Total Motorcycle Community Forums

When I first got my bike, I stalled a lot. I was too gentle on the throttle.
Once it was pointed out to me that I needed to give it more gas, I stopped stalling the bike.
I also used to have a problem with popping it into neutral but I picked up a tip from here and now I get it into gear properly.

I was an absolute beginner as well when I took the course. It was somewhat intimidating to be in a class of people who rode their own bikes to the class.

Don't be too hard on yourself. As an absolute beginner you are not expected to reach perfection in a few hours.

When I learned I was in a different situation. I was about 10 and my dad rode right behind me on an XR80. I too was a lil slippy with the clutch but I caught on rather fast.
Like everyone else said different learning curves.

The clutch on a bike is easier. You are generally going to be more precise with your hands than your feet. When learning to ride I only stalled a few times. I stalled way more often learning to drive a stick shift cage. I am also used to the really touchy clutch on my VW (lightened flywheel, aftermarket pressure plate, and a high strung engine). Compared to that beast (which either stalls, wheelhops, or launches you like a slingshot) the clutch on the bike I used in the MSF course was downright easy with a wide engagment range.

Pretty much everyone has given good advice here, so I am just going to give you more encouragement. Accept that you will make mistakes and learn from them, next time you stall, grin and move on. If it is pre determined that you will stall 20 times before you get it right, then that's onother one out of the way. Biking should be fun, if you beat yourself up, it won't be. Stick at it.

No big deal when you are starting out, it is showing you are respecting the bike in a way.

Practicing on your own in a parking lot will give you confidence fast, and after a few times out it will be second nature.

Try thinking of the clutch as a reverse throttle. When you let it out SLOWLY it will begin to grab and you can actually change your speed by slowly releasing and engaging the clutch at low speeds. Try this in a parking lot by letting out the clutch slowly and using it to slwoly slow down by engaging it and slowly releasing it to speed up a bit. When you get a feel for the friction zone, you will be much more comfortable coming away from a stop.

"So I have a question for any riders reading this: did it take you more than a few hours to learn to shift and brake without ever stalling out? How long did it take you to get the
hang of it?"

You'll stall occasionally, but no, it doesn't take long. You're getting psyched out. Try to spend some time riding in the dirt. Every day I ride I'm glad for my misspent youth crashing into things on dirt bikes. Get some gear and a 125, ride over logs, go nuts. You can't gain confidence in a parking lot afternoon with a bunch of new riders on street bikes. Try taking it offroad with a light machine and no road. You'll learn more about the dynamics of motorcycling there.