I'm not sure what is going on with me. I have wanted to ride my own for a very long time. I took the MSF course (on the buells of course) last week and passed with flying colors (husband not allowed to be at the course with me). He took me to a huge parking lot yesterday (on my Sportty) to practice more and to see what I had learned and it was a flop. The confidence I had at the course seemed to be gone. I was nervous and scared and now the husband is doubting if I need to ride. I know it takes practice, practice, practice.... but has this ever happend to anyone else?

 

When my wife started riding she took the course and passed with no problems. She had also ridden dirt bikes when she was younger, so we figure no problems. Well, she dropped her Lowrider several times in the first couple of months of riding.

She just kept after it doing a lot of parking lot pratice. She does just fine now and is my best riding partner.

Best of luck to you.

Bill

 

YES! Hang in there!! I promise it gets better.

 

I found that I put undue pressure on my wife when she was learning to ride. When I just backed off and really helper her rather than pushed her she did much better. What kind of bike are your riding in the parking lot? The bike makes alot of differnce. It does take alot of practice. MAke sure you go at your pace and not your husbands.

 

I have an 883L. I'm only 5'2 and 102 lbs. Not sure if that has anything to do with it or not. When riding the Buells I did really well and now on the Sportty I really have doubts that I can do this safely and without panic.

 

Just continue to practise in areas away from the traffic mobs, such in parking lots and other semi-safe areas..

Don't force yourself to ride on the mean streets until your confidence level is higher and you feel that you are ready...

 

1st you are now riding your own bike, not the class bike. So now you may be more worried about damaging your own bike vs one of the MSF class Buells. Hence more pressure. Just relax and do what you did in class. It's no different.

My son is going through the same thing. He did fine in the class, but now is a little nervous on his sporty. He doesn't want to drop it. I put some engine guards on for him to help give him a little more security and confidence. I told him I don't care about the guards, so scratch the heck out of-em.

I also took the MSF class with him. I rode many years ago, but thought it would be good for a refresher (the insurance discount ain't bad either). The best part is, now I can remind him of the class in the same terms.. FINEC, friction zone, ect. So we speak the same language in terms of riding and safety and we can do some of the same things he did in class to practice. I had him out on Saturday in a parking lot and he did fine. I reminded him the only thing different was the bike he was on, and that everything else works exactly the same.

Relax and take your book with you and practice based on the book. Remembering what you did in class will help. The Sporty is a bit heftier but in the end will work the same. Good luck an keep practicing.

 

Thank so much for everyone's opinion and encourgement. I want to do this for myself and I want my husband to be proud of me.

 

It is quite different being on your bike versus the one in the class.

After riding the bike for a few hours in the class I became quite comfortable and confident on it. When I hoped on my Road King it felt so different (completely different pedal positions, weight distribution, seating position, etc.). I swear it took me a few hours to get comfortable on my bike again.

Hang in there and keep practicing... you'll be fine.

 

It sounds to me like you have a problem with your husband being there....does he make you nervous? (not necessarily on purpose..just his presence?) If you did great at the course without him...you'd probably do great practicing by yourself. Here's my solution:

You have a license now right? (I know I got a license when I passed MSF)...You also have a bike right? Problem solved. You wait until the hubby is out...you get on that Sportster, and you just go ride...not in a parking lot...not down a side street...you just get out on those main roads and go. Once you do that once, you will never be worried again.

I took the MSF course without ever having ridden a motorcycle before. And when I passed, I ordered a motorcycle a few days later. Time came to pick it up, I drove over to the dealer around noon time (so to miss rush hour traffic). Well, the bike wasn't ready, and I waited around for a couple hours. By the time the bike was ready, it was close to 5pm, the dealer was right off rt.1 in Rahway, NJ (and if you know this area, you might as well be riding in Manhatten)....needless to say, it was a real trial by fire. And to top it all off, the clouds rolled in, and it started drizzling as well. But guess what....I made it home in one piece. Figured, if I could do that, I could do anything.

Now, I'm not saying you should do anything that rash.....but just go out for a ride that you could see yourself going in your car..maybe to the store..wherever. I bet you'll do fine.
Good luck.

Todd