OK I admit that I'm petrified to be on a bike

[RussellH]

So this is my first bike ever, I took the MSF course about a month ago and just bought the bike (see sig) a few days ago. I have only been riding it around my house gingerly with a few random 5k rpm bursts occasionally. Mostly I've just been practicing u-turns with counterweight - it helps that I live on a cul-desac street.  As much as I enjoy the wind in my face and operating a simple yet complex machinery under me, as well as its various controls etc I'm quite scared of the thought that I'd be sharing the fast streets and interstates with big cars and clueless drivers. Not to mention my own skills (or lack of them). As a cager I always thought bikes were stickier and quicker than cars but now I really doubt that's the case, very experienced riders make it look that way but that ain't me. And I used to race cars so I know all about the apex, decreasing radius turns, off-cambers etc and at the track I could hang the tail out around the corners with controlled opposite locks in a four wheel drift etc. So I feel that I'm far more in control of a car than a bike. The thought of dumping the bike and getting all banged up by the asphalt and a 400lb bike is a quite scary, and that's actually a favorable outcome, one could easily get run over by a passing car while in the tumbler. Or what if you don't even dump the bike but some guy not paying attention can hit you? And what's with this new stuff I've read randomly that some cagers don't like bikes/bikers and try to harass them, is that really true??! even as a cager I always moved onto the ruble strips on the other side to let a biker go by and I always got a thank you wave. I do the same for the truckers, I flash the headlights to let them know they're clear to get in front of me and I get the brake-light thank you from them too. Sorry, I digress...

So how have you overcome the fear of riding? Have you had close calls? What have you learnt?

Maybe it's just me getting old

 

[DesignFlaw06]

Maybe take the MSF course again if you're not comfortable yet.

To be honest, I was apprehensive at first as well. It gets easier. My philosophy is just to stay out of the way of everyone else. You should never be in anyone's way. That way when a cager does something stupid, you're not around to see it.

Best of luck. I hope you can get over your apprehensive.

Tim

[detdrbuzzard]

i started riding just before my ninth birthday. my neice lisa was going through this when she started riding again this year. she is 40ish and i taught her when she was 16 so you see the time span for her. she wanted to ride and i would take her on rides with me. she rode the nh450 and i had the aspencade. the best thing i did for her was introduce her to some ladies that rode. they had her all over the place and my neice had her first trip on the expressway with them. now she rides a '79 goldwing with a windshield and soft bags and we laugh about it. find someone to ride with out on the road it will help you get comfortable on your bike and one day you'll look back and laugh about it too

[MrF]

I don't think I was ever terrified when I first started, but I was keenly aware that my skill set was pretty limited.

I started with rides around the neighborhoods and only riding my bike to places where I knew I wouldn't run into any busy streets along the way.  As my skill and confidence built, I'd venture on the highway, only during non-busy times at first.  As time passed, I pretty much got to the point where I was comfortable riding anywhere, and had confidence in my ability to think ahead of the bike, react to things, and keep out of trouble.

As far as not getting squished by cagers, situational awareness goes a long way.  I'm always thinking "does this guy see me?" when I see a car at an intersection, or when I'm passing someone, and always have an escape plan in mind just in case they don't.  You can't afford to zone out on a bike.

I bet in time your fear will turn into healthy respect, and you'll be having a lot of fun.

[Bumblebee]

You're not getting old. You're just realizing you're not immortal like the one wheel squids think they are.

Controlled variations of those scary thoughts more or less go through my mind regularly and I've been riding off and on for 35+ years or so. IMO, if you don't consider those problems, and quite a few others that you missed, you're either a squid or shouldn't be riding. Those same thoughts put into proper perspective will keep you as safe as possible.

Instead of concentrating on the potential hazards and consequences, turn the problem around. What can you do to make those things NOT happen to you? Ex: A cager could bump you and put you on the pavement. Sooo. A cager can't hit you if they're not close enough to you to make contact. Make a big hole around you and keep it open at all times. Always have at least two and preferably three instantly useable exits from any situation..even when sitting still at a redlight. How do you keep those escape options open? Total situational awareness.

