Hey! Welcome to the forum! I bought this bike about three months ago, it's my first as well. I'm sure you'll be fine, you seem to be doing everything right! After three months and a loooot of riding, I can definitely tell that I'm more comfortable and everything is coming a lot more natural. Where I had to think about shifting (roll off throttle, pull in clutch, shift up, let off clutch while rolling on throttle) it's just instant now, just shift! Everything else just happens! Same for downshifting, roll off throttle, pull in clutch, shift down, blip throttle and release clutch. Now all I think is, time to slow down! I'm thinking about riding it in to work for my first time this morning, it's supposed to be gorgeous out! I haven't yet just because it's a 45 minute ride, almost all highway, and they're toll roads, which I haven't dealt with yet! But the only way to get used to it is to do it! and do it some more! :thumbup: Anyway, this bike has been nothing short of amazing and I have absolutely zero regrets in buying it as my first bike. It took a little while to get used to the small friction zone, but living in the country with hills absolutely everywhere, I had so much practice with it just riding around, I was used to it fairly quickly. This was my first manual transmission anything so it was an eye opener haha. Jeeze I typed a lot. Well, enjoy the bike! Ride safe, watch for cagers, welcome to the forums, and have fun! :rockon: