Loss of confidence on bike

[Mick shere]

I've riding for over 50 years, my time on the bike has decreased a lot over the last two years.
I seem to have lost my confidence mainly with low speed manoeuvering.
Im fit enough, walk abot 6 miles a day to work and back quite often with heavy rucksack.

Any help/suggestions would really be appreciated, Im not ready to start using the car and am missing my trips to Europe.
Bike is (2nd) KTM 1290GT

 

[HippoDrone]

I've riding for over 50 years, my time on the bike has decreased a lot over the last two years.
I seem to have lost my confidence mainly with low speed manoeuvring.
I'm fit enough, walk about 6 miles a day to work and back quite often with heavy rucksack.

Any help/suggestions would really be appreciated, I'm not ready to start using the car and am missing my trips to Europe.
Bike is (2nd) KTM 1290GT

Maybe spend an hour a week in a carpark practicing slow speed manoeuvres with the bike, put some cones out in a figure of eight, or use the parking space lines etc?

 

[Mick shere]

Maybe spend an hour a week in a carpark practicing slow speed manoeuvres with the bike, put some cones out in a figure of eight, or use the parking space lines etc?

Thank you for taking the time

 

[Theodor]

I second the training idea.
Bikes are very much a seasonal thing, where I live. Every spring I must relearn to ride. Slow speed maneuvers want special attention. The less you ride, the more practice you need, that is the reality. Just simple figure eight and U-turn practicing can do a lot for you. I would not skip straight line slow riding either.

 

[R-Rated]

Both @HippoDrone and @Theodor make great points. I will add you can also use a bicycle to practice slow maneuvering. A bicycle is lot easier to lift or fix if dropped.

I like using a bicycle and going as slow as stopping without needing to put a foot down. The turning the head before starting the turns works the same. Pretty much all slow speed moves can be done on a bicycle except the start off from full lock. That one gets a little hard for me as I pump one pedal the bars tend to turn towards that leg for a split second.

Did something spook you on riding? If so what was it?

I got spooked after each of my crashes. It was unnerving for a while each time.

 

[Mick shere]

Both @HippoDrone and @Theodor make great points. I will add you can also use a bicycle to practice slow maneuvering. A bicycle is lot easier to lift or fix if dropped.

I like using a bicycle and going as slow as stopping without needing to put a foot down. The turning the head before starting the turns works the same. Pretty much all slow speed moves can be done on a bicycle except the start off from full lock. That one gets a little hard for me as I pump one pedal the bars tend to turn towards that leg for a split second.

Did something spook you on riding? If so what was it?

I got spooked after each of my crashes. It was unnerving for a while each time.

Great idea, its an approach I never considered