Start small. Ride the local neighborhoods until you're comfortable there. Then make runs to the store until you're comfortable doing that. Then progressively over time slowly go further from home and on bigger faster roads. Go at your own pace. If it takes several months to get to 55mph, there's no penalty points given for taking the time.

BTW: Why are you spooling up to 5000rpm especially putzing around the residential area? Shift gears or slow down or something. About the only thing high RPM and will accomplish for a spooky new rider is destabilizing the motorcycle a little thus scaring yourself even more. I seldom ever get to 5000rpm unless it's an emergency situation and most of those stay below 4500rpm. Any half wit monkey can twist a throttle wide open or go fast in a straight line. Learn discipline and smooth control inputs, not big show off impressive numbers and noise.

Close calls? Don't overfocus on that stuff. It's not good for you. The energy you're wasting on that is better put to use doing everything possible to become a better rider.

Lessons?
1. Replace fear with knowledge.
2. Total situational awareness.
3. ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) every time without exception.

[happycommuter]

The Perfect Vehicle:What It Is About Motorcycles by Melissa Holbrook Pierson has a whole chapter on fear and how it must be there as part of respect for the inherent danger, but how you must simultaneously put it in the back of your mind.  Avoiding traffic until basic operation no longer requires undivided attention is the proper method, and not dropping it yet puts you way ahead of my first trip around the block.  If you have a trustworthy friend who can lead at your pace, great.  Someone not patient enough for a beginner is a detriment IMHO.

Easier said than done, but relax.  Focus too hard on walking and you'll trip.  Hum songs to yourself while practicing to relieve tension and allow the motions to become more natural and graceful.

+1 on lowering the revs.  Also counterleaning on tight turns is a fairly advanced technique that is usually reserved till people have mastered normal cornering - ERC course and the end of Lee Parks' book.  I'd do practical straights, shifts, stops, right angle turns... basic stuff, not drill team acrobatics...yet.

Get a dorky big bright reflective vest and some armored (over)pants and you'll have a bunch of peace of mind for under $200.  People will be much more apt to see you, and any road contact will hurt a lot less.

[RussellH]

Thanks guys, yeah I hear what you're saying and when I'm out on the bike I'm OK but when I sit here think about it, I fee like I'm on borrowed time and the odds are against you.

I know my skills are lacking but I'm fairly comfortable controlling the bike and other than getting good at it I'm not worried about that part. It's meeting with a cager or hitting a slick patch of road or running too wide in a turn while trying to keep the car behind me at a distance. In any event I do plan to take the MSF advanced rider course once I have about one to two thousand miles under my belt. Right now it's probably 50 miles but once the bike's in good shape and I have the safety gear I'll be taking the bike out for a couple of hours every weekend or at least that's the plan.

As for counterweight u-turns, we actually had to do that to pass the MSF class, in fact, it was a very tight figure-8 box which was impossible to do without counter weight and it was the hardest for me. MSF actually touches on some good advanced techniques but leaves practicing to you due to limited time. Another was swerving where you throw the bike into a quick left-right. We also practiced panic'd braking - all four controls, i.e. front+rear brakes, clutch in, throw the bike in first for a quick take off after the stop. We also practiced leaning into the turns. This is another one that I need practice on but no where to practice this right now. I feel my turns end up being wider than I want them and guess what? according to CA DMV the single major cause of a single motorcycle crash is running too wide in the turn and hitting an object.

EDIT: oh 5k rpm, on a 450cc is not that fast I just wanted to feel the bike out and it has a slight back-fire issue at around 3k so was trying to see if it's still there past that RPM 

Anyway, thanks for the tips and I'll be sure to check in here for more tips and tricks from those of you who've been doing this for years and managed to stay safe. I'm borrowing a book from a friend next week it's called Proficient Motorcycling or something like that. I hear it's a pretty good book.

