HI, I'm relatively new to riding, only taking it up 18 months ago, at a later stage of life !!!!!
Just bought my Dragstar 650 classic, and I love it !!
Not too big for me as a novice.
My main question is how can I relax on cornering ?? Some days I'm fine, and drive it out of the bend, and other days I seem nervous, and keep back braking !!!
What's the best way to relax and believe in my bike ??    

The solution is in your question "relax on cornering". Ride your bike and take on to small roads with loads of corners (if that ever exists in the US....I am writing this from the UK). Google "bike safety riding" or similar search, there is a good website which I unfortunately can't give you the detail right now (am on vacation and writing from my laptop) that takes you through all these points you are asking. Remember, riding in excess of 20mph and if the road is dry and free of gravels, there is no way you are going to fall off your bike whilst cornering. It's a law of physic and not mine. Counter stearing is also well explained on some websites. Come back to let us know how you are doing.  

You didn't mention whether you took a motorcycle safety course or not. If not, I would highly recommend one. I too am new again to riding after a short 20 year break and part of the barganing with my wife to get a bike was to enroll in a MTC. I was so glad I did. Cornering was practiced over and over until it almost became second nature. I was still a little apprehensive once I started riding my bike on public roads but all of the training came back to me and my confidence level rose quickly. The mantra in the class on cornering was Slow,Look,Press and Roll slowing before you start the turn, looking through the turn pressing in the direction of the turn, and roll on throttle in the turn. Don't worry about a little fear creeping in occasionally, natural survival instincts are what has allowed you to live as long as you have.
 I hope this has been helpful.  

The MSC is definitely the way to go. Some instructors will even give you personal tips depending on your riding style. Everyone does it a bit different. No two riders are alike. At least I don't think they are.  

Hi Frenchgold, thanks for that. UK roads are all I ride on !!!!! Just beginning to relax a bit more, and looking for vanishing point, rather than tarmac in front of me !!!! Starting to come now, as I keep going on short rides every day, on familiar roads !!!  

Thanks for all your replies !!!!
I am usually at my best if listening to mp3 player whilst riding!! If I'm singing along to my favourite songs, I am totally relaxed, and glide round the corners !!! Which just goes to prove to me that despite it's size, a cruiser will lean quite happily, as long as the rider wants it to !!!!!  

You may find it helps to keep your head and shoulders upright in the turns. When your eyes are aligned with the horizon, you feel more normal. That also makes it easier to increase or decrease the lean angle with a minor steering input, in mid turn.

Sitting up and letting the bike work from side to side under you, instead of leaning with the bike, is a technique that riding a heavy bike will teach you, but it works for lighter bikes too.

regards,
Joe  

Hey purplestar08, which part of the UK are you in? Am in Whitley Bay (Newcastle Upon Tyne).  

Hi Frenchgold,
Unfortunately I'm way down South, near Brighton !!!  

Purplestar,
Go to: www.ridelikeapro.com
This guy Palladino has this DVD for people like us. He shows how to make turning so simple especially with big cruisers. My wife and I purchase his dvd a couple of weeks ago and was amazed on the info he provides.
Good Luck,
Ken  

I have found a great improvement in my cornering confidence after taking it to the test range (where they teach the course) and just doing a LOT of figure 8's. The course here in the states has 2 30ft radius semi-circles with the centers 100ft apart. The best speed I was able to do was ~25mph that day and had to learn to shift in the seat to keep my pegs from dragging. I did more than 7 miles on the course that day while waiting for my phone to be repaired.