Over thinking can cause unnecessary fear. The best remedy: Regular practice.

Not afraid of the cycle.... but I do fear all the idiots around me in cages with cell phones!

I want to nominate Camera Girl for an Academy Award, her portrayal of a frightened rider was first notch!

Speaking from recent experience we older riders should be aware when we are becoming afraid of our bikes due to various medical conditions . We need to pay attention. I am suffering from after effects of cancer treatment and one day while riding i realized i was "scared". Couldnt see right, balance a little off and other symptoms. I headed directly for the garage. Getting better gradually and hope to ride again in a month or so. Sometimes we need to take a break for own safety and that of others. Clueless cliff

Great video as usual. I started laughing when you mentioned QueenSit. She’s a good KZfaqr to watch and is transparent about her riding abilities. She would definitely benefit from taking your course.

Just bought my first bike since ive had my license. Before it ever hits the road in a major capacity, im doing all the low speed techniques just to get comfortable with it.

Realizing my skill level a few years ago when I first started riding sent me in search of good instructors. Jerry's channel and Kevin's channel MCrider are the only two I watch that I know I'll learn something the right way. And, I get out and practice what they preach. I've watched others but I don't usually make it through more than a couple of videos before feeling like following their advice would be bad for my health and for my ride. I'll post a comment on those mentioning the two channels I watch in hopes more people will find their way to good advice. I've watched many many hours between Jerry's and Kevin's videos that I know without a doubt have made me a better rider and helped me avoid several situations that could have put me in the hospital...or worse. For that I will always be grateful for the great advice they give.

As a brand new rider, this was great advice. Thank you, sir!

The best line of heard in forever... Mrs. P. say's "I hope it's goin' the same place I'm goin' ".... HYSTERICAL!😂 Hey... One thing that comes to mind, even for people that "know" how to ride.... I've noticed that not many folks practice Panic Stops on their bikes... I remind myself to do them (when safely ALONE on a country road, or in a parking lot) each month... I do about 3 in a row, then repeat the exercise later in the day... Using different speeds/road surfaces. Cheers! Hope you and Missus are doing WELL.

Not afraid of my motorcycle . I am afraid of drunk people & and other unattended driver's on the road.

Jerry and Robert are so far the best motor officers to get out and teach us the basics. Jerry you are the everything I need to know about riding and your friend Robert Simmons on slow speed motorcycle operations. You are the best on KZfaq. I am learning a lot from you two

🤣 I hope it's going the same place I'm going. 😆

I’m new and I’m afraid of mine and I’ll admit it. I’m 43, first time doing this, but the speed riding I’m better at... it’s the slow that is driving me nuts. Wish you were nearby Jerry. I’m lucky I have friends who are good riders and patient with me.

I sold my last bike in 1990. I know I had fears I couldn’t overcome, largely due to low skill level. I have always had the bike bug, but told my wife when we married in the late 90’s (and I instantly became the dad to a 4-year old) that I wouldn’t get another bike until we were empty nesters and the kids were on their own. Fast forward 25 years and we’re there. I’m 65 now and in good condition and I want back on a bike. I know I’ll be starting from scratch as a rank beginner. I’m in no hurry. I stumbled upon this channel yesterday and instantly recognized this as a tremendous help and inspiration to gain the skills and confidence needed to ride again. Reading many of the comments in the videos convinces me I’m in the right place. I recognize many of fears that I previously had based on Jerry’s instructions on turning through curves, as one example. I’m really thankful for finding this channel and for the decades of wisdom and experience Jerry shares.

Jerry, there are a bunch of tutorials on motorcycles on KZfaq. But I do believe that you're the best on here. Thanks for what you do. I really enjoy your videos.

Why ride if your afraid of turns? Thats the best part.

