Being and individual who has had his share of accidents (others fault and my own) I subscribe to the philosophy of taking it slow and not riding beyond what I consider to be my limit at that point in time. Prior to getting my Harley I had suffered a head injury (no joke!) and was told I might not even be able to drive a car anymore. When I got back on my bike I took it slow and did whatever I needed in ordcer to feel comfortable. Explain where you are at to your friends you ride with and if they are truly friends they will understand.

 

I agree with the suggestion to take a riding course. Then after that go on some rides in some wide flat easy roads for awhile. It's only a little lessening of your confidence that is the problem. With ther training and more rides, it should build up again.

Otherwise, you could take up golf and that will really frustrate you.

I'm 67 and gave up riding for about 10 years thinking that I was too old. When I retired, I tried it again and it took awhile to get back. The first sharp turns that I came to, I didn't think the bike would fit around them.

Now, after many cross country rides with my sons, I go thru corners like my last name was Rossi.

 

The way to get over it is to start riding again. Start out with short trips were there is not a lot of traffic. Do it by yourself so you don't have anyone pushing you. Build up to longer trips.

People can have panic attacks just trying to leave the house. I have fear of flying.I hadn't flown since October 2001. I even had a flight booked once twice and I headed to the airport and at the last minute I turned off and drove the whole way. I finally got over it last year and flew 6 times. I was terrified but I forced myself to do it.

I have never experienced a fear of riding a motorcycle even after I wrecked. But different things make different people anxious.

 

Xguy,

I haven't had an accident but I have had what I thought was vertigo problems but have realized that I had anxiety attacks. Guess they are hereditary due to grandma used to have them (Thanks a hell of alot granny![:@]) anyway, what you are experiencing sounds alot like what I went through. At first, that little excitement you USED to get when getting on the ride has turned to nerves and, at least in my experience, set off my anxiety. You can be as tough as you want to be (Hell, I'm a cop, been shot at, hit, pushed emotionally many times) but when the nervous system says, "Hey, I'm not liking this!" It gets uncomfortable on a physical level. I haven't told anyone here about this but I was working on this all of last summer. It is in part why I didn't make it to the Midwest Rally.

I started with riding only inner city streets at or below the speed limit. I would ride all around town. I love riding and NOTHING was going to take that away from me!! I really did start getting comfortable and confident doing this. Then I started getting on major streets for awhile and when I felt even the slightest twinge of anxiety, I got off and back onto the 30 MPH streets. Relaxed, then back onto the major streets for awhile again. Well, now it's not a problem. I'm still working on highway and highway speeds. It's getting better and have come a long way.

DON'T FEEL LIKE A PUZZY! It's a physical reaction and something that can be overcome like any other fear or phobia, e.g. fear of heights, claustrophobia etc.. YOU CAN OVERCOME THIS!

You will be happy again and love the ride again but you have to take it slow and easy. Take one season and work on it. Forget rally's, rides with friends (unless they understand you are working on this), poker runs etc.. Take that season just to work on this only! Try riding with music, it had helped me. Believe it or not, a few drinks helped me as well although I won't recommend that as help but the nervous system is like anything else in the body, it CAN adapt and change, just keep your mind in control and be easy on yourself. Take her out for slow rides at first and always tell yourself, "I can slow down or stop whenever I feel like it!" Then you'll want to go alittle further. Pretty soon you'll be fine and back in the saddle.

Remember, it's not a "fear" of the bike or riding, it is a "mind control" thing and you have to work that out slowly.

There you all go, now you know alittle more about me that I hadn't wanted anyone here to know but if it can help any of you all, then I don't mind.

"Hello, my name is SpeedsterX and I have anxiety" (but the Xanax is goood!)

Keep your passion for riding Xguy! It's pure and good and something not to let go of!

Good luck!

 

It's normal. A little paranoia is a good thing on the street. I ride like every cager is out to get me. The only time I truly relax is on a open road with no other traffic around.

My experience: The Classic car turned left in front of me. Broken back, 27 inches of stitches.

Tire went down on my drag bike at over 100, more stitches, dislocated knee.

Hell, I'm 48, been riding 30 yrs, if I go for a few days without gettin on the street, I'm still a little nervous the first few minutes. The main panic your describing goes away with ride time, but if you get to comfortable, or complacent, especially in traffic...........................

 

I had a really bad wreck and initially I was pretty damn nervous getting back on and back out there. That was 20 years ago and though I am not afraid any longer,I am much much more cautious. I will admit when in a tight corner and I spot sand I get a little panicky!

 

Had a bad one last April. Drunk turned left in front of me. I went from 50, to flying, to rolling, to hospital. Nine months later finally got well enough to get my new FLHX. First ride a little dicey. Second one not so much. Third & beyondgot right back in the grove. It's a head thing. Yes, you can get killed on a motorcycle. You can also slip on your porch step, slam your head on the concrete and presto, you're taking a dirt nap. Ride safe, but, ride.

 

The way I look at it is yes, the risk on a bike is there for sure. Its riskier than a car or whatever. Is the risk worth it compared to the pleasure of a cool early eveningride alone down a countryroad? A ride where you smell the grass and lakes and flowers and whatever else is out there and the cool breeze is on your face?I think its worth the risk.

 

I had a similar case of the jitters in 2002. Doing 65 mph a lady in a ford PU hit me in the rear hard enough to embed the bike in the truck and kept it upright with me on it until we stopped. What should have been a disaster ended up with a couple of cuts and some aches. After getting the bike fixed I spent more time looking behind me than enjoying the ride so I sold the bike. 2 years later I bought another bike and been riding since with no stress, enjoy every moment. Not sure what made the difference, different bike, time, or just realizing fear is useless, if something is gonna happen it will happen on a bike, in a cage, orwalking. Hope your recovery time is short, keep at it.

 

I don't know what to tell you. Ibelieve what you're going thru is fairly normal. I think the suggestion to taking the MSF course is a good one. Since you have experience I think the experienced rider course would be good to help you build up some confidence. I also think the key thing is not to quit and hang it up. If you keep working at it, a little at a time I think and certainly hope things will work out for you.

Good Luck !!!!!