My approach to my biking beginning.

[jackw72]

Hey,

Just wondering if anyone else took it as steady as me when they started biking.

Thing is, ive only done 280 miles in about 2 months ive had the bike, my commute to school is only about 300m (LMAO) but i usually go for a little ride after school to wherever. I see kids that have done a 1000 miles in a day for example and are out on their bikes 24/7 i do not do that has anyone else started like that?

Half of me thinks im just taking it gentle and slow because i do not want to crash and damage the bike and indeed myself.

The other half of me thinks it is because I am still a nervous wreck at traffic lights or wherever i have to stop, the fear of stalling has become so bad that ive almost created a mental block on going for a ride.

I still enjoy every moment a hell of a lot and do go riding a lot.

Who was/is like this aswell?

Reassurance or an explanation needed bit low at the moment.

Jack
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08/11/2007 A2 Passed.
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K3
Rapid Training passed

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Practice practice practice.

Go to an empty car park, practice stopping, starting, low speed turns. Anything you can think of. If you dislike traffic lights then go to an empty car park. Stop then imagine a set of traffic lights changing and you have to pull away when it goes to green. It works.

Stick at it mate, it's the best thing in the world.
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My Flickr

[fredsredhat]

[Hairy Ben]

[jackw72]

@ big ham

its not so much i can't do it because i know i can, my bike has no revmeter (tachometer?) but i can usually tell by the revs however when it comes to traffic lights with cars and lorries "chugging" at the lights i can't hear as much as usual so it becomes harder.

@ fredsrh

i dont have anyone to go out with the same level i have a friend that is getting a bike but he has to get a job first and although hes trying i dont think its going to be anytime in the near future.
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08/11/2007 A2 Passed.
Suzuki GSXR 1000 K3
Rapid Training passed

[Jull]

Whatever you feel comfortable with. I made myself go out every day whatever the weather until I passed my test, did about 1000 miles in the first month. Then eased off once I'd passed.

The more confidence you gain the more miles you'll naturally do.

As long as you stick at it you'll be fine

[Noxious89123]

If you can hear (or feel) the bike chugging when pulling away, just give it some more throttle

Go to a car park and practice pulling away. You should be able to count 1,2,3 and then be gone.

1. Left Mirror
2. Right Mirror
3. Right Shoulder
*be gone!*

What i did when riding on road during my CBT was hold the clutch only slightly in from the bite point, so as soon as the lights started to change, i could put on a little bit of power and get going instantly.

[iooi]

Nice summers evenings should see a good 50 miles covered without much trouble. Get yourself out and ride a bit. Thats all i used to do when i was younger. Just head off with no where in mind and just follow your nose.
In a evening there is far less pressure to get it right at lights etc... None of the I'm in a hurry to get to work crowd around.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[tonshar]

If I had a bike I would be out on it everyday but until Tuesday I am billy no bike...lol

But the more practice you get will raise your confidence level and you will really enjoy riding more often
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CBT Passed, Theory Passed - Practical Passed 9/6/07
Suzuki Intruder C800 & Suzuki Bandit 650
I am a female biker

[Nicky-Jano]

I had the same problem as you Jack.
I was absolutely murder for stalling and as my bike is kick-start, was quite embarrassing/annoying when in front of a lot of traffic.
But as everyone else has said just practice.
I didn't even realise I'd stopped stalling till my boyfriend told me I hadn't stalled for 2 weeks .
I don't have a rev counter either so it was pretty much listen to the engine which was hard when bigger vehicles were behind me.
Though as time goes on you get used to it and don't even have to listen to the engine any more as you can 'feel' it.
On the longer rides I have my mp3 on which oddly enough helped with getting the feeling of my engine as I couldn't hear it.

The only thing I can say, which helped me, is ride the clutch while setting off.
So if you feel you may be stalling bring that clutch in again, sort of wiggle it a tiny bit.
It'll let the power out but not enough for you to stall on if your revs aren't right.
It makes for a slow set off so practice in a car park.
But it helped a lot with my clutch control.
While my set offs aren't to race standard I can beat those chavs at a start off when I'm in the mood .

[Catalyst]

Hey Jack, I'm jack too

Had the same problem aswell! And as above mines only kick-start. I've had mine 5 weeks and done 800 miles and thats on a restricted 50cc!!

I stalled all the time so when i saw people slowing down at the lights i'd slow down before i get there. Drop a few gears and just engine brake, usually just as your close your rolling slowly and won't need to pull the clutch in. But this only works sometimes. Otherwise as others have said just ride ride ride. I stalled on a 3 lane busy roundabout in rush hour with a huge lorry behind me, and when i say behind i mean not even a metre! Just quickly move to the side if you feel unsafe, otherwise just start again and on your way.

Everyone stalls, bike riders and car drivers. Even people that have been riding for years and years stall sometimes, the quicker you crack it the more fun you'll have.

