Jeanie - in a couple of months you won't be able to understand how difficult this felt. Take it slowly and make mistakes - you can only learn from them.

At first, everyone is keen to make the bike go faster and ride into the sunset, but in fact, anyone can go fast in a staight line!
Riding slowly, having full clutch and speed control is the most useful and advanced technique you can master to be applied to all bikes you ride in the future. You'll gain a lot of confidence by knowing you're in control and will be less likely to stall or drop the bike.

Lots of Luck!

Just got my Motorcycle Permit!
 

Hi guys,

Thanks again for all your very supportive and encouraging comments. Today I passed my learner permit theory and practical tests first time and am on an absolute high! After a decidedly wobbly start, a combination of having a great instructor (thank you Mel at Ride-Tek, Sandown Park!) and the comfort of the Hubb really spurred me on and all the advice worked!

Before I get out on the road (gulp!), I'm going to have a few individual lessons on a 250cc Suzuki, then take the plunge, get my own bike and start doing some real riding.
I can't tell you how excited I am about the adventures to come...:D

Jeanie :mchappy:

Congratulations! My wife had never ridden a bike (other than pillion) and decided in June to buy her own bike for her 61st birthday. She took a class to get started and we've been riding several times a week since. She experienced frustration and difficulty as you've described early on but the learning curve quickly gets you beyond that and now her riding improves and confidence increases by leaps and bounds each time we go out. Now we're planning on going to the HU meeting in CA in Aug and she's really looking forward to the off-road segment.

Stick with it - the fun is just beginning!

Nice one Jeanie. Well done

Well I tell you what, folks, all your advice is really paying off now!

After passing my learner permit test on Monday, I had an hour's further training yesterday on a 250cc Suzuki Marauder and enjoyed it so much, I've bought the bike! I felt completely comfortable on the Suzy, it didn't feel heavy at all, and I can get both feet on the ground - which is a huge confidence-booster. Gear changing is still a little jerky but I'll work on that. Key thing is that for the very first time, I felt like a proper motorcyclist - and my dreams of two-wheeled adventures, which just a week ago seemed rather doubtful, have just moved significantly closer!

I take possession of the bike next Tuesday and can't wait to spend every spare moment riding it! Oh and by the way, the bike's registration number starts with "HU..." so it's definitely meant to be!

See you out there, guys...!!! :D

Jeanie :mchappy:

A very big well done to you for your achievement so far :scooter:
And well done to everyone for providing good advice and encouragement.:thumbup1:
As far as learning to ride a bike is concerned,the words of Henry David Thoreau at the bottom of your posts could'nt be more fitting.:biggrin3: