Performance Anxiety (first time rider)

[jc.cyberdemon]

I read twist of the wrist 2 after i got the basics down pretty well. I think it helped me with cornering more than anything, I also watched the video....don't recommend you watch it with anyone else around or you will be distracted by the uncomfortable feeling the two guys in it give you. worst acting ever not to mention all the homoerotic undertones.

[DucofWestwood]

i took up riding in my early 30s.  i found the MSF course went a long way towards making me relaxed with the whole thing.  you wouldn't think a handful of hours in the saddle over a weekend would make much difference, but when the class was over, i didn't want to give up the bike! 

i agree with what others have said regarding focus.  you can't let your mind wander at all, and you (should) develop a sort of mind-reading ability where you are able to anticipate moves that other drivers will make.  you take note of who's driving aggressively, who's driving slowly, who's texting, who's looking in their mirrors, etc. 

you're approaching it thoughtfully.  you'll do great 

[Rawr01]

I read twist of the wrist 2 after i got the basics down pretty well. I think it helped me with cornering more than anything, I also watched the video....don't recommend you watch it with anyone else around or you will be distracted by the uncomfortable feeling the two guys in it give you. worst acting ever not to mention all the homoerotic undertones.

unfortunate title, horrible acting, homoerotic undertones, uncomfortable feeling?  sounz like every "movie for guys who like movies". can it be worse than that danny trejo/jean-claud van damme foot massage in desert heat?  seriously, it happened.

[jc.cyberdemon]

unfortunate title, horrible acting, homoerotic undertones, uncomfortable feeling?  sounz like every "movie for guys who like movies". can it be worse than that danny trejo/jean-claud van damme foot massage in desert heat?  seriously, it happened.

i guess youd just have to watch it....

[thought]

in terms of the books, i know that some libraries stock them...

i would take the list of books mentioned here (they are all known as the go to books for riding) and go to your local library and see if they can order them for you.  a lot of libraries have the ability to get requested books in if you're willing to wait for a bit

[Triple J]

seriously tho, if i read only 1, which should it be?  

"Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough. It is the best street skills book out IMO.

Less than $20 new, and it looks like you can get used ones much cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/Proficient-Motorcycling-Ultimate-Guide-Riding/dp/1889540536

[toudg]

My 8th year (years do not matter, milage do), never went down and not planning to.  But I dress like I will ; so no t-shirt even if it's 45C outside.  I just try to relax and avoid jumping on the brakes.  But if you're not a little bit scare when you pull the bike out of your garage then you should grab your car.  It's normal.  Being cocky wont get you anywhere.  I did some track days and now I pratice mountain bike.  Helped me a lot.  Everybody can drive at 200km/h, but not everyone can stop properly.  Gear up and go practice your skills at a lone spot.


Have a nice season !!!  btw I know a LOT of 300k miles rider or so who never hit the ground ... 

[DoubleEagle]

RULE #1 = RELAX...a tensed up rider is a danger to themself...whether it be yoga or finding your chi or getting a blowjob, do whatever it is you need to do to be relaxed before you get on the bike and maintain that whilst mounted and riding.

RULE #2 = Your thoughts are going to be a direct input to exactly what you are going to do. MSF and many other books and riding folks will tell you this. It is more exampled in your actions, and so if you think negative or of things that are "going" to happen, then more than likely they will. Be actively aware, but don't dwell on what might happen as you'll miss the opportunity of learn on how to avoid from keeping it from happening.

suggestion #1 - take those bar end mirrors and signals off for your 1st few months, because if you are afraid you are going to drop the bike, then you will and those will be crushed and it will annoy the shit out of you and cost you $$$. Put on a set of the old Mickey Mouse mirrors and some regular visible turn signals. They work, they are effective, and most of all, they are cheap and easy to put on or take off and generally out of the way of crash damage when low speed things occur.

No offense to Keith Code and his books, but some of by Nick Ienatsch. Everyone has there preference or teaching style when it comes to learning, and mine just didn't jibe with KC's TOTW books. YMMV of course.

One of Keith Code's main topics for discussion which I found especially fundimental to avoiding one of the most common forms of crashing for all riders once they start riding out in the twisties is the issue of Target Fixation .