One last thing, sometimes if you hold the clutch in just next to the biting point and rev a tiny bit and just rock forwards and backwards while waiting then when you go you know how much throttle to use.

Hope this helps,
Jack
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|--Previous--|:2007 Aprilia SX50...--Current--|: 2007 Kawasaki ER-6N
SlimRick - I can cook really well - but it's a useless skill, as I'm not a woman and it's their fucking job!

[kcnw9]

I stall mine and its kickstart but heyyy who cares, i wave the people to go past and start up ready to go, i dont do it all the time but sometimes i do and its no biggie, but practice makes perfect

kcnw9

[nynfortoo]

Mine's a kickstart-only bike, too, though I've been lucky not to stall it yet. I nearly stalled at a busy set of lights in Warrington on the ride back home, but managed to get enough of a jolt to bump-start it. I dread the day when I'm a sitting duck with just a kickstart, and beeping traffic behind me.

[pwntifex]

Never stalled the CG.
Did manage to wheelie it though, albeit unintentionally.
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the warped one: This is a follow up from the thread 'my willy hurts'

[Resurrection]

Never listened to the engine as ive always got loud music in my ears and never look at the revs.

End of the day you release the clutch and give it throttle then your ok.

Stop thinking about it and just do it

Res
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ZX9r

[nynfortoo]

[karen_moomin]

I used to be exactly the same as you, I used to pray that traffic lights would stay on green so I wouldn't have to deal with stopping. I can remember one time where I could not get the bike to move off the lights, I just kept stalling, panicking and by the time I sorted it, I was in such a flap I just starting crying. Looking back I can laugh, as although I'm far from perfect, if I do stall I deal with it in a positive manner. Like my instructor says, stalling isn't the issue, it's how you deal with the situation. Stay calm, stay positive and you will be fine.

Like others have said, practice, and also maybe a couple of lessons would improve your confidence and give you something to work on.

[Noxious89123]

You think thats bad? Get this!

5 Lanes of traffic, at a major junction. I'm slap bang in the middle. Had to stop at a set of lights rather quickly, so didnt have time to drop down into 1st. So while at the lights i clicked it down... Oops, thats neutral. Hey wait, it wont go down any more

At this point the lights started to change, and there i am with ALOT of traffic behind me and on all sides, unable to get the fucker into 1st. In the end i just put it back into 2nd, gave it about 7k and rode it on the clutch.

It really panics you though when your stuck like that

Oh, and that was when i was on road doing my CBT, and i still passed

[rdm3ch]

Hiya Jack

I can totally understand how you feel but try not to let it get to you and keep enjoying riding. Im learning myself and havent got many miles under my belt. I felt a bit low about it and I sometimes have other things to do or wanna chill and think ''I should be out on my bike every chance I get''. Not the case. Im currently working full time, working hard towards my car lisence, doing a home Mechanics course and learning to ride. I also like to use my gym membership whenever I can and like seeing my non biking mates and having a drink from time to time! You have to divide your time.

Try going out when you want to, not because you feel you aught to. The more practice you get the better but progress is there all time regardless of wether its fast or slow. Take a minute to think about the very first time you went out and the difference in your riding now. Im far from perfect but I can see the difference.

I used to get a bit of a mental block like you. I really wanted to get out and ride but found I didnt as much as I could have. I've started popping out when I want to (no pressure) and really enjoy it because I've taken the pressure off. Confront roads etc that unsettle you but when you want to confront them.

Try taking things slow while your out riding so you have time to plan and change gear at lights, round abouts etc. You'll feel more like your in control.

Learning is meant to be fun but it is a lot to learn and can be daunting! So take it easy and forget about everyone else or how you feel you should be doing. Do what you want at your pace and you'll get better and better. You'll suddenly think ''shit, Im doing that good now!''

Keep it up but dont put any pressure on yourself. Get out on little rides when you want to and feel that little smile and ''Heheeeeee!'' feeling.

Woffle over, hope it made some sence.

[carlmalibu]

I think one of the most common problems for people starting biking is they have no idea what slipping the clutch means in real terms. I know I didn't. Experimentation and practise.

The thing that I was most terrified of was hill starts, so I took my little RS out to the steepest local hill (cul de sac with no traffic at all) and spent 2 hours or something repeatedly doing them. After that never had another problem.
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Shine on, you crazy diamond
CB500, woop.

[dudeskin]

yo dude,
don't worry about it. just go out, tackle anything your not liking, and you'll do it.
enjoy your freedom, go out for rides, find/make some mates to go out with. the more miles you get under your belt, the easier it will be. you wont even think about it soon.
with so few miles, your bownd to feel nervous still.
you'll be kickin 50 ass soon dude.
dudeskin
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live hard, die young, leave a damn good looking corpse.

[njd27]

[element]