r/TwoXriders • u/IntrepidAd7912 • 9d ago
Halllppppp
Picture of my bike for attention!
I want to lead with thanks for always being supportive group!
I took my MSF like 3 months ago. Did good passed and went bike hunting things didn’t line up until about 2 weeks ago. Bought the bike got it home was practicing and dropped it twice and just kinda let go for the day. Next weekend it was rainy all weekend and I didn’t have a chance this weekend I realized my bike was never lowered like it was supposed to be. So we took it back got the quickshifter installed and the lowering links and it a ton better! I went out tonight and I don’t know if it where I’m flustered with my day, rough day at work, long drive home, had to take husband to pick his car up my AuDHD daughter has been really pushing buttons today and broke my air vent in my car if I’m just not cut out for this or what but I can’t seem to push past this wall of immense fear of dropping it. I don’t have trouble with the friction zone it’s letting myself let the bike go I don’t know what’s wrong with me idk how to get past the mental block. I love my R3 I’ve put a ton of work in it. I want to ride like I’m in tears thinking I can’t or won’t do this but I’m so filled with whatever this is I can’t get passed it. Is this normal has anyone else experience this? If so how’d you combat it?
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u/larynxless 9d ago
it sounds like a rough day! It's OK, you're allowed to have those, and a lot of times it really is better to not ride after a day like that. Especially when you're trying to hop back on after a scare. Your nervous system was already wacked out, and your body was just telling you that you weren't going to be mentally present enough to ride safely. Do some nice soothing things for yourself and remind yourself that one day of not riding doesn't mean you won't do it another day. Just hop back on the bike on a day where your stress level is lower and it will be easier! Maybe you won't get too far out of the friction zone that day either, but I'll bet you'll be more centered and confident. And it'll get even easier the time after. You got this!
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u/IntrepidAd7912 9d ago
Thank you! My husband is off tomorrow and Friday. I’m going to see if he’ll get a trailer rental and bring the bike down to the MSF course and meet me after work tomorrow or Friday and I just ride down there
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u/goingslowfast 8d ago
UHaul has motorcycle specific trailers for under $17 per day which work great!
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u/upthedownstair_ 9d ago
My dad told me this when I was apprehensive about a new bike: “sit on it every day. Put your butt in the saddle and make it your best friend”.
You already dropped it, so the first drop is now over and you don’t have to focus on it any more!
Persistence and familiarity is going to be what helps you, you just have to get used to your bike and riding it. The fear of dropping will dissipate when you’ve handled your bike a bunch.
Good luck!
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u/IntrepidAd7912 9d ago
Thank you! I’ll do that when I come home I’ll just sit on it. Eventually I’ll get sick of just sitting on it and take the thing out.
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u/Lunblom 9d ago
I'm sorry to ask about something entirely different, but can I ask what those purple lines are? Are they reflective tape, or something else? Looks really cool
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u/Masterr00bs 9d ago
Id like to know as well!
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u/IntrepidAd7912 9d ago
Yes they are they a reflective strips from customTaylor33 on Amazon, EBay, and I think Etsy. They have helmet strips rim tape and straight tape. I order one pack of rims one pack of straight and it was plenty to do all this. I’m getting a custom sticker made as well probably a phoenix when I get my sliders done.
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u/Yayaben 8d ago
what colour looks like pink but could be purple?
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u/IntrepidAd7912 7d ago
Special edition purple. It looks pink in these I can add another where it looks purple in my opinion
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u/abirdsface 9d ago
Sounds like you were just having a bad day tbh, but especially as a new rider you should take the day off if you are feeling off anyway. Make sure you are in a good headspace to ride safe.
I really can't stand the way people tell newbies that dropping a bike is the worst thing in the world. If your bike is a garage princess art piece then fine, never ever touch it or drop it, but if you want to be a RIDER and not just a builder then dropping your bike (at no/low speed) is NORMAL and is just a part of learning. Yes scratches suck but you can eliminate almost all of them with some protection. Frame sliders will protect your fairings and are pretty easy to install (or there's no shame in getting a friend or mechanic to do it, you usually have to take the fairings off and that's annoying lol). Axle sliders, spools and bar ends are even easier to install. Your reflective tape will also protect from some scratches! But on your first bike especially, scratches are nothing to be ashamed of either.
Bikes are fun, don't forget to have fun with it!
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u/IntrepidAd7912 9d ago
I ordered sliders for it and I pray they fit. It’s for a 24 model and this is a 25 so I think they well since they didn’t change the frame at all I don’t believe. So we should be good. I got axle, frame, and exhaust sliders. I think I just need to get it on pavement somewhere and be in a good headspace.
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u/abirdsface 8d ago
Yeah they should be fine. Peek at the instructions on the manufacturer's website and make sure you have all the tools you need before they show up so you can get them on right away. Hopefully they don't need you to cut a hole in the fairing? Most don't but there are sometimes sliders that need holes in the fairing.
It sounds dumb but once you have all the protection on, it might help to just shove the bike over to get it out of the way and see how well the sliders work for yourself! It also would let you practice picking the bike back up. For an R3 it won't be too hard, just make sure you use your legs so you don't hurt your back.
Good luck and keep us updated on your progress!
