as nervous as a new rider again - advice please !

[loubelle]

Hello again, once more I am coming to you helpful peeps for some advice.
I started riding 2 years ago age 33 , did my cbt and pottered about on a YBR125 , then did some training , felt much happier and more confident and took and passed my restricted test.
I then sold the YBR and bought a Yamaha XJ6 and had it restricted.
I picked it up on a very frosty morning , so very gingerly rode it home and it has been parked there ever since.
Now the weather is getting better again , I am looking forward to going out on it but I feel sick with nerves and am worried that I can't manage the bigger bike (nitwit , I know )
And to pile the pressure on a bit more , I can no longer afford to run my car so will be selling it in a few weeks once i have MOT'd it , so the bike will be my only form of transport other than buses and trains when I have the kids with me.

I know that most of you will say I need to get on and do it , but I am looking for some advice and guidance , maybe just to boost my confidence again I suppose .
Thanks for listening to the nutty woman again

[pinkyfloyd]

You need to put the first ride behind you and forget it. Look at the facts conjectivly. You picked up a bigger bike on an icy day. Restricted or not its still way more power than the 125 you have just sold.

I wouldnt wish an icy first ride on anyone. What you need to do is head out for a ride on a nice day when there is no ice around and get a real feel for the bike.

I'll be heading out sometime over the next few with a fellow bcf member. Your welcome to join us. Just keep an eye on your inbox and I'll pm you when we are heading out. Dont worry about feeling out of your depth. I dont ride fast and the other guy hasnt long passed his test.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[MinhDinh]

Have another person ride with you?

Go on a good day with the road surface being pretty dry.

Just riding helps more than anything, just jump on it now for 5 mins which will give you loads of confidence before bed.
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Hit the G spot.

[loubelle]

Thanks pinkfloyd , have pm'd you !
and minhdinh thanks for the advice , no chance tonight though , kids are in bed and my babysitter (my son) is out

[UnspeedySam]

I wondered when I'd see you post again. I agree with the other guys. Get the first ride behind you, and get someone supportive and preferably not pushy to come with you. Remember that the bike is only as powerful as you make it with your right hand and clutch control.

I'm sure you'll be fine. After all, you passed your test! Good luck, and enjoy!

edit: At the risk of inviting myself, a little meet-up ride sounds really cool PinkyFloyd. I'll be back in Southampton from tomorrow afternoon. Although I'll be on a YBR125 or my RXS, so will be slow...let me know if you don't think I'll slow you down too much!
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Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[MinhDinh]

OK but don't dwell on it.

The less you think, and more you do the easier it is!

I had converted 3 friends to biking and it has lead to 3 of their friends into it aswell. Everytime they got a bike we just had a little ride and they learnt a lot but more importantly gained so much confidence.
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Hit the G spot.

[loubelle]

[UnspeedySam]

Not too bad. Got my mod 1 test booked for the 3rd time next Friday. Let's hope it doesn't snow again. Not being able to ride the Bros is torture!
____________________
Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[loubelle]

[UnspeedySam]

[loubelle]

oh brill - good luck , let me know how you get on.
Which test centre is it you're going to ?[/quote]
The one at Lee-On-Solent. It's a bit of a trek but it's the one the training school (ART) uses. I've had to put off Mod2 until the 28th due to exams, and I thought booking it on the same day would be a bit cocky. So with any luck I'll have a licence by Feburary. Fingers crossed![/quote]

that's where I did mine ! How far do you have to go to get there ?
All the best , my fingers are crossed for you

[pinkyfloyd]

Done my DAS there. Its not a bad place and the instructors are friendly.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Paxovasa]

Go and talk to the instructor that got you through the test, most (if not all) will take you out and teach you how to ride a bike.

All they teach you to do is pass your test. Once you pass your test, then the real learning begins.

Have you considered a bikesafe course?

A little extra training will build your confidence up.

Remember a bike will only go as fast as your right wrist dictates.

What ever you decide to do, I wish you good luck and keep us informed.
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[pinkyfloyd]

Hey paxoman. She'll be comin out with me as soon as the weathers nicer...... Wish the poor girl luck
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[Paxovasa]

[pinkyfloyd]

Nahh, Changed bikes since then so got new ones to play with. I can take credit for the previous owners strippage.
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illuminateTHEmind wrote: I am just more evolved than most of you guys... this allows me to pick of things quickly which would have normally taken the common man years to master
Hockeystorm65:.well there are childish arguments...there are very childish arguments.....there are really stupid childish arguments and now there are......Pinkfloyd arguments!
Teflon-Mike:I think I agree with just about all Pinky has said.

[UnspeedySam]

[Des]

Do some Advanced training - I did IAM. Now I am not a die-hard IAM fan - I am no longer a member as I found the group to be very dull. They also had nothign to offer after passing the test (which to be honest, is really only the very start of Advanced training).

However....

I found the training to be very good, I learned a hell of a lot more than I thought I would have.

It won't make you in to some super rider - but it will probably help you to be a better rider than you currently are.
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1998 Fireblade
1988 VFR

[CaNsA]

Give it a handful of revs, then dump the clutch.

you'll be fine

[Kal]

[Clanger]

Best advice is not to over think it...(hard for woman kind I know), just don your leathers and go out for a pootle. Stay away from places like Loomies - West Meon, because it's bad enough being a confident female rider going there, because the men will watch your every move.

Just plan yourself an easy route, nice little circuit...and then build up from there. I personally hate riding out with others when I'm not feeling on top form... as you find yourself apologising for mistakes or maybe going a little faster than you feel is right for you.

Go out and tinker with your bike during down time. Cleaning and polishing and taking photos and the like, will help you love your bike. You need to bond with your bike.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Polarbear]

[loubelle]

Thanks to all who replied . I will look at a bike safe course.

No rush however , as my partner rode it tonight with me on it and it decided to chuck out all its oil.

I've abandoned it at my dad's house and am hoping to get it looked at next week .

I must admit I had a "sod it I'm selling it and buying another YBR" moment , but think I'll see what the damage is first

I didn't like it on the 4 miles or so I rode it to my partner's house , when he got on it he said the tyres were flat .
We went to the garage and they had 19 PSI between them

Not getting off to a very good start here am I ???

[UnspeedySam]

[loubelle]

To be honest I just thought it handled really badly !!
My 16 yr old son got it out for me and warmed it up and he said he thought they were a bit flat .
I will be checking them better in future - a lesson well learned

I'll update when i know what's wrong .