Honestly I’m really scared but is more like respect to the motorcycle I’m new rider I just got a 99 Harley road king really nice bike, I got my class for motorcycle on September 16 but I’m already trying the motorcycle thanks to you I being doing everything you teach on your videos and for first time rider I think I’m not that bad thanks again and keep up with your videos

I took my motorcycle riding course many, MANY years ago. The one thing that the instructor said that has been permanently burned into my brain to this very day is when it comes to turns 'keep your head up, look ahead and don't, DON'T look at the ground because that's where you're going to go'

Just having this channel and watching and listening is building my confidence. I don’t know anything about riding and it motivates me to learn. Thank you.

The curvier the better! I have taken your videos and applied them while riding!.. I’ve learned so much! Thank you !

I love curvy roads and we don’t live far from The Dragon. The problem there is a bunch of idiots on crotch rockets passing other bikers and cars on blind curves. They have zero regard for their own safety or the safety of others & it’s aggravating. Back to the subject of this video, yep people ought to be trained on how to ride a motorcycle before they jump on one and head out. I took the msf courses 1 & 2 in 1978 & 1984, respectively. They taught the basics but I practiced & fine tuned skills that not only are necessary for riding a motorcycle, they damn sure came in handy when I used to race my Mazda RX-8 in auto x! Rock on, Jerry & Donna 👍🏻👏🏻

I ain’t proud. I am. My last bike was almost 30 yrs ago. A 84 Kawasaki GPZ 750. I bought in Germany. Knee scrapping at times. Now I have a 2008 Electra classic. Big difference. Your video’s & thumbdrive is helping.

I wonder how many beginner motorcycle riders as adults never had experience as a kid riding hard as a kid on their bicycles? I graduated from doing crazy skids, brakes, and leans on a Schwinn before owning a Honda 50 Cub at age 13. Easy transition. Then on to Triumphs, BSAs, Harleys, and Japanese bikes. I'm now 68 and ride a Royal Enfield GT650, but I know there is always more to learn.

Jerry .. You saved a lot of lives with these videos .. Many Thanks my friend !!!

Just got your new video at home, thanks. Enjoying every moment of it!

Great video training is all you need, and use your bike more it will come !

Never thought I would see Doc Donna afraid of a motorcycle. Great acting!!! Good job sense of humor. Keep up the great videos

My motorcycle is scared of me. Afraid I am a doofus rider and will drop her. 😂😳🤬😇

I got you new video in the mail a week ago. It’s great.

I'm not afraid of my bike, I'm terrified of hurting my bike!!! Maybe even more of embarrassing myself while hurting my bike.

Give the lady an Oscar for that performance! lol

I’m glad I got you to listen to... I had my bike in the friction zone dragging the rear brake last night. It was like a light went off in my head like holy shit! I get it. 😎🤘What a crazy feeling. I just love everything about learning to ride the right way! Thank you!

“I hope it’s going the same place as I am going.” Lmao😂😂😂

I think like me the first time I rode the freeway the fear came from focusing on the ground going by at 70 mph. I got over that and actually enjoy the freeway and now that I have a sportster I also enjoy the slow speed maneuvers on it. BTW; other than my brothers (3) who always' had motorcycles that I rode occasionally I've only been riding about 5 years, bought my first bike when I was 62 and I am learning more and more form your videos, Thank you!

Great video. Great advice.

Great to see Linda has overcome her fears good on ya linda

Doc Donna, you are adorable as scared rider!

I wasn’t intimidated by my bike until I wrecked it in the grass. I have to park my bike in a building and I have to drive it through the grass, so I made the mistake and I put on the breaks and I wrecked but I feel like I’m ready to face my fears again. I just purchased your book and hopefully, I will get the skills I need

I really enjoy watching all your videos and look forward to the next and the next. I realise that the slow speed manovers are not only to train you how to ride at low speed but also to show how to react if something happens at normal speeds. I'd love to see you do something at normal speeds like you are doing in this video and simulate a deer or car running out in front of you and how to react emergency stopping, that kinda thing. I think a lot of people see your videos and think to themselves _this stuff is for riders who ride below 20 miles an hour. Love you videos, please keep them coming

