Regaining one's Bottle

Steve012

Hey folks, Driven bikes since I was 18, Kmx 125, CB1, Gsxr 750, yammy FZS 600, blah blah..

Anyway 8 years off a bike now, and I'm 39, Just bought a yammy FZ6 07.
Right, gear on, lid on gloves on.. Feckin drove it like a granny!! :eek:

They say, "You never forget how to ride a bike" true, no probs with the controls an gears.. but me bottle is empty!
Maybe go on a course?

Even though its a Fz6 its pretty pokey. Its like starting all over again. I know on the first day you ain't gonna be throwing it around, but I can see it would be a while indeed before I will be..
Any good days course to suggest?
Cheers

Max Headroom

IMO a course will only teach you how to ride a bike...you know that already..take your time, go for a few short spins , build up the confidence again...its only been 8 years...not like 20 years or more..:o

jay48

Go out with a decent instructor and they'll have you up to speed in no time

Alkers

Way to be, iirc guys coming back to bikes are the highest represented in the accident and injury stats.

Mr.Carter

A long handy spin in good weather.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Max Headroom wrote: »

IMO a course will only teach you how to ride a bike...you know that already..take your time, go for a few short spins , build up the confidence again...its only been 8 years...not like 20 years or more..:o

This ^^.

Whats an instructor going to show you which you don't already know?

Dorsanty

There is the small matter that the current cold and wet and even windy conditions are not the time to be riding with confidence (confidence that the tyres will stick that is).

I'm eagerly awaiting for that day in February or March when there is the sudden realisation that it will stick and you can start throwing the bike around.

Skill Magill

ah man, ye haven't lost yer bottle, it takes me a month or two to throw a new bike around, and I've been riding 25 years! I only feel comfortable throwing the tdm 850 around the place in the past few months and I've probably owned the bike for 2 years.

Mesrine65

Slowly, slowiy, catchy monkey...

Welcome back to the gut-wrenching, wallet emptying, grin inducing...fuck it, I'm having a ball, world of sickles...

Like the yearning for that lost love that still haunts your fading memories, as you drift into a restless sleep...they come back to haunt you...

The addiction that is, the smell & primal scream of a 2 stroke, the roar of an inline 4, the erection inducing torque of a thumping V-Twin (no Gard, I'm not that happy to see you, my bike vibrates a lot...as you can clearly see, you big hunk of authoritative uniform you :eek: )

Just an old timers tip for ye there, should you find yourself pulled for a minor infraction...no charge

But seriously...go at the pace you're comfortable with until your confidence level builds, you're going to get where you're going eventually, what's the hurry?

Be safe & remember...keep the shiny side up & the rubber down

Max Headroom

Simona1986 wrote: »

Way to be, iirc guys coming back to bikes are the highest represented in the accident and injury stats.

Way to make the lad feel better..........:rolleyes:

GBX

Max Headroom wrote: »

Way to make the lad feel better..........:rolleyes:

I would imagine that was the digest version of their reply. Probably should have elaborated to suggest that training will help gain the confidence back.

The OP is going about it the right way and considering their options. Whereas some numptys decide to jump on a bike cos the owned one donkeys years ago and still have it. Fair play to Steve for getting back into bikes and going about it the right way.

two wheels good

Advanced training - with a professional instructor or with RoSPA Ireland
RoSPA also offers social group rides which is very instructive too, in the sense of watching experienced riders.

Also I think good technique at low speeds gives a great boost to confidence. Get out in a car park and practise your figures of eight - but first check the right technique so as not to reinforce any bad habits. You'll find a thread here somewhere. Which part of the country do you live?

Alkers

Max Headroom wrote: »

Way to make the lad feel better..........:rolleyes:

Well if he was a learner he would be approaching things with that exact same trepidation and taking things slowly without being overly concerned about not yet being able to fly around the place. Confidence comes with experience and when there hasn't' been experience in quite some time, over-confidence can result in mistakes.

What I was getting at, is don't be ashamed to be taking it slow until you are comfortable, speed and bottle will come in time. By all means go on a course but there's no replacement to time in the saddle.

Pierced Off

Been down that road before you so I know what you're going through. As most people have said, take your time and go at the pace that feels comfortable to you. Many instructors offer advanced riding courses, where they'll take you out and work on your road position, cornering techniques, braking, reading the road etc. As has already been mentioned, Rospa or Iart as they are known here, do monthly ride outs and have advanced riders who are willing to work with you for the price of a tank of fuel.
Above all, relax and enjoy the experience, it will soon be spring and that's when the fun can really begin.

