Triumphrat

Tappers

Hi all,

I have been here before but not for a while and was hoping for some advice suggestions...

I stopped riding a couple of years ago for several reasons, if I were being honest, nerves mainly but also time. I went from a Speed 4 to a Tiger 955i and with the Tiger lost all my confidence completely although loved the bike it was to big for me!

Ever since I have wanted to ride. I had dinner in London with friends some time ago and one commented on the fact that I twtched as soon as I heard a bike, or looked round to see it!! I have always been that way, I love the sound and smell of them

The other day I was in London and about 10 bikes left the lights outside London Bridge and it made my day them al roaring over London Bridge!

At present I have a money problem or serious lack there of!!! but.....

What's the best way to get back into biking?

Are there any good things to do to get more confident?

Thanks

Tbirdnz

Get yourself a good second-hand Bonnie, they are an easy forgiving bike with no vices to them, a nice size for most riders. It will get you back into biking and put the grin back on your face. Go for a motorcycle safety course, no matter how good you think you were or weren't it will help you.


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Ride on !

TriumphTengu

Don't feel bad. I've got a 06' Tiger that none of my friends will ride because it's
"too big" for them. I think they mean by the seat height.
Do they have MS (Motorcycle Safety) courses in the U.K.?
I've took the begginers to get my Motorcycle classification, then my son and I took an advanced course together cause they let us use our bikes instead of the Honda Rebel 250's.
Both classes were great. They help alot in learning defensive and offensive riding technique.

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"Are we having fun yet"?

UraniumC

Hey Tapper...

I'd 2nd the idea of a used Bonnie if you choose to give it a try again.

Also, my observation is that a lot of folks have their ego tied up in their riding/bike. If you can set that aside, and ride only when, where and how you feel comfortable, you should be fine. Don't let anybody else's idea of what a 'real biker' should be or how, how often, how far or where they should ride get in your way.

And remember, if after a bit it still doesn't feel right to you, you can always step off and move on.

Good fortune!

__________________
JC
2006 Goodwood
Progressive Front Springs, TORS, Tach, Dart Fly Screen, Extended Seat Bolts and, of course, Union Jack License Plate Bolts.
Formerly: VTX 1800C
"God must love stupid people; He made a lot of them."

Diego

I too endorse Tbirdnz's recommendation. The Bonnie is a great returning rider's bike.

(If your confidence needs further boosting, maybe even consider an H-D Sportster 1200 from within the past five years or so. They feel so low and planted that they can really boost your confidence level. But for long-term riding, the Bonnie will be more comfortable and reliable.)

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John

cgrossarth

Tappers,

You don't say how old you are or your physical dimensions. I'm a senior rider, 170 pounds with a 29 inch inseam. Years ago, I rode some transverse 4 cylinders and loved it, but as I mellowed, the engine width and weight became uncomfortable. Also, I can deal with a lesser lean angle and more leisurely pace. Motorcycling is individual, and cruising (sometimes briskly)
can be done quite well on a Bonnie (or 'gasp' some UJM). If you want speed or canyon carving, look elsewhere. Of course, If you are under 50, none of the above may apply. I don't know if any of this helps, but good luck on your return to the fold.
Clyde

Curt955i

Tapper,

If and when (as you sound like a lifer to me) you get back into riding no matter what bike you choose to ride, get acquainted with it in a parking lot. I know it sounds stupid to someone who knows how to ride already, or possibly not.

Set up cones (I use tennis balls cut in half) Start with something simple like a straight weave with the cones set at about 1 1/2 times the length of your bike. Find your friction zone (that gray area in the clutch where the bike moves but doesn't lurch with the application of more throttle) and use your rear brake to control your speed. I found that the friction zone came to me automatically and practiced staying in the zone by doing a slow walk exercise a few times until I had a good feel for it.

After doing the basics, increase the difficulty level set up an 18 ft circle practice riding in both directions inside the circle, using the friction zone and back brake to control speed. When you get good at that set up a figure eight and practice making transitions between left and right circles. If at any time you feel like you're going to fall straighten up, and ride out of the exercise.

There are lots more exercises to practice as well, offset cone weave is a good one, u-turns in an 18ft space, the intersection (also known as the iron cross)

The idea here is to improve your riding ability and teach yourself the lean limits of your motorcycle(the lean limits part only applies to cruiser style bikes, at slow speed on a sport, or sport touring bike at slow speed would have you on the ground in a second). Believe it or not as boring as this all sounds it will really make a difference in your confidence level out in the real world.

A lot of people out there that claim to have a lot of experience riding really have one year of experience repeated over and over again.

I learned this stuff from a video called "Ride like a pro IV" Where many more parking lot exercises are demonstrated and explained. They even show the motorcycle officer test (USA) It is quite interesting and informative.Not to mention a confidence booster if you actually practice what they teach

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Give me twisties!!

stanegoli

I don't think you can enjoy your riding unless you have a good degree of confidence......and the best way to start building confidence is to take whatever is offered in the UK that is akin to our MSF classes.

I quit riding at about 26, and took it up again at 51. The MSF course I took when I got back into it made me a far better ride than I was as a young man. I have a much better understanding now of what it takes to ride safely (and rest assured, I love speed and the exhiliration of the ride)

miker

Now these are words of wisdom indeed.

If you want to ride, then just ignore everyone else's idea of what riding is, or biking is and look inside your head and find where your confidence went. Once you find that, you will be able to accept it and then go and find a bike that YOU like, and that YOU can feel comfortable and confident on. Regardless of whether it's a Triumph, UJM, some cruiser, or a Neracar for that matter!

Mick

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My Album

"We may not be able to change the direction or strength of the wind, but we can always trim our sails"

JohnB

I'd recommend the Scrambler over the Bonnie, but that's just me. You really need to sit on some bikes, and get a feel for them. I highly recommend the Kawasaki Ninja 250/500 for new riders. You can pick one up cheap, ride it for a year or so, and sell it for what you paid for it.
Pity the Tiger cub isn't out yet...but that's another story.