lost my confidence!!

beatnck · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 29 May 2006 Karma :

ive come back to biking after about 5 or 6 years, but ive only ever ridden 125's and little peds.
now ive bought an rs125, im finally all legal, and ive been out on it a few times in the last couple of days, but i seem to have totally lost my confidence..
admittedly it is de-restricted, and faster than any of my old 125's were, but im very reluctant to rev it till the power comes in - as soon as it does i just back off, then curse myself for being a pussy!
also cornering is causing some concern..im fine pottering around, but i see a tiny bit of gravel or little ridge in the road and i just assume the bikes going to slide..
some of you might rib me for this post, and i dont blame you, i used to be very confident on bikes (and have owned some very fast cars in the past), but its just gone!!
i realise an rs125 probably isnt the best bike for me at the moment, but it was cheap and i liked it... Rolling Eyes

any tips on building up my confidence again?
cheers, nick Wink

sunbear · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Karma :

Just to let you know i have been riding 8 or 9 years and i still get nervous at the sight of loose gravel Shocked

At least you are noticing it Thumbs Up

Give it a couple of weeks and you will be back to your old self . I had a lay off of about 4 months after coming off a bike a few years ago. Took me a few weeks to get back in the swing of things. Nervous is ok (will keep you alert!) as long as you dont panic Thumbs Up

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Bikes had : BMW F650, suzuki tr50, gt125, SV400, GSXR600 SRAD. Honda CBR900RRP, CBR600FX, CBR1000F, VT600, Transalp 600, mtx125, nsr125r, CB500T, Yamaha fy50, tzr125, tdr125, XV535, Diversion 600, Fazer 600, TDM850 MK1 & MK2, Majesty 400, XV 1100. Cagiva mito evolution, Aprilia rs125, Piaggio x9 125. DNA 125 . Suzuki Bandit 600, GZ125 Marauder, RF600 , RF900RS2, Kawasaki ZZR400, ZX6R Ninja, ZZR600 . Ducati 750 Sport . Triumph Tiger 955i. CURRENT : 2004 Kawasaki Z750 and LOVIN IT !

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

syl · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Dec 2005 Karma :

Steve - RS125 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

I would have a little bit more faith in your bike if you can with regards to cornering, my rear wheel has bubbled up to hell on the edges due to cornering and having it cranked over in the twistys.

Bike tyre technology has improved vast ammounts and it is a hell of a lot harder to lose a bikes traction then you would of first thought. (Excluding hitting oil etc).

I suppose that trust / confidence will only come over time, so stick with it fella and you should be ok! Thumbs Up

With regards to the power, it only goes as fast as you want mate, and if your not comfortable with the speed just yet, then fine - Just ride at your own ability and leisure.

Ride safe folks. Thumbs Up

____________________
Suzuki VL Intruder 125cc - September 2004 to July 2005
Aprilia RS 125cc - July 2005 to Present
Suzuki RF600RR - May 2006 to October 2006 (RIP RF600)

beatnck · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 29 May 2006 Karma :

cheers for the tips guys, guess i just needed reassurance that ive not turned into a wimp! Laughing

i'll keep riding at my pace and im sure now that i'll get more confidence. Very Happy

beatnck · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 29 May 2006 Karma :

cheers for the tips guys, guess i just needed reassurance that ive not turned into a wimp! Laughing

i'll keep riding at my pace and im sure now that i'll get more confidence. Very Happy

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

A good way to get confidence in your bike can be to go to a quiet roundabout. Slowly increase your speed lapping it.

Make sure you only increase your speed a little bit at the time and don't try and beat GP levels of lean and you should be fine.

While this isn't quite like 'real' roads, it gets you used to using your bike in a safe environment.

Obviously make sure it's a good surface etc.

APNess · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Karma :

You could try a different bike, one that doesn't need it's knackers revving off it to go anywhere? Restricted 600? GS500? CB500? Easy to ride, and good to potter about on whilst you build confidence.

Villers · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Karma :

Im regaining my confidence after I came off a few months ago. Im not scared of the power but Im easily distracted by objucts, road surfaces etc when going into bends so I can sympathise with you there. One thing Ive done is got the tyres changed to a pair I trust, thats one less thing on my list of worries. I have been out with mates taking a steady course over my favourite twisties, If my mate can make it round the corner theres no feasable reason why I cant do it too, this builds a little self belief. Im getting better and better at telling myself to shut up when I start panicking approaching or during bends. Overcome those demons!!

Another thing you could take solace in is the fact you are riding one of the best handling bikes there is. The RS125 loves the twisties, its built for it. When I had mine I blasted through some S bends on the way to loch lomond with the throttle pinned open almost at full speed and lean and the little bike never skipped a beat, in fact it never even squirmed the whole time I had it.