Wonda-Boy

Not a great time of year to be starting back on the bike with the weather and that but all I can suggest is mostly what others have said. Take it easy and at your own pace, learn the lines for corners properly and get used to the gears and the brakes so you can stop when you need to.

Dont worry about being fast that will come with confidence and relaxing on the bike leave off commuting on bike if at all possible until you are nice and relaxed, go for nice long spins on scenic routes that will get you back in love with the bike. The FZ6 is a beaut to start back on very good handling and comfortable and can move when its wants to.

Lads off here are out every week why not join up for a couple of hours and learn off fellow riders taking it easy and going nice roads.

goodlad

From my own experience im in a constant state of needed to build up confidence because i constantly go through periods of not using my bike.

Just when im getting comfortable and confident on a bike i either dont use it at all for up to 2 months or i just change bike which screws up everything for me.

Really the only way is to get out on the bike as much as possible.
The spins with the lads here do be great and there is absolutely never any pressure to go mental fast with the hooligans! :eek::D

Steve012

two wheels good wrote: »

Advanced training - with a professional instructor or with RoSPA Ireland
RoSPA also offers social group rides which is very instructive too, in the sense of watching experienced riders.

Also I think good technique at low speeds gives a great boost to confidence. Get out in a car park and practise your figures of eight - but first check the right technique so as not to reinforce any bad habits. You'll find a thread here somewhere. Which part of the country do you live?

Live in Bray mate, plenty of car parks!, Cheers for the advice folks, I had even forgotten to fecking push the bars in the opposite direction to steer! came back to after a while though :eek:
Far too long behind the wheel of a car!

All good though,

two wheels good

Steve012 wrote: »

Live in Bray mate, plenty of car parks!, Cheers for the advice folks, I had even forgotten to fecking push the bars in the opposite direction to steer! came back to after a while though :eek:
Far too long behind the wheel of a car!

All good though,

They've paved paradise, eh? Find a friendly student and borrow his traffic cone collection and you'll be set. Looking forward to the peg-scraping videos.

Plenty of RoSPA action up your way, not so much down here.

rustynutz

I would suggest doing a couple of trackdays when they start up again in the spring, get an instructor to follow you around for a few sessions to give you pointers, don't think you'll be too slow to do a track day as there are always beginners there, just tip around at your own pace. Great way to explore the limits of your tyres, suspension, brakes etc. in relative safety. I have been riding bikes over 20 years and only started doing trackdays 2 years ago, I've learnt more in those 2 years than the previous 20

Max Headroom

Trackdays are great fun but imo you need to be fairly confident to start with..It can be butt-clenching enough on your first one without the worry of other riders around you...
I too only started doing trackdays lately, but i've been riding since the 80's and i still remember my first TD...too fast, late braking, overconfident...repair bill...:o

Wonda-Boy

Trackdays are not for everyone, and doing them on your own bike is not ideal either. Especially if its the only bike you have....I have only done one trackday and it was on a rented bike which was much better as I sure as hell dont want to bin my own bike.

But it is a worthwhile thing to do, I did enjoy the session I had and plan to do more.

jay48

If you're planning on going down the trackday route , have a look at the training day , there's classroom theory , slow speed control in the paddock , braking drills and on track for the afternoon .

zubair

Your thread title is a bit dramatic for your problem. You haven't lost your bottle, I'd expect this to be normal if you haven't ridden in years. It will all come back with practice. Also the weather is **** which doesn't help. Group spins will defo help, I'm sure anyone on here who's been on one will agree.

Max Headroom

zubair wrote: »

Group spins will defo help, I'm sure anyone on here who's been on one will agree.

Group spins are fine BUT you need to get out yourself and build up the confidence...a lad that spins with us was off the bike for years, came out with us after only two weeks back in the saddle and binned it ..Theres too much pressure to keep up/not look like a tosser...even though no one would think this....
Best out on your own or another mate..
Dont feel like you need to impress anyone...
If its a nice sunday morning you'll find a few heads up in laragh, its a nice spin up from Bray....

landmarkjohn

OP, I am a returning biker since about 3 years. I would recommend instruction. Best advice I think is to ride well within your limits, we were all heroes in our twenties and were probably using techniques that we weren't even aware of. There is no doubt returning biker is a higher risk, especially if "you used to be quick enough"

I crashed this year and the accident was so stupid it was beyond funny, my fault.. over exuberance played a big part! Take care, the speed will come with confidence but the trick is to make sure the confidence is well placed :-)

Wonda-Boy

Max Headroom wrote: »

Group spins are fine BUT you need to get out yourself and build up the confidence...a lad that spins with us was off the bike for years, came out with us after only two weeks back in the saddle and binned it ..Theres too much pressure to keep up/not look like a tosser...even though no one would think this....
Best out on your own or another mate..
Dont feel like you need to impress anyone...
If its a nice sunday morning you'll find a few heads up in laragh, its a nice spin up from Bray....

