Motorcycle Fear – Dealing with fear on a motorcycle

There are two things that will get you in trouble on a motorcycle. Having no fear and having too much fear.

This week on MCrider let’s look at fear. How do you overcome it and how you can make it work for you. 

Fear is more than just an emotion, it also causes a reaction. Using the corner scenario earlier the rider who is fearful of cornering a motorcycle reacts to the sensation of normal cornering with a fear response of shutting down the throttle or reaching for the brakes causing the motorcycle to stand up and do the exact opposite of what they want it to do.

Many of our fear reactions on a motorcycle cause negative results:

• A rider who is fearful of cornering chops the throttle mid corner or brakes mid corner causing the motorcycle to run wider.
• A rider who is caught off guard by a car pulling in front of them grabs the front brake causing a low side accident.
• A rider sees a large tree on the edge of a sharp corner will target fixate or stare at the tree instead of looking through the corner where they want the motorcycle to go. Remember the motorcycle is going to go where you look.

Perceived fear is our perception of reality. Because we think something is dangerous or carries risk we react to it even if it really has little or no actual threat.

Both fears real and perceived cause the same reaction however one fear is justified and the other is not.

Fears on riding a motorcycle are both perceived and real.

What are some common examples of perceived fear on a motorcycle?

Speed – New riders in particular fear even just a little bit of speed. 30 MPH can seem like a real threat but it is a perceived threat because riding at 30 MPH the motorcycle is so much more balanced than riding at 5 MPH. The risk of falling over is reduced with a little speed but our perception of threat causes us to tighten up.

Another perceived threat is proper cornering technique. The MSF teaches a slow – look – press – roll technique. A lot of riders struggle to be able to roll on the throttle slightly in a corner. They are afraid they will lose control. But the reality is a motorcycle is so much more planted and balanced in a corner with just a slight amount of throttle applied. Once a new rider has that break through they are much more comfortable cornering a motorcycle.

Let’s look at overcoming some perceived fears on a motorcycle.

So how do we overcome fear on a motorcycle?

1. 1. Rewire your brain:
      1. We mentioned earlier some reactions that we have on a motorcycle that only make the situation worse. Like chopping the throttle mid corner or grabbing the front brake in an emergency.
      2. We overcome those reactions by rewiring our brains. The only way we can rewire our brains is through practice and training.
      3. The good thing about practice is 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 up the Field Guide on a parking lot and practice an exercise at your own pace after time you can gradually increase your speeds keeping your fear in check.
      4. After time and repetition you begin to replace your reaction of grabbing the front brake with the proper technique of stopping a motorcycle.

 

• Have a well thought out plan.

 

1. 1. 1. Riding a motorcycle correctly does not happen just with experience. It requires a proper plan and a focus on proper riding technique. Take a class, get access to the Field Guide but whatever you do have a plan to improve your riding with good technique.
      2. Our fears are made worse by not having a plan. If cornering a motorcycle brings fear have a plan on how to improve. Use the cornering series on MCrider, access the Field Guide for training tips and techniques to improve your skills.
      3. Much of the plan to improve your riding with good technique is already done for you with MCrider. Now it is up to you to take advantage of it.

 

• Do one thing every day to improve your riding skills.

 

1. 1. Riding in complacency is not a good place to be. Motorcycle skills are perishable, just like the vegetables at the grocery store. If you leave them on the shelf for too long they become unuseable.
   2. If you have not practiced emergency braking since the MSF course it will likely not be there when the car pulls out in front of you on the roadway.
   3. I used to work at a location that was right down the road from a painted MSF range. I went there just about every week day for a solid 2 years on my lunch break. I didn't spend a lot of time, just a few minutes before or after eating lunch. But the daily practice of u-turns, cornering, swerves and emergency stops improved my skills like nothing else I have done.
   4. Use the Field Guide and set up a daily or weekly practice routine. Don’t spend a lot of time, train for 5 – 10 minutes but do so often. You will be amazed at the improvements you will see in your riding.

Most importantly when you start forgetting that you are an eternal student on the subject of motorcycle riding, when you start to forget to learn how you can become better in looking, in riding corners or in braking, and how you can keep track of bad habits that sneak in, and unlearn them, then you are entering danger zone.

Fear does not have to paralyze us, it can motivate us to become better. Use your fear to your advantage and practice with a purpose.