Thanks for your service Lohman! A good practice technique I use for modulating the front brake and improving low speed manueverability (parking lot situations). I do this in my cul-de-sac with no traffic:
USING ONLY THE REAR BRAKE - see how slowly you can do figure eights with the handlebars at or near complete lock. Use the throttle while holding the rear brake on to hold the bike at a crawl. You'll be amazed at the control you can develop. In low speed situations, when you have to move the handlebars with your arms, stay off that front brake, it will toss you down. Like I said earlier, all front brake at speed.
It sounds like you could use the advanced MSF course. I believe in some you can use your own bike or 400 cc bikes. Those 250's are tiny and you make a great point that they instill over-confidence because you can man-handle them.
With Spring coming and more miles, your confidence will soar - don't let that make you complacent!
Tell us where you are from, someone here might be close and it's fun riding with these folks (and informative).