In fairness that's all on him if he thinks and acts like that, clearly he didn't know his limits and would rather look good and then bin it then look average and go home with the bike intact. Not having a pop at you or the lad but if guys are not mature enough to understand the dangers and consequences of biking then its gonna end bad. We have all been there and IMHO you never stop learning.

I know a chap on bikes over 20 yrs and he used to regularly say to me he still learning every time he gets on the bike......stay safe guys. Mindset on a bike is just as important as skill.

Skill Magill

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

In fairness that's all on him if he thinks and acts like that, clearly he didn't know his limits and would rather look good and then bin it then look average and go home with the bike intact. Not having a pop at you or the lad but if guys are not mature enough to understand the dangers and consequences of biking then its gonna end bad. We have all been there and IMHO you never stop learning.

I know a chap on bikes over 20 yrs and he used to regularly say to me he still learning every time he gets on the bike......stay safe guys. Mindset on a bike is just as important as skill.

I approve this post

The_Chap

Skill Magill wrote: »

I approve this post

This times 100

Haven't had the time or mindset for the last few months for the bike with 102 things going on, if I can't switch off when riding and concentrate I don't go out

Next year will be a better year for sure

Max Headroom

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

In fairness that's all on him if he thinks and acts like that, clearly he didn't know his limits and would rather look good and then bin it then look average and go home with the bike intact. Not having a pop at you or the lad but if guys are not mature enough to understand the dangers and consequences of biking then its gonna end bad. We have all been there and IMHO you never stop learning.

I know a chap on bikes over 20 yrs and he used to regularly say to me he still learning every time he gets on the bike......stay safe guys. Mindset on a bike is just as important as skill.

Nothing to do with looking good..we all make mistakes, my point being if you go with a group you WILL try to keep up..its natural...indifference comes with experience..;)

goodlad

Max Headroom wrote: »

Nothing to do with looking good..we all make mistakes, my point being if you go with a group you WILL try to keep up..its natural...indifference comes with experience..;)

Maybe its natural for the thought to pop into your mind of trying to keep up even though its way too fast for someone's comfort zone. But its very easy to just ignore that thought and dont drive like a dope.

I've frequently been way behind the lads when out on spins. Dont think i have ever pinned the throttle to keep up with the fron runners. I know there is no need to because im confident i will catch up because their either pull in of just constantly go around a roundabout till they see me.

Just dont break down... like your chain snapping. Then ya will be ditched :pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

Max Headroom

goodlad wrote: »

Maybe its natural for the thought to pop into your mind of trying to keep up even though its way too fast for someone's comfort zone. But its very easy to just ignore that thought and dont drive like a dope.

I've frequently been way behind the lads when out on spins. Dont think i have ever pinned the throttle to keep up with the fron runners. I know there is no need to because im confident i will catch up because their either pull in of just constantly go around a roundabout till they see me.

Just dont break down... like your chain snapping. Then ya will be ditched :pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

Exactly my point..

goodlad

No need to highlight some parts to twist that im saying.

I said im confident the lads wont just vanish and i will catch up to them.
What you highlight makes it looks like im saying im confident on my bike, which actually isnt the case. I'm fairly ****e on my bike.

Max Headroom

Not having a go at you mate, you're clearly confident and know your own ability, enough to know not to drive like a accident waiting to happen....unlike the OP who will need to learn over..

Wonda-Boy

One of the best things you can do to gain confidence and learn more is hop on the back of a bike and go for a spin, it will make you aware of lean angles and what you can achieve with two up can easily be done solo riding. Especially if the rider has alot of experience.

I remember vividly worrying about wet grip starting out, constantly thinking that the tyre would slide out from under me. Then I hoped on the back of another mates bike who is riding along time and he gave it beans in the wet to show me that there is still alot of grip in the wet. Opened my eyes up to alot that lesson......

goodlad

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

I remember vividly worrying about wet grip starting out, constantly thinking that the tyre would slide out from under me.

