[Drunktank]

well now that I got my speedy.... ive been riding it every chance I get! and tonight I took it down to tempe/ASU for a cruise and to check out the chickies.

But i had to hop on the interstate.

All I can say is after my get-off in 2004.... Im just absolutly paranoid about high speeds with cars right next to me. seriously... couldnt wait to get off the ***** thing!

On the way back though I was on a empty strech of highway and air turned nice and warm.... didnt have a care in the world and opened her up to about 110 mph. (had to)

Any good sugestions for getting back into the groove? Im guessing the best cure will just be tons of seat time and knowing the bike inside and out. Anyone else experianced this?

 

[steventhechef]

Just do what your doing..

Get used to the bike and riding in traffic (if that's the bit that freaks you out).

The more you do it the more you'll get accustomed to the - using your peripheral vision, reacting to stop start traffic etc the better it will be.

After a serious off a few years back it took me about 6-8 months to feel completely at ease in the saddle again.

Keep with it,, :-D and remember to smile..

 

[bobw3592]

Getting back on the horse can take a bit of time to get comfortable (my daughter's Arabian helped break my arm lol). Have to reprogram your brain after it realized you're not made of steel. Just because the bike can go fast doesn't mean you have to right off the bat. Getting smooth is the most important thing I can think of, it's going on 3 years since you wrecked, reflexes are a bit rusty I'd bet.

I'd do some slow speed work in an empty lot and then find a stretch of road a little less busy than I-10/202/101/60 is around Tempe-Chandler. Work the basics and let speed come up naturally. Get to know your new girl. Sounds like your overloading your senses with too much going on.

A nice loop is 87 south from Chandler to Florence, continue down 79 to 77 and ride up around 77/177 around Kearny-Ray to 60 or up to Globe and cut across the dam to Pumpkin Center and then down 87 again to Fountain Hills and your home.

Ride safe.
BobW

 

[Drunktank]

Funny thing is.... you toss me on my dirt bike and I go all all balls to the wall.... most of the same speeds i was doing on the highway.

I know my bike is new and its gonna be awhile till I know exactly how it handles in every situation.... but handling it wasnt what had me all paranoid.... I feel right at home on the thing. Just the masses of vehicles around me and knowing none of them propabably see me. It was an ass clown that didnt look where he was going that caused my last get off and the death of a veery sweet ZX12R.

I think I may go try that loop out tomorrow.... sounds like a good ride... plus its been beautiful here! mid seventies! Ah ya!

 

[Cheapbastard]

Hey DT, I hear ya man. I had a git off in 01(my fault though :hammer: ), and I didn't even really have a lapse in between, was riding again 3 weeks later. Like Bob said, it takes a while to get your brain back from knowing that falling down hurts! :hammer: I wrecked doing a wheelie, and it screwed my total riding style up. I wasn't even comfortable in the corners anymore. :hammer: Just take yer time, and ease back into yer comfort zone a little at a time. It took me a few months, but I got to feeling back like I used to. :-D

[ This message was edited by: cheapbastard on 2007-01-12 07:52 ]

 

[Limey]

I hate riding on I95 south of West Palm Beach. Way too much traffic, always road construction, Huge amounts of semi's, road debris, etc. I will ride it if I have to but It will never feel right to me.

 

[Normandy]

I never recovered from mine cause a car just pulled in front of me at the last second. To this day, I still am not comfortable going thru intersections. Don't think it will ever go away, just as well.

 

[jstark47]

drunktank- is it just high speeds, or the combo of speed and homicidal maniac cager a$$hats? I think comfort with speed comes with time. But I can't offer you much about interstates at rush hour 'cause that freaks me out, too, and I've done it a lot. Heck, sometimes the whackos scare me when I'm in my car, let alone on a motorcycle. Afternoon rush hour seems worse than morning.

 

[HiDesert]

You might want to do something like an advanced riders' course to reset your brain. And don't expect to feel exactly the way you did before; learn from your experience, and become a better rider for it!

 

[Drunktank]

On 2007-01-12 10:57, jstark47 wrote:
drunktank- is it just high speeds, or the combo of speed and homicidal maniac cager a$$hats? I think comfort with speed comes with time. But I can't offer you much about interstates at rush hour 'cause that freaks me out, too, and I've done it a lot. Heck, sometimes the whackos scare me when I'm in my car, let alone on a motorcycle. Afternoon rush hour seems worse than morning.

No.... its not the high speeds. I LOVE that! Its the morons who are in the cars eating McDonalds while watching TV and beating their children in the rear seat all at the same time that freak me out. or more so.... not knowing if theyre preoccupied and not paying attention. If I see someone reading a book while driving or eating..... I steer clear of them. Even worse when you dont know who to steer clear of.

 

[indy288]

don't let your adrenaline write a check your comfort zone won't cover. ride in your zone and the speed will come back. if it doesn't? your still having fun and your riding. it's not a contest. i would rather ride with safe riders than fast ones. :razz:

 

[Drunktank]

notice how I said I was hauling ass once I was on a empty streach of highway

 

[richb]

On 2007-01-12 11:06, hidesert wrote:
You might want to do something like an advanced riders' course to reset your brain. And don't expect to feel exactly the way you did before; learn from your experience, and become a better rider for it!

Good advice,
None the worse being
Posted twice.

I am a poet.
I just didn't know it.

 

[DaveM]

Drunktank,
I have had several (well a lot actually) offs, most many moons ago while I tested my ten foot tall and bullet proof theory :-D But I have had two in the last five years, one which resulted in $3500.00 damage to my GSX R600 and the other righting off the bike.

My advice is just to get right back on and do all the normal stuff you used to as soon as possible.

In October 2005 I was involved in a rather nasty accident with a Petrol tanker semi trailer on the Gateway Bridge here in Brisvagas.

I was driving my company car of the time a late model BA Ford Falcon Sedan, I was hit twice by the semi trailer tractor unit once in the rear and once broadside on my drivers side, I was punched into both the north and southbound concrete barrier walls twice and spun across three lanes of traffic.

Shaken up? Hell Yes. Hurt? luckily not a scratch just whiplash.

I was worried I might be two scared to ride fast, but that weekend I had a bit of a go with a new K1200S on a windy road, I kept gaining on him till we hit a straight and he was gone!

What I am saying is that once I did that straight after my crash I got over that fear straight away.

I have to admit though I am still wary of semis and I hate going over that bridge next to a semi or B Double (double semi trailer). But I do it frequently all the same I am just very careful.

You can do it.

Just don't force yourself into a really scary situation. It takes as long as it takes.

That worked for me but maybe not everyone else

Good luck and sorry you had the nasty experience.

DaveM

 

[stevent]

I got knocked off my Trophy in 2005 in the middle of a multi-car pile up. The bike was totaled but I was extremely lucky and walked away with bumps and bruises. The first thing I did when I got home was ride around the neighborhood for a little while on my Thruxton to exorcise the fear.

I accepted the fact long ago that I could be injured or killed on a bike but I choose to ride anyway. I wear the best safety gear I can afford I practice my skills as much as possible and try to develop 360* vision and awareness, other than that I just enjoy the ride and the moment. I certainly don't enjoy riding in heavy traffic but then I never did, I just try to avoid it as much as possible and ride aware when I can't.

:upthumb: