I've hit a Wall of Terror...

[WanderBird]

They managed to lower the front forks 10mm - not much different. I'm not sure what a lowering kit is?
I'm feeling better about it all the time, thanks for all the input

Joni - you are spot on with the riding being in the mind. Like you, I was completely confident riding, it was something I never even thought about - just something I did.

I'm happy to say the fear is starting to dissapate, a healthy caution will remain - heck there is even an underlaying excitement now!

[James Deuce]

I'm petrified every time I get on a bike. "Feel the fear and do it anyway."

I find the "fear' quite useful as a mobile counseling tool. Is the "fear" screaming at me? Well stop doing what's making it scream then!

I guess what I mean is, some fear is healthy. Your goal shouldn't be to "ride without fear" , but to explore your limits and discover those that need extending to make riding safer and more pleasurable, and those that really don't need to be extended at all.

[Blueskies]

Joni is so right. there is some great advise in this thread.
You sound to be sorted now wanderbird, but here's my 2 cents worth.
I rode a 250cc for a bit then bought a Vulcan 900. Like you I knew I would pretty soon be bored with a smaller bike.

It was the right choice for me. Can't say I have ever been bored with the Vn.
But it did take me a while to master and feel at home on it.
Yes. I dropped it. 2nd time out. Managed to keep it on the footboard and thankfully on the side away from the pipes.
Yes. I managed to lift it. Adrenaline, I would think because it is not a little bike and I am not exactly a young Amazon. No to both in fact.
I was thoroughly intimidated, to say the least, but following often repeated advise from this site I finally rode thru my fear.
Went thru all the stages first - including " I should never have bought this thing - I'm terrified ".

Now I happily ride it anywhere.
It gives me great joy and buying it is probably one of the very BEST things I ever did for myself.

With your past experience you are way ahead of me . . . and will soon be back to your old level of confidence whichever way you choose to do it.

Cheers.

[Ocean1]

They managed to lower the front forks 10mm - not much different. I'm not sure what a lowering kit is?

Usually a replacement linkage arm for the rearset. It's needed if the basic adjustments, (sliding forks up in the clamps and lowering the rear on spring pre-load) aren't enough. Be a bit careful dropping just one end, it can screw up the geometry.

I'm petrified every time I get on a bike. "Feel the fear and do it anyway."

I find the "fear' quite useful as a mobile counseling tool. Is the "fear" screaming at me? Well stop doing what's making it scream then!

I guess what I mean is, some fear is healthy. Your goal shouldn't be to "ride without fear" , but to explore your limits and discover those that need extending to make riding safer and more pleasurable, and those that really don't need to be extended at all.

Guess that's it's natural purpose eh?

Still, never ceases to amaze me how a sudden loss of confidence can re-write the laws of physics. A panic attack at a critical point seems capable of putting you on yer arse at a speed you might normally consider quite mundane for that corner/surface. More than once I've frozen up entering a corner, and fucked up what should have been a perfectly straight-forward piece of riding. Some days you just know you shouldn't orta have gotten outa bed eh?

[SDU]

Some great advice on here
I'm constantly worried about slow riding on my bike & have to always think about where I put can my foot down when I stop & where & what angle it is best to park to make it easier for me- I'm a hobbit & I have just had to get over it & do the best I can. Confidence is building up all the time & I'm sure it will for you too.
Go forth & you shall learn to adapt.






PS Yes I did drop the V11 on a very slow manuvoure when I rode it for the first time

[jonbuoy]

A bike won't rip your head off if you don't ask it too. Midrange vtwin - SV650? Those hand shaking, stomach churning moments are part of the fun - makes you feel alive

[Youngjim]

A lowering kit like has been suggested is a linkage to lower the rear suspension.
I know that Mount Motorcycles had one in some time ago in their specials bin but it may be long gone now, but could be worth a try.
For any information on these bikes try the chaingang listed below as there is a wealth of information there.

http://www.f650.com/

You could also try the BMW Owners Register website at

http://www.bmwor.org.nz/

and try the For Sale and Wanted forum as someone may have a low seat and lowering kit for sale.
The annual BMW Rally is also on in Alexander from 4th Jan next year so there will be lots of Beemer people to talk too there who could give you advice.

[Youngjim]

Lots of good information on lowering your bike on this site as under.

http://faq.f650.com/GSFAQs/Lowering_Kit_FAQ_GS.htm

Cheers

[WanderBird]

Cheers, thanks for that YoungJim - I will check out those sites. Unfortunately I won't be able to make that rally *grumble*

[avgas]

to be 100% honest - you never get bored to death on a 250.
you actually get to reckless, and have to get some more weight to calm you down.
Most fun i have ever had on a bike has been in sub-250 levels. But i wouldn't be alive if i stayed in that class.

[GaZBur]

Sounds to me like you can probably ride ok - its just a mind thing. Do you have a friend who you can just follow, not think about anything just follow behind and do what they do. Somebody trustworthy obviously!

Congrats on having the guts to fess up, not many would!

[Mike748]

Two thumbs up for committing to a bike that is physically challenging for you, if you were truely afraid you would opt for something that you could plant two fat flat on the deck and throw around with your knees. Your confidence will return - your determination to have the bike will see to that.

[WanderBird]

I am really happy to say that whatever untoward & excessive fear had me in it's grip has now diminished to a pretty normal level of minor, and intermittent anxiety toward the new bike. It all feels a bit crazy now, but I had to go thro it, it seems...funny thing fear......

I was in MCR today, picked up my gear, the bike will be out here within a few days and I feel EXCITED about it. Can't wait to get on it now.

This thread has been a huge help, so thank you everyone for your input, I feel really supported. and understood by a community of like-minded people. Invaluable. (OK, most of you are not wuses?wooses? (sp? - how DO you spell that word?) but no-one hassled me for admitting it - and if you had, I am way too old to care anyway

When I get it, I am going to enjoy a wee cruise, and probably NOT enjoy some slow speed practice, ..and just get intimate with the bike.

Anyway in Otago up for some mentoring? I have good coffee

[Rosie]

You go girl!

[wingnutt]

gidday,

I have started riding again after 25 years, and I stepped straight up to a GL1200 goldwing. a mechanic went a bit white when I told him how long it had been lol

the terror thing really is quite normal, its also an age thing, you are a lot more aware of hurty stuff. the thought of riding a wing scared the hell out of me when I first saw it, I thought I had really stuffed it up this time. in the first two days I came really close twice, to a slow drop, but was lucky to just get away with it. my first open road ride, was incrediably nerve wracking it almost started me smoking again! lol

expect to be really rusty, take things slowly dont rush, the big beasts are prone to slow speed drops, because the rider doesn't quite get it right at lights, driveways etc. so practice slow speeds and get the feel of the bike first. (I spent the first week, on 200 metre concrete square riding up and down in first gear.) you may find slow speed turns on these big bikes are a sort of half steer, half lean affair. get your feet up, the big bikes balance better with feet up.

think about removing a bit of padding from the seat to allow for more foot down.

your confidence will return, slowly, its been a year for me, and I love riding, but there is still that what if thing hanging around, I just ignore it, carry on and it gets better all the time.

I hope this has helped you a wee bit, I wish you well.

good luck,

Robbie