Bought a 2025 YZ250F Afraid to ride it

I broke my wrist once at the driving range when my club hit the rope they sometimes put on the ground that you have to stay behind.  Also tore a tendon at the same time. 

Last year I did close to 30 MX and XC races, but the worst crash I had was riding my KLR650 to work when a deer ran into me.

Technique and Seat time will help squash your fears

Man just take it slow and learn the machine.  No one says your have to be like people that have been riding for 10 plus years straight.  Your going to miss out on too much by giving up!  

Just sell it. Or trade it in on a 125.

It sounds simple but the best advice I’ve ever heard is that YOU are in control of the throttle and brakes. Learn to use them to your comfort level. Don’t let your ego control your bike. 

Turned 58 this year , with a 14 y/o boy. Less riding time with work/family. I put my ego in check a long time ago and ride within my limits of comfort. Doesn't matter what people see or think about me being smoked by a kid on a 65. I mainly stick to vet tracks, with some intrusion on "big boys/real men" tracks if not busy. Keep my line. My kid must have inherited my riding DNA because he rides the same way. And that's ok. It's about getting out, enjoying adrenaline rush even if it's not over a triple. Going from single to having a family has without a doubt changed my perspective on the risk/reward ratio so we try to control what we can (us: diet/working out/bikes correctly maintained/watching or talking with fast guys to learn how to improve). Can't control idiots that cut you off or try to intimidate you by yelling /reving out during open practice days, They might be the same ones who get into road rage.

I still want to think that I still have few years to enjoy what I think is the most exhilarating motorsport.  I had very few days when I thought going for a ride would make me forget some family or work problems. Took me a lap going down 3 times by lack of focus to realize i had to come back to the truck and just watch my buddies ride and chat with them. But if fear and doubt are always there, then it might be better to call it off.

Not there , yet !

Get a grip buddy

I just started riding / Racing a year or so ago at 70 years old. The only thing that will really hurt you are big jumps, so just take it easy on them and make sure you know the track or field before you go ripping thru it.

This is the best answer you’re going to get.  

get good insurance and let er rip

#1 pink hair dye #2 quad #3 tape that turkey baster to your leg... #4 remove muffler #5 send it

Its all about over coming your fears…..heard there is some good trails in northern Michigan…..flat field, figure eights & oval track skills… if you do go to a public track…..make sure you pull in clutch and rev bike to the moon whenever you can….that means you  are fast as hell and people will notice you….

                Off subject, but motohose, how you feeling ?

Life is for living. The question is: does it bring you joy? If not, and it causes anxiety instead, then don’t do it. But if it does bring you joy - and it probably does otherwise you wouldn’t have bought the bike - then the risk can be worth it, and it can be managed (though not eliminated - nothing is guaranteed to be safe). There is plenty that is in your control. How, where, and when you ride is on you. I don’t jump much, and I stay off the main track if there’s a bunch of really fast guys on it. I don’t have to - I could just make sure to stay out of the way - but it’s what I’m comfortable doing. I am in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease so I adapt. If I can do it, so can you. But I want to. Only you can decide if you want to. 

Buy a road bike and get into cycling.  Find a cycling group in your area go ride bikes.  I picked up cycling a few years ago just to try to get into shape and help with cardio.     I'm still not in shape but there is something about riding with a group of people for 30-100+ miles.  Just be careful of the high end road bikes as are not cheap. It can get out of hand quick....  and yes Im speaking from experience.  

Use it for trail riding with some friends. Can't beat it. 

I feel like some apprehension after a long layoff is normal.  I ride within my means, as safe as I can.  What I don't do , is over think injuries, or what if's.  We all understand the risks.  Not carrying that with me on the bike.

Some of us here work jobs with inherent danger as well......  and we know not to carry what could happen with us.

I'm a lot older than you are. My advice is follow your instincts. I've never been very fast. Decent B rider is my high watermark. But I am an enthusiastic hobbyist riding for fun and, formerly, plastic glory. My headspace was right where yours is after campaigning +30 way back when I was about your age. I tore up my knee at a race that knocked me out of the series (still got 3rd), but I had already had second thoughts. You'd have to be mental not to notice and be affected by fellow competitors going down with some pretty serious injuries. So I hung 'em up. But I stayed plugged into the scene. Fast forward twenty years and I started riding track days with some motobros in 2016. And then I had THE crash. Farting around on a ride day practice, got tired, and then a brain-fart whiskey-throttle major loop out over a healthy jump. Broke three vertebrae, the one doing most damage an L2 a burst fracture. Assorted other stuff. Ribs, collapsed lung, spleen bleed. 12-hour major surgery. I should be paralyzed, but somehow I avoided that. Some lingering neuro issues will be with me the rest of my life. Every step is a blessing.

I finally accepted that I don't belong on a track anymore. Brain writes checks your body can't yet cash. But I'm still riding. Member of Texas Vintage Racing Club where I cheer on and play mechanic with my friends. Low intensity stuff like trail riding, dual-sport events, just riding around the neighborhood, etc. And I'm good with that.

Best of luck.

The first hole at my dad's golf club had a massive downhill par 5. He was 300 yards down, and took a massive drive to the back of the head. Knocked him out. 

It’s not a matter of if you will get hurt. It’s a matter of when and how badly you will get hurt. You have to decide whether or not the risk is worth the reward for yourself.

If the idea of getting hurt messes with you that much, then step away. It’s not worth it going out there and being afraid. That’s how you will definitely get hurt even worse. 

1.Insurance

2. Doobies

3. Ride

I mean seriously OP. The way you talk is completely rational. But, you don't belong on a dirtbike. Buy a street bike and ride country roads with a high vis jacket and helmet on.   

We are not normal. We don't avoid pain. We accept it as the price to know you are truly alive. "

There’s nothing wrong with riding a track. Go as fast as you can without doing the jumps. Then watch other riders do them and notice what gear they’re in (and all that). Most of the jumps will happen. Then try to get in as many laps as you can per week, depending. I did this when I started back riding abd usually just rode through 5 gals of gas. I had some wrecks but nothing big (wind blew me sideways one day). 
Don’t forget to do a race, preferably each week.

This risk is largely what you make it.

There is risk in everything, a non-trivial one in just driving to the track, a smaller one just getting out of bed. 

Your concerns are very valid. The question is if you are prepared to address them in the wisest manner possible, or let them be your reason for not participating in the sport. 

 

Mate, don’t over think it. Just start out slow and go from there. 

Sell it to your wifes boyfriend!