So since may last year for some reason I cannot get in to grove of riding (with exceptions on some days but I could count those on one hand). As result I been going out for rides, as pleasure not commute, less and less. When I go out I get stressed, I constantly run wide and worse is when I do run wide I know I can lean more, can correct it but I just cant force myself. I do not have any such feelings when I commute every day probably due to lower speeds. Saying that I do get naughty on occasion on Sunday mornings and it feels alright. Even today I did not feel right, been running wide and felt in general as danger to me and others so had to slow down. I think part of the problem is I had a lot on my plate since last year but then basically none of that plate stuff is bad, stressful stuff just full plate so when I ride I have it somewhere in my head. Anyone had that problem? Any suggestions how to overcome it?
To get round the corner push on the inside bar .... Push it away from you .... You'll get round the corner once you realise this . That's my advice anyway
To add ...... I'd say you just arn't prepared mentally mate to make the bike go where you want . Tired , you could be , if your slowing up entering these corners the bike is going to come upright making you run wider, hence pushing on the bars keeps the bike holding a line , push some more to tighten the line, maybe you just need to be more aware of your speed , I wouldn't want you to think faster into a corner is better, but slowing up in a fast corner can be just as dangerous
Luca, apart from commuting, riding is there for fun. If you're not enjoying it, don't force it, take a step back. If that means you don't go out for a blast, then so be it. To ride safe, in my experience, you have to be happy. When im stressed/angry I ride like a madman. We all know how to ride and we all know that riding takes total commitment. If your mind is elsewhere, its all to easy to misjudge any situation. There is still plenty of riding left to be done, it certainly doesn't have to be done today :smile:
As others have said you have to be in the right place when riding. When was the last time you had your suspension looked at? If its not performing correctly that will make a huge difference to how the bike feels.
i do this on the 848. trying to hard i think. on the multi which i use more for the commute fast twisty' 60mls round trip, i am way more comfortable,quicker and safer. (touching wood right now).
Im not as good as I used to be. Ever decreasing eyesight. Less and less flexibility. I dont force the issue. I just ride easy. I enjoy it just the same. I get round the bends but with less speed and less risk. Just enjoy
Ah, I understand this. When I commuted it almost ruined my enjoyment of motorcycling. The weekend would come and was too sick of riding to go out. Commuting can be quite stressful and not a pleasant experience. It was then I decided to get a 'shitter' a bike which if it fell over, got knicked, crashed I couldnt care less about. I then treated it as a task. I got a slowish upright DRZ to commute on and used that instead of my Ducati. Commuting became business like and easier and less stressful. But I was still fed up of riding, albeit it was a lot better. So I began using trains, tubes etc before I eventually found a job 5mins from my home. Now I cant wait till the weekend and sunny days to go for a spin. Commuting can be a double edged sword. My mate commutes and sometimes its hard to get him out at weekends too.
A word of advice from me, do not go out for a blast and listen to the White Stripes album Elephant after an argument with your girlfriend. You'll ride like a fool, egged on by the music and you'll nearly come a cropper on several occasions.
He that is another story all together. Frankly I do not listen to Metallica Ride the Lightning Album when I ride like ever..... Bootsam commuting is right now the only time I actually enjoy riding, by enjoy I mean I am not stressed just relaxed smooth riding. It is when I go out to have fun I tens up and start making bubus all the time which makes me more stressed, more tens and it gets worse. Peter I do that I always did, frankly I like to amuse car drivers and in front of them go around roundabout by steering "towards them". Got few spooked. El T I do not think I am stressed till I get on the bike and do out of London. London is ok as you know all car drivers are idiots and will cut you up so just stay ahead of them Some good advice here. Will look in to that training and maybe go out few times on my own, at my own pace at my own destination to relax.
I'm the same at this time of year, i put it down to not trusting the greasy road surface. It'll be different in a couple of months.
Good point Rob. I tend to ease into riding after a long lay off. But sometimes I too just return home coz somedays I ride shit and the roads are too busy for enjoyment. Relaxing and smiling helps.
If you have done a lot of riding on wet, slippery surfaces - leaves, mud, frost, general slime - in the cold of winter, with strong winds or poor visibility, inevitably you get rusty. You get used to being cautious and leaving wide margins everywhere; early braking and not much leaning. Then spring comes, with dry warm roads, and you need to get yourself back in the groove somehow. Maybe a 200-mile ride across country, working up to progressive speeds. Maybe a trackday or two. Well that's what I've always found.
Luca get yourself down to WVAM.org its weyvalley advanced motorcyclists, we meet 1st sunday of the month, and theres meetings during the month for New members, JohnW is one of the clubs top riders ( he wont mind me bigging him up ) to follow him, and other senior members is a joy and see the lines, and way they read the environment. honestly get in touch, there's always someone to help, you'll get your IAM membership, when you pass the test, and get loads of benefits, ie cheaper insurance, confidence, and a bunch of decent peeps for info ( there's also plenty on here too )
