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Why am I scared of pulling into my driveway???

by Newbie

I am new rider who has passed the MSF course annd have ridden close to 200 miles now. But, I guess it's not nearly enough to help me leave the driveway without a lot of anxiety. I feel stupid because I dread leaving my driveway because I know I have to pull back into it and I haven't figured out how to do it without riding the clutch too much and accidentally giving the bike to much throttle. To enter into the driveway I have to make a 90 degree right hand turn that goes uphill. I have been getting my speed slower and applying the breaks before I turn the handlebars. I lock the bars to the right (while the clutch is in) and I then try to counterbalance as I make the turn. I end up making the turn, but its awkard and I'm sure looks and sounds silly. I just cant seem to figure out when and how to let the clutch out and when to combine it with the throttle so that I can get up the hill (which is also a little bumpy to boot). I want to ride tomorrow but I was so embarrased today after my ride that I cannot seem to find the courage right now. Can anyone please tell me what I'm doing wrong? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have included a photo of the driveway. The view is looking down the driveway to where I pull out onto the street. I tried to get a view of what it looks like when I pull in, but was not able to.

Comments for Why am I scared of pulling into my driveway???

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Oct 23, 2015

scared
by: Marty

Took and passed mc class. Boyfriend rode bike to undeveloped housing complex with streets and stop signs. I followed him in truck and then I practiced. Stops, curves. everything felt fine. (with him watching) He went to work today I wanted to ride. I walked the bike down the driveway and into street. Power walked it and rode off. Nice feeling. However, coming back I realized he nor the class I took never showed me how to get up the driveway so I parked the bike out front at bottom of driveway. Went in house and cried. Came back out of house turned bike around in neutral facing straight up the drive and put it in first and power walked the bike into the garage. Went back in house and cried again. Yep I was stressed. I admit it. But I also realized I need more practice. I need to know things other than what the class taught me. I am taking the advice of women on here and getting that video so I feel more comfortable on my bike...

Jul 10, 2012

change direction
by: Anonymous

I have a friend who has upgraded to a GoldWing and she's having trouble making the right turn into her drive too. I told her to go around the block and come in from the other direction so she'll be making a left hand turn into the drive. Then when she gets a little more experiene and confidence then she can try that right hand turn again. She's dropped it at the top where the bump is. Her drive has a "bump" and goes down hill and then the garage is a 90 to the left which is uphill. Overall it's a really funky drive.

Jul 04, 2012

RH Turns
by: Colleen

Those Ride like a pro DVD's do really work- there are very specific instructions on how to make sharp right and left hand turns. It's all about NOT using that front back as Turtle discusses at length in her posts.

I have dropped my bike twice and picked it up both times by myself. I didn't have anyone around and thank goodness I had watched the youtube videos on the garage partys for HD - they show you how to pick a bike up and it works. And then you feel like wonderwoman...
The thing that was confirmed for me was in both of those occasions was stay off the front brake! It threw me off balance and boom it went down...

Keep practicing! And take all of the great advice that the women have to share here, everyone is here to support each other.

Jun 28, 2012

Downshifting??
by: TammyT

Have you tried downshifting to 2nd and then turning a little wide (from close to the center line) and starting a little early, so you don't have to turn so sharply? I have a steep, narrow drive from a busy street and that's what I do. Practice many times, over and over, until it becomes more comfortable. Just go out, around the block, and back in like 10 times in a row.

Jun 27, 2012

Advice
by: Michelle

I also get nervous everytime I ride call it the tummy tickle. I posted on here because I got so discouraged after stoppiing on a hill and couldnt get my bike to go I kept rolling back, so I took the advice of other especially using the back brake and throttle and it helped I just practiced that like crazy. Turtle offers very good advice just like many other ladies on here. I only have about 500 miles riding time so I am new. I either have a great day riding or I feel I have a bad day. You will master your driveway!!

Jun 26, 2012

Thank you all
by: Newbie

It was so wonderful to wake up today with such encouraging words. This site is great and you all are all so wonderful for taking the time to help me. I have taken something wonderful from each of your comments. I will be ordering the "Ride Like a Pro" video and will be learning to embrace my "filly" period. I'm looking forward to riding without embarrassment. I can do this! I just have to give it some time and practice! Thank you all!

Btw, "Newbie" is changing to "Filly" if the site allows it. Thank you, Karen. You are so right...I am getting a LIFE. :)

Jun 26, 2012

challenge
by: Lynn - FL

All I can say is the more you do it, the easier it will become. Once you get comfortable with THAT driveway, everything else will seem easy.

Jun 26, 2012

It's ok
by: Nana

to "ride" the clutch. It's different on a motorcycle than in a car. In fact the way to start on any incline is to use the clutch and the BACK break. If you use the back break, it tends to make the bike stay upright.

Take it from someone who has BTDT - don't hit the front brake when you are making a turn. You will go down every time. I have dumped mine many times by doing that. The only thing that I really hurt was my pride. But I guess I have to learn the hard way.

I agree that practice makes perfect. Just do it over and over. You will get the hang of it. Also look online at the "Ride Like a Pro" videos. They will tell you exactly how to handle slow and tight riding.

Jun 26, 2012

Don't stress..
by: Elaine

If worse comes to worse and you dump your bike in your driveway(yep, that is exactly what I did... twice. Its embarrassing, but you get over it.
I have found from talking to experienced riders, it still can happen to them, and the embarrassment factor is much greater!!

Just practice practice practice! Oh, and have fun!!

Jun 26, 2012

You're not doing anything "wrong"!
by: Karen

It's not the turn you fear. It's the possibility of falling over and the *feeling* of embarrassment.

Who's watching? Anyone who rides has been a beginner and absolutely knows that slow turning maneuvers are the hardest. They're cheering you on. Anyone who doesn't ride either doesn't see any awkwardness to you, or is a hypocrite too chicken to even get on a bike. Which leaves only your own judgement of you to be tamed. You deserve a good long "filly" period. Young horses don't start out looking all that graceful. It takes time and practice, as others have said.

As for the fear of falling over, do it. Get somebody to lay the bike down and teach you to pick it up.

Technically, took me a while to realize I needed to start from the outside of a RH turn, unlike hugging the turn lane curb in my car. And look further ahead.

You're not doing anything "wrong," love, you're getting a LIFE!

Jun 26, 2012

TURN
by: Anonymous

Look at it as if you were turning a normal corner. Try to remember, it's just another turn!

Jun 26, 2012

DRiveway
by: Anonymous

I would spend a couple of hours just going around the block, pulling into the driveway, turn around and do it again. again. again. and again. Pratice, practice, practice. You will find the groove.

Jun 26, 2012

scared
by: Turtle

When you start out it is a little intimidating, Try this. It may be difficult for you to get to an empty parking lot but it will help you if you do. From a stop, put your foot on the rear break, ease out on the clutch as you give the motorcycle a little throttle. Keeping your foot gently on the rear break get up to a brisk walking pace. Then keeping this pace look right where you want to go and keeping everything the same with the cluth and rear break turn right. NEVER touch the front break with the handle bars turned. If you go to ridelikeapro.com and get the New Ride Like a Pro video it will explain exactly how this is done. Once you get the techniques down you will be turning in your drive like a champ.

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