Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

This is kinda odd, but..

got myself some leather pants a little while ago. Prior to this I had only ever ridden in draggins. Have worn the leathers around the house etc to break them in a bit, and have ridden in them several times.

What I'm finding is, I don't seem to have any confidence when riding in the leathers. Its weird but its like I have lost the "feel" of the bike through the seat. (Yeah, I'm an ex- dressage rider). Kinda like I cant hang on in them or something.

Has this happened to anyone else? Any tips?

thanks

how do you lose confidence, as in you just get nervous and start doing weird stuff ? I guess just jump on the bike in your pants before you ride, leave it off, have a moment to gather your thoughts, take a deep breath, you obviously know how to ride and relax

I must definately be something your thinking though, because same happens to me just in reverse, as soon as the leather pants go on, i get into race mode an get a little too-confident!

tank grips might help?

http://www.techspec-aus.com.au/

As Dilligaf has said, you will most likely find you have lost grip. Either get some tank grips or stop polishing the bike.

Nick

It's probably that you not use to wearing leathers and need to get use to it.....

e.g. I use to wear no gloves when I ride cause I felt that they were restrictive but now I can't ride with out them, same with my boots

Like I said, its weird and hard to explain...

As a dressage rider, you "connect" with the horse thru your seat and legs. I guess I unconsciously do this now on the bike instead, and can't seem to get the same "feel" thru the leather, and this feels wrong somehow.

Tinman is most probably right, and I will have to try and ride more in them.

How are you ever going to get your knee down if you cant "connect" with the bike !!

I always feel like I ride better in Draggins because I can move around more....but I love my skin wayyyy too much not to wear leathers. Wearing Skins under the leathers has helped.

You just have to get used to riding in them, thats all. Once you do, you wont ride without your leathers

I feel MORE confident in leathers...

Stereo wrote:I feel MORE confident in leathers...

Yes, BUT, are you an ex-dressage rider ?? ....I rest my case.

Stereo wrote:I feel MORE confident in leathers...

Yeah, but that's probably got more to do with previous employment .
But i found I have more confidence in leather because even though I loose the feel, I have WAY more grip on the tank. In my draggins when it's wet, I'll slide of the damn bike with too much acceleration if it weren't for the pillion seat.

hoffy wrote:

Stereo wrote:I feel MORE confident in leathers...

Yes, BUT, are you an ex-dressage rider ?? ....I rest my case.

yes

Kathy........ you saw it here HTFU!
I think you will need to just do a heap of riding & get used to the new feel & try not to let it bother you...... cant be any worse than... lets say getting used to a new bike