Rode in a serious THUNDERSTORM! (Tips too)
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 615
Likes: 4
From: Hugoton, Kansas
RE: Rode in a serious THUNDERSTORM! (Tips too)
Got caught in one myself about 2 weeks ago on a 35 mile drive here that I do alot locally. \\; I call it earning the rain badge. \\; Funny I never got far in scouts though. \\; \\; \\; Worst experience was on my sportster coming from an ex-girlfriends house at 1 am and seeing a lightning bolt a mile away from me hit a radio tower and hail falling all around in a hard downpour. \\; \\; Now THAT was something I dont want to experience again.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
RE: Rode in a serious THUNDERSTORM! (Tips too)
 \\;
Lots of \\;solid suggestions. \\; I didn't think about the expansion joints or about the possibility of spinning out. \\; Also, the Hooters is definately one I'll have to consider. \\;
 \\;
DB, I actually had my saddlebags on my bike. \\;I think there's a rainsuit that HD makes that packs very lightly, but it is more expensive. \\; Heard good things about it, though. \\;For less than the price of the pants of those, i got both top and bottom with the Overpass II.
 \\;
I actually scored a deal on an FXRG midweight jacket which I'll probably be using now instead of the overpass jacket.
 \\;
One unexpected bonus from getting drenched- my perforated gloves now fit me absolutely perfectly! \\;
 \\;
Keep the experiences and trick tips coming! \\; Thanks guys.
Lots of \\;solid suggestions. \\; I didn't think about the expansion joints or about the possibility of spinning out. \\; Also, the Hooters is definately one I'll have to consider. \\;
 \\;
DB, I actually had my saddlebags on my bike. \\;I think there's a rainsuit that HD makes that packs very lightly, but it is more expensive. \\; Heard good things about it, though. \\;For less than the price of the pants of those, i got both top and bottom with the Overpass II.
 \\;
I actually scored a deal on an FXRG midweight jacket which I'll probably be using now instead of the overpass jacket.
 \\;
One unexpected bonus from getting drenched- my perforated gloves now fit me absolutely perfectly! \\;
 \\;
Keep the experiences and trick tips coming! \\; Thanks guys.
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
RE: Rode in a serious THUNDERSTORM! (Tips too)
I am a new rider also, JUst last week I got caught in a downpour with pea size hail. It was not fun but I made it home safe. Glad it happened for the experince but don't want to get caught in hail again...
Club Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,474
Likes: 6
From: Port Charlotte, Florida
RE: Rode in a serious THUNDERSTORM! (Tips too)
Coming back from the Flat Track races in columbus ohio sat me and buddy got caught in the rain hard rain. \\; Waited few min under bridge then took off. \\; He took the next exit for his place and I had another 30 miles to go. \\;
 \\;
I got about 10 and it cut loose I tell you the rain drops had to be the size of nickels and you could not even see the exit ramp when I got off and 3 other riders followed me we all pulled under a gas station for about 10min and it went by.
 \\;
But dam it rained hard very hard was not one thing dry on me other than the stuff I had in my bag on the seat. \\; Hell my boots are still wet.
 \\;
I got about 10 and it cut loose I tell you the rain drops had to be the size of nickels and you could not even see the exit ramp when I got off and 3 other riders followed me we all pulled under a gas station for about 10min and it went by.
 \\;
But dam it rained hard very hard was not one thing dry on me other than the stuff I had in my bag on the seat. \\; Hell my boots are still wet.
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Moderator "Queens Of The Road" Forum
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,862
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
RE: Rode in a serious THUNDERSTORM! (Tips too)
I'm a new rider, and rode in the rain for the first time 2 weeks ago. \\; Hit rain for about 4 miles of a 10 mile drive home from Bike Night. \\; I was so proud of myself for keeping the bike upright and not going into panic.
 \\;
Then, yesterday, I was riding 2 up with my husband and we had 3 other bikes with us. \\; It rained on us for 250 out of 350 miles. \\; Definitely, those of us that had rain gear were more comfortable than the rest. \\; But the anti fog stuff for the goggles is a must. That's the one thing we were missing.
 \\;
We got Froggtoggs rain gear, it is light weight and packs very small in little bags. \\; We found them at a store called Cycle Gear, and at our local leather shop.
 \\;
Good luck and stay safe!
 \\;
Then, yesterday, I was riding 2 up with my husband and we had 3 other bikes with us. \\; It rained on us for 250 out of 350 miles. \\; Definitely, those of us that had rain gear were more comfortable than the rest. \\; But the anti fog stuff for the goggles is a must. That's the one thing we were missing.
 \\;
We got Froggtoggs rain gear, it is light weight and packs very small in little bags. \\; We found them at a store called Cycle Gear, and at our local leather shop.
 \\;
Good luck and stay safe!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 1
From: Allen, Texas
RE: Rode in a serious THUNDERSTORM! (Tips too)
What Airborne said about expansion joints is also true about manhole covers. Went over one making a left turn in a large intersection and liked to lost it.