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Your feelings are normal. All it takes is practice. Don't give it up and you will enjoy it more and more. Keep a safe distance and a margin for error. Brake earlier and softer, in case you pull the wrong lever...Just take your time and keep your distance and remember that generally speaking the faster you go the more stable your bike is. I had my first riding experience in the rain today and I was also somewhat scared around storrow drive and the fenway traffic but it all worked out fine and I am glad I took my bike (though, I need to dry it now for tomorrow). I just kept more of a distance not knowing how my bike and I will behave in the rain. Keep at it! You'll probably be a better and safer rider than both your brother and your BF.
Dani

dankatz wrote:Your feelings are normal. All it takes is practice. Don't give it up and you will enjoy it more and more. Keep a safe distance and a margin for error. Brake earlier and softer, in case you pull the wrong lever...Just take your time and keep your distance and remember that generally speaking the faster you go the more stable your bike is. I had my first riding experience in the rain today and I was also somewhat scared around storrow drive and the fenway traffic but it all worked out fine and I am glad I took my bike (though, I need to dry it now for tomorrow). I just kept more of a distance not knowing how my bike and I will behave in the rain. Keep at it! You'll probably be a better and safer rider than both your brother and your BF.
Dani

Luckily rain doesn't scare me to much, half of my MSF course was taken in pouring down rain at Bunker Hill.

I hope no one thinks I've given up since I haven't posted lately. My bike is in a few pieces in my garage right now, while I wait for some parts to show up. My boyfriend and his friend found out why it wasn't wanting to run without the choke on all the time and are working on it for me.
I'm anxious for it to be put back together. Sunday is looking like a great day to ride.

Thanks for the encouragement Dani!

Well, my bike got put back together last week. I took her to the local school parking lot last Sunday and took a few trips around. Was still feeling really nervous and scared. But my boyfriend has been a great support and has given nothing but gentle encouragement. So after riding last Sunday, I told him I was done with the parking lot for now, I was ready to just jump into the deep end, well sorta.

I planned out a fairly easy, low traffic trip out of my town and out towards where I work. Saturday morning my brother decided to come along with us. So my brother led the way, I rode in the middle and Pete followed. Off we went. It was great. I did fall over in the parking lot of the gas station. Got nervous about making a right turn into some traffic, stalled the bike with the wheel turned and over I went. Didn't get hurt, and Pete was right there to help me get her back up again. Amazingly wasn't even embarrassed, it was more of a "thank god I got that out of the way".

I may go back to the parking lot during the week to practice my turns and then hopefully another ride this weekend.
Can't wait!!!!

Thanks for everyone's advice and support, I'm feeling a lot better about riding.

For the first month or so, every ride would result in such an "adrenaline crash" that I would fall dead asleep on the sofa, once I got home.

It gets easier as you build the muscle memory for the various tasks and don't have to REMEMBER to do this first, then this... oh, wait what gear am I in? Do I downshift here or just brake? etc etc.

The really cool thing is the moment when it dawns on you that you DON'T have to "think about" everything all the time.

P

Lil'Suzi wrote:I have a feeling my stomach is going to be in knots for a a few more weeks, but I'm not giving up yet.

Attaway Lil'Suzi! Keep fighting!
I think all of us were a little nervous at first. I know I was.
Go at your own pace, your comfort level and confidence will improve the more you get out.

It might also be a good idea to get a book about motorcycling, "Proficient motorcycling" by David Hough for example is generally recommended, I´m sure others know even more books.

I recommend this because some of you remarks like "I'm going to forget do something like break in a turn" or "grab to much front break and fly myself over the handle bars" sound a bit odd to me or like you misunderstood something you were told in the BRC.

One NEVER brakes(yes, it´s "brake" btw. ) in corners unless one absolutely has to, and you have to grab A HUGE LOT of front brake on a GS to go over the handle bars, no need to be afraid of it!

The front brake on a standard bike provides 70-90% of the braking power in an emergency stop, learning how to use it to maximum effect is absolutely quintessential to safe riding!!!

I have to agree with most everyone on here....you just need to get used to your bike and build your confidence. When you first start out you ill be always thinking about what your doing( and it seems like it's a lot to process ) but with patience and practice this will all become second nature.

I think everyone will agree that the bike feels a little over whelming when your on it and riding for the first few times.

Good luck and stick with it!

In the meantime here is a good site to help you.......

http://www.msgroup.org/TIPS.asp

Went for another ride this weekend. Definitely feeling more comfortable with each trip. Made it all the way to our destination fine, even navigated a rotary quite well IMO, but fell over in the parking lot. Couple of factors there: I can't flat foot my bike and the was a bit of a slope, and and I'm still a newbie.


Got the bike back up and went to have some food. Came out of the restaurant to get back on the bike and ride home, and when I pulled the clucth lever in it broke off! Had to leave my bike behind and ride two up with my boyfriend. Found a replacement clutch lever the next day and rode back out to where my bike was, swapped it out, and rode her home again.

Just got to keep practicing. Making turns from a stop are still freaking me out a bit. Time to return to the parking lot for more practice on slow stuff.

Thanks again for the continuing encouragement.

Lil'Suzi wrote:
Thanks for everyone's advice and support, I'm feeling a lot better about riding.

Gratz Suzi! Keep on riding!