be more than happy to offer you some time too if he can.

There are plenty of opportunities and resources (like KB) available to you, it's up to you how you use them, you don't have to take all the advise that is given to you (as it won't always work for you) however please do atleast listen to it. The speed of your learning curve depends on your attitude and your willingness to learn. Please don't be offended, but I have tried to offer advise to people before who simply weren't prepared to listen and I don't have time for that (funnily enough, they're still the one's that are struggling with their riding too).

Don't worry bout your dad, my old lady told me I wasn't allowed a bike till I was 40! (oops, jumped the gun abit! )

If you're 18+ then alot of us get together at the pub on Thursday nights, just a social thing and you don't even have to ride your bike so there's no pressure. Come and say hi

Goodluck, remember to be patient and most of all, have fun!

[MidnightMike]

The most important thing, in my opinion, is to take your time to learn.

For the first week i had my bike i was only riding round the neighbourhood, now after 2 weeks im up to the suburb.

And if you do find yourself in one of those situations where you feel completely uncomfortable take a breath and figure out what to do.
If theres cars behind you who cares, the middle finger will sort them out

Oh and if there is gonna be some sort of noob teaching can i join in?, i could do with so extra lessons, a mate of mine getting a fixxer soon too, maybe he could come? ( sorry dont want to make a croud out of it but it may save our ass in the long run )

[Waylander]

So what? I still fail to understand what speed's got to do with one's ability to teach someone to ride?

Never doubted your ability to teach only your ability to hold back when you get bored lol.

Up to him what he does though.

[number33]

Better throw in the towel mOOsie a huge lack of confidence is a death sentence on a motorbike. Be content to watch instead mate.

[Highlander]

Never doubted your ability to teach only your ability to hold back when you get bored lol.

Up to him what he does though.

I remember reading (yes I can) a book where fighter pilots after the war got posted training newbies and when they got board they'd trail rolls of toilet paper out the window then grab the controls and double back chopping it up with the propellor.

Can you imagine 2much trailing a roll of paper behind him down the road....

[2much]

Can you imagine 2much trailing a roll of paper behind him down the road....

Memories of drunken nights running round doing 'flaming arseholes' come flooding back!

I don't mind cruising round slowly.... wheelies and stoppies will break the boredom if need be

[2much]

Oh and if there is gonna be some sort of noob teaching can i join in?, i could do with so extra lessons, a mate of mine getting a fixxer soon too, maybe he could come? ( sorry dont want to make a croud out of it but it may save our ass in the long run )

Could be done.... will look into it.

[The Pastor]

Im so keen to get out there cruising the streets, but i have no confidence whatsoever =( it sucks, whenever i get on the bike im always wondering when ill be falling off it or dropping it. I half blame my dad who repeatedly tells me that i cant ride a bike,that ill crash and to sell it before i break it...the other half is just me and my overcautiousness i guess. So yeah, any ideas as to what i should do? (have already told dad to jump-even though hes just doing the whole protective father act). Any advice would be appreciated!!

Stop your wining and get out on the road you women.

and losebruce "GSXR wiping the shit that is that Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki off the road since '85'" - get an 85/86 gsxr and we'll see whos bikes faster....

[saul]

I was shocked to read such dribble in this thread.

Sell the bike and do the kite sailing thing

Regards

[Highlander]

I was shocked to read such dribble in this thread.

Sell the bike and do the kite sailing thing

Regards

Yeah right.

[pixc]

I am a newbie as well. When I was a kid I had a honda 90 that I used to putt around the farm on.
I seem to have the opposite to you. My father rides a huge new BMW 'thing' (Im mechanically and motorcycle retarded) and has for as long as i can remember hassled me about getting a motorbike. I finally bought one. A wee Suziki FXR150. When I bought it home, it sat in the carport for few days before I managed to pick up the courage to sit on it and start it When I finally took the courage to go for a actual ride....I went around the orchard and down the drive. Changing gears seem to just come naturally. Im guessing the Honda must of left an impression on me after all. Its been over 20 years since ive riden a motorbike..(and I dont think I ever went over 50kms)
Anyway..I putted about the driveway (about 400meters long, couple of corners, tarsealed) and before I knew I was out on the road. I couldnt help myself. Blatted into town...I opened up the throttle and I tried to make her give me all she was worth. Its all over for me. The love affair with motorbikes has begun. Its been about 4 weeks since I first got the bike, and Im already looking for a big brother for the suziki. Ive booked in for my license...and im busting at the seams. Riden thru town gives me the sh*ts..as I worry about other road users. I dont know anyone locally to help me with my riding, so Im thinking about doing a few courses. Having a nice long tarsealed drive with corners and buildings to negotiate has definatly helped me with my confidence.

[Quartida]

Better throw in the towel mOOsie a huge lack of confidence is a death sentence on a motorbike. Be content to watch instead mate.

Are you serious? That's not at all constructive.

Every biker I've talked to has had their moments where their confidence has fallen short - even if just for a few seconds. I'd hate to see someone give up just because they're a little nervous.

Everyone else has given awesome advice (...going to take some of it myself...), so I say good luck m00sie .