Dropped Bike

Hi,

I went out on my bike last monday (I passed my test in Aug 06 and just got my first bike a couple of weeks ago, so i have not been on a bike for nearly 2 years!) this is the second time on my new bike. and i was waiting to turn right at a junction and some idiot in a boy racer car came right up next to me on the left hand side (he was going left and tried to squeeze through the small gap) i kinda panicked and i ended up dropping the bike. The only damage was a broken brake lever, i had to ride the bike home using only the back brake.

I have now had the brake fixed (got a new lever from ebay and it took about 2 mins to fit) but im quite nervous about riding it again! Just wondered if anyone else has had anything similar happen or am i just being a wimp.

Thanks.

I have had a couple of incidents where I thought a cager was too close for comfort but a long stare resulted in them sheepishly waving and saying sorry.

The best advise is to use this incident as a learning curve and get back on your bike and get your road craft back up to speed.

I have not been on my bike in a little while and will have my eyes on stalks until it all clicks into place again.

the more you ride the more you will learn ,we all get caught out when we start

find a few mates that are on bikes and ask them to go out with you, this way then you can explain to them your new etc and they should keep with you, do this a few nights a week and you will soon get better

but as above the more you use the bike the more happier your riding will be

Best way is to keep calm and in control. I know it can be hard and with you being out of practice cant be great...

Not sure what else to say. Just keep safe and stay calm.

More time in the saddle will help along with extra training. If you are having problems with balance try an offroad day with someone like Yamaha Experience. It will improve your slow bike control and balance imensely. You also get to have a lot of fun and probably fall off some more - so you'll either get over it or give up biking completely

Thanks very much for all your encouragement. If the weather brightens up today, might go out tonight.

The best advice is to just ride.

The nerve wracking bit does subside and turn into excitement. Then it all clicks into place. An awesome feeling, but you have to work at it by putting the miles in.

man i dropped it in a u turn shortly after i first got it

i felt stupid, but its one of those things

i get knocked down, but i get up again... what a song

I would look to use the whole lane when at junctions until you get your confidence up, this way there will not be room for another car to try and squeeze in next to you.

Take it steady and you will be fine!