Do I work on our relationship, or move on... ?

[MCW]

...to a smaller bike...?

It's only a 125, but its a baby varadero, and I'm having (yet another) crisis of confidence on it. I hadn't ridden it for quite a while owing to working silly hours and stuff.

Someone has suggested I look at getting a physically smaller bike to get my confidence back with. I feel conflicted.

Thoughts pleeese. Thanks. x

[Marmalade]

I feel tempted to say that you are used to the bike you have now and this will help but it is a chunky 125 and could well be the cause of your lack of confidence.

If you are not too interested in the looks than a CG125 is a great learner bike, fairly light, cheap, reliable, easily manageable. there is a reason many many riding schools use them.

They are also basic to work on and will last forever with just the minimum of care.

You could also look at the Honda CBF125 or Yamaha YBR 125 which are more modern looking but I feel not perfectly suited to a real learner as they are plastic covered and a drop could be expensive.
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[-Matt-]

Having a smaller bike doesn't always automatically mean it feels 'easier' and more confidence inspiring to ride.

Often a bigger bike is actually easier to manouvere on and once moving the extra weight can aid you 'throw it around' a bit into the corners etc.

I'd give it a bit more time any bike takes a while to get used to especially if you haven't been on it much/for a while.

[waffles]

Stick with the Vara.

Go out for a short loop then build on it day after day. If you buy a smaller sized bike you will need to adjust your insurance, make sure it is mechanically sound, make sure it is taxed and MOT'd etc etc. You have a perfectly good bike already, why not make use of it?
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Were you ever happy riding your current bike? If you were then you will again, if you take the time to do it that is.

Man-up.
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[deadwolf]

Whatever size of bike, there will always be a compromise. The only advantage IMO of a physically smaller bike is that it's more comfortable to manually handle.

Once things get moving, small bikes get uncomfortable fast. To be fair that is part of the fun for most people (me included) but you will be extra vulnerable to wind, bumps and other vagaries that a big bike will happily absorb.

My small bike (GP100) had minimal friction zone and was a pain in the rear to slow ride. Of course I could pick it up a lot easier than a big bike if I dropped it but I aim to stay upright as much as possible.

Contrast with something like a CB500 with greater clutch slipping capacity, lets it manage it's weight much better at low speed.

The way I see it, the bike will be fine as long as it has enough power for its weight/size. Imagine a CB500 with a 125 engine, that would be horrendous. As long as your 125 Varadero isn't feeling too wallowy, stick with it a bit longer and get used to it.
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[Carvel]

Fireblade.
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[thepuma]

A YBR125 would probably suit you better. They are light as a feather, low (ish) and easy to maneuver.

Altbough I tend to think heavier bikes are easier to ride....even just going from 125 to 250 I could immediately notice how much easier the bile was to ride both slow and at speed

Going smaller 'may' not be the answer.
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YBR125 (SOLD) - CBR250R(SOLD) - CBR650F(SOLD) Current - Street Triple
765 RS

[AlanC]

Do you have any problems with the Varadero in terms of size and weight? Is it too high / do you struggle to move it around / any specific reason you don't feel confident with it?

You can always go visit a dealer and just have a sit on a CG125 / YBR125 / anything else you can think of.

When I was learning I hated the school's CG125's because I'm 6'2" and long in the legs: I was so cramped up it was hard to change gears, and I had to move my knees out of the way of the bars when doing u-turns. When I went looking to get a 125 of my own I could tell immediately that an XR125L was going to be much easier to get on with... and it was. And that boosted my confidence. Passed my test on it with no problems.

So at least go have a look at some other 125's to see if you feel like you'd be happier with any of them.

[SteveZZR]

CG for the win.

Won't bother whoring my video yet again, I've posted it plenty for it to be found

[Wonko The Sane]

I struggled to ride a CG after being on my vara for a while.

took me a while to get used to it again this spring after all the bad weather.

[hedgehugger]

I would stick with it. You managed to ride it before and it won't be long before your confidence returns again.
Don't you have plenty of time off now? (school holidays?).

Go back to basics. Start slow again, small local rides, even just around the block and back or to your nearest roundabout and home again. You'll soon get into the swing of things again.

If you feel you need to, practice stopping and starting.
Take thee to a carpark and try u-turns, slow riding etc.

You've recently moved so get out exploring

I still get butterflies if I haven't ridden for a couple of months (5 years since I passed my test!), I'm quite quickly 'YeeHar, WooHoo-ing ' though

[mr jamez]

Stop being a poof and just ride the damn thing
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[-Monty-]

[deadwolf]

[Islander]

The only way to build confidence is to get out there and ride. Start with small distances and build up - you'll be amazed how quickly it comes back to you.

[Vin]

[Rogerborg]

What exactly is the problem with the Very Varadero?

Is it getting a foot / feet down at a stop? Does it feel top heavy? Big stretch to the bars? Any problems changing gear?
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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

[h00dwink]

how about man up...
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[MCW]

[arry]

[i.p.phrealy]

am I the only one spotting the irony of so many people saying "Man Up" to a Woman?
seriously though, try and get out and ride if you can, just little bimbles until you feel confident again, and remember we all have bad days where we stall or just don't feel it.
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[Rogerborg]

I have to be honest, I wouldn't want to ride a Varadero. Great bike, but it's too tall for me. I know that some folk are comfortable leaning off a bike, I'm not.

Biking is recreational. If you're not loving it, I'd agree with trying something else, even if only to give yourself a basis for comparison. YBR or CBF by default, but how about a Suzuki Van Van, which is another of those 125s that people choose to ride even when licensed up.

Are there no 125 friendly bike clubs near to you? Ride around with a back patch saying "1%ers R PUFFS", you'll soon meet some new people...
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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

[MC]

[MCW]