[Bumblebee]

We also practiced leaning into the turns. This is another one that I need practice on but no where to practice this right now.

Maybe this is a little too advanced for you at the moment however if so, file it away for future reference: Find a big empty school parking lot with nothing to run into like curbs or poles or drain covers or parked tractor-trailer rigs. Check carefully to make sure there's no loose gravel or overly slick parking stripes or ice or water. You want a clean flat surface. Start at about 8-10mph and establish a turn and keep it there. Look into the turn where you're headed, not where you're going. Maintain speed and do not accelerate or decelerate. Once the circle is established, lean steeper and tighten it up at the same speed. Then tighten it up some more. Then tighter. When you wimp out, do the same thing going the opposite direction. Then do figure 8's that way. Be conservative at first then get more aggressive as your overall skills improve over time. That will teach you how far you can lean and trust the bike....just be really careful to not dump yourself. Once you have that down, then ride precise circles based on reference points on the ground and tighten up your turns based on those circular reference points. Good fun. If you're doing it properly, you can inadvertently stop a MSF class and be the center of their attention even though you're not associated with them at all (BTDT several times at the local community college on the weekends. )

the single major cause of a single motorcycle crash is running too wide in the turn and hitting an object.

Running wide is often a result of any one of several things:
Not establishing proper entry point and apex or carrying too much speed into the turn. (Remember, it's slow in, fast out, not the other way round)
Touching the brake in a turn. (If you think you're going wide and grab a handful of front brake to solve the problem, the bike will stand up and go in a straight line)
Target fixation. Look where you want to go, not where you're headed. You go where you look. If that doesn't make sense, try to avoid a leaf in the road by target fixating on the leaf...it'll go right under both of your tires every single time and there's not a thing you can do about it as long as you are staring at the leaf. A tree or other immovable object is an extremely difficult thing to not look at when it's rapidly approaching and giving every intent that it's going to smash into you however it is absolutely essential that you look somewhere else to avoid it.


Proficient Motorcycling - good reading that is..even after you've been riding a couple decades.

[Hondo]

Get educated- this will help remove anxiety about riding.

Start with this book -

[happycommuter]

The concern is that a rider who learns counterleaning will start doing it all the time, and it is slightly more intuitive/natural to keep one's body upright against the lean of the turn even though it is a bad practice that will increase turn radius at speed.  Supposedly riders who learn on dirt trails have problems unlearning counterleaning for the street too.
In my mind, you want the normal lean, used more often, to be automatic and unconscious, whereas you can afford to concentrate on doing the opposite in a parking lot.  Of course keeping the body in line with the bike is enough for most everyday riding situations.

[CraigF]

Target fixation. Look where you want to go, not where you're headed. You go where you look. If that doesn't make sense, try to avoid a leaf in the road by target fixating on the leaf...it'll go right under both of your tires every single time and there's not a thing you can do about it as long as you are staring at the leaf. A tree or other immovable object is an extremely difficult thing to not look at when it's rapidly approaching and giving every intent that it's going to smash into you however it is absolutely essential that you look somewhere else to avoid it.

This is so true.  When I first started riding this past summer I tested this theory.  One road I was on has these small utility covers about 8" in diameter.  My goal was to avoid them but still look at them.   I couldn't do it.  I road dead center over 4 in a row and decided to stop trying.

[Bumblebee]

It's funny how you don't pay too much attention to things things going on around you when you're driving your car

I don' think it's very funny in the least. I find it downright terrifying. You do have a point though.

The inside of a cage is too far removed from the reality of the environment they operate in..and they're getting further removed every year. Add in totally non existent training and even lower proficiency requirements and the outcome is exactly what you see everywhere.

If I was King, that's exactly why everyone would be required to ride motorcycles for a minimum of 2 years and a minimum of 30,000 miles before being allowed to operate a cage. A pilot license would reduce the motorcycle before cage requirements by half.

[detdrbuzzard]

It's funny how you don't pay too much attention to things things going on around you when you're driving your car

I don' think it's very funny in the least. I find it downright terrifying. You do have a point though.

