I've hit a Wall of Terror...

[WanderBird]

25 years ago, I rode bikes around both NZ, Tasmania, and 7 or so yrs ago all o9ver Bali, including Dempasar
Bali was my last 'real' ride- I have since been pootling around on a Di Blasi fold-up scooter.
The Bike Bug hit me again recently, and after a bit of searching, - accounting for my desire to do bits of gentle back country (read as gravel roads) and wanting the comfort to go to the other end of the country if I chose to, I settled on a BMW F650. (I'm short, so height is important) Took it for a test drive, and wooohoooo, it was like I had never been away from bikes, my first ride was wonderful. The BMW handled like a dream, I felt great on it, and all was very cool. Then I entered my graveled driveway, slight slope and I dropped it - my apologies to those who read my earlier threard, I felt like such a dork I was'nt ready to 'fess up to that!
Got over that, having identified what I did wrong...turned too tight, clutch only partially in, still in gear, AND did the unthinkable, tapped the rear brake as I was stopping....and dropped it (Dont be hard on me, it has been 25 years or so)

Got over that OK, - in fact appreciating that it would probably happen sooner or later, ...lesson learnt, and I won't repeat the same mistake
So, identifying what went wrong, and having learnt, I still really want this bike.....so I paid for the BMW....man. I did LOVE that ride

...on the way into the bike shop, a couple of days later a fear like I have never known hit me...I have had many occasions in which to test my courage, and I don't lack it, but the thought of riding this bike created such fear I thought I was gonna throw up, cold sweats, hot sweats....teeeth chatterintg (I'm not even riding the bike at this stage I am only *thinkin* about riding it) _ Hell, I have already ridden it! It was not the being on the open road, it was the slow speed stuff, my feet only just touch the ground on it) I had dropped it, one thought lead to another, and I am scared/terrified

I talked to the bike shop that I had bought it off, told them how I was feeling - they were amazing BTW, no pressure, every assistance possible, understanding...I could not have wished for more...and yes I want to give them a plug, ..if you are in Dunedin MCR are amazing to deal with...truly amazing.

So at MCR I expressed my fear/neurosis/trepidation and they heard me. I sat on it again , started it, knew I could walk away if it was not right for me...I could get my money back, get something smaller...ALL options are open, take something smaller, borrow it for a few days,..and if this one doesn't work we will (BIG yay for MCR here) Someone pointed out to me, while I was sitting on it' look at you, you have 1 foot on the ground, youre propped on your chin over the tank, you look compeletly relaxed.....I really think, when you are used to it, you will be fine)

I went and had lunch, at their suggestion and worked it thro, and thought "I'm just being a woos, big deal, you had a great ride, then dropped it, and lost confidence....but I'm gonna buy it anyway...becos I do know how to ride, I just need some confidence-building slow speed stuff before I really connect with this bike. Is not the speed, or torque, it's just the critical slow speed stuff, and that will come back...

Yesterday, I wanted nothing more than to have that bike here, get on it and ride. Confident.


Today, I am scared to death and think I should get somethng much smaller. Yet I know I would get bored to death with a 250cc... I'm not under any pressure at all...several people - including some really rugged looking guys, said to me in the shop, when I talked about my fears, said they had experienced it as well... either getting back into bikes after a long time, or even upgrading. One guy said he was so terrified on his first ride from a 400cc to a 750cc he clenched his butt so tight, he was still trying to get the peaks out of the seat....
This is what I know for sure
...On a bike that I was comfortable on. I wouldn't want to NOT ride it out of the shop, and into city traffic

I LOVED riding that BMW - it was so cool and easy on the road.....
Except I dropped it, first ride....


I would get bored beyond belief on a put-put kinda bike..
So, do I lsten to the fear (have you been like that?) ..what do you all think? Have you felt this kind of fear? Is it 'kinda' normal? Does any of this make sense???

[deanohit]

Just go easy, it'll all come back in no time once you are confident again.

[Steam]

If getting a 250 means you'll keep biking, get that. Don't get the big bike if you're going to be afraid of it all the time.
If you think you will get used to the bigger bike then get that.

In answer to your question "Have you felt this kind of fear? Is it 'kinda' normal?"
Your fear reaction sounds quite intense... "such fear I thought I was gonna throw up, cold sweats, hot sweats....teeeth chattering"...
that sounds fairly unusual to me. I have never heard of that kind of reaction apart from in life-threatening situations/near misses, or people who have some kind of mental illness.

Good luck regardless!
No doubt I'll meet you at some point, I've just come back to Dunedin and will be on some Kiwibiker rides at some stage.

Again, good luck! You'll get over the fear eventually, even if you have to spend a few months getting over the fear by riding a 250.