Thats actually my constant "in the back of my mind" worry even when its bone dry out. Its why i cant countersteer and take corners properly. A mental block kicks in and makes me hit the breaks and upright the bike which obviously is mental. Which is why i corner an awful lot slower than anyone else i know on a bike. Even with 7 years on bikes its not something ive ever managed to break though. My cornering speed just adjusted down over the years to compensate rather than my skill level increasing.

listermint

goodlad wrote: »

Thats actually my constant "in the back of my mind" worry even when its bone dry out. Its why i cant countersteer and take corners properly. A mental block kicks in and makes me hit the breaks and upright the bike which obviously is mental. Which is why i corner an awful lot slower than anyone else i know on a bike. Even with 7 years on bikes its not something ive ever managed to break though. My cornering speed just adjusted down over the years to compensate rather than my skill level increasing.

I only have that because anakees are ****e :P Pilot Sports in the new year for me.

Max Headroom

I'm no Marc Marquez but i get by...my ITBOMM moments are "whats around the bend"....:eek:
If any of you travel the Kilmac to Laragh road you'll know this story...more than once i've come around a bend to find a bus/car stopped behind a herd of lycrists...and i think "what if"....:eek:

Wonda-Boy

Gary a trackday would be a very good idea, especially on a different bike that way the fear of binning it is gone. Was for me anyway lol.

Deffo gomna try get in a few next year....

The_Chap

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Gary a trackday would be a very good idea, especially on a different bike that way the fear of binning it is gone. Was for me anyway lol.

Deffo gomna try get in a few next year....

This 100%, did a good few trackdays in the uk before I moved here, makes you realise the bike is much more capable than you will ever be!

A few of us should organise a trackday here on rented bikes!

Wonda-Boy

Or let us use yours....whats the worst that could happen.....

The_Chap

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Or let us use yours....whats the worst that could happen.....

Haha you'd ride it better than me at this stage!

stewygriffin

If you can ride a bike on cold wet slippy roads like what we have not then you can ride a bike any time of the year.
Just because its wintertime,dont let that stop you from getting out there and gaining valuable experience.
A few hours with an IBT instructor isnt a bad idea,as you will gain riding and road position experience and also safety riding tips that you lost from years of ring rustiness.

stewygriffin

The_Chap wrote: »

This 100%, did a good few trackdays in the uk before I moved here, makes you realise the bike is much more capable than you will ever be!

A few of us should organise a trackday here on rented bikes!

Cotters trackdays are good.:)

BKtje

I had a "hairy" moment about a week ago. Cold but dry. Accelerated away from a stop only for the back wheel to lose all traction for a second and begin moving all over the place. Lasted only a fraction of a second but gave me a bit of a jolt. Apparently I went over a sewage drain but ever since I've been more careful in the wet... Even though it was bone dry. Amazing what can give your confidence a hit.

Max Headroom

BKtje wrote: »

I had a "hairy" moment about a week ago. Cold but dry. Accelerated away from a stop only for the back wheel to lose all traction for a second and begin moving all over the place. Lasted only a fraction of a second but gave me a bit of a jolt. Apparently I went over a sewage drain but ever since I've been more careful in the wet... Even though it was bone dry. Amazing what can give your confidence a hit.

Cold tyres can be as dangerous as wet ground in some cases...guy passed me on a spin, gassing it he hit a damp patch the size of a dinner plate and left a darkie the lenght of a bus on the road...looked epic tho..:)

listermint

Avoid manhole covers and painted road markings in the wet . can be as slippy as oil.

Tigger

Skill Magill wrote: »

ah man, ye haven't lost yer bottle, it takes me a month or two to throw a new bike around, and I've been riding 25 years! I only feel comfortable throwing the tdm 850 around the place in the past few months and I've probably owned the bike for 2 years.

tdm are so easy to throw around in the wet i'm faster on my 92 tdm than my ktm sm cos its soo easy and forgiving

The_Chap

Well I've just been handed a voucher for mondello by her good self for my birthday :-)

Anyone planning a trackday session this year?

Wonda-Boy

The_Chap wrote: »

Well I've just been handed a voucher for mondello by her good self for my birthday :-)

Anyone planning a trackday session this year?

Might do but on a rental.....

The_Chap

Wonda-Boy wrote: »

Might do but on a rental.....

What is the cost like for rentals