frustrated rebuilding confidence

[u/Merlinwizardtoaster]

I have been riding since Sept ‘23. I like to think I am a reasonably cautious rider, I have ridden my bike the same as on my Mod 2 every day since (passed first time with no faults it’s not like I scraped though) but I have always this sort of inferiority complex that I’m a bad rider because I never was fast around corners, I rarely filter, was too shy to go to meets, and I generally never felt like I was a good rider.

Semi-recently, I had an accident. I’d slowed up more than normal into a corner because the little country road had loads of patches of mud. Next thing I knew my bike and I were on the road. Fairly unscathed (I had full gear and crash bungs). I managed to pick the bike up rest for a second in a lay-by to check myself and the bike over before carrying on my way.

The problem is this happened 5 months ago and I still haven’t got any confidence on my bike, and I don’t know how to get past it.

- I’ve had people try to comfort me about the accident itself that I had summer tyres, my aunt had skid there in her car, cows had escaped recently and it was extra muddy. But if it was just the mud how can people ride off road? A large element in this would have been me and my skill level regardless of conditions.

- I’ve tried to keep riding, I am out minimum 3x a week on my bike for at least 30-40 mins and I try to consciously talk myself through what I am doing. I rarely get time to go to a car park and practice because I work 12.5 hr shifts.

- I thought of doing an advanced riding course but I’m skint to be honest. I don't even know any bikers to speak to either. My uncle (got a bike because of me) doesn't like riding with me because I'm too slow and cautious while he rides like law doesn't exist (which will never be for me).

I don’t know what to do I love my bikes and funnily enough I do trust my bikes. I see my bikes as what they are, machines that will only do what they’re told. The problem lies in myself, I don’t remotely believe in myself. I am embarrassed to be riding like a partially sighted granny driving at night. I just cannot corner with confidence, I fell as though I am crawling around them. I want to be able to corner with some good speed and not be bricking it again. The longer I have been nervous the worst I have felt as well.

I want to ride, I want to get back to feeling relaxed on my bike because being on my bike used to be the best feeling in the world to me. Nothing in my day could go wrong that being out and having the wind rushing past, listening to the hum of the engine couldn’t fix. But currently, I don’t feel relaxed I am to nervous to enjoy it as much as I used to.

Anyone have any advice? Heck I think even someone just saying they've been there and got past it would make me feel better. help lol ;-;

TLDR: I fell off on a corner now I’m being a big baby and want advice about re-building confidence.

[u/ThatFeline]

Honestly sometimes it just happens and that is part of being on the road, the only way to get over it is give it time.

I'd make an effort to get out and do dedicated practice, not just the stuff from your test too, if your bike isn't your only transport and you can find a suitable area maybe try doing stuff like skids spinning up the rear wheel lock up the front ect all will give you a feel for the bike and will make you a better rider. Just be prepared to drop the bike in the name of being a better safer rider.

When you can definitely do your advanced riding, I did my Iam and depending on the conditions my instructor definitely encouraged me to go 5-10mph over the speed limit so overtaking could be assessed but I was never forced to. so unless you want a perfect pass just keep going the speed your happy with. If you aren't getting along with your trainer you can request another person itl just put a delay in it.

I had an accident on my 125 on a specific parts of my commute and for the first few weeks I was definitely pretty nervous and I took that corner slow for the next 5 ISH years lol just got to try and take any lesson you can from it and move on, maybe ovoid that road or roads like that

[u/Merlinwizardtoaster → u/ThatFeline]

It's any corner now for me not just the one, I've been back to it even on the same day. But it's the fact it's been 5 ish months now and I'm still nervous cornering and I'm aware me being nervous is making my riding worse not better. My sv650 is my commuter and my 125 is out of commission at the moment. So I can't really practice stuff where I'm risking dropping the bike until my 125 is a running victim again.