Testing out the Rain-suit
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Man, oh man - The Harley rain booties are just about the best $50 I ever spent. Rode to Alaska a couple years ago and it rained for a few hours almost every day. We'd stop, all complaining of wet feet and hands - we all had great rain gear, but worthless boots & gloves. And there was Vic, smiling, enjoying his dry-as-a-bone feet because he had the foresight to buy the HD booties. I swear we stopped at every HD shop in Canada and AK, racing each other inside to find the, of course now-sold-out, rain booties. I finally found a set in Prince George, BC on the way home. And don't you know that it never rained on us again for the rest of the trip!
However, I've used them since on a trip to Yellowstone and Red Lodge and they are the best thing ever.
I've also learned another rainy-day trick: you might look and feel like an idiot, but at least you'll be dry...pack a pair of dishwashing gloves with your raingear. Most of the janitorial supply places have them in black, so you don't have to rock the canary-yellow Palmolive ones!
However, I've used them since on a trip to Yellowstone and Red Lodge and they are the best thing ever.
I've also learned another rainy-day trick: you might look and feel like an idiot, but at least you'll be dry...pack a pair of dishwashing gloves with your raingear. Most of the janitorial supply places have them in black, so you don't have to rock the canary-yellow Palmolive ones!
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
We put our gear on the minute it looks even remotely like it MAY rain. Way better to ride for an hour with it on and no rain, than 30 seconds without it in a downpour.
We use H-D high vis gear, heated jacket liners and gloves, waterproof boots, glove covers, and FF helmets.
We did a ride from Whitefish Montana to Calgary, Alberta in late October last year; 6 hours through the mountains in pouring rain the entire way, with temperatures that only reached 41F the whole day.
It was not the most fun I've ever had on a motorcycle; BUT...we were completely bone dry, and comfortably warm the whole trip.
Where I live, if you don't ride in cold temps or wet weather, you have about 3 months of riding time every year. I start riding regularly (pretty much every day) the moment the roads have no ice on them, so I can usually ride 8-10 months out of 12.
Good rain gear is a MUST-HAVE. add heated gear under it, you're golden!
We use H-D high vis gear, heated jacket liners and gloves, waterproof boots, glove covers, and FF helmets.
We did a ride from Whitefish Montana to Calgary, Alberta in late October last year; 6 hours through the mountains in pouring rain the entire way, with temperatures that only reached 41F the whole day.
It was not the most fun I've ever had on a motorcycle; BUT...we were completely bone dry, and comfortably warm the whole trip.
Where I live, if you don't ride in cold temps or wet weather, you have about 3 months of riding time every year. I start riding regularly (pretty much every day) the moment the roads have no ice on them, so I can usually ride 8-10 months out of 12.
Good rain gear is a MUST-HAVE. add heated gear under it, you're golden!
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville, Tennessee
I rode most of last summer and all of winter with no rain gear. Just got used to being wet although I tried one of those el cheapo poncho pants until they tore. So my mom buys me the high vis HD rain suit and booties for christmas. I couldn't be more impressed with the gear. I haven't been caught in the rain once since I started packing the gear in my bags. It works so well that it hasn't rained! Seriously though I hope it works when I need it but I am enjoying staying dry.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,312
Likes: 12
From: Missouri
Got the rain booties as well, not HD but from a guy on Ebay, best dang money spent..I ride in the rain, dont matter to me, as long as i can see where im going. Did a ride in pouring down rain about a month ago, had to ride home from work in it, midnight, dark, raining. Didnt know at times if i was even on the road.
Sometimes i just dont feel like it and drive the cage if i know its going to rain, but most of the time i will ride.
Sometimes i just dont feel like it and drive the cage if i know its going to rain, but most of the time i will ride.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Lynnwood, WA
I commute daily on the bike, about 30 miles, mainly on the interstate. Up here, there is a lot of liquid sunshine. I could wake up to clear skies and get rained on half way to work. Besides, unless it is a torrential downpour (which rarely happens), it is barely noticeable with some rain gear on and some good gloves to keep my hands warm and dry. Even riding in fairly heavy rain, i'm still smiling and thankful as I roll down the HOV lane, breezing by cars.
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