Lost confidence cornering

[lukewalton]

Hi guys

I binned my bike just before christmas. Was about 20-30mph, the classic winter roundabout loss of grip. It was very cold so most likely ice or a diesel spill on cold tyres (happened 1min into ride home from work). I've finally got the bike back like new, put a tasty new Pirelli Diablo on the front to replace the old Dunlop, mostly for peace of mind.

However, I've been out on a few rides now in dry daytime conditions (today's weather was perfect) and my cornering has gone to pot. I have lost all confidence in leaning the bike over. No trust in my tyres, even though I know it was a slippy night when I crashed. Before the crash I could rail corners so nicely, got to the point where I was trying for knee downs! Now there's no chance of that. In fact, the way I'm now taking roundabouts (of which I now seem to have a phobia) I think it's dangerous as I'm tightening up my body and steering. Has anyone else experienced this post-crash drop in confidence? Any tips for getting over it? It's getting me down and taking away the enjoyment of riding :-(

[ASM-Forever]

Get out and ride.

Simple as that.......

[Alpinestarhero]

Well, know that your tyres wont have heat in after 1 minute in winter :D give them time to warm up. From your previous confidence, you may be aware that gripping the handlebars makes the bike harder to turn; relax your body, grip the tank with your knees a bit more (take weight off your wrists) and also carry a bit of positive throttle through the corner - rolling off completly will put all the weight on the front, and give you an understeering feeling (or so I have noticed). I've also noticed it helps to drop the elbow on the inside of the bend you are taking towards the inside of the corner, it encourages you to relax your arms. Dont sit right up agains the tank, as your body dosnt hang off the bike, it more rotates around the tank.

You know you can go round corners with confidence; you've done it before ;) there is grip on winter roads, as long as you relax and dont try too hard too soon

Matt

[metalmonkey]

As ASM said but if your not relaxed when you ride your bike it will make it harder to ride, your tyres are fine. I noticed when I was learning to ride last year when I was tense riding well just didn't work!

If I were you I would find a quite bit of road or an empty car park and patices turnng, leaning the bike, stopping the bike, emergency stop, then go for a ride. Then ride as much as you can.

I'm no expert at all, but its what I would do.

If your anywhere near, north london, herts/bucks or coming this way, I will go out for a ride with you, like I said i'm not an expert as other on here are, but I will ride for hours fun.

Best of luck, but ride your bike and have fun:D

[lukewalton]

I think tomorrow after work (knock off at 1pm) I will seek a quiet bit of warm tarmac and try to teach myself that my tyres will grip! Just need to get over my fear of the front end giving without warning like it did. You're right, i really need to relax. I'm half considering taking a refresher lesson or something.

[lukewalton]

Cheers Bluethunder, I'm in Bristol though! Quite some way away. Got some lovely roads over in wales nearby. May have to visit them tomorrow afternoon. Bristol traffic is not the most confidence-inspiring!!!

[ASM-Forever]

If you crash, then its only natural that your confidence is knocked.

After a bit of time in the saddle it will all come back, especially on gorgeous days like today/tommorrow.

[the_lone_wolf]

definately spend some time riding roads you know and like, don't push it, just let the confidence come back - then go back to the place you crashed and "face your demon" so to speak. i've yet to bin my bike but i've had wobbly moments at some junctions and run wider than i'm comfortable with on some corners, so i go back and ride them again and again until i know what i did wrong, and how i can not have it happen again

[ASM-Forever]

definately spend some time riding roads you know and like, don't push it, just let the confidence come back - then go back to the place you crashed and "face your demon" so to speak. i've yet to bin my bike but i've had wobbly moments at some junctions and run wider than i'm comfortable with on some corners, so i go back and ride them again and again until i know what i did wrong, and how i can not have it happen again

Every time i ride past the junction where i was SMIDSY'd, i'm like a meerkat. :p

[StreetHawk]

I know how you feel when you say you have lost confidence, my front tyre slid away from me and I just about caught it and managed to stay upright, the rest of the ride home was slooooooooooow!

I couldn't stop thinking about it when going into bends but after a while the confidence came back, it was purely about putting in the miles in good conditions. I'm still not the most confident in the bends but it coming together the more I ride. Had a run out today and the front felt glued to the road :-)

[StreetHawk]

I keep seeing it but what is SMIDSY?????????????? Sorry for the de-rail!

