Learner Advice

I can't remember what it was like whilst learning (40 odd years ago), but it might well be that when tired and cold you tense up. That would cause the bike not to follow its line, and that in turn would cause you not to feel in control.

As for running wide, quite often the reason that happens is that you're not countersteering - and once that happens it is often made worse by "target fixation" i.e. looking where you're headed as opposed to where you want to go.

 

Being too tense is bad, you end up fighting the bike with a tight grip. Try to stay loose and as Vulpes says, look where you want to go, don't stare at something you're trying to avoid.

 

Squeeze the tank with ze knees and loosen your grip on the bars, don't lock your arms. Be loose.

Then do what the other folks are saying, look where you want to go, as far ahead as possible. May feel a little unnatural at first.

And take your time, there is no rush. And speak to the instructor. They will be good people and glad to encourage you into the fold.

 

All of the above posts contain excellent advice. It's easy to say 'stay relaxed and look where you want to go' but don't forget you're still learning and right now your brain is coping with a lot of new stuff all at once. Give yourself time to think, that would be my advice. Just a couple of seconds can make a bit difference to your coordination. Don't worrk about getting it right one day and not the next. The learning curve isn't always linear, but you'll generally be heading in the right direction so it'll all come together.

 

Tyres can also change significantly at night time as they may not have been good ones or even warmed up.
That would cause alot of the issues that you mention.
If the 650 was on bad tyres, it's worth a thought.

 

It takes time to master riding a motorcycle, just relax and and focus on what you have already learnt. You will have good days and bad days, so stick with it and most importantly enjoy the experience....

 

@JonnyD I’m also still learning. Currently taking MSF classes and have about 1200 miles of practice on my Bonneville. Listen to what the instructions are telling you and then practice as much as you can. You’re going to have bad days when you think you haven’t learned anything, but they are fewer and farther between with more practice. I was a little nervous after my first experience of the back tire sliding on some gravel on the road in a bend. You’ve got to get back on and go. Confidence comes when lessons start to sink in and you realize “wow that really does work”.
Good luck

 

Agree with the above. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but after several years since returning to bikes I am still learning and have bad days. Some days I am relaxed, smooth and the bike goes where I expect it to an others it's jerky and all over the place.

For running wide one thing I found helps if I start to go wide is to lean my body slightly forward and to the side I am turning. I find this gives me more confidence and a smoother response to corners that are tighter than I expected. In reality this is very subtle, although in my head I look like Marc Marquez! From my basic understanding, what I am probably doing is counterstearing without realising it.

In terms of where to look in corners, a tip I picked up from this forum is in addition to scanning for hazards is to look to the point where both kerbs meet, this gives a better sense of the corner and obviously is the furthest point to see what's in the road ahead.

 

It's not uncommon to have a "bad day". I had a couple of moments on my training a few years ago (full days from 09.30 until around 16.30). If it happened, the instructor just suggested stopping for a coffee. Once you set of again and concentrate you'll find it all comes back.
Agree with all of the advise (probably too early to get to grips with counter-steering for now though) - don't tense up at all - I was told to flap my elbows like chicken wings just so the instructor could see that I wasn't tense. Also, when coming up to a corner, just shift your weight in the seat slightly forward, that will help you relax.

 

Over thinking was my biggest issue wasnt while learning, mine came once passed and got my first bike, I'd be turning into corners early, breaking into the corner, panicking if the road was slightly damp or any debris/gravel at all, sitting bolt upright on a sports bike.

It's really hard to relax especially when someone tells you to but it really helps and the more hours you spend in a bike the easier it will get, jumping from 125 to 650 is a bike step if you allow it to be.

 

We all have days when it doesn't feel so good (and we never stop learning - or shouldn't), it will just be more noticeable for you in the early days. Don't let it get in your head, as suggested pull in for a short break and reset. Most common problem (and easy fix) is make sure your elbows are bent and shoulders relaxed, look where you want to go - the rest will follow.

 

The best bit of advice I was ever given, many years ago, was to drop my elbows. It sounds odd but, when you go into a corner, don't grip the handlebars with rigid arms because it won't allow the bike to find its own way and you will swing out wide. If you consciously drop your elbows it relaxes your arms and everything seems to work better.
I hope that helps you and welcome to a world on two wheels.

 

Good for you for being open about what you find challenging and asking for feedback and advice. Keep doing that your whole riding career! We're all always continuing to learn as riders and there's always room for growth and improved skills. That's part of what's so great about riding! And as a number of the folks who've shared their words of wisdom with you have said, we all have good days and bad days--the bad ones are happen less frequently as you gain skills and experience.

When I started riding after passing my MSF course and getting my endorsement, I began with very short but very frequent rides and gradually built up in time and distance. I found my body wouldn't get nearly as tired as my brain! I aimed to put the bike back in the garage just at the point where I finished off the day's practice on a good note and was already looking forward to the next day but not so tired that I felt discouraged by ending on a bad note. It sounds like you are doing structured lessons that are two hours long. That's a long time to focus when you're a new rider. I'd do my best to heed @Col_C's wise instructions when at all possible-- "Don't let it get in your head...pull in for a short break and reset".

You hypothesized that a couple of things might have been related to your feeling less confident. You noted that you hadn't slept well and that you had on glove liners (were they new?) Sleep and gear can affect us physically, mentally, and emotionally. When I'm tired or a bit under slept I definitely feel less comfortable and confident on my bike. So, particularly when I'm about to head out on a long ride or trip, I try doubly hard to get good sleep. The glove liners relate to a motorcycle gear motto of mine: "Change one variable at a time." If I get new riding gear, I try to add only one new thing per ride so I can focus on that item and get it dialed in. It sounds kind of silly but the smallest things can become a distraction or an outright danger if they are so bothersome or uncomfortable as to become a focus of attention.

Good luck and keep at it. It's SOOO worth it, Jonny, and please keep us posted on your progress.

 

I think this is mental and you're just having a bad day. You haven't lost or forgotten what you have learned, but you may have to work to put it back into practice. Sometimes mistakes just seem to multiply. Think about bad days at work. When I have a bad day and things appear to go repeatedly wrong, I try and focus on one or two things and get them right to convince myself that I still have the chops (I used to do this with Mathematics as a youth). For I know that this is a really a confidence issue and I just need to get back into the groove. A quick success makes that happen. This works for me not just in riding, but in any field. Hope this helps.

 

JonnyD
Yes mate we all have had bad days like that. I found that when I messed up then things went from bad to worse but it was only myself thinking to much about my stupidity. These days I just pull over have a fag or a cup of tea and start all over again. Works for me.
Joe.

 

This. Not all the time though. Although other road users will more than likely give you a wide berth if you did, I know I would.

 

I met my instructor recently for the 1st time in 30yr. I told him thanks for such sage advice as, I dont need to stick my knee out to go round a corner,
" Who do you think you are? Kevin Schwantz?
And to grip the tank with your knees not flapping about in the wind,
"Your riding around with your legs like a tupp'nny whore."