The inside of a cage is too far removed from the reality of the environment they operate in..and they're getting further removed every year. Add in totally non existent training and even lower proficiency requirements and the outcome is exactly what you see everywhere.

If I was King, that's exactly why everyone would be required to ride motorcycles for a minimum of 2 years and a minimum of 30,000 miles before being allowed to operate a cage. A pilot license would reduce the motorcycle before cage requirements by half.

you may think i'm not looking but i am. started driving trucke at 23yrs old stopped at 47yrs old and biking has helped my driving and driving big rigs has helped my biking

[RussellH]

The more I read the 'face plant' section on advrider.com the worse I feel. It sounds like I'll get jacked as soon as I go out in traffic. I'm reading 'proficient motorcycling' as we speak. I wish it would just give you step by step info rather than long drawn out descriptions and repeat material 

If I wrote a book it would be something like:

Step 1: get good safety gear including x,y,z
Step 2: practice the evasive maneuvers like braking, accelerating, swerving
Step 3: match up various situations with the appropriate maneuvers

10-15 pages and done!

[Bumblebee]

The more I read the 'face plant' section on advrider.com the worse I feel.

Yes, there is some pretty scary stuff in there. You can only read that section with the proper mindset and not too regularly. I approach it like I do NTSB reports for airplane oopsies: What was the sequence of events that led up to the crash, what was the pilot doing or not doing, and how can I use their experience to keep me out of that situation in the first place.

Don't let it get to you though. The criteria for being in that section is that all the entries involves going down. IOW, 100% of the data points involves crashes and excludes all the many many more data points that don't have a problem.

I wish it would just give you step by step info rather than long drawn out descriptions and repeat material

Eliminate the details and that book would be condensed down to four words and two periods: "Maintain control. Don't crash." The important bits behind those 4 words are in the details in the many many pages of the book and other references that are available.

[Deadly]

The more I read the 'face plant' section on advrider.com the worse I feel.

That's a great section, I read it every once in a while because it helps to remind me to pay attention and not to take motorcycling for granted. 

[RussellH]

Bumblebee, I know what you mean. I guess being a technical person I just like 'to the point' books they're easier for me to read. It's a good book, wish it was half the size.

Yeah that face plant section is what's making me second guess my decision every waking hour now. The other day I couldn't sleep for an hour or more thinking about how much fun it is to ride but I really should sell it or ride only at the track or dirt.

[Bumblebee]

I guess being a technical person I just like 'to the point' books they're easier for me to read. It's a good book, wish it was half the size.

Grasshopper needs patience and attention span longer than preprogrammed 3 minute sesame street show scenes to learn details in full.

Yeah that face plant section is what's making me second guess my decision every waking hour now. The other day I couldn't sleep for an hour or more thinking about how much fun it is to ride but I really should sell it or ride only at the track or dirt.

In that case you're probably reading face plant too much. Take it in moderation. If you're just getting fear out of Face Plant, then you're not staying objective and learning from it.

Which reaction is stronger? Your fear of crashing? Or your desire, no not desire, your passion to ride?

If fear exceeds passion, then it's time to get back in cages.
If passion wins, then you need to replace the fear with knowledge and stay on two wheels.

[RussellH]

You're right that I read it too much. Unfortunately I started reading the sticky thread of those that have passed on http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=350631 - it's heart-breaking.

Accidents with donkeys in the middle of nowhere to pickup trucks ramming you and fleeing the scene...it's just 

It's not to say things like that can't happen in a car but wow the safety the cages offer you just can't be compared. I was clueless.

Regardless, I will make sure that I give the riders my utmost respect from now on 

[JWBrockman]

I struggled with this some myself starting out. I am still quite cautious compared to most riders. When I leave my driveway, I can either turn left toward four lane roads and traffic lights, or right toward two lane roads, cows and stop signs. I very rarely go left. But I think you are overthinking things. Keep in mind that ADVRider is a massive community, with over 90,000 members. Statisically, some of them are destined to meet their end each year. It's easy to look at that thread and be shaken, but it's also an inevitable part of life. Obviously it's awful whenever a rider is lost, but if the world lost all the joy and wonder that is expressed in the rest of the collected threads on that forum, it would be even sadder.

