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Confidence/target fixation/trusting the tyres.

Hey guys.

Ive been riding since 2000 and like most people it took a while to get my confidence up to a pointbwhere I wasnt worrying about all the stuff in the title. To be honest I ended up getting pretty over confident at times and became one of those nutters that would leave 99% of other fast riders behind even on a lesser powered bike. At the time it was cool. On reflection I was a tool. I had a couple of accidents (13 to be precice) with about a 50/50 my fault/their fault ratio. Either being silly on cold tires and low siding, or having people in cars pull out on me on roundabouts. After 2 particular crashes (girlfriends ended up in hospital) it really hit me. My ex could tell when I was hesitant (yes she got back on the bike with me.....till she got her own sv) and it was diwn hill from their. I still reember the last ride I went on...approaching an easy bend with a wall on one side......I just couldnt stop looking at it.....I was only doing 30 and heading straight for it. I stopped in time....turned around and went home. Put the tl in the garage for 1 1/2 years...sold it and that was it.

4 years later im back on a bike. My second sv650. After meeting my current gurlfriend who has a gladius..I started thinking about the fact that I gave up due to fear. And that bugs me....big style!

So now I still gave deamons to purge.

Has anyonevelse had a similar problem? How did you deal with it? Any advice greatly recieved. I just want to enjoy it again.

Re: confidence/target fixation/trusting the tires

It's natural for your confidence to take a knock, especially if you have a incident that isn't readily understandable, that you realise your riding/confidence isn't up to scratch is a big part of improving.
Firstly, don't give yourself a hard time over it, everyone has doubts at some time - to a greater or lesser degree.
Secondly, consider what's actually wrong, if it's a confidence matter get out there and ride, but don't rush - you'll learn nothing. In your position some advanced tuition sounds like a good move, even the best and most experienced riders develop bad habits, and there is no-one that can't learn, your concerns are exactly the sort of things that are addressed by a willingness to learn.

confidence/target fixation/trusting the tires

Ouch!

Whilst not as extensive as your history, I can get where you are coming from. I high sided on a round about a few years ago and broke my collar bone and had it plated.

Was out of commission for 2 months and lost a lot of strength in the shoulder and arm. When I got back on the bike I had real difficulty in trusting my arm and the bike in corners.

Unfortunately where I was concerned there was no quick fix, I had to approach it like scrubbing in new tyres, gradually over time going further and further over in corners I knew to get the confidence back.

Hope you find "your way" soon and can get back to enjoying 2 wheels!