I’m not super experienced, but I’ve had four different cruisers, have ridden for about 12 yrs, and recently bought a motorcycle with a much higher seat than on all my previous bikes. Feet just touch the ground, not able to flat-foot at stops. It’s the only motorcycle I lack confidence about riding because of seat height, and in my opinion, it feels very “top heavy”. Since I presume the definition of “top heavy” means more weight is up high, I would say my bike qualifies as such. So I feel that some bikes are, indeed, top heavy if the weight is is higher relative to other motorcycles. To provide a description, my previous (classic) cruisers had a 30” seat height, max. The bike I now have is a Suzuki v-Strom which came with around a 33” seat height and plenty of clearance for off-road riding. Although I do think there’s such a thing as “top heavy”, in my case, that’s aggravated by my lack of confidence from not riding for 4 years, combined with new bike, combined with high seat. So I cut down the seat and am brushing up on forgotten skills.

You and moto jitsu are great teachers

On the money brother. This is great vid man. Thanks

Thank you Jerry, I dropped my bike the other day in town trying to make a turn around to go back the other way and did exactly what I wasn’t to do, I didn’t look where I wanted to go but see I was getting closer to the curb and yup run my bike upon to it and low and behold I grabbed the front break which made everything worse,.. I was a good 18 or miles friend home and really had to make my self relax , I was so upset with my self,.. now there is a slight fear and I do need to practice in a parking lot,. I’ve not road in about 5 or so years and some rusty,.. I’ve went from a 650 VStar to the 1100 VStar,.. I was able to lift the 1100 back up right but probably out of embarrassment and some adrenaline rush lol,.. Sometimes a turn just falls into place then other time a little fear comes into play,.. that was my first time dropping a bike too,.. thank you for these videos, now I need to try what your saying and hopefully get past the nervousness of it so I can enjoy it again,.. it’s truly a great feeling to ride a bike 💜

I happen across that same video about that lady saying she won't go and ride Tail of The Dragon a few weeks ago.First thing I thought was 1 she should not be trying to teach others how to ride.And 2 she should order your DVDs and learn your techniques.It another of her videos a rider went down and their bike and the rider and passager slid down across into her lane and barely missed her.In my humble opinion she needs to learn your riding techniques before she even thinks about trying to teach others.I can honestly say when I get on my bike it fills like we are one and my bike does do what it's designed to do when I'm riding.I grew up and had the Tail of The Dragon in my backyard.Theres were I truly learned to ride.Thanks for sharing.And I hope people take your advice to heart and learn to ride the right way.Just taking that MTI class just to get the MC indorcment doesn't make you a good rider at all.After passing that class the should get your instructional videos and learn your techniques and practice practice practice.I still practice and learn something new everyday I ride.Amd that's me riding for years.Your never to old to stop learning

I live in Washington state. Every road has curves and hills. Until you get to east of the mountains. And then it’s balls out interstate. I’m terrified every time I jump on the bike. But the longer I do it…. I’m more comfortable. But terrified… never stops. Every ride is learning experience though. 👍

Your teaching people how to drive after they have been driving. They have a license to drive without the skill to do so. How do you keep from getting overwhelmed by this backwards concept. You should be the guy who determines who gets a license based on if they can drive. A retired moto officer that will not give up. That's what hero's are made of.

Very well said.

Thanks Motorman. Practical applications of the theory learned. And thanks to Donna "Shaky Hands".

Great video and excellent advice thanks for sharing take care

You should have a healthy respect for your motorcycle.

Been riding 12 years... I started out afraid of curves but got better along the way. Recently put Ohlins shocks on front and rear.... what a difference. I have much more confidence due to the way the bike now handles. I will be taking your course in New Port Ritchie for slow speed turns as soon as soon as the weather cools down a bit.

