Nervous Riders Query!

Yeah it was on a 125cc for the training - that seems easy now!

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by clodge

It is lack of confidence really - for example when we're turning right onto a main road, we do the usual checks and then we just keep on looking so the gaps gone and you've cars up your ar*e. When we fell off at the beginning it was always when turning right and I think it's just stemmed from there. We've also noticed that people don't sit at junctions with their foot on the back brake like we were taught - is this likely to be part of the reason we're struggling turning right?(we always stop with our left foot on the floor, right foot on the back brake)

They mainly sit with their feet off the brake cause they're being lazy, you get like that after a while, of kind of get sooo relaxed you do start forgetting your training. Some days its very windy you can't help but sit at a light with both feet flat. Once you get going you'll start relaxing and start picking up bad habits. Don't worry about what the others are up to, just relax and get into a riding style thats safe and comfortable for you

Cheers everyone - practice it is then!

Stay off the roads early Saturday/Sunday morning near us

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

sounds like you don't so much need tuition as just more miles under your belt... try to find a local group of riders who are willing to take you out and keep an eye on you, not just buzz off into the distance

Whilst essentially i agree with you, i think we need to find out whether the test/training was done on a 125cc or a 500cc+ bike.

If it was done on a 125, then it may be the case that a few issues need to be addressed. I know when i switched to larger capacity bikes i had to correct some of my techniques as they no longer worked. After all they have to be ridden slightly differently, especially at low speed.

Experience is the key factor, but having someone who is knowledgeable there to help ( be they instructor or volunteer), can only make things easier.

*Edit* Aaah so you did do your test on a 125. In that case i agree with Fizz, run through all the basics in an empty car park and your confidence will improve. Then all you have to do is apply them on the road. Don't worry you'll get there in the end.

[Red Herring]

As everybody has said just try and get some practice in. Go out when it is quieter, I know that is difficult at this time of year but the roads are still fairly quiet at 6am on a Sunday, just watch out for any ice if it's been cold overnight. It might have just been the way you said it with the use of "we" but I take it you are not riding two up, because that would definately be difficult with your experience.

Definitely not up to pillion riding! My sister and I share the bike, the closest we've got to pillion is standstill in the car park!

[Red Herring]

Cheers, thought I must have read it wrong.....Thinking about this a bit more it might be worth getting in touch with your local IAM group. I agree you might not yet be up to going on formal advanced training but you may well find a sympathetic ear there who will come and give you some hands on advice, or even take you for a pillion ride on their bike to help build your confidence.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by clodge

It is lack of confidence really - for example when we're turning right onto a main road, we do the usual checks and then we just keep on looking so the gaps gone and you've cars up your ar*e. When we fell off at the beginning it was always when turning right and I think it's just stemmed from there. We've also noticed that people don't sit at junctions with their foot on the back brake like we were taught - is this likely to be part of the reason we're struggling turning right?(we always stop with our left foot on the floor, right foot on the back brake)

How you stop is very much up to you.

From my experience of a year and a half ago......

On my DAS course we were trained to stop left foot down, right foot on brake.

Main reason for this is that it stops the bike from going anywhere and encourages you to get down into 1st easily, you were probably trained to put it in 1st and keep the clutch in.

I remember riding back with my Instructor and another guy after my 1st test, I had failed and the other guy had passed, the Instructor kind of told the other guy to now do it right foot down as if he had earned it.

Nowadays I am usually right foot down, the reason being that as I was told by someone on here, clutched cost money.

So my stopping procedure, click the bike into neutral, if the road isnt level, hold the bike on the front brake, left foot ready to click down into 1st and move off when ready.

Sometimes however if I am on a slope and stopped at lights I will still go left foot down, hold the bike on the rear brake as this allows me to take my hands off of the bars and stretch my hands/arms.

Its all personal preference, and if you are still a little nervous, then the way you do it is fine - its less to think about etc and you dont have to worry about getting into and out of neutral gear, and the panic that happens when you cant find it because the gears are not quite lined up to click into place - this happens to everyone, but when you are nervous it seems like the end of the world.

Just relax and enjoy.

[MrMessy]

Try to find a quiet industrial estate and practice there or buy a cheap bike with normal handlebars something like a Kawasaki ER5. They are a lot easier to ride, thats why training schools use them.
Good luck anyway, it will come with practise

Originally Posted by clodge

Yeah it was on a 125cc for the training - that seems easy now!

I think you've answered your own question there.

Why on earth are you on 650's if you feel like this? Go back to 125's and get some exsperience... and confidence!

Then *when you are ready* go up to a larger bike.

I can't belive folks are telling you "it'll come" when you are obviously a danger to yourselves and other road users at present. Yeah! and you might be dead/have killed someone before then.

Pop back to the shop and trade the 650's in before something Nasty McPasty happens.

Carl