Although the weather is starting to get better, this time of year in South Florida we have to expect it to rain every day. Maybe only for an hour, but it WILL rain every day. And not a light rain, but rain so hard that streets flood 6" deep in minutes.

Last night was no exception. A bunch of us left the coast to ride out West to the best Cigar bar around. Weston Cigar Bar has a huge walk in humidor and very large walk around bar with big screen TVs all around playing various sports. Excellent Thursday night get away.

Knowing there was a pretty darn good chance it was going to rain, just like it does every night, I wore my full face helmet.

About 8PM we could hear the thunder start to roar and feel the building shake. A quick peak at our iPhones and we can see yellow and red radar blobs barreling down on us.

We new it would be a scuba diver's dream-ride home. And it sure as hell was! The rain came down so hard that I couldn't see 50 feet in front of me and my bike shot through the accumulating water making a huge wake like a speed boat.

Oh, you know you're wet too when your ***** and @ss crack are soaked with ice cold water.

Still, I'm used to it so I just plowed through doing 75, and every bridge I went under was no less than 5 cruisers parked, waiting out the rain. And I can see half helmets (or no helmets) on the handlebars.

And as I zip on by I see them stare at me the whole way passed.

It rains so hard down here that a windscreen is not enough protection. Even if you push your race right up against the shield, you will still drowned.

July through October, in Florida, expect the rain every night and be prepared.

So, if you live down here it's a good idea to add a full face helmet to your collection.

 

OK, that's good advice.

 

I always wear a FFH but the issue I run in to when it rains is my visor fogging up.

 

I usually toss a FF on the bike for bad weather. There is no substitute in the rain. Like you said, it's the difference between riding it out or parking. I'm actually considering just going FF all the time.

 

As another South Florida resident, and big fan of daily downpours, +1 for what Thumper said. I was out at Café 27 one Sunday morning. Usually the storms come in from the west, but this day they came in from the eat, after washing off the Bahamas. About halfway home (headed east, into the storm, of course) I hit rain. Heavy, driving rain and tiny bits of hail are no fun when you are wearing a half helmet. I bought a FF that afternoon.

 

If visibility is 50 feet, and water is 6", and you're doing 75, I think you are pushing your luck. An unexpected obstacle, brakes, hydroplaning, won't end well.

 

+1 -- On a road trip I default to FF, usually carry a 3/4 as a spare.

 

I tend to call BS on 75 in those conditions.......

 

Get a "pinlock" visor. They don't fog up. They are basically double glazed across 85% or so of the visor.

 

Ron, there wasn't 6" of rain water on the highway. Which is where I was at cruising speed. The highway is 5 lanes and has good run-off so it stays pretty dry.