I have decided to take some kind of training to build my confidence.Im a confident rider in and around town but on the open road I suffer with a lack of confidence.
I find that I cant look far enough through the bend because unconsciously I am watching my road position.I dont want to be Rossi but this problem slows me down and ruins my flow.The question is do I take some advanced road training or would a track day with an instructor help.The other alternative would be to give up But I really dont want to do that.

I see you are from Cheshire. I had a simular problem so did a bikesafe course with the Cheshire Police at Macclesfield. It involved 2 nights of theory and a rideout on Sunday with a cop bike in tow (weird feeling seeing him in your mirrors). They teach you when and where to look, positioning, acceleration etc. I found it to be very good and it definately helps to build your confidence. The whole thing cost £35 and it helps to lower your insurance premium with some insurance companies.

Its mostly about confidence.

Do the course above to try and get some self confidence and then use a piece of road you know well and keep doing it until you get smoother in the corners. When you can do it (almost) blindfolded you'll find your speed increases. there's nothing clever about good cornering other than basic roadcraft (being in the right place on your lane), being in the right gear as you get into it (no last minute panic braking or trying to change down), and being smooth.

You will find that when you can do that piece of road well you will want to venture out and try other roads. Build it up at your own pace, but more than anything enjoy it. If you don't get off your bike with a big cheesy grin each time you go out there's something wong. It takes hours for me to 'come down' after a long blast on a dry sunny day!

A track day will teach you how the bike can handle but it will not make you more confident on the road. The secret to being confident is knowledge that you can make your bike do what you want when you want, it's about have the best and most information on the road, it's about having the sence to always ride at a speed that you can stop in the distance that you can see. Speed is not everything, smoothness will lead you to a faster time point to point than nailing the throttle at every opportunity. There are many schools that will offer confidence training, and advanced techniques are always an advantage. I've had several riders that needed 'confidence' training and hopefully I was successfull in giving them what they needed, in the long run it was really a case of pointing out any bad habits, getting them to use more of the potential of their bikes, giving them a few time on techniques and then getting them to put them into practice over a road that they had already ridden on. The result was usually a 10 to 15 m.p.h increase in the average speed and a big ear to ear grin at the end. Best advice, look for someone who will offer one to one training or try to get in with your local I.A.M. group. Davyb's advice is also sound, but trying to do it on your own is not a good idea, you always need someone else to tell you where you are going wrong, without this you could be headed for a real problem.

Would reccommend the IAM any day... £85 quid and that gets you your book (which covers all the above), membership until you pass your advanced test and loads more.

Once you have passed, a 10% discount

highly reccomended...

Nate

MacP - Ditto - I can balance my ZX6R on a penny, slow move etc, but once on the open road I do the left hand bends on the left hand side of the road and right hands bends on the right hand side - BAD LINES OR WHAT. I tense once I realise I am in the wrong position and I get scared.

Wolf666 - what a great idea. I have a road approx 4 miles with left and right hand bends, just off my drive. I am going to master that slice of road/lane.

Trying to book a Bikesafe but for 2 days in the West Mids they want £95 - just a little stretched at the moment. Did meet a lovely Bikesafe Copper who gave a 2 hints to help me out with my tensing and I have tried them out - worked!!

I love my bike - sometimes wonder if it is to big - but I love it!!!

Confidence...

it just comes with practice.

I found my confidence on my road to work, everyday I would try the same bend/roundabout in different ways, different speeds, different gears.
Until the time I was confortable and experienced all the other ways, then you just need to apply that confidence on other roads....

it´s just practice.