Help!........Problem with confidence

[woz73]

Hi I have just join this forum today and just looking for some advice.I passed my cbt about a month ago brought a new bike and could not wait to get on it.(had to sort reg out with dvla).
The problem is I have gone around a few blocks where I live.But I lack confidence to get out on a major road.I keep saying to myself that I have passed the cbt and I can do this.I think it is the worry of getting out with the other traffic.
So I joined the forum to see if anybody has any ideas.

[.....]

You're just going to have to take the plunge and get out there

Maintain a dominant road position, keep your observations up and don't let car drivers bully you.

You'll be fine.

[Bendy]

There's no easy fix, you just have to do it.

But, you can help yourself by choosing a route that you already know and doing it at a quiet time.

When I got my first bike, I spent about an hour or so in a local carpark practicing my starts and stops so that I was confident enough that I wasn't going to completely fuck up, then I just started going up the road a little further each time - by the end of the afternoon I was pretty comfortable nipping around town.

[DanceLikeAMon...]

When I first got a bike, I found that the best time to go out was early on a Sunday morning (before 8 am), that way there is very little traffic on the road, so you can concentrate on riding, and not worry if you stall at junctions, roundabouts etc.

I think most people are scared when they first have to take a bike out into the big bad world on their own. Here was one of my first posts...
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=38062&highlight=broke+duck

[ProXimaCore]

Do you have any other biker friends? Would be a good idea to go out and follow someone else around. As long as they were taking it easy. Maybe someone here could give you a hand.
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Honda NSR125R -> Suzuki GSXR400R GK76a -> Kawasaki ZX636 B1H -> Honda CBR400RR NC29 -> Nothing

[woz73]

I think what messed me up was I came off my mates 400cc bike two days before I took my cbt,Then during the cbt I came off on a drain cover!
I think I might wait until tonight between 10:00 and 11:00pm the roads are empty.Or wait until early tomorrow morning to give it a try.

[Scorpius]

Serves you right for riding a 400 before your cbt doesnt it? You're gonna have to put those past experiences behind you mentally when you're out there. Lack of self belief makes your riding erratic and its a vicious circle really, but one that can be easily broken with mileage. Just get out there and creep along at the speed limit if you have to. Unless you are completely retarded it'll all come together soon enough. As mentioned, drag one of your pals out as first as well which should help.
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Cagiva Mito 125 (sold)
Honda CBR400RR NC23 (sold)
Currently riding: Honda CBR600F

[Itchy]

well sitting around in forums isn't going to do it for you is it? , get out there and ride its the only way , if you see a horde of bikers hook up and follow them , on my southern trip we often picked up people who we didn't know who either peeled off before we stopped or stopped and said hello.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Dark]

What bike have you got woz?
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My Bikes in order:- Yamaha RXS100 / Suzuki X7 250 / Yamaha RD350LC / Kawasaki
KR1S 250 / Kawasaki ZXR750 H2 / Honda C50 / Kawasaki ZX7R P5 / Kawasaki ZX10R / Suzuki GSXR 400 / Honda CBR1100 Blackbird & Yamaha FZR 600

[Biker101]

I felt like that the day i got my bike but i went out that night and it was great.
Dont worry, you have done your CBT and been on the roads and you proberbly lost the instructor at a junction so you judged it for yourself.
You should be fine, i think night riding is better than early morning riding but maybe thats just me cus my scoots so slow.
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Past: 06 Runner SP50 >>> 01 Varadero XL125 >>> 08 Kwak ER-6f >>> 05 CBR600rr
Present: 99 FZS600 Fazer

[alex_t]

it is aways a bit wierd at first, only past mine last sat'day n seem fine, but the lad who i was with came off on his cbt too, n then was a bit worried about going out on his scooter, but he did cos saw him nipping about on it and was more relaxed, once u get on n go u will b fine, i think ahve done about 300 mile this week so far just going about random places and getting lost ll good though.. keep it up n u will b fine

[The Old Geeza]

[Paivi]

[Stu_666]

I found it a pain in the arse when I first went out on my RS125. At nearly every traffic light or joining a roundabout I'd stall the thing. Best thing for me was finding a quiet industrial estate on a Sunday and just ride around for ages and get really confident on the bike. I suppose another idea would be too ride where theres busy traffic in town as then you'll get used to clutch control and manouvering it in small gaps etc.

Also I found on A and B roads to look as far ahead as possible to anticipate any hazards which might happen and then they're not such a surpise for you when you come across them.

[ZZR Girl]

Won't your mate with the 400 go out with you?

When I picked up my first bike, I had a mate ride back with me on his bike, and it certainly helped make me less nervous. I didn't need him after that though!
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Keep it shiny!

[WavyGravy]

If you lack confidence to go out onto major busy roads then stick to the quieter ones until your confidence is up. Having to pull over because some other driver got impatient with you, and beeped, will not improve your confidence.

Theres a difference between lack of confidence and feeling nervous, i still feel a little nervous preparing for a ride - infact right up to the minute i select first and slip the clutch - and ive been riding more years than i care to remember, a few nerves will keep you vigilant (hopefully).
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1975 CB125s, 1991 GN250, 1990 Ducati Paso 906
"Don't wake him up - He's got insomnia - He's trying to sleep it off"

[lumphammer]

[Rit]

[element]

Starting work at 7am helped me loads.. Roads are pretty empty at 6:30am in the morn and I miss most traffic on the way home too (3:30pm). Doing that 5 days a week soon built up my confidence. I do around 100 miles a week just communting.

Dont worry though. When i passed my cbt and got out on the roads I was convinced I was gonna end up having an accident because I felt unsafe... A week or so and you'll be fine
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04' DT125RE (run-a-bout) // 89' DT125R (rebuilt + supermoto conversion)
SPARES FOR SALE. 2RK TZR // 82 DR125 // DT125R/E .... PM ME...

[kentuckyfried]

I would suggest riding around local streets in the early evening, when there is still light, or early on the weekends. It's less busy, and you won't have so many variable to deal with all at once. Then you can focus on getting into first gear, which is the hardest part about riding a motorcycle, just as it is when one is first learning to drive a manual transmission car.

My first bike was a Honda CB550, it had all sorts of electrial issues at first that it'd just die at inopportune times, and I'm thankful that it was on a local backroad that it occurred on a backroad most of the time (it did the same on and expresssway and on a major road so I'm also thankful I was lucky enough to not get hit by anything).

It also helps that you are wearing good protection, even if it's only these local backroads. If you fall off, you can walk away with a bruised ego and maybe some minor damage to your bike, instead of major damage to your skin.

If you go out to ride and you're never scared of other drivers anymore, then it's probably a bad sign that you've become too complacent with your skills.

[stinkwheel]

If anyone starts getting impatient with you, like if you stall at a junction or something, just ignore them. Take your time, sort yourself out and set off again when you feel ready. You are just as entitled to be on the road as they are.

As everyone else said, maintain your road position. If they want to overtake you, make them pull right out and do it properly.

As Paivi said. If you can get a mate to go with you, get them to follow you initially. This way they can keep an eye on what's behind you and keep the arseholes off your tail. It also means you don't feel you have to keep up and they can see what you are doing then offer hints and tips if you want them.

Later on, when your confidence is up a bit, you might want to follow someone to see how they approach corners and hazards in the road.

Obviously, if your mate is the sort who rides about like a nutter and likes to show off, you would probably be better by yourself.
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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.

[sunbear]