How to get "braver"?

[highwayrider]

This may sound like a really silly question, but how does one grow more balls to become a better biker? Some riders just blast past me and can do corners like a GP rider, yet no matter how hard I try I just can't seem to get the confidence to match them.

I've had a few drivers pull out on me too, so now I'm really cautious at junctions and find my self slowing down when approaching them. It's staring to take the piss a bit now. Only had a bike 3 weeks, but I need to find the courage to start pushing myself more. I did find I was alright when I first started biking, but ever since I crashed on the swerve test I seem to have lost my nerve a little and it wont come back

[Derivative]

Much better to be cautious than not. You've been riding three weeks, take it steady.

I don't slow when I see cars at a junction, but I do take up a more defensive position (move over to the right and/or weave to make yourself easier to see).

On corners, eh. If it's a blind corner then act like there's a wall on the other side. There could well be a broken down car.

[Ariel Badger]

You have had a bike all of three weeks and can't knee down or drift the back end yet?
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Tungtvann]

If I rode now with the version of myself from my first 3 weeks, I'd probably be a lot faster today. You'll progress naturally, it takes time, but you shouldn't rush things.

[Eddie Hitler]

Experience. You have hardly any, with more you will become more confident. You can't run before you walk.

[Lord Percy]

It'll depend on your bike as well. Light little things will feel sketchy as anything on corners, you'll feel like your wheels just want to slip from under you. If you have a monster lump of a machine, the weight will be massive and relatively low so it'll hug the ground. So don't try to emulate what others do just because they're doing it!

I'm a ponce on corners. But I've never ridden a super duper heavy thing. I imagine it'll be a whole different kettle of fish. I imagine it'll have so much momentum that I'll be forced to lean to make it turn effectively. It'll be completely different and the wheel contact on the ground will be sturdy and confident. That's how I imagine anyway.

Heavier bike = greater sense of contact with the ground = happier leaning

[Sako]

Too soon to start pushing your limits really, to get your corner speed up start by getting yourself set up in advance ie, gear, position, speed. Remember to feed your throttle in through the bend.

[Durpington]

the likelihood of the chaps blasting past you also only being on a bike 3 weeks are second to none.

nobody is an expert at anything in life after 3 weeks, just let yourself get into it and keep taking it one step at a time rather than taking a massive fucking leap and then ending up having no legs left to jump so to speak.

[keggyhander]

Don't aim to be braver.

Aim to be smoother.

[Legsy.]

https://i.qkme.me/35t6fz.jpg

[The Disapproving Brit]

Exactly what every one else is saying. Look at it this way: you've been riding a big bike for 3 weeks, and we've had nice weekends, so I'm going to guess you've been on a few unfamiliar roads in that time. Approaching those new corners, I'm guessing you've been slowing it down, keeping your speed appropriate to the vanishing point because that's all the information you have.

Ride those same roads again and you'll take one or two of those corners a little quicker, because you'll remember you were a touch overcautious last time, and now you know there's nothing to surprise you half way round.

Same thing. In time, you'll get to know the bike, through a combination of simple accumulation of riding hours and occasional "oh shit" moments where you're forced to put faith in the bike and it doesn't let you down.

Don't rush it. Ride for you and your own comfort level, and it'll come naturally.
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Current Bikes: 1983 Honda VF400FD / 2003 Honda VT750 Shadow
Bike Test Passed 18/03/09, Car Test Passed 14/05/13

[SQL]

How to get braver.

Step one: Join a ride out

Step two: try and keep up

Step three: don't crash

[Rogerborg]

You're going exactly as fast as you need and want to.

If you're grinning, you're winning.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Ariel Badger]

[SQL]

an wheelies if you can't wheelie within 5 mins on a bike -1000 man points.

[freeslotsking]

I had a 125 for about a week and went str8 to a Daytona 955i SS.. But dude I still ponced about round the corners.. (and roundabouts) You don't have to be Barry sheen !

Try following some bikers, as it's easier to follow the lines.. I followed 2 guys on R6's for a few miles once. It was the fastest id ever rode around places I didn't know.. But once it got a bit much I let them go.

I've had many a biker blast past me on lower powered bikes.. but fook it man.. Just enjoy riding, don't feel like less of a biker just because you aint got your knee down or cant do 95mph round the local one way system.

Chillax man - take it easy - just enjoy it

[Slacker24seve...]

[Shaft]

Faster doesn't always mean better, despite what some people might have you believe, there's more to riding a bike than tearing around like Valentino Rossi.

I've never been all that good at corners and in a group of riders on similar bikes, I'll most likely be the slowest, but I don't feel I'm missing out and (touch wood) I haven't come off since 1983.

Oh, and I still give cars approaching side turnings a wide berth, which dates back to a crash I had in 1981, so don't sweat it, caution keeps you upright and alive.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[st3v3]

[Slacker24seve...]

[Shaft]

[Huambo81a]

It isn't a competition mate, just relax and enjoy your ride. If you are comfortable at the speed you are going then that's good.

Confidence will come with mileage, but retaining caution is essential.

There will always be better riders. But honestly, as I said you are competing with nobody.
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Present: 2017 KTM Super Adventure S
Past: 97 Bandit 600 / 05 Bandit 1200 / 03 ZX6-R / 2006 Tuono R / 2001 VFR 800 / 2010 Street Triple R / 2013 Speed Triple S / 2017 S1000XR

[ocatoro]

i'm in the same boat, i've called myself a dick a few times lately for thinking about braking as i lean in for a bend i feel like i've overcooked.

was starting to wonder what was going on. but in fairness after putting a few thousand on my 100cc in winter, i hadn't ridden this year aside a half day lesson, my mod 1 and my mod 2.

so my momentum/progress has gone backwards a bit and i've had a new bike for a couple of weeks... and not ridden as much as i'd have liked.

plan? take it easy, gain experience, stay smiling, get home safe.

found it helpful to follow a mate who is quite a relaxed rider, to see when he braked, what line he took, that sort of thing.

i'm definitely faster in my van at the moment
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CBT - 17/09/12 * Theory - 23/10/12 * Mod1 - 05/03/13 * Mod2 - 25/03/13 * BOSH!
Current - None but shed project H100 (first bike )
Past - ER5, '93 ZZR600, '92 CB400 SF, ZZR600 (again), yellow Monster 620, Blackbird - black Monster 620ie - '96 ZZR600

[stinkwheel]

Advice: Look where you want to go.

I've been riding motorcycles for decades but someone still winds off the throttle when I take one particular corner near my house. I know for a fact it can be taken with the throttle wide-open in third on my bike but for some reason, when I hit the apex, it's always half closed. When I find who is responsable for shutting it, it will go harshly with them.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Musketeer]