Why can't I get my head around motorcycles? How can I get over this anxiety?

PFC James (LURCH) Janota — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 09:32:57 -0400

I was researching ways to beat stress and anxiety. One of the things is motorcycles. I see all these motorcycles riding all over with ease. I've tried, horses, various types of woodworking, and Amateur Radio. I get on the MSF bikes and I'm fighting the thing. I can ride a bicycle all day long. Granted, I'm 6'3" and felt cramped on it. So, I'm thinking that has something to do with it. I even sat on a 250cc bike to see if that was a tight feel. It was. So what can I do to hack my brain? I'm trying to battle my depression here.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Mar 30 at 2021 9:34 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 09:34:36 -0400

Suggestions?

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Mar 30 at 2021 10:08 AM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 10:08:26 -0400

All I can say is motorcycles are not for everyone. Your size is going to be a contributing factor. A Off/on road style dirt bike might be a better bike to look at. The hardest thing to master, is learning to use your clutch, brake and throttle all at the same time to control slow speed maneuvering. Once you master that, every thing else becomes simple. A California Hwy Patrolmen put out a video series "Ride like a Pro," it helped me out greatly. I am 6'2" small bikes make me look like a circus act.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Mar 30 at 2021 10:41 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 10:41:53 -0400

If you have never ridden before, there is a lot about motorcycle riding that isn't intuitive. If you are cramped on the small bikes used at MSF, see if you can find a bigger bike. There isn't a huge amount of difference in the real performance these days between a 250/300 cc cruiser and a 500 cc bike. Wheel time builds confidence. IMO, you won't be a really competent rider until you get about 10,000 miles under your belt. However, just starting out, some advice. Take the MSF course, ride awhile, then take the Advanced course. Yes, they are both focused on low speed maneuvers, but that is the hard stuff. My mother could have rode a Harley at 60 mph down a highway. Learn to lean the bike in curves and learn how to counter steer the bike. Practice, practice, practice. Remember that balance is keeping your head over your butt. Watch a motorcycle race, they have their knee on the pavement, but that head is upright as much over the bike as possible. Ride at the range of your vision and quit watching the front wheel. Once you start to relax a little, the bike will go where you look, so look ahead and through those curves. Practice with the clutch, or get a bike with an automatic transmission. Honda has a number of them now, as does Aprilia.

Response by MSgt Don VandeBogert made Mar 30 at 2021 11:35 AM

MSgt Don VandeBogert — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 11:35:32 -0400

First breath. That helps with most stress, especially when you get frustrated, and learning to ride for a nube can be frustrating. Did you pass you MSF course? If riding is the end goal? Are you talking to or working with experienced riders or friends that are also learning/are experienced? If not, do so. There are some vet riding organizations and may have one near you so check them out. Not only will they help you with riding but vets under stand vets pretty well and I'm quite certain they can get you more relaxed and riding in no time. If riding alone to relax is more your thing, I don't recommend it as a nube until your comfortable with your bike and your riding skills. I ride alone, but I've also been riding in some form for almost 35 years. I also enjoy riding with friends. Both have advantages based on how I feel at the time.

Not knocking MSF...I am a fan and have taken a few courses, but their basic rider course doesn't prepare you for riding on the open road. There is a large leap from riding on a closed course and rarely going over 15 mph to hitting the open road, and many folks somehow expect to graduate as an experienced rider. They are great at teaching fundamentals and safety...not so much in what it's like riding in actual traffic and I know that stresses some folks out. Additionally, bicycle and motorcycle should never be used in the same sentence. As you've now experienced...they are not the same. Don't go crazy getting a big bike with the biggest engine you can. You won't enjoy it learning to ride.

Learning to ride takes practice, practice, and more practice. You should never feel like your

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 30 at 2021 12:17 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 12:17:57 -0400

I would like you to read a PTSD Paper.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 30 at 2021 12:37 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 12:37:41 -0400

If the purpose of the bike is "wind in your face" and "freedom of the open road" in an effort to battle depression, look at a different medicine for the same treatment. If Motrin isn't working, maybe a different NSAID will.

DISCLAIMERS:
*I am not endorsing this particular brand, it is just the one I see advertised on TV. I am not, myself, a motorcycle rider, so make no claims as to the feel or ease of this or similar vehicles.*

That being said, try a trike. https://can-am.brp.com/on-road/us/en/
Or, If that doesn't work for you, maybe a convertible, although gas will start to get expensive there.

Can-Am Spyder & Can-Am Ryker – 3-wheel motorcycles – Can-Am On-Road

More open to the life around you, and always open to what’s ahead, these 3-wheelers deliver a confident ride. Discover Can-Am 3-wheel motorcycles now!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2021 4:33 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 16:33:51 -0400

My first bike was a Yamaha 750, fully dressed. At the time there were enough back roads with very light traffic that I could get from point A to point B in most cases. Drove a good 6-8 weeks that way before hitting city traffic, or the freeway/state routes. Tootling at speeds *up to* 35 miles an hour gave me a lot of confidence on the bike as the back ways were never straight or level.

Riding under 10 MPH is the hardest skill to learn - so go learn it. Empty parking lot, go straight, go s-turns, get the feel for the bike you are on as different bikes feel different. I love driving fully dressed touring bikes. I have driven cafe racer style bikes. A whole different beast - and well worth staying away from until you can master the bulkier bikes.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Mar 30 at 2021 7:17 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 19:17:08 -0400

Get in touch with me PFC James (LURCH) Janota - love wind therapy brother....

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Mar 31 at 2021 8:45 AM

PVT Mark Zehner — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 08:45:28 -0400

I'm 5'10" and use to ride quite a bit both street and dirt. My boys are 6'2 and 6'5 they find dual purpose bikes easier for their size. Hopefully this may help your situation as well!

Response by PO2 Kevin Parker made Mar 31 at 2021 6:21 PM

PO2 Kevin Parker — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 18:21:00 -0400

PFC James (LURCH) Janota , I am a Chapter Commander with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. If you would liike to talk to someone in person about this, we have Chapters mostly likely close to your AO. If you would like, I could pass you on to a Commander in your area.
I've been riding on roads for 43 years now. So I could be a mentor for you when you decide motorcycles are for you. Like if other post and the comments. It's not for everyone! Right now, we have 4 or 5 I would call novices/ new to the biking world, in our chapter. An they are doing nicely. We have experienced riders ride with them. When we ride as a group, they are integrated in the group around the most experienced.
So If you want, send me your contact info and I will see about getting hooked up with someone in your area.