Push/pull is a natural physical move and I thank you for it. At first I could not figure out how to turn left to go right while I was riding the bike, it just doesn't make sense that way.👍

I took the beginners MSF course and not just to brag but just a matter of fact, I did very well. They had us do figure 8's in a painted box in the parking lot. I was the only person in the class who did it right first time and every time. A few students dropped their bikes in that part. One of the instructors who mentioned in the classroom setting the day before that some students who come just seem to be naturals at it and he told me I was one of those people. It gave me a good deal of confidence. Then I got my bike. I was a little nervous but all in all more confident than not. Then I got on my bike in the street and it scared the crap out of me. The weight of it was far more than those little bikes they had at class. The throttle was way more powerful. My bike is a 680cc bike that is around 560lbs at 60hp. Not really impressive but for a new rider it scared the confidence right out of me. I dropped it the first day and again a few days latter making turns too slow because I was worried I'd roll the throttle to much. I forced myself to get over my fear and I'm glad I did. Had lots of great rides since but I never did learn to do those tight figure 8s on my bike like I did on those little bikes at the MSF class. I know I can't do the stuff you show in your KZfaq videos. Just bought your Ride Like a Pro video earlier this evening. I'm gonna learn. Can't wait to get it nailed down.

I was afraid of the performance of my first new 1000cc race bike… but it’s all about listening to other fast riders, training and seat time at the race track 👍

Wise words from the master. Well done 🤓 ride safe 💙

Always great advice - Im going to contact you for the updated vids

Great videos. Keep it going.

I know who you are talking about. She had a recent crash at night over wet railroad tracks while ridding parallel to the tracks with crossing. Yes, I agree she needs a riding course.

I believe I know which person you were talking about. If so she videoed and accident that happened right in front of her a motorcyclist lost control and crashed and came into they lane she and the riders in front of her was in. Lucky the others and her didn't get wiped out. Which prompted her to speak out as to why she did not do the tail of the dragon

He has a point, after mt accident my confidence went downhill and now I'm scared of my bike. I'm actually thinking of asking my dad to let me barrow his Vulcan 900 so I can regain my confidence on a smaller bike

Hello Jerry, none of my buisness but I've seen the girl you're talking about. You might offer her a class free of charge with the agreement that she makes a video of the class and she post it to her channel. You also make video on class. Win, win kinda thing, because she needs some help.... God bless man, great show as always.

Great video Jerry 👍 That bird you mentioned at the start definitely sounds like she needs to come to your course & learn how to ride 🏍️. If she carnt ride the dragon, she is probably a duck walker too when doing u-turns.

Great acting Donna!!!!!

I know I am bit nervous on slow speed maneuvers lie tight U-Turns, I used to be able to do them when I rode but then I had a 430 pound bike that was more a sport cruiser, now I have a Road King and still getting used to driving it slow, but I try to practice when I can to get down to the 18 feet U-Turns.

I had an International Moto racer tell me, Slow in, Fast out for curves. He said for years while racing he was fast in Slow out and kept getting past coming out of the corner. Eventually he learned Slow in , Fast out and started winning races.

Couldn't agree with you more, Jerry about what you were saying about facing your fears. I have been trying to convince my wife of that very thing. She is sooooo stubborn and I just can't convince her to try riding with me.

comfort comes from time in the saddle in my opinion. it was the same when we were learning to drive a car back in the day. (skills get rusty quick too). if you only ride/drive a few thousand miles a year, then you will always be a terrible driver lol the slow speed skills that jerry and donna teach are huge. its easy to ride at 45 or even 85. handing yourself in town traffic and especially parking lots, is the MOST important skill you can have. (and even that takes time and PRACTICE)

I'm pretty sure I saw the same video you're referring to. I commended her on her bravery for wearing shorts on a motorcycle, especially with her lack of skill.

Great video

I have a 1999 Yamaha Royal Star Venture. It is a large touring model bike. My RSV is very top heavy, especially with a full tank. I have ridden many different types of bikes, and my RSV, while it's the most comfortable, it truly is the most top heavy bike I have been on.

One of the reasons why you can end up fearing your bike is due the the size of the bikes that inexperienced riders are riding around on! Start off with a small bike and grow into a larger one! And by small bike...I mean 125cc.

TBH this is stuff I never think of - I am more concerned w U-Turns and I will definitely say that is from the MSF course, Thanks VM Jerry!

