I get REALLY stressed when it is time to ride my motorcycle.

Question

Just now I am about to go for a ride, I have been riding a year and I am heading to an appt. EVERY time I am ready to go, helmet in hand I get REALLY nervous. I can hear and feel my heart beating. Anyone else get this? Should I call it quits even though I like the idea of riding and I am ok once on the road?

Answer 1

Is it dread or excitement?

Try not going to appointments as if in a car. Get out on curvy country roads and have fun. But never,ever lose the cautiousness and alertness, that's when the dummies get you.

If it's dread, give it up. You're gonna freeze up and...

Answer 2

If I got the same feeling as you are describing I would not get on the bike. Its tough enough to be alert for everyone without being nervous on top of it. This of course being my personal opinion.

Answer 3

If it's fear, you need to quit. After a year that fear should be replaced with confidence and excitement. If you ride full of fear, you won't be able to make the right decisions in crisis. Scared people freeze up, lock the brakes, and panick.

Get a car or scooter.

Answer 4

Go easy on yourself.  At only a year of riding, you're still a novice (and I don't mean that as an insult).  

I've been riding for 15 years, and I can remember times where I'd get really wound up right before a ride... heart racing, palms sweating, etc.  It isn't just you... believe me.  Happens to a lot of people, whether they'll admit it or not.

You may be nervous, you may just be excited, and it may be both.  If it is a bit of fear, don't worry!  An old timer told me that "a little fear helps keep us alive."

Ride safe.

Answer 5

Just relax.  Remember what you learned in class.

Try these links, I think they'll help you immensely.

http://tinyurl.com/64d6kj

http://tinyurl.com/5c7hl6

http://tinyurl.com/5zzb88

Have fun, and Good Luck!!

Answer 6

I have been riding for years.... i feel the same before i go out for every ride....

It isnt nerves, its anticipation and excitment! because you know the fun you are going to have!

dont give up! keep riding and enjoy it... :)

Answer 7

"Visualization"

Before even picking up your helmet, visualize yourself riding on your favorite stretch of road, feeling free, without a care in the world.

Keep saying to yourself, "I can't wait to to go. I'm looking so forward to this ride."

When you feel your heart racing, turn around and go back in the house.

Put down your helmet & keys and remove your riding gear.

Pour yourself a glass of water, stretch out in an easy chair and take a few deep breaths.

Close your eyes and go for a ride in your mind.

Step-by-step - pick up your helmet, walk to your bike, make a quick safety check, start the engine, put it in gear and off you go - enjoying the experience.

When your heart rate goes down, remember the fun experience you just had and try again.

I'm no phd - just breath into a paper bag, the excess carbondioxide will help to lower your heart rate.

Answer 8

My motorcycle instructor got a similar question in our class.  He said, "When you stop being nervous, stop riding."

If you are panicking and feeling sick then maybe you need to figure out WHAT is making you nervous and work on it.  I used to get very nervous about changing lanes so I started hitting the road during rush hour when traffic is super slow and changing lanes a few dozen times until I started to feel more confident.  There's no shame in admitting you need work and practicing.

Being nervous is natural.  You are sitting on an engine and dealing with all sorts of rejects in cages all over the road who could kill you without even noticing it.  If you lose that sense for danger, sell the bike.

Answer 9

Stressed out nervous riders are usually the fatalities

Answer 10

I get in a mode of caution when I get on my bike. Im still new to cruisers although I have ridden dirtbikes and atvs for years. I know for me its just me being ready to watch my butt. Im gettin better on the corners with it, that right there was the thing that made me the most nervous starting out. The other thing that still bothers me a little is being out on the main highway. The blacktops and secondary roads dont bother me though. I dont know where you ride but if theres alot of traffic I can relate. I get nervous driving my truck in that c**p. Too many idiots out there. Never lose that healthy respect for the bike and the fear of the morons. It will keep you safer to be ultra paranoid. Ive always been told never ride faster than youangel can fly and my angel is old fat and slow so you get an idea what my style is. lol

Answer 11

They say Formula 1 race car driver's heart rate is highest when they are waiting for the green light to go. After that the heartrate returns to normal, though they are doing 160 MPH.

Confidence young one.

If your bike intimidates you then get something smaller

Answer 12

I have never heard of anyone get this. It does sound really bad.

I notice you say you like the idea of riding. To be honest, it sounds like you don't like the reality. I used to be the same in a job I hated. I would get really nervous and anxious at the though of going in. Once I was in I was fine, but I hated the thought of going to it.

It sounds like you don't like riding at all. I think you should either quit or take a breather for a while and see how you think once you haven't been on it for a while.  

Answer 13

well you should be riding because you love it, if your just plain scared of it there is no reason to do it. Just try and relax, you know that you have done it before and it will be like every other time you rode it. Todays no different

Answer 14

you need to ride more, I bet you ride when you NEED to go somewhere. Try taking the bike out when you just want to ride and have nowhere to go, this will slowly get rid of the anxity

Answer 15

A little fear gives you an edge.  The cars and trucks on the road are trying to KILL us.  If you ever lose the feeling completely, sell your bike.

Answer 16

I usually worry about the weather (rain) in the late summer and of course rain brings out gravel and sand, etc., but I don't let it get to me so much that I get that nervous about it. I did in the beginning but after about 1500 miles in the last 6 weeks it's started to get better. I think being on guard does make you a better rider. You always have to plan ahead for weather and road conditions while watching the cagers and predicting their movements. I agree with another answerer here who said to get out and ride more for fun. I am riding 250+ miles a week just to work and back and when I am out on my own time with no time constraints or agendas, less gear (I work on an Air Force base so you're required to wear all sorts of equipment - but I always ride with a helmet) riding is just a blast and there's almost no anxiety. A year is still a novice and I've only been riding for 2 months, although I think I have a lot of miles for that time. I think once you've experienced most of what you can expect as a rider, the worst of the anxiety will go away, but staying sharp is always important.