Well the odometer on my Sportster reads 667 so about 650 of those are mine.

I'm improving but I'm finding my learners curve to be slower than I thought it would be.

I'm doing great driving around the city of Albany, it's all straight and speed limits are anywhere from 30 to 40 mph tops.

I was venturing out onto more of a country road with a lot of twists and turns, some of them sharp. Although I think I'm much improved when it comes to cornering I still find myself slowing way down when the turns get sharp, especially when going downhill too, and yet I think more experienced riders wouldn't have to. Knowing I'm holding up traffic because I'm slower than average in these areas kind of throws an extra wrinkle in the mix too.

So I decided to just stay away from that road and hit something else. I found one last night and was out enjoying it again tonight. Speed limits up to 45 mph, nice stretches, easy turns...I was feeling great but then the speed limit turned to 55 mph and I decided it was time to turn around (I hit 50 mph once or twice on a road I was familiar with but that's not much experience at that speed).

That was a disappointment so on my drive home I was resolved to try a short stretch of highway, and push myself a little and hit 55 mph. As I was merging off the on ramp I could see the highway was busier than I thought it would be so I continued straight up and exited back off. Chicken. Still that shot me out on another short stretch of highway with a 55 mph speed limit. I really didn't rise to the occasion. I might have hit 50 mph but was more in the 45 mph range so the experience reinforced that I have no business being out on highways yet.

So I sit here pretty disappointed in myself. I'm loving riding. I'm having a good time riding around town and investigating new areas at slower speed limits but my ability level is keeping me from going out on a nice, long afternoon drive. I really thought I'd be doing that now. So I guess you could say this far in I'm seeing progress but it's slower than expected. I'm enjoying the bike and look forward to getting out on it every chance I get whether it's to run an errand or just a drive around Albany and surrounding areas but I'm also getting frustrated with, and disappointed in myself. A young guy I was talking with told me it took six or seven months to really click for him so I'm hoping in four more months to be able to say I'm cruising at highway speeds, tackling turns like a seasoned pro and finally going out for long country rides without a care for upper speed limits.

On a different note, I stopped by the dealership yesterday to order a part so I could remove the passenger pegs and while looking around the showroom realized I wasn't seeing anything I wanted more than my little Sportster. Yeah, there were some nice ones but nothing that had me dreaming of going bigger or different (there were no 48s on the floor so there's that to consider). A lot of people have said that I'll want a different/bigger bike in a year or so but I'm not sure that'll be the case, especially if I'm nothing more than an around town rider. It's nice to be content, at least with the bike and that I am. I'm still in awe it's mine. Now if my ability level would just match the bike's.

 

Everyone progresses differently, it's nice that you are aware of your limits, very important. I have gone up and down the bike food chain and back on my 4th sportster, i used to let those voices about needing other bigger bikes cloud my judgment.

 

Don't be disappointed in yourself. Mistakes can be very serious and taking it slow is no crime. I'm roughly your age and have been riding for forty years, but I still don't push through unfamiliar places.

Also, speed isn't experience. Don't let people convince you otherwise. Experience, especially experience on public roads, is not getting in situations that can get you hurt.

Also, acceleration and speed are different things. As a new rider, you need to get comfortable going 70mph, but you don't have to race up to speed.
If you want to get comfortable going highway speeds, find a deserted straight road and go through the gears at a normal acceleration, then gradually slow down while downshifting.

Finally, a couple recommendations.
- Find some books or videos about counter steering. Counter steering is one of two ways to change the direction of inline gyroscopic wheels. (Using your body position is the other, but that takes more work.) People have a misconception that counter steering is a technique. It's not, it's something we all do, but many don't realize they are doing it.
In simple terms, counter steering is pushing on the handlebar at the same side you want to turn. (Push the right bar, the bike goes right.) Trust me, you are already doing this, but you will learn how to steer through curves much better if you conscientiously counter steer the bike.

- Find a book called A Twist of the Wrist. .Read it and practice the techniques. It's meant for racing, but the techniques are all fundamental to basic riding.

Have fun, and do it at your own pace.

 

I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon. I'm 59 just got my learners May 4th and have about 2000 miles on it. The last 500 miles riding is just getting easier all the time and more enjoyable with less tension. Take your time enjoy the ride and stay safe.

 

Don’t beat yourself down to much it takes time. I’m not sure if around your area they offer free state funded motorcycle safety classes which is what I took to get my license and I think that gave me a confidence booster. Also if you’re a VET HD is offering free motorcycle riding classes (https://ridefree.harley-davidson.com/militarylearntoride/). When I first got my Iron I was just like you going around small streets for about 2-3 months then the family wanted to take a trip up to Wisconsin and I wanted to go on the bike I was freaking out that I was going to do something stupid and get hurt, but I was careful and watched my limits. After that I started feeling more and more comfortable and now I can ride anywhere or at least I think I can. You have to sometimes push yourself out of the comfort zone in order to better yourself. Keep riding and keep building that confidence and keep being safe.

I just checked your area for classes and man do they charge an arm and a leg. I only paid $23.00 and they want $275-$350
Either way if you want to look into them here you go.

https://www.ridemss.com/msf-motorcyc...c-ridercourse/

http://www.nysmsp.org/Start.aspx

https://www.hvcc.edu/rider/

 

good you know your limits
maybe find a empty lot and practice turns
look where u want to go , turn your head and look where to go , dont look at the turns or where u think u will end up , look where you want to be, look into the turns
take a class they help big time ..
just a reallly good thing to practice also , when at a stop light / sign
alllllways keep an eye in the mirror for cars pulling up if they dont look like they gonna stop at least u will know and can react to it.. really though take a course .

we all had to learn somehow, sometime.
and like others said an will say - speed isnt the idea. enjoy the scoot, and the ride..

 

Slow speed parking lot practice is the fastest way to learn control. figure 8's, serpentines and left and right turns from a stop. A good class is best. Take your time.
Someone else already said look where you want to go. Learn proper braking. Most of all enjoy the ride. Nobody starts off experienced.

 

Never be disappointed in your progress we all learn different. Sometimes you need to push past that fear a little to get comfortable. A good way is find a turn your uncomfortable on take it at a speed you feel comfortable at then next time pick up a few mph try that a few times till your comfortable then add a few mph and repeat. My first time ever on a bike I ride with my brother and he got me on the hwy doing 80mph within 10 mins of riding. I come with a background of racing and jumping ATVs so I tend to push myself

 

Hey upstater!!

Storytime:

The first time I hit the road on a street bike I thought I was moving right along, until I looked down at the speedo and it said I was traveling at an atmospheric scortching rate of (gulp) 35 mph. I was so embarrassed that I hit the throttle, but scared the crap out of myself. LOL!

My riding skills progressed at an increasingly better pace as I built my experience, and you will do the same. Take heed of your apparent limitations, because those feelings of discomfort are your cue to be cautious. Through practice and experience you'll become more and more comfortable, and actions that are presently causing you anxiety will eventually become second nature, and over time you'll be offering those experiences to other new riders down the road.

Just proceed at your own pace and be aware of your surroundings, always look ahead of you and prepare yourself for possible evasive action should what's ahead of you suddenly stop or change direction into your path, and ride like everyone else is out to kill you. Self preservation and your own safety are your top priorties :^)

=8^)

 

Sounds like you're coming at this the right way. Saddle time is your friend here and just go at a pace you're comfortable with as there is no rush to hone your skills. Remember time is free, but mistakes are costly.