[lukewalton]

lol yeah sometimes I walk past the miniroundabout I slid across and it brings back horrible memories, I think there is still a mark on the kerb where my exhaust hit and bought the bike to a halt. When I ride across it, there's a small metal inspection cover, all shiny which I part blame. I eye it with such loathing contempt each time i cross that roundabout.

[maultin]

Do not let it turn you against riding. I have been at it since Aug 07, when I passed my test & I have had a few hairy moments, thankfully stayed rubber side down.

Something I have noticed helps when cornering is to get back in my seat - must be something to do with centre of gravity or another of those technical things that pass me by on a daily basis.

See if you can get back to trying to put your knee down as soon as you can.

Take care, Alan

[lukewalton]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement guys. Maybe I should set myself chicken strip targets for each week lol! For every 5mm I lose I'll treat myself to a bottle of Old Speckled Hen!

[kwak zzr]

i'm riding abit like michael rutter at the moment but i'll be back!:)

[injury_ian]

I keep seeing it but what is SMIDSY?????????????? Sorry for the de-rail!

Sorry Mate I Didn't See You

[the_lone_wolf]

Every time i ride past the junction where i was SMIDSY'd, i'm like a meerkat. :p

small, rodent like with a penchant for cobra flesh?*


freak:smt101



;)



*yes i know it's a mongoose but for the purposes of humour let's just run with it shall we?:p

[$tevo]

It's natural to feel nervous and apprehensive after an off, I almost gave up biking after a car turned right on me into a junction I was passing - That wasn't a SMIDSY, he told bobbies I was on the wrong side of the road:rolleyes: You gotta ride through it as you've already been told. Try not to tense up or it'll make a repeat all the more likely! And no more hammering into roundabouts in winter after 1 mile when you do get your confidence back:)

Take it easy....

[-Ralph-]

If you crash, then its only natural that your confidence is knocked.

After a bit of time in the saddle it will all come back, especially on gorgeous days like today/tommorrow.

+1, all quite normal what your feeling. Not nice but grin and bear it for now, get out and put the miles in. Once you start to feel OK again, just start tipping in a bit further and pushing a bit harder each bend.

I know roundabouts are an issue here, but it was a mini roundabout and they are usually pretty sharp turns. Use the bigger roundabouts to parctice leaning the bike again, they are predictable constant radius bends, you can lean in - add some throttle, lean in a bit more - add some more throttle, and gradually increase lean and speed until you think your wing mirrors gonna touch tarmac. Expect to feel your toes touch down so it doesn't surprise you when they do.

One dry day you'll just find yourself in the zone and flying from bend to bend. It'll all drop back into place and you'll be cured! Grinning, but no longer bearing it. Enjoy!

[northwind]

I had a huge loss of confidence after a wee crash a while back... Quite odd, since I've had much bigger/faster crashes and this one shouldn't have been any different, especially since the circumstances were so unusual, but I just couldn't corner for a bit. I found myself counterleaning against corners, I never even did that on my CBT! And of course, once you're low on confidence nothing goes smoothly, so it can get even worse. Took a very long time to get over that, but I did eventually, more or less (still a wee bit nervous in fast righthanders to be honest)

[lukewalton]

Same here Northwind. I remember learning on my DAS back at Mallory Park back last summer, so carefree and cocky being taught to lean those battered old bandits round the track, at what felt at the time to be silly speeds! No worries. I'll get there again. I also find righthanders slightly more tricky, no idea why, maybe because it's more difficult pushing out (counter steering) with the throttle side? Left handers are so much easier!

[Beenz]

I don't want to be harsh as it sounds like you were pretty good on the twisties. But!

Get over it! Get out on the bike and use it within your comfort zone. It's not a race out there so just enjoy riding the bike again. Riding it more without trying to get your knee down will give you more confidence again. It just takes a little time thats all. Before you know it you'll be back to knee hover mode.

Take it easy a while bud. You'll be back!

[JediGoat]

I had similar to what you are going through.

I binned my bike twice (well, two different bikes actually) through being too harsh on the brakes with cold tryes and damp roads. I took me ages to be confident in my braking again - I was so scared of locking up the front, that I constantly ended up way over the white line when traffic lights changed to red.

I'm much better with my braking now.....but my cornering is still shocking :smt003 Doing almost exclusively short trips means that I by the time everything is warmed through....I'm home!