I don't think I'll ever personally be the hardcore rider that some of you are, I think my passion is more working on bikes than riding them (I am desperately trying to prevent myself from picking up another project). But I also don't want to leave this place without mastering some things that I fear, and having had an epic adventure or two. That's what I'm hoping the hobby will do for me.

[RussellH]

I think my passion is more working on bikes than riding them (I am desperately trying to prevent myself from picking up another project).

Josh, that's me! I really enjoy working on cars/bikes and feel that slight bit of improvement. I enjoy driving and riding as well but it's the whole package for me. I stopped racing cars but still continued working on my cars and I didn't miss the racing part *that* much. I filled the void by buying tools...I definitely have more tools than skills 

I shuold qualify the above by saying that I'm not really into "mods" - just repairs and minor improvements. The bike has been theraputic, in the midst of busy life I can run out to the garage after putting my 4 yo to bed, spend 20 mins fixing the electrical stuff, then slip it out of the garage for a quick 'test ride' and go to bed feeling satisfied.

I would love to ride a little more enthusiastically, leaning etc but I just don't have the nerve to do it...definitely not on the streets. I keep thinking I want to take the ERC course but I probably don't have enough time on the bike as a whole to learn or even be able to enroll in it.

Edit: As for your next project, we can trade and call it even...   

[RussellH]

BTW, I really appreciate everyone's encouraging words. It really helps, especially when I hear you guys had similar fears starting out.

[niteman]

RussellH, I listened to your advice and came over to this thread here...I have to openly admit that I have many of the same fears that you have had/have. I bought my bike last Friday (1/09/09). Since then I have done the recommended used bike purchase maintenance and taken it around the neighborhood and the backroads behind my neighborhood. I was at the same time absolutely terrified  and euphorically elated  . I have swore to myself that I will not take her out again until m jacket gets here so I can have all my gear. I then plan to practice the stuff I learned in MSF class at a nearby school/dept store parking lot.

I actually have to admit that before I bought this bike I was thinking of a ninja ex250, not because I really wanted one, but because "everyone" said it was a good beginner bike. RE: people in cars not liking bikes...Anyway, I was/am? a member of ninja250.org before I bought my beloved cb450sc, and one of the members over there ( this has to do with one of your earlier comments) had an experience with a cager that blatantly cut him off and stopped short immediately after a merging on ramp. He ended up bruised but alive...he was wearing ALL of his gear and it probably saved his life. My point is not to scare anyone (or me!), what I took away from it was this piece of advice "ride like all the cars around you are out to do you harm".

That pretty much goes along with some other posters here that ave said to keep at least three outs at all times, and that if that car that's making you nervous isn't near you, it has less of a chance to hurt you.

I am currently reading MSF's Motorcycling Excellence, the Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles, and memorizing my owners manual. I plan on taking the MSF advanced rider course when I get some miles under her tires. Oh, and I want to find a copy of The Perfect Vehicle by Melissa Holbrook for me and my wife to read.

Happy motoring, be safe, and I hope the passion sticks.

Shaun

[fishmeister]

Being totally aware and comfortable at the same time is my ticket. Kinda contrasting to each other, but seems to work for me. At least that's the plan.

[RussellH]

Well guys I've finished reading 'Proficient Motorcycling' and I gained some good insight. A lot of what the author teaches you is common sense but maybe not common knowledge if you know what I mean.

So what book do you suggest next? I'm thinking either "More Proficient Motorcycling" or "Total Control"? Anyone read either or preferably both?

Shaun, you're lucky you have the option to not ride on the busy streets when starting out. For me it's my neighborhood (which can be dangerous with kids, dogs etc) or the busy and fast streets. BTW, why'd you change your mind about the Ninja 250? I didn't fully understand that part.