How to regain riding confidence

[The Snowman]

I would appreciate this thread staying on topic and not going to BS please.

Since my street accident last fall, it seems that I've become really timid on my 1000RR.

I'm not sure if it's the size of the bike, the technology of it compared to the 900RR, or just being really twitchy because of the accident. But, I haven't been "myself" on the street since last year.

The track is completely different. I went down in T6 and got right back on the horse, making progress every time I get out there.

So, what's so different about the street? It's especially hard right-handed turns that are making my wince.

Is the solution getting the 1000RR to the track and getting those right-handers dialed in, in T3? Or is the 1000RR simply too much bike for me?

Thoughts? (serious thoughts please)

[Pittenger5]

You always hear that once you get going on the track, you lose interest in the street. I never lost interest, but I also never rip it hard anymore. Maybe the same for you?

[union]

I think its just the unknown on the street. At the track you know what to expect and whats coming up. On the street even if you ride down the same road all the time there is a chance something will be different.

[The Snowman]

You always hear that once you get going on the track, you lose interest in the street. I never lost interest, but I also never rip it hard anymore. Maybe the same for you?

Possibly. When I ride solo, I never really get to leaning hard, like I do in group riding.

[Paul_E_D]

This is going to turn into a shitshow, but I will give up an honest answer. a 1000 superbike is too much bike for all of us on the street, but it's not the motor. As great as they are, they have serious limitations. Low speed handling is awkward at BEST, and high speed handling is sluggish as well when compared to many other bikes. Riding position is committed and the bikes feel heavy because of a high COG. None of this inspires confidence.

I recently rode a new multistrada, and it wa perfection on the street. 150 hp for those times you want to rip, Absolute ease of handling at low speeds. Zero sluggishness getting it to full lean. No awkwardness in any situation really. So much better than a superbike on the street I was laughing in my helmet.

My point is, there are much better bikes for street, even if you are a HP snob. If not, there's TONS of great options. SV650s are brilliant street bikes.

[MysteriousR1]

This is going to turn into a shitshow, but I will give up an honest answer. a 1000 superbike is too much bike for all of us on the street, but it's not the motor. As great as they are, they have serious limitations. Low speed handling is awkward at BEST, and high speed handling is sluggish as well when compared to many other bikes. Riding position is committed and the bikes feel heavy because of a high COG. None of this inspires confidence.

Went from riding a 600 to a 1k and after about 30k on the liter bike I would prefer a 600 again for all the reasons you listed. The more I think about it my next bike will be a Adv. bike, no questions asked.

[burnham]

How do you feel when you ride your old 900?

[The Snowman]

This is going to turn into a shitshow, but I will give up an honest answer. a 1000 superbike is too much bike for all of us on the street, but it's not the motor. As great as they are, they have serious limitations. Low speed handling is awkward at BEST, and high speed handling is sluggish as well when compared to many other bikes. Riding position is committed and the bikes feel heavy because of a high COG. None of this inspires confidence.

I recently rode a new multistrada, and it wa perfection on the street. 150 hp for those times you want to rip, Absolute ease of handling at low speeds. Zero sluggishness getting it to full lean. No awkwardness in any situation really. So much better than a superbike on the street I was laughing in my helmet.

My point is, there are much better bikes for street, even if you are a HP snob. If not, there's TONS of great options. SV650s are brilliant street bikes.

No shitshow here. This was a straight-up, honest answer. You're right in your assessment of my liter bike. The biggest difference I notice when I sit on that bike is the height of the seat. It's more than a full inch higher than the 900. I make jokes about calling the 900 a rolling couch, but it's extremely comfortable, compared to the 1000. I have been adjusting this and that to try and make the 1000 more comfortable of a ride, but with carpal tunnel in both wrists, the more aggressive posture of that bike makes it a chore.

How do you feel when you ride your old 900?

I haven't taken it out for a serious ride since last August, so It's not really fresh in my memory. For a 13 year old bike, I feel that it handles well. Most would say that it takes a lot to "throw" it into corners, but maybe it's my weight (220ish) that helps with that.

Given what I've put into the 1000 (mainly suspension and ergonomic [clip-ons and rearsets] upgrades), I would hate to give up on the liter bike without giving it its fair shake.

