Confessions of a Newbie Rider

[Slaninar]

Cornering: if you've just come off a 125, bear in mind a big bike (and especially a new-to-you, unfamiliar bike) will handle differently; your tyres will have likely more grip than you give them credit for. Part of it is the "look where you want to go, and you'll end up there", part of it is making sure you're sufficiently relaxed on the bike (almost letting the bike "do it's own thing") - if you're tense, you can end up "fighting" with the bike. Try one of those off-road training days (BMW and I think Honda run these, amongst others) - it'll give you a feel for the bike sliding about, and if (when) it happens on the road (fuel, gravel, grain etc) you won't be so inclined to panic.

Yup, conrering confidence grows slowly and gradually in time, until you fall - then it's back to zero.