The fear of motorcycles more than a fear, it is an emotion that causes a reaction. Using the earliest curve scenario, the rider who is afraid of turning a motorcycle reacts to the sensation of turning normally with a fear response of turning off the throttle or hitting the brakes by causing the motorcycle to stop and do the exact opposite. of what they want me to do.
Index
Causes
Many of our fear reactions on a motorcycle cause negative results:
- A motorcyclist who is afraid of cornering cuts off the gas in the middle of the curve or brakes in the middle of the curve causing the motorcycle to run wider.
- A rider caught off guard by a car pulling in front of him grabs the front brake causing a low end motorcycle accident.
- A motorcyclist sees a large tree on the edge of a sharp corner and fixes or stares at the tree instead of looking through the corner where he wants the motorcycle to go. Remember that the motorcycle will go where you look.
- Perceived fear is our perception of reality. Because we think something is dangerous or carries a risk, we react to it even if it really has little or no real threat.
- Both real and perceived fears cause the same reaction, however, one of them is justified and the other is not.
Fears of riding a motorcycle are perceived and real.
What are some common examples of perceived fear on a motorcycle?
Speed – New drivers in particular fear even a little speed. 30 MPH may seem like a real threat, but it is a perceived threat because riding at 30 MPH the motorcycle is much more balanced than riding at 5 MPH. The risk of falls is reduced a little quickly, but our perception of the threat makes us more strict.
Curves- Another perceived threat is proper cornering technique. MSF teaches a slow technique – look – press roll. Many drivers struggle to roll lightly on the throttle around a corner.
Losing control- They are afraid of losing control. But the reality is that a motorcycle is much more planted and balanced in a corner with just a little acceleration. Once a new rider has that opportunity, they feel much more comfortable cornering on a motorcycle.
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Treatment to overcome the fear of motorcycles
Let’s see how to overcome some of the fears that are perceived on a motorcycle.
Reconnect your brain:
We have mentioned before some reactions we have on a motorcycle that only make the situation worse. Like cutting off the gas in the middle of a curve or grabbing the front brake in an emergency.
We overcome those reactions by reconfiguring our brains. The only way to reconfigure our brains is through practice and training.
The good thing about practice is that we can do it at our own pace. You can practice emergency stops at a pace slow enough to keep your fears at a manageable level. Open the Field Guide in a parking lot and practice a self-paced exercise after a while you can gradually increase your speed while keeping your fear under control.
After a while and repetition you begin to replace your reaction of grabbing the front brake with proper technique of stopping a motorcycle.
Have a well thought out plan.
Riding a motorcycle correctly doesn’t just happen with experience. It requires a proper plan and a focus on proper driving technique. Take a class, access the Field Guide, but whatever you do, you have a plan to improve your riding with good technique.
Our fears are compounded by not having a plan. If cornering a motorcycle is scary, have a plan for how to improve. Much of the plan to improve your riding with good technique.
Improve your skills
Do one thing every day to improve your driving skills.
Riding in complacency is not a good place to be. Motorcycle skills are perishable, just like vegetables in the grocery store. If you leave them on the shelf for too long they become unusable.
If you haven’t practiced emergency braking since the MSF course, it probably won’t be there when the car stops in front of you on the road.
Establish a daily or weekly practice routine. Don’t waste a lot of time, train for 5-10 minutes, but do it frequently. You will be amazed at the improvements you will see in your driving.
The most important thing is that when you start to forget that you are an eternal student in the subject of riding a motorcycle, when you start to forget how you can improve your appearance, when cornering or when braking, and how you can keep track of the bad habits that they sneak in and unlearn, then you are entering the danger zone.
Fear doesn’t have to paralyze us, it can motivate us to be better. Use your fear to your advantage and practice with purpose.
Hello, how are you? My name is Georgia Tarrant, and I am a clinical psychologist. In everyday life, professional obligations seem to predominate over our personal life. It's as if work takes up more and more of the time we'd love to devote to our love life, our family, or even a moment of leisure.