Maybe it's just like Richie said, since I get my fill of fast a the track, maybe it's just that I don't feel I have to on the street anymore.

[Danz19899]

it took me a while to get comfy after my accident last season, the 1000 is a bigger bike but i think you can handle it once you get the street confidence back a little better. Dont know how i got it back just kinda kept riding and it went away. Although my crash didnt involve another vehicle

[Sportygurl131]

follow someones lines... that u trust... maybe that will help

[Currently]

The reason you are getting these feelings is fear ... plain and simple. You now realize that there is a lot more to learn and you don't know what you don't know.

Take a class like Total Control.

It is a range type course that teaches you how to teach yourself.

I bought my SV believing that I was going to "upgrade" to a liter in a couple of years. I have so much fun with it that instead of upgrading the bike, I upgraded the suspension with professional quality parts and beat the crap out of it with this shit-eating grin on my face everytime I take it out.

Put some sticky Pilot Race under her and intend to burn them out at the Cherohala and the dragon ... no commuting on those tires. I have a spare set of wheels with PP2ct's for regular riding.

Like Paul said, horsepower is not everything, having fun however is the whole purpose of riding.

I can't emphasize the Total Control ARC classes enough. Then and only then was I able to understand what I was doing wrong and have the techniques to correct my mistakes.

My problem is with left hand turns, I am afraid to run out of pavement and go off the road. Using the techniques I learned in the ARC classes, I realize that these turns are hard because I lock my elbows. So I practice wiggling my elbows and keeping my hands soft. I also practice going from one end of the dragon to the other without using any brakes ... just focusing on lines and throttle. My speeds have come up quite a bit and turns that used to terrify me now are done without second thought. I am also focusing on keeping my tires within a foot or two next to the right white line on the edge of the road and my lines are improving measurably every time with apexes getting easier and easier to plan and execute.

Now at the point where the pucks are hitting the pavement without even trying for it. It just happens.

[DucDave]

One other thought....

....how are your tires. I know that as I get near the end of my tire life...and they start to 'square off' turn in gets more abrupt and I become more and more 'uncomfortable'.

This may be contributing to your insecurity...along with all the other stuff.

[Danz19899]

Duc Dave that can be scary, i rode my buddies bike a few weeks ago with a very squared off tire and it was downright scary at times. think he has 6000 miles on the tire 90% straight roads . . . FML

told him to get new tires then learn how to corner lol

[ilikenapalm]

I was thinking about this myself during our ride yesterday. What I realized though is this:

Is going that extra 5-15mph through a turn going to greatly increase my enjoyment of the ride? I thought about it for a while and decided that it wouldn't. There is a lot more risk involved with riding at the upper threshold of your abilities on the street, and for me the added risk isn't going to increase the enjoyment enough to justify it.

[R1]

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Chuck,

Find your favorite local road and cruise down it at half speed. Do that a few times getting a feel for a road you usually fly down by riding slow. Then call it a day. Everytime you go out go to that same road and pick up the speed by only a couple miles per hour. After a week or so of this I bet your riding it at a faster clip than you ever did before, finding smoother ways to corner and will be surprised how much confidence you regain overall on other roads.

I do this every season to shake out the cobwebs. So far I have gotten more comfortable with my riding due to this technique.

[LowSider]

I'm in the same boat. I think it has to do with the track. I can screw on a scary and not safe race bike way harder than I can on a dialed in street bike because I am more comfortible on the track than the street.

I would rather go 120 on a track than 70 on the highway.


Chuck, you in full leathers on the street? I can't push as hard when I know I am just in jeans.

[Doc]

This thread warms my heart.

[The Snowman]

One other thought....

....how are your tires. I know that as I get near the end of my tire life...and they start to 'square off' turn in gets more abrupt and I become more and more 'uncomfortable'.

This may be contributing to your insecurity...along with all the other stuff.

this has been going on since I got the replacement bike last. November.

The bike and tires now have 3600 miles on them and little wear. Although, the tires are OEM Pirelli Diablos, which are most likely 2 years old.

It's not a a fear of losing grip, it almost seems to be a lack of confidence in my cornering ability, which doesn't seem to exist at the track.