When a Rider goes into a corner may be too fast or feels uncomfortable about going through corners and looks at the area in the corner they fear most...which is then where they end up , since your bike most of the time goes where you are looking.

Keith talks about overcoming out natural responses which are most often wrong when we get into riding situatatios where as inexperienced riders we tend to " panic " instead of use the skills he teaches.

I think all new motorcycle riders would benefit from his wisdom , not just experienced ones .

Dolph      [moto]

[KRJ]

  In My Opinion, go out, beg, borrow, or steal a small displacement enduro/duel sport bike, find a muddy grass field after a rain, and ride the dog snot out of it!!  take hard corners, slam on the brakes front and rear, FEEL IT!!. Fall down a few times, with good gear of course,and understand what happens when You input the commands. it is the only true way Anyone will ever understand the dynamics of riding a Motorcycle. Those of Us who were born on a bike have already been through this, and most of Us still learn every ride new ways to do things properly. the reading of books is a good thing, only after You understand what the bike is about, what it is telling You, and I read several every Spring to refresh My memory. By doing this You are teaching Yourself and saving time, money and bodily injury,it's cheap to replace levers and bars on a cheap bike, not so on the street, with other obstacles and such.Time is a great teacher, but not all of Us have it, so accelerate the process, safely of course. Good luck in Your learning process, and slow and smooth is the way to start...

[WarrenJ]

Understanding target fixation and building skills to avoid it is pretty important and is something I work on constantly.  A simple drill I do when riding - I look for a spot or mark on the road ahead.  If you continue looking at the spot as you approach, you will almost always hit it.  Once I find the spot ahead, I force my vision on the path I need to avoid hitting the spot.  Its a simple drill that you can do all the time and it builds the habit to look where you want the bike to go, not at the obstacle you are trying to avoid.  It saved my bacon last year when I encountered some turkeys in the road while riding too fast - my eyes automatically when to the path between the birds instead of locking on one of them - I saw feathers go under each hand but I avoided the collision thanks to building that habit by that simple drill. 

[ducatiz]

Best advice I ever heard was avoid high-traffic times on the road and high traffic intersections until you are more familiar with your controls.

Newbs end up in accidents for a lot of reasons, but the one thing I've heard is that you forgot where the brake was or stalled the bike forgetting to clutch when braking etc.

You want to give yourself time for everything to become a subconscious act.  You need to be able to focus on the road without having to wonder which gear you're in.

Take it slow.

[WarrenJ]

I agree about avoiding the high traffic situations until most of the physical functions of riding the bike are muscle memory instead of conscious action.  I still don't like riding in traffic.  I am fortunate here - when I go for my 50 mile spin in the evening, I may see 10 cars.  See more deer and turkeys than cars.

[Monster Dave]

Here's my 2 cents worth:

It really seems like you're over thinking things and freaking yourself out. Don't listen to what others say about accidents. Just accept that (like anything you do for the first time) there's a magrin of risk involved. If you drop the bike, you drop the bike - so what - just pick it back up and get right back on it. Don't let pride or fear hinder riding. Riding can be quite a liberating expierence.

Be sure to do like others have said and relax. When you're ready to roll sitting on the bike and all geared up, take a big deep breath (with the visor open) and let all of your stresses go. It's good to be aware of other vehicles on the road, but try not to ride thinking that someone is targeting you!

One thing that I didn't see was if you had taken an MSF course? If not, you really should.

Also, you should check out Lee Parks Total Control course - it's worth every penny:

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=37078.0

[ducatiz]

I agree about avoiding the high traffic situations until most of the physical functions of riding the bike are muscle memory instead of conscious action.  I still don't like riding in traffic.  I am fortunate here - when I go for my 50 mile spin in the evening, I may see 10 cars.  See more deer and turkeys than cars.

Deer and turkey can be less predictable than cars.  Around me it's old ladies, soccer moms, 80 year old korean men and drunk rednecks in beat up F150s, so basically the bottom of the barrel in terms of driving ability.

[zooom]

Deer and turkey can be less predictable than cars.  Around me it's old ladies, soccer moms, 80 year old korean men and drunk rednecks in beat up F150s, so basically the bottom of the barrel in terms of driving ability.

you forgot about the illegals with no insurance piled in to their Toyota pick-ups in a way that they can't see their mirrors or you...