Start slow and make progress at your own pace, Ive been back on the bike for a month and Im still worrying about it. It might not come back over night but eventually you will be back to normal and you wont even have realised it!

Good Luck Thumbs Up

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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

Dragonfly · Super Spammer Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Karma :

this happened to me and i was afraid to even cornor cause i thought i was going to come off. but it passed and i got more confident as i went along. even when i get new bike it happens at the start you just need to get used to it. always start slow and dont do anything you dont feel like doing. take your time and dont get cocky as cocky sometimes leads to sillyness and accidents as i know.

you will be grand. i drove the rs before when i started not a great bike to start on but i offically started on a tzr wreak that was quite fast and hard to drive.

you will look back and think what you where on about soon enough. Smile

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All the breast.
Muzza on Binge:
He's too busy beating the everloving shit out of Lizzie to notice this thread has taken a turn down Drama Avenue and stopped off at the popcorn shop.

whackamole · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 06 May 2006 Karma :

Excuse the advice from a total newbie but I've only recently passed my CBT and now have a 2002 cg125.
Obviously nothing to cr.ap your pants over for the most of you but for someone who has spent his whole life in cars that sudden exposure certainly tickles the ivories!
I am basically tackling things in my own time goin out when the roads are quiet and building it up. I'm now fairly confident in reasonable traffic and am sometimes finding myself having to watch for speed limits! (whereas before I'd struggle getting up to them!)
What I think it boils down to is take it all at your own pace and build up speed and traffic busy-ness at your own pace. Same as when I first learnt to drive 50mph seemed lightening quick - now I'm like every other jackass on the road! - only kidding but you get my point.
Sorry if this sounds a bit patronising from an L plate warrior!
Take it easy and mind how you go. We're all here cos we love it!
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Be nice.

CBR600F

Marah · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Karma :

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, came back to biking after a 7 year holiday. Last bike I was on a 1981 Yamaha XS250 (slower than a 125) Bought something with a little more power (600 Bandit) Totally terrified at first, but as been said before doesn't matter how big the bike they can all go slow. So I like you have been taking it easy learning how to take corners one at a time whilst looking for hazards in the road and cars making mistakes. Confidence is coming back slowly but it is coming back.

I am planning on doing some advanced lessons to help, there are a few courses at around £200 which I think would be money well spent.

beatnck · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 29 May 2006 Karma :

ok, its a few days later now, and ive got to say im feeling a lot happier on the bike!
i took all your advice, and picked up a copy of ride magazine, with a feature on cornering - a lot of it has really helped me. Very Happy

im still a bit nervous of certain bends, but im not panicking so much now. the way i see it i have a good handling bike with grippy tyres, and as long as i take it steady i'll be ok.
so thanks again guys and gals Very Happy

Steve - RS125 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

beatnck · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 29 May 2006 Karma :

i have to agree with the tiredness thing, i think that because im still learning all the time if im the slightest bit tired it all goes tits up. and with 3 kids, the youngest being 6 months old, im always tired! Rolling Eyes

Steve - RS125 · Spanner Monkey Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

6 month old nippa ay? someone has been a busy boy. Twisted Evil

Tiredness can kill as the advert once said!! Thumbs Up

I would advise however as we have the same bike that you only put the top jolly bollox 2 stroke oil in and ensure your chain is always lubed up properly as my chain no matter how much lube I use is already starting to loose colour and slightly rust.

One other thing is dont worry about cranking them over, these little machines are pure twisty lovers, If I can get my "Hero Blobs" grinding off the floor aswell as the toes sliders on my Oxstars then anyone can do it with practice!!!!

Have not got full knee sliders yet otherwise they would have been scrubbed in aswell! Twisted Evil

Ride safe dude and enjoy every minute of it. Thumbs Up

____________________
Suzuki VL Intruder 125cc - September 2004 to July 2005
Aprilia RS 125cc - July 2005 to Present
Suzuki RF600RR - May 2006 to October 2006 (RIP RF600)

THCi · Nearly there... Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Karma :

I was like that once I got back on a bike after my off, only just getting back into the swing after 4 months.

Loosing confidence can sometimes be a good thing, as I was a complete and utter loon. Had 5 minor offs in 18 months, then a car pulled out on me at an island, and the rest is history.

Dont worry, you will get it back. Just takes time! Thumbs Up

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Past: GZ 125 K4 Marauder, VL 125 LC Intruder, FZS 600 Fazer. Present: GSF 600 N K3 Bandit, GSX-R 600 X(soon)
"We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."