[The Snowman]

Chuck, you in full leathers on the street? I can't push as hard when I know I am just in jeans.

When I do a group ride, ALWAYS. when out for a casual ride all gear, but either wearing jeans or textile pants.

[Pestilence]

It's all in your head, you're scared. Only time and miles can cure that feeling.

I've got 3 good crashes on the street and it's never going to stop me from riding the way I do. Yeah I'll do TD's here and there but you'll never find me giving up the street. I'm on the lifelong riding boat, not the safety cruise.

As for the bike.. see my sig.

[Dragginazz]

Throw your suit on and come meet me at the Clover leaf in Manchester NH, we'll fix your Right hand turning problems!!!

Seriously though, sounds to me you are a little tense on the bike. Maybe always searching for the comfy position which can definitely be a "chore" on this thing, it's not always easy on the wrist. Not much you can do about it though so I've learned to live with it and I'll put up with it as long as I can, it is an aggresive position though.

On a side note, DucDave brought up tires, I'd like to add that your air pressure can make a big difference on the street just as it does on the track. With all the bumps and cracks in the road, finding the right pressure can help your confidence alot...I think. I remember my pressures were too low and it was difficult at times on the street corners. I was forcing the turns quite a bit which distracted me from being focused, so I bumped up the pressures a couple pounds and it made a world of difference!

Good Luck and hang in there, don't give up just yet, if you can forgive the bikes aggresive stance, the bike will forgive your lack of confidence.

PS- NICE BIKE!!

[The Snowman]

Throw your suit on and come meet me at the Clover leaf in Manchester NH, we'll fix your Right hand turning problems!!!

You're not the first I've heard about riding highway off-ramps and it's definitely not for me.

On a side note, DucDave brought up tires, I'd like to add that your air pressure can make a big difference on the street just as it does on the track. With all the bumps and cracks in the road, finding the right pressure can help your confidence alot...I think. I remember my pressures were too low and it was difficult at times on the street corners. I was forcing the turns quite a bit which distracted me from being focused, so I bumped up the pressures a couple pounds and it made a world of difference!

I've also been told that the 190/55 is much better for cornering than than the stock 190/50 is.

[markbvt]

Is going that extra 5-15mph through a turn going to greatly increase my enjoyment of the ride? I thought about it for a while and decided that it wouldn't. There is a lot more risk involved with riding at the upper threshold of your abilities on the street, and for me the added risk isn't going to increase the enjoyment enough to justify it.

Agreed.

I've slowed down quite a bit on the street, and I don't even ride on the track.

There are two main things that slowed me down: first, I got a couple of speeding tickets and didn't want to attract further attention. And second, I started touring and realised that a large part of the reason I like riding a motorcycle is because it's absolutely the best way to see the world around me. This is also one of the reasons I haven't coughed up the money for a track day -- sure it would be fun, but I just don't want to pay a couple hundred dollars to ride around in circles when instead I could spend it riding to someplace I've never been before and exploring awesome twisty roads with incredible scenery.

But even if that's not what interests you, there's one other basic reason not to ride at 100% on the street: other people. You're not just putting yourself at risk. Therefore, it's incumbent upon you to be responsible for your actions.

--mark

[butcher bergs]

I've also been told that the 190/55 is much better for cornering than than the stock 190/50 is.

I've been told alot of things too.....then I went and figured out what was best for me. My advice is to do exactly that, find what works for YOU instead of hanging on to what someone says. You know I'm not suggesting you throw a 150/75 on there and go rip on it. I'm suggesting you hear what others have to say and *consider* it rather than using it as gospel.

Chuck, you're an experienced rider. Take comfort in that and move forward. Forget about your accident and move forward! Hanging on to past experiences is likely going to inhibit you from continuing to love your riding experience. The situation with the 900 is done and over with and you gotta leave it behind you because there is nothing more to learn from that situation.

[The Snowman]

Thanks again all for offering comments and advice. (most of all for staying on topic is really appreciated)

I'm starting to think that riding as hard as I had been on the street may not be for me. I have too much to lose if I got seriously hurt. This is one of the biggest things that has gone through my head since the accident.

So, I could ride sweep on these spirited rides and not push myself. Then take my fast fix out on the track.