Things are starting to fall into place.

I've always struggled when it comes to new skills and often things will take an age to sink in with me, I don't know what it is exactly, perhaps it's a confidence thing, perhaps I'm trying too hard to be perfect rather than just enjoying myself and getting on with things.
Anyway, biking has also been one of those things that seem to have taken me a long time to get to grips with properly.

I passed my (full) test at the end of January second time round (first time I dropped the bike before even getting out of the test centre doh!). I've been on a few rides here and there, but only really done maybe 1000 miles since getting the SV650. I've had plenty of variety of roads, city riding, motorways, dual carriageways, potholed gravelly single track country lanes etc etc.

At first I really struggled on my own and pretty much wobbled every time I went round a corner from a standing start, slowed down for most corners (to the point where I was holding cars up) and generally lacking the confidence to enjoy any of it.

I was starting to wonder sometimes whether biking was really for me, and I'd made a rather expensive mistake.

I stuck with it. I went out when I could, kept pushing myself out of my comfort zone a little more each time, leaning the bike over a little bit more each time, carrying a little more speed into corners and going a little faster on the straights. I'm still very aware I've got a long way to go until I'm properly confident with things, but I'm just taking things one step at a time whilst ensuring my own safety.

I've got to the stage now where I look forward to getting a chance to go out on it and genuinely have a good time when I do. My missus seems to have noticed the big cheesy grin when I get back too!

So for all those who've had a few lessons and not sure if it's for them, or have passed their test and still lacking in a bit of confidence, then stick with it for a little longer and do a few thousand miles before you really make your mind up. Take yourself up a notch each time without taking silly chances, don't scare yourself (that shows you're riding beyond your limits) and generally keep practicing, you might just catch the bug.

Some of the keys are, look as far ahead as you can, look where you want to go, stay relaxed, keep as light a grip on the controls as possible, keep your arms, shoulders and upper body relaxed (shake them loose whenever you are tensing up), move your head and upper body into a turn as you initiate- lift the opposite ass cheek off the seat. Don't sit on the bike like a lump of wood, surf through the turns with your upper body and the bike will follow you. Relax. Stay light on the controls. Tell the bike you want it to turn by leaning your body and pushing on the inside bar, then stay loose on the controls and let the bike turn.

[Fallout]

1000 miles is nothing chap! That's your problem. The older you get the longer it takes to learn new things and the stronger your sense of mortality. 1000 miles might get a loony 17 year old riding confidently (and maybe recklessly) but not a sensible older gent.

From your short blurb I'd say the two things you need are many more miles and some more experienced riding buddies. You'll be amazed at how quickly your cornering improves when the guy in front of you leans it over and whizzes round at twice the speed. You realise you can do it too and you'll start pushing yourself.

Well done for improving though. It's all fun from here on in!

[DJ123]

For me, it is being told/taught a technique then putting it into practice. That's when i know i have grasped the concept and put it into practice. The big one for me was 'the vanishing point'. My confidence went on leaps and bounds from there, as with anything it goes hand in hand with other skills which you can then progress with.

Originally Posted by Phil 1

I've got to the stage now where I look forward to getting a chance to go out on it and genuinely have a good time when I do. My missus seems to have noticed the big cheesy grin when I get back too!

Congratulations.

This is all that really matters, and what makes all bikers a biker, from kids ragging around their first 25cc dirt bike, to gramps on his 70 year old sidecar to Guy Martin - hair on fire, elbow down on the roads around the IOM. (probably still chatting away at 1 million miles an hour about god knows what)

Originally Posted by ClunkintheUK

Congratulations.

This is all that really matters, and what makes all bikers a biker, from kids ragging around their first 25cc dirt bike, to gramps on his 70 year old sidecar to Guy Martin - hair on fire, elbow down on the roads around the IOM. (probably still chatting away at 1 million miles an hour about god knows what)

70 year old gramps with his sidecar? Try 83 year old on a BMW R1200RT. At least that's what mine rides around on lol...

Yeah it's all steady away for me at the moment and just enjoying the time I get to go out. I'm 26 now so hopefully if I'm still riding by the time I'm his age I'll be a very happy bunny.

I would be too. Not in a very different situation to you. I got my license July last year, still figuring out cornering properly, but loving every minute of it, even my commute.

Whats really odd though is that i have ridden roads on the motorbike that I have ridden on the pushbike. I know the roads and lines etc, and when doing them on the roadie i have done up to about 45 mph, and been willing to go faster. DO them on the SV doing 40 and thinking "Thats enough for now".

I also agree with the more experienced riding buddies comment from Fallout. Did one ride with the TVAM lot, followed by a bimble with Fallout and Mark_H and i was much smoother, faster and more confident.