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[Screamin]

This is a topic I know very well learning to ride and not listening to anyone else but the instructer.  I unfortunatly did not do this I took the class and did great at in I took the riders edge class. But I hang around people who have been riding along time and I pushed past my comfort zone and now I ride a little scared which is not good. Everyones voices in my head telling me how to ride instead of just feeling the machine and being one with it. When I do that I have a great time mostly I ride alone. I have never hurt myself or the bike but have droped the Fat Boy three times once moving.  So far I have never droped the V-rod  

Helen

I guess a couple of things:

1) Welcome
2) Riding a little scared is NOT a bad thing. We get scared for a reason, it's called survival.
3) Riding solo is a Good Thing to start. You're new, your who you are and a group only causes added things to worry about. (And them to worry about you as well).
4) Everyone's fallen down, the key is to be going REAL slow when you do it.
5) Group riding causes me anxiety. I know some of the folks and honestly they concern me and I keep an eye on them. I don't want to see them get tangled up w/ something and I darn sure don't want to get tangled up w/ them.
6) You will have to find out on your own but as your skill level increases so will, hopefully, your desire to push yourself and your machine a little more. Our bikes will do more than most of us will ever push them into. They can go faster, lean farther and stop quicker than most know. Eventually start heading towards those limits. It's, for some, what it's all about. For others it's the confidence to know that when needed, they have the skills to make the bike do what needs to be done.
6) My wife got her license last year and I know it can be daunting. You'll get it, you'll start to enjoy it more and you'll do it at YOUR pace, not theirs.

[Special_Ed]

No advise needed from me. But I do know that the more I ride the more I love it. I enjoy the people I meet along the way, the way you experience the wind, the acceleration, the sound of the machine, the countryside, the freedom. Riding is one of my all time favorite pass times. [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

Ride Safe,

Ed

[erniezap]

How about .....





ah, never mind


target rich environmet


and just too easy


and too weird too (even for me)


Sometimes discretion really is the better part of valor.

Don,

Since when?  [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

[erniezap]

Gentlemen,

I hope that all of you got in some riding and didn't spend the whole day on the computer.

[erniezap]

Thanks Julia.

[erniezap]

In all the years and miles I have never ever ever never dropped a motorcycle.

[SPIDERMAN]

But [highlight]Don,[/highlight] you're just a figment of Big B's imagination anyway!!!

Luke, I am your father !

[erniezap]

I think that it's really Big B dressed up like a girl trying to play a trick on us... [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

[erniezap]

So, can you tell that I'm bored at work this afternoon?

[Fired00d]

I think that it's really Big B dressed up like a girl trying to play a trick on us... [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

Oh no you didn't go there. That chit is scary. [smiley=vrolijk27.gif] [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[JR]

I think that it's really Big B dressed up like a girl trying to play a trick on us... [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

Now Ernie that's not funny! Sweet tea out the nose just aint funny! [smiley=nervous.gif] [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif] [smiley=nervous.gif] [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif]

[CVOMOE!!]

Welcome to the site.  Good choice on the bike.  I had one and loved it.  Planning to get another one.


Cheers, Moe

[SPIDERMAN]

I think that it's really Big B dressed up like a girl trying to play a trick on us... [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

Yup,
       And it sure is hell to pay getting the tape off the ole dingaling afterward.  

B B

Guess what else B B stands for and win a prize !

[Twolanerider]

You're scaring me Don

[blondeharleygrrl]

Hi Harley Hunks,

Lmao....If I can stop laughing at the comments between erniezap, Spiderman (Luke, I am your father), JR and Fired00d I'll be able to reply.  Whew!

"I'll bet you are right-handed...."  yes, that's right!   That MSF instructor's response that turning left feels more natural because we were north of the equator is silly.  

Part of my problem with taking a curve either direction is having enough throttle and balancing the V-Rod's weight.  What I fear most as a new rider is the bike's weight.  I felt it's brute strength my first riding lesson when I didn't give enough throttle up a slight incline (driveway) and the bike jack-knifed left.  The crash bar kept the bike from squashing me.  I was thrown off, but my bike and I landed in the grass and leaves.  Dirk (my bike) suffered a minor scratch to his tail light assembly.  I had a bruised shoulder...but the ego hurt more, lol!

I got right back up and practiced more.

I exercise regularly, but now weight train doing squats to build leg strength.  I am flat-footed when seated on the bike, but I can barely "walk" the bike.  My friend/instructor says when I try I do this strange thrusting movement that just should not be seen in public, lol. [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

I am not fearful enough that it deters me.  I've gained confidence.  The MSF class will teach me better control.

I appreciate your advice about not listening to everyone's riding instruction because bad habits can be picked up.  I have several new Harley friends through the HOG Chapter and online that are eager for me to ride with them in a group.  VGirl told me that it's best to ride alone, too, in the beginning for practice.

I feel that it is safer to ride in a group.  Cars and trucks respect a group of bikes more than a single rider, I think.  What is everyone's opinion about that?

Are there different rules when riding with a group?

Have a great week!  BHG/Julia