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New Rider's Fears

I'm a brand new 52 year old rider. I've got a Honda CB 900 Custom, but I got my license (took MSF course) 5 years ago on a 125, which was the only time I ever rode.

Being that the 900 is the bike I own how do I deal with my throttle fear; I think I am afraid of the bike taking off on me, and losing control. I also have to deal with a husband who has no fear of the devil, let alone a bike, and is beginning to lose patience with me.

I really do want to be able to ride on my own, and I do know that I will want to continue to ride on the back of hubby's Goldwing - any suggestions, ideas would be aprpeciated.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by shvlhdss93 on September 16, 2008 at 9:32pm: Grab some throttle and GO, aquaint yourself with the OFF switch on the handle control, in case you have a problem... Really tho I think it better to go at your own pace until you feel comfortable enough to move forward, it'll come to be second nature, and only you can tell when your ready or not... Better for every one involved to be safe not sorry... Good Luck!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve on September 17, 2008 at 11:29am: Hilary,
My wife and oldest daughter are both solo riders and they absolutely love it. They both use the road past our house and a local parking lot to get used to the handle of the bike. Once they felt comfortable then they went out on the main road. My wife has put 8000 miles on her bike which is a Yamaha Vstar 650 and my daughter rides a Suzuki C50T (800 cc) and has put close to 5000 on her bike since she started riding last summer. The 3 of us road out to the Black Hills and back which was about 2000 miles. So just take your time and when you feel it's right, then you will be able to jump on and go. Good Luck and ride safe.

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Permalink Reply by Sherry Forrest on September 26, 2008 at 4:49pm: Hi Hilary, You've probably mastered the throttle by the time you read this.....I was a brand new 52 year old rider about a year and a half ago, bought my Goldwing 1800 trike before I even took the course and learned to ride. Two months after learning to ride I drove across the US on it. This will make you feel better.......about two weeks after learning how to ride and feeling kinda comfortable, I went for a day ride (about 450 miles) by my house. I stopped for gas and to use a bathroom at a small convenience store/gas station. When I came out of the bathroom, there was a crowd of
Harley riders gathered around my trike, looking at it. I took my time putting my jacket, gloves, etc. on because I wanted them to leave first, JUST in case I did something stupid, but instead they stood around watching me as I left. I was barely moving out of the parking lot when I turned to wave goodbye to them, not seeing the pothole I was about to hit. As soon as my front wheel went in the hole, my right wrist shifted down suddenly and I threw myself against my seat back as I took off like a rocket then had to brake hard. I broke out in a sweat thinking they all assumed I was trying to look like a bad ass with my "Watch my wheelie" dork move. I've gotten better with two month-long road trips across the US, but I still have my moments. Sherry; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Larry Walther on January 25, 2009 at 7:50pm: I don't even remember any problems when I was brand new, because that was over 50 years ago and I was an idiot 14 year old who would live forever (welcome to "forever", Larry - LOL). But there was a stretch of over a decade during my late middle age when I gave it up, then came back to the bike, and I had your problem when getting back on. Clutch fear, throttle fear, brake fear, shoot, I was scared of the whole damned thing, even though I knew there was no good reason.

All of which just leads up to the "solution" I choose: Very few people have a problem when the bike is moving at a normal pace. The scary parts are the starting, stopping, and slow speed maneuvering. Knowing that, I went to the country and found a field of alfalfa (like real tall clover - grin) owned by a friend (my son, actually). I asked if he minded if I tore up his field a little while practicing, and he said no problem. There is not much more difficult driving than 3-10 mph in a bumpy field of (very slippery) alfalfa, all the while making constant starts and stops and constant turns.

For 10 days - about an hour a day - I did nothing but slow turns and starts and stops in that field. When I was done, I was no longer afraid of anything at all - the good thing was, I never dumped the bike during all this, but I was mentally prepared to do so; after all, how bad could I hurt myself going 5mph in what "looked like" a soft grassy field - it was actually hardpan dirt underneath, but I didn't let myself think of it that way.

I pass the story along for whatever it's worth, but it was my way of working back into the seat after a long absence, so it might help a newcomer to the game, too.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rdcnslr on January 26, 2009 at 11:32am: Hilary, I had not ridden in 25+ years before I got back on a bike. I bought a new Honda, Shadow ACE 750, 1998 and rode that for two years. Talk about a lot of getting use to the bigger bike and the time in between ('73 Honda CB 450). Then I bought one the first of the Shadow Sabre VT1100 line in 2000. Like you, that was a big move in terms of power to the back wheel and I did some stupid things until I got used to the power and the weight increase. As others have said, take your time and pracitce, practice, practice on your own!! It will come with time a practice. I have not had such a big adjustment with the switch to the V-Star 1300 I think because of the confidence of ten years of riding and going through the same practice, practice, practice with this bike that I did with the other two!!; ▶ Reply to This