Ok guys so I've been riding...2 months now and I am learning more with every ride and maybe this is because I have been in a motorcycle accident prior to riding my own bike but I feel terrified every time I get on the bike, butterflies in my belly, heart racing, but I am having fun at the same time, BUT I feel like I am worrying so much that maybe I am not enjoying the ride as much as I should? does that make any sense? my hubby says this is normal and that you should have that element of fear in the back of your mind, but this isnt in the back of my mind its in my stomach lol, does this get better with more experience? or am i just a complete wuss? I LOVE riding my bike but I am terrified of the cars around me and what they "might" do.:facepalm:
Terrified while riding...in a good way??
- Thread starter FazerWest
- Start date
Deputyfarva252
New Member
itll get better with time , but when your riding there should only be two things your worried about, what your doing , and not dying .......the worrying about not dying will fade with time .......the more comfortable you get on your bike the more youll calm down and be able to enjoy it more.....just part of being a newbie......
richierich781
New Member
I was the same way when I first started riding, you will get over it, It happened again to me a couple of years ago when my brother had an accident with his bike, I couldnt ride for about two weeks, the first time I got back on and about a week after I had butterflies in my stomach everytime I got on the bike.
Just like I tell my wife all the time. Don't spend time worrying about it all the time, deal with it when it happen. So don't worry! Just do the right thing, practice defensive driving and stay within your limit. It's gonna be all fine.
Does shit is going to hit the fan? Maybe... but if you deal with it when it happen it just last few second. Not all the time. Imagine worrying about something that might never happen..... waste of happy time riding your awesome bike.
Enjoy riding and be safe!
Does shit is going to hit the fan? Maybe... but if you deal with it when it happen it just last few second. Not all the time. Imagine worrying about something that might never happen..... waste of happy time riding your awesome bike.
Enjoy riding and be safe!
MustGoFaster
New Member
Perfectly normal. I was scared for the first few months. Then I got scared for a bit again when I wiped out. If yer not scared, there's something wrong. I'm still scared in the back of my head, I just harness it into action and awareness. You'll be fine. 
As for the heat, I always forget your out in Nevada, heh. Yeah, I didn't ride today. Hell, I barely even left the house since I had the day off. Waaay too hot. :surrender:
As for the heat, I always forget your out in Nevada, heh. Yeah, I didn't ride today. Hell, I barely even left the house since I had the day off. Waaay too hot. :surrender:
That's a tough one, FazerWest. We SHOULD be wary, at all times, of every little thing that could happen. Complacency is a very dangerous thing.
That being said, I think we shouldn't let that, or any fear rule us. Fear is healthy, smart and natural. By having a fear, and overcoming and controlling it, I think we're generally much safer at something than a person who does not fear it at all.
Don't let it rule you. Gear up, and use that fear to be a safer, smarter rider.
That being said, I think we shouldn't let that, or any fear rule us. Fear is healthy, smart and natural. By having a fear, and overcoming and controlling it, I think we're generally much safer at something than a person who does not fear it at all.
Don't let it rule you. Gear up, and use that fear to be a safer, smarter rider.
Perfectly normal response. Your instincts are alerting you to the higher level of risk. As you are exposed to the risk level more and more the emotional and physical response will subside. Most everyone involved in activities with higher levels of risk goes through it. You want to be at a hightened state of awareness but not over focused on all the possible outcomes. The key is to focus on your training and accept the risk involved.
+1 on being wary...
The anxiety will fade... but when you *stop* having a few butterflies, is when you need to start watching out for complacency...
Couldn't have said it better. It's a good thing to have the fear because it's what will keep you held back and within your limits. BUT it's also something that if not controlled, can cause exactly what you're worried about.
For some reason I never really had the anxiety that a lot of people do have when they start riding. It was more just excitement. May have just been the fact I spent my whole life riding bikes so I was comfortable on 2 wheels. I think that's a huge part of the vulnerability that new riders feel. They're not completely comfortable on 2 wheels so not only are they concerned with traffic, road debris, etc... But they're worried about tipping over and losing balance.
Use the fear to keep you aware, but use proper riding techniques to overcome it.
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Z3roFlaw
New Member
I'm new and I get what you're saying. I'm generally only nervous for the first few miles and then the butterflies start to go away as my confidence grows. However, I try to keep myself and my ego in check and ride within my limits.
I may be new to 2 wheels, but I'm not new to the road and I have over 12 years of real life road experience (which is much less than probably most of you) and I believe over the years I've become a more alert and defensive driver.
Even with all the road experience I have in 4 wheels, when I get on 2 wheels I ride like I'm invisible to everyone on the road. If I can help it I don't ride next to cars and I'm always aware of and planning exit strategies in the event I need to quickly speed up or change lanes to avoid something.
