For many avid riders, motorcycles represent the ultimate freedom with the open road and nothing but yourself and your bike going from town to town. For others, motorcycles can be a source of real fear. It can be a fear of learning how to ride or returning to riding after a traumatic accident. Nerves are normal and not something to push aside, but you don’t have to be a victim of them. You can ride that motorcycle with confidence.  

Getting back on the motorcycle can be scary 

There’s no shame in being nervous about getting back on a motorcycle, especially after a serious accident. It can be an extremely scary experience. It can also push you out of your comfort zone you’ve never ridden one before.

There are a lot of unknowns to learn before you ride. You may not have been exposed much to motorcycles so they remain elusive and a source of fear. You’re curious but still too nervous to try riding. That is understandable. 

On the other hand, you may be a veteran motorcycle rider, but were in a frightening accident. You are medically cleared to ride again, but you can’t bring yourself to get back on your bike. Again, that is understandable. Accidents of any nature can be traumatic and make it hard to return to what you love. 

The good thing is that you can take steps to get back on your motorcycle or even on the motorcycle for the first time. 

There are ways you can become a more confident motorcycle rider  

Biker Girl Life provides some excellent tips for building your confidence. 

1. Practice safe riding: Go to a neutral location where you can practice all your maneuvers. Make you go to an area with plenty of space so you can do everything that makes you nervous repeatedly. Practice until you can’t get it wrong. 
2. Practice in a safe environment: When choosing a location for your practice time, make sure it is a quiet location. You don’t want to go somewhere where you can be startled by other, possibly more aggressive, riders. A large parking lot after business hours is a good choice. 
3. Practice picking up your bike: Knowing how to pick up your bike by yourself will be a big confidence booster. You want to know you can do this without asking for help, and that can help you know you can handle whatever may come up. 
4. Ride defensively: Always expect the unexpected. Expect danger wherever you go and be prepared for every scenario. 
5. Learn how to stop well: Practice putting your feet down correctly so you can come to a safe stop. You don’t want to end up laying down your bike because you didn’t know which foot to put down. Practice until it becomes instinctual. 
6. Make others aware of you: Learn how to rev your engine so that other vehicles are aware of you. Drawing attention to your presence can go a long way in preventing an accident.
7. Make a plan: Have a plan and know where you are going before you leave home. It can help with confidence to stay on familiar roads for a while because you know what to anticipate. If you are going somewhere new, have a navigational system to be prepared. 

Here are ways to conquer your fear of riding a motorcycle

What can you do mentally to help you overcome your fear of riding your motorcycle? 

According to Holstee, it is vital to dig deep into your fears and find out its root cause. Write them down and process them until you know precisely why you have that fear. Think through the worst possibilities. Allow yourself to think about it and process it. This helps you become equipped and ready for that worst-case scenario. Figure out what you can control and what you can’t control. Focus on what you can control. Also, focus on your goals so that way when the fear creeps in, you can steer your thoughts back to accomplishing what you want. 

Conquering your fear of riding a motorcycle focuses on skills and ramping up your mental game. You can do both and enjoy riding your motorcycle.