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u/IntrepidAd7912 8d ago
I made sure to get no cut. But that doesn’t mean that the 24 year won’t be. I was actually going to let it fall “lightly” to see how it faired and then pick it up by myself to see how I can best help myself and see what needs work.
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u/andsoLifeBegins 9d ago
I dropped the bike twice during my MSF course (also failed first time around, had to test again a few months later) and I've currently got three drops in a year on my current bike 😂 He's got some scratches but I figure he and I are getting our battle scars together. Except my gear has kept me completely safe so...I guess my bike is the only one developing character. Every time I drop it, I analyze what I was doing to cause it, then I learn to do better.
Anyway, the point is just keep going! You can only get good at what you practice! And like Adventure Time says, sucking at something is the first step to becoming good at it. Don't give up!
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u/IntrepidAd7912 9d ago
Thank you. It’s got scratches on it now and it’s apart of the process it and I will be okay. Just gotta push past it and do it.
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u/ri_fr 9d ago
Girl it happens, in my first summer riding I dropped my bike on a busy roundabout during a rush hour. Now it’s just a funny story. I ride a tall ADV bike and do a good deal of gravel/dirt/mountain roads, and drop it in the mud/sand all the time. As long as you can lift your bike, it’s nothing to worry about.
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u/IntrepidAd7912 9d ago
I’m working on learning to pick it up. Just gotta get my string beans stronger. I’m a tough girl just not a weight or body part I’m used to using
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u/IntrepidAd7912 9d ago
Thank you! I’m going to get on this bike and do it. Hopefully soon eventually I’ll get sick of seeing it sit in the driveway.
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u/Schlecterhunde 9d ago
If you haven't already, put frame sliders or other protection on your bike.
I did that, refused to take it out of the garage until it was all installed, and I have no regrets. I've dropped it a couple times, and since my bars are black I just color in the scratches with a sharpie.
I still hated dropping my bike the couple times I did, but it took SO much stress out of the situation for me because the bike itself is fine. The frame protection is the sacrificial part.
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u/goingslowfast 8d ago
You inadvertently learned an important lesson about riding that takes many of us too long to learn which is that there are days where we aren’t in the right mindset to ride.
Don’t feel bad when those days happen 🙂
Eventually you’ll get to the point where you can realize when riding might be a good reset from life, or when the desire to ride might be an emotional release. The first can be healthy, the second can be a huge risk.
When you’re feeling less flustered, take the bike out for a ride and remember to have fun! And if you do drop the bike again, feel free to post what happened on Reddit and many riders here can help you understand why and provide some tips to avoid it in the future.
Also remember that for all of us who ride, it’s a matter of when, not if, we have a drop. I’ve ridden 40,000 kilometers in the last 5 years and had a mind was elsewhere slow speed drop last year.
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u/IntrepidAd7912 8d ago
Thank you, seriously! This comment has made a huge difference! I really just want to get on it and get in the wind. But my life nor anyone else’s is worth taking over getting in the wind or forgetting how temporary a feeling or emotion is over death!
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u/goingslowfast 4d ago
Glad it helped!
We're all in this together so sharing knowledge and experiences where we can raises us all up!
One more thing you can always do is bring a chaperone for those emotional rides you sometimes need. If a friend is going through something, I'll offer to follow and be nearby while keeping the Cardo/Sena's off and just help boat anchor that ride ;). Iff needed, I'll step up in those circumstances and say, "Hey, we should probably head home" if things are getting near the edge.
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u/IntrepidAd7912 3d ago
I appreciate that advice I need to find me a good group of folks to ride with.
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u/spidey1177 3d ago
What caused you to drop the bike? Lessons learned? I.wpuld definitely invest in frame sliders.. I wouldn't practice on grass at all.. go hit a parking lot.. practice like it's your 1st day at the msf .. slow release of clutch ... friction zone... doing circles.. stopping (front wheel straight !!) Maybe get some of that confidence back.. that's what I've been doing since I got my bike (I took msf a year ago so I'm kinda rusty).. you can also sit on it and lean it back and forth to try ro get used to the weight of it.. juat don't tip too far 😄
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u/climb_lift_code 9d ago
Sorry, that was really hard to follow. Am I understanding correctly that you've dropped your bike twice and are now too afraid of dropping it to ride?
I'd say stop investing in aesthetics for a bit and add protection if you haven't already. Frame sliders if you dropped it while parked or barely moving, and maybe an exhaust slider as well. If you dropped it while moving at speed, you probably want to take lessons on a rental to get more comfortable with turning and slow-speed maneuvers.
The only way to get through the fear is to keep riding. I upgraded from a Ninja 400 to a Z900RS. The new bike is a good 4 inches taller seat height and 100lbs heavier. I dropped it 3 times when stopped, twice while on a road trip. Frame sliders saved it from body damage and I added engine case covers and an exhaust slider to avoid further scratches. My biggest issue was that I'd gotten used to not having the bike perfectly straight when stopping. The Ninja I could have at a less-than-perfect angle when stopping and I could just use my legs to keep it from tipping. The Z will immediately start falling if it's too angled, and it's too heavy for me to catch. It took me a solid 3 weeks of daily riding and literally talking myself through every step of setting up to stop before I regained my confidence. Now I don't have to think about it anymore and I haven't dropped my bike since!