[crashe]

Get hold of one or two of the KB riders down your way......
and see if they will go out with you for a short run..... and maybe get them to do some slow riding with you in a car park etc.....
That way, they are there to boost your moral up, during the session on your bike.

A BMW is a huge bike and I am sure it is hard to move around at slow speed....
Can you by chance lift the bike up by yourself?

Also contact via pm (private message) Ixion as he rides a BMW, to get some tips off him.


Good luck....... and ride safe.

[The Pastor]

man up? give it a week of solid riding then see how you feel.

[Bonez]

A BMW is a huge bike and I am sure it is hard to move around at slow speed....

The BMW F650 isn't huge at all. Here's a site dedicated to them.

http://www.f650.com/

[McJim]

It's just one of those thngs about the 'unknown'.

I nearly shit a brick when I first got on a CB250 to sit my basic handling skills on.
I positively crapped myself when I first threw my leg over a VTR250.
A very good 'friend' of mine made me borrow his ZX6R for a track day at Pukekohe - I was in awe and fear of that bike.
I was struck dumb by the instant torque from a Ducati 600SS.
Every time I have moved to something new I have been terrified. You'll be fine - just perevere and you'll get through it...just be careful...that's all.

Best of luck.

[crashe]

The BMW F650 isn't huge at all. Here's a site dedicated to them.

http://www.f650.com/

All the BMW's that i have seen are huge or should I say very tall.

Maybe thats cos I am short.......

[McJim]

All the BMW's that i have seen are huge or should I say very tall.

Maybe thats cos I am short.......

Nah - it's just coz BMW don't make a Virago

[crashe]

Nah - it's just coz BMW don't make a Virago

smart arse.........

[kevfromcoro]

Riding back from Auckland, and one of mirrors flew off.
Went back to look for it,, and did a u turn on SH2.
And the Bemmer spat me off. right in the middle of the road.
Was only doing about 5 ks.
Did i feel like idiot......
Got the bike back up and kicked the back wheel
Then hoped on and gave it shit....
Take that i was saying to-myself.
It never did it again...
Who is controlling who here...the bike or u??
Think about it...

[slimyxylofone]

If you are scared and it is not going away I think you should reconsider taking up the BMW. You can always come back to it. I hope it all clicks into place for you.

Also wated to really second the plug for MCR. Rick and the crew have always been really really helpful for me. Wouldn't recomend anyone else (except maybe SPV, they have always given good customer service, no other dealers want to know you if you're young).

All the best

[YellowDog]

Thanks for the honest story. Confidence is a critical factor in safe riding. I have a similar sized bike to you and agree with you that riding slow is tough. A couple of years ago I had a issue with cornering. I couldn't work out how I got from A - B without remembering the tight bends. I then lost my confidence and struggled to get my line right and was cornering very badly. That was until a friend explained that you don't ride you bike by changing gears and taking bends, you travel from A-B and your body does what it needs to get you there. He told me to stop looking at the bends and instead focus on where I was going. All I did was to focus my view 50 metres further forward and that did iot for me.

If you have a big bike and you are not a big guy, you need to work out a system to make yourself comfortable. You are right that you would get bored with a small bike very quickly. I did my test in the UK and one of the disciplines was to ride at walking pace. I found this very difficult, as indeed I did the kerb to kerb controlled U-turns. If you use the same technique they teach you by controlling your pace with continuous pressure on the back brake, you can ride at any slow speed. I hated doing this and found it very difficult, I now enjoy it and use it moving slowly up to lights. So long as you keep the revs up and don't let the bike freewheel, you will always have control and will be able to ride as slow as you like and in perfect control (I needed a few lessons to be able to do this).

Do percevere because it will be worth it.

Good luck.

[madbikeboy]

I think it's refreshing to see someone being honest about fear for a change. I had a moment, a real moment of terror the other day - I was in the car and I changed the radio station and shit, it happened - country music. I've been unable to turn the frigging thing on since it happened.

It's about confidence. Confidence is built in ones, but lost in hundreds; dropping a bike, especially a new bike, can alter that feeling. I like sports bikes because they're low and light, the BMW's feel tall, you're upright and it takes time to get used to the bike. Keep the new bike, but spend time getting to know it, ride with some more experienced people, somehow shared activities reduce the pucker factor.

Fear is healthy, it's a natural reaction to stuff that's unknown - unhealthy fear stops you from functioning, it's like a weakness that needs to be eliminated.

Of course, fear of country music is rational, you start listening to it, your girlfriend leaves, and you end up driving a pick up and wearing a wife beater...

[speedpro]

I think you need to consider the reasons you are looking at the 650. Is there any peer pressure? You know, the sort of thing that makes people but Harleys. You need to be comfortable with the bike and you seem to be a Looooooong way from that. I've been feeling real queesy sometimes before riding as well but only at the track. It could be your subconscious trying to tell you something.