I do still need to cure myself of my bad habit of rolling off the throttle when going round tight corners. There is one junction on my way home, where I have to come out of a side street and turn right, but the turn is quite tight as there is a kerb and bollard (pedestrian refuge I believe they are called) in the middle of the road. Every night I tell myself I will pull out and ride around under constant controlled power, and every bloody night I pull the clutch in when half way round :mad: I'm pretty sure I know what the problem is....I think I can't help but look at the kerb and this is making my turn wider.......

I WILL do it on the way home today!

Edit - Bugger...have just remembered I'm in the car today!

Jo

[Blue_SV650S]

I shouldn't concern ourself about it, its only your brain working!! :D

If you burn your hand on a oven, you tend to take more care when putting your hand in for a bit ;)

All you can do is go out and ride. Just make sure the next few times you do its good conditions. This weekend has been a gem :flower:

Putting that new Pirelli was deffo a good move, new tyres always improve feel/grip! :thumleft: ... what tyre do you have on the rear?

The more miles you get under your belt, the more relaxed and confident you will feel and it'll all come back ... miles under your belt is the only way - don't try and force the issue!! ;)

Whatever you do get out soon before you make an even bigger mental block!! ;)

[Sean_C]

I've been in exactly the same situation. All I can say is get out and ride!
I've done 250 miles since I got back on the road, half of them today. Today has really helped me up my confidence a bit, riding with Pete and Lissa, watching their lines and positioning etc. Now I'm starting to take roundabouts quicker, corners a bit quicker, than yesterday. Going out with a very tidy rider who's not going hell for leather has helped a lot, I'd recommend it.

It's all just a mindset. I'm just as capable as I was before the crash, and soon I'll be right back where I was, confidence-wise too :) Think it just takes time and miles.

[petevtwin650]

Cheers for that Sean.

That's what the proposed rideout from the Ponderosa is attempting to do. Give inexperienced and nervous, for what ever reason, riders a chance to ride at a comfortable pace and chat about riding issues.

[Keith1983]

Move to the states! The invention of the corner hasn't hit on over there yet and for the price of a new sv over here you can have a gixxer thou over there!

[Nostrils]

lukewalton, I had a day of 2 halves. On the out run all around Camberley / Yateley / Ligh****er using the A roads and some motorway I really enjoyed the whole ride. Had a stop at my sisters for about an hour and then the run home. What a pile of rubbish, brain was doing overtime and nothing came together, so jumped on the motorway and got home sharpish and put the bike away. There is always next weekend (for me)

[lukewalton]

cheers for all the tip guys. Blue, I have a Pirelli Diablo Strada on the rear fitted by the previous owner, hence matching it with a diablo on the front. Took it out for a blast to Abergavenny this afternoon. Never been there before, was amazed when I got to the carpark, so many bikes! Great stuff. On the way I caught up with some guy on a big naked, perhaps a XJR1300. Thought I'd follow and it helped so much to see him(?) corner smoothly, and the lines he took. Also, he wasn't going hell for leather which made me realise it isn't one big race. Like you say Beenz, staying within your comfort zone is the way forward. On the way back from Abergavenny I got lost! Took a massive detour on wet, crumbling, poo ridden roads which was hair raising, esp as the sun was setting (with a tinted visor - oops) and the cold! Also a useful lesson though. My bike's covered in crap (waxed it yesterday) but so what, was great fun, can't wait to get out again! And I really really can't wait for summer!

[Beenz]

.... And I really really can't wait for summer!

Absolutely agree.

Oh, Abergavenny gets packed every time the sun shines. It's a cracking blat over from Wiltshire, the Bristol lot swarm over from time to time as well, Chepstow, Usk route is a good one. They've still not sorted the surface out yet though.

Have fun.

[lukewalton]

I agree with the surface issue. There are ruts running in line with the road which kept kicking my wheels to the side. Feels weird, esp with gravel in the centre of the road. Like riding on marbles!

[chakraist]

Funnily enough, I've crashed just at the peak of my confidence, I was riding really good, knee hovering on roundabouts, I pick a bad apex on a corner and end up on the otherside of the road, of course, let off the throttle, brake and can't turn in time, scrape the back of a car on the other side of the road. I ride that road every day as well, usually in the dark at the same speeds as I was doing that day. Since then, well, bike has mainly been ill (all that happened in the scrape was a crack in the fairing), but I got back on, rode home, still complete loss of confidence. Will be fine!