u/Alone-Bluebird-999

Nervous as hell and tying myself in knots over the most silly things. 2 years experience on a CBT, so very conscious of bad habits and being complacent etc.

Have my mod2 next week and I’m a bit too embarrassed to ask my instructor. He’s a bit of a piss taker, and tend to get non-serious answers…all in good fun of course. Bit of a character shall we say.

Basically, whenever I get on dual carriageways…well…my arse falls out. It feels blisteringly fast, white knuckle job. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy it immensely, the adrenaline is fantastic…but the danger is palpable. I FULLY understand that experienced bikers likely feel comfortable at much higher speeds, hence my embarrassment.

I’ve been riding 2 years, but 99% urban roads. Going on any road faster than a 50 felt unsafe, at least for me on my 125…so I didn’t. Having done my training on a Hornet 750, I feel my previous worries were quite valid…riding at 70 and knowing you still have plenty of horses to play with is very reassuring.

When/how do you get used to it? Are there any practical tips to help me out? I feel like the wind buffeting is off the charts, especially as I’m a big guy…and no doubt being on a naked bike magnifies it. It just feels nerve wracking, like the bike is going along by itself and I am simply a passenger clinging on for dear life. Am I supposed to be hunkered down and making myself aerodynamic? I’ve been riding in the same position I normally do at 30…possibly a stupid question, but am I doing it wrong?

I remember on my CBT going on the road for the first time, and 30 felt exhilarating…40 felt fast as fuck…and 50+ felt like warp speed. Common sense tells me it’s just a case of exposure. Or is it?