Biggest fear is what happens if you get a flat tire or an animal jumps out in front of you

All true advice here people. 😎👍🇨🇦

No. We love each other very much

I think it is a freakin blast to go to a school prkg lot on week-ends and do tite S turns, U-turns, get upt to 50 mph a very quick drop in speed and do a swerve, Jerry where in hell were ya back in the 70's when I started riding? well ur here now!

I respect it.

Fear is the mind killer

Like your videos 😊

In answer to the question... sometimes... yes! In very tight spaces. Sometimes I can turn it just fine. Other times... I become paranoid about dumping my very expensive bike.

I guess I've been taking curves wrong. I take the inside, and drift out. I don't give myself more room in case I take it too fast. If the room is there, you can take it wider. I definitely look ahead in curves. I scan for cracks, leaves, holes, gravel etc. I'm not a speed racer, if the sign says 25 for the curves. I may go 30-35. I know that on curves in Mountain areas, you can have random obstacles pop up. So depending on what side the mountain is one, I'll give more space for fallen rocks. I try to ride for the environment I'm in. I take cross country trips on my bike. I've learned so much from watching you two. I love your videos. I've been riding off and on since I was 9. I'm 49 now. I know I definitely need some proper training. I'm not necessarily afraid of my bike, I think it's a lack of confidence in myself. Curves aren't my problem, I wish I could do a full locked Uturn without duck walking. Been really working on mastering the friction zone. I think that'll help me 🤔🤔🤔.

To me if you have “any” fears of riding then (DON’T RIDE) its that simple. And especially bigger bikes when you don’t have the strength! Time you hang up your helmet and boots. Everyone stay safe!

ID like to think I'm over that but I would like to take the Pro Course

I live in the county with lots of twistys. I noticed that all my friends fall back after about two curves. They could use the course.

Riders who learn the Turn Hula lose a lot of their fear of turns.

I don't ride the Dragon because of others.

I'm intimidated by mine, but that's because I just got it and don't even have my endorsement yet, much less any solid experience or real world understanding of how to operate it safely or properly. But that will change. Same reason a lot of people are afraid of firearms.

Jerry, I know you can't make someone do something they don't want to do but my wife will not ride with me. The most she's done is sit on the bike in the garage and that's after me coaxing her to do so. I had these visions of going on long trips together but she won't even try it. Not even down the street. I've been riding a long time, had passengers but the ol' lady won't go. Any tips or suggestions? or do I sell the bagger, get a one seat, hardtail shovelhead chopper with springer forks, kick start, chain drive, 5 spoke wheels, no front brake, no gas gauge and no speedo?

Would love to see you do a video on areas like the dragon or devils drop. Hilly areas pose other issues that aren't everyday issues like inclines . Rode both and even though it was shorter devils drop had more hairpin turns and a lot less warning signs .

Any advise for those that have lower back or neck problems where they have a hard time turning their neck or waist fully to see over their shoulder or balance

You just have to get over the fear and go out daily even if it for 1 miles.

Master, police flh electras version are very appreciated. I have a choice between 1995 and 2002 version... which one in your opinion. Great videos as always!

I'm scared but I still want one don't care thanks for the vid!!!!!!!

I took my course on a Harley 500 which doesn’t weigh that much less than the iron 1200 that I own and ride.

I respect my motorcycle!

Where can I find a jacket like that? Looks like it keeps you cool during the hot months. Thanks!

I trying to break a bad habit. Caught my self several times stopping with the front brake. Used to use rear etc. Sometjing in my brain slipped. Guess its time to go back to lot and work it out. Talking boit the lot. My 2017 114 m8 seems to get hot fast. In traffic, during practice. The fans run alot. Anyone got any idea how to cool them off better

Important to start on a small, light bike.

I signed up to take a pro rider course this summer that is based on the motor officer course that Minnesota offers and I was the only one who signed up so they cancelled because they needed at least three riders. That was a real disappointment because they want me to become an advanced rider instructor in my area. I enjoy challenging myself putting my skills to the test so I know where I might be needing to refine my skills.

Hi Motorman. What are your thoughts about "fork stabilizers" if that is the right term, on cruiser style bikes?