I may be new to 2 wheels, but I'm not new to the road and I have over 12 years of real life road experience (which is much less than probably most of you) and I believe over the years I've become a more alert and defensive driver.
Even with all the road experience I have in 4 wheels, when I get on 2 wheels I ride like I'm invisible to everyone on the road. If I can help it I don't ride next to cars and I'm always aware of and planning exit strategies in the event I need to quickly speed up or change lanes to avoid something.
I've been through many dirt bike accidents and three street accidents but I'm different. I am never calmer or more aware than when I am on the bike. I'm betting my blood pressure is at an all-time low when I throw my leg over the seat and hit the starter. I have more anxiety over leaving work in the truck and dealing with rush-hour traffic. On the bike, I just take the long way home. The truck costs too much in gas to do that!
I can be totally PO'd leaving work but 2 minutes into my ride, the day is forgotten and all my mental energy is focused on the ride, what is on the road, what is 2 seconds ahead, 12 seconds ahead... Is that driver texting? Am I in anyone's blind spot? Is that a deer on the side of the road? 100% in tune with the surroundings and the ear-to-ear grin behind the helmet... Heart is a steady 60... the wheels turning... oblivious to any of life's problems. As close to paradise as I can get.
I can be totally PO'd leaving work but 2 minutes into my ride, the day is forgotten and all my mental energy is focused on the ride, what is on the road, what is 2 seconds ahead, 12 seconds ahead... Is that driver texting? Am I in anyone's blind spot? Is that a deer on the side of the road? 100% in tune with the surroundings and the ear-to-ear grin behind the helmet... Heart is a steady 60... the wheels turning... oblivious to any of life's problems. As close to paradise as I can get.
^^ Ditto. ^^
So you have been riding for two months which makes you a rank beginner. It is going to take many years, or hours in the saddle, depending on how much you get to ride, to lose the beginner rank. Be patient and work hard on your riding skills. If riding is freaking you out then you should be thinking about if you are riding beyond your comfort level skill wise. Do early morning Sunday rides when there is very little to no traffic, spend lots of time in deserted parking lots working on balance, braking, clutch, and throttle control, and by all means don't get over confident that after two months of riding you will be able to follow your husband on rides he is comfortable doing. Accept that this is something you are going to be in for the long haul and it will take a lot of time to become proficient. Riding the bike should be fun, not terrifying, so ride it in conditions that make it fun. Good luck on your journey and ride safe.
alaskanflyboy
Premium Member
It's normal and will fade. I've been riding a year and the fear started going away the more I learned the capabilities of my bike. I think the key for me was learning the bike wasn't going to slide out from under me at the slightest twitch, that I could make a hard evasive turn or if I accelerated or broke hard. It must take a bit to break traction, because I have only locked the wheel once and I had reefed on the rear brake in a panic. Bike stayed under me though.
SurfJunkie
New Member
All of us as motorcycle riders need to understand that it is inherently more dangerous to ride than to drive. That is the risk we all accept when we throw our leg and mount up.
With that said, its entirely up to the rider to be responsible and ride safely. Pay attention to other drivers. Always have an escape route. If one isnt available, dont make the pass/fall back. Just dont sit stagnate next to other drivers or in blind spots. Ride to be seen and within your limits.
There should be a certain level of fear involved. You're doing something known to be more dangerous. Understand it. Master it. Learn to control yourself and decisions in panic and fear. Think of it as a challenge to yourself rather than a limitation.
If you havent done the MSF course, maybe look into doing that ? If you've done the basic, maybe do the advanced ?
With that said, its entirely up to the rider to be responsible and ride safely. Pay attention to other drivers. Always have an escape route. If one isnt available, dont make the pass/fall back. Just dont sit stagnate next to other drivers or in blind spots. Ride to be seen and within your limits.
There should be a certain level of fear involved. You're doing something known to be more dangerous. Understand it. Master it. Learn to control yourself and decisions in panic and fear. Think of it as a challenge to yourself rather than a limitation.
If you havent done the MSF course, maybe look into doing that ? If you've done the basic, maybe do the advanced ?
I've only been riding one month and honestly never felt that way i love it and im mostly thinking about what im doing and going to do i have almost been hit 3 times and had about 15 cars almost pull right out in front of me it helps to keep thinking about what you would do if something happened!!!!
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Z3roFlaw
New Member
I don't think anything I wrong. Some are more comfortable than others. However, I would just make sure that you still maintain respect for the machine that you're on.
Maybe the butterflies/scared/nervous stuff comes more to others that have witnessed, known someone or even been involved in an accident on a bike themselves.
I know I've been in an accident once and don't remember it because I received a concision out of it. But I never forget what happened and I'm reminded of it every time I trow my leg of the bike. I just learn to manage that nervousness into making me a better defensive rider that stays within my comfort zone and limits.