Beware the Rain
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: PNW
Beware the Rain
Like for many of you, the rain is just part of the ride sometimes. I just pull over, toss on a full face helmet and rain gear, and keep going. Sometimes it comes down hard and I'll slow down accordingly, like the rest of the traffic around me. It's always in the back of my mind that there could be a deep spot which might spell trouble for me, but so far, so good.
However, I just learned a friend of mine and his girlfriend were badly injured while riding in the rain. They were travelling slower (estimated 35) on a 4 lane due to a severe downpour when they were hit from behind at 70 MPH. They were thrown from the bike leaving him laying in the road and her in the ditch. The driver fled.
They will both survive thankfully. He has some bad gashes and road rash. She has a broken pelvis, which at the age of 54, will be difficult to bounce back from. The cops found the car a mile from the crash. The saddlebags from the bike had destroyed the radiator and she rode it hard until the car died. She is nowhere to be found as of yet, but they have her purse, cell phone, and identity obviously. She has prior DUIs and they suspect she will get another. I hope she goes away for a long time.
My point - be careful out there in inclement weather. Not only watch how you ride, but be very aware of those around you. Maybe get off the highway if you have to go below 55. Tough call. I've been there going 40 in a downpour surrounded by cars doing the same. Maybe I'll change the way I do things because of this.
And fwiw, before all the second guessing starts, the guy has been riding forever. He knows his sh*t. He looks like he stepped right out of a David mann poster and has been the real deal since way before there was anything called a RUB or a twin cam. My guess is it was just being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
However, I just learned a friend of mine and his girlfriend were badly injured while riding in the rain. They were travelling slower (estimated 35) on a 4 lane due to a severe downpour when they were hit from behind at 70 MPH. They were thrown from the bike leaving him laying in the road and her in the ditch. The driver fled.
They will both survive thankfully. He has some bad gashes and road rash. She has a broken pelvis, which at the age of 54, will be difficult to bounce back from. The cops found the car a mile from the crash. The saddlebags from the bike had destroyed the radiator and she rode it hard until the car died. She is nowhere to be found as of yet, but they have her purse, cell phone, and identity obviously. She has prior DUIs and they suspect she will get another. I hope she goes away for a long time.
My point - be careful out there in inclement weather. Not only watch how you ride, but be very aware of those around you. Maybe get off the highway if you have to go below 55. Tough call. I've been there going 40 in a downpour surrounded by cars doing the same. Maybe I'll change the way I do things because of this.
And fwiw, before all the second guessing starts, the guy has been riding forever. He knows his sh*t. He looks like he stepped right out of a David mann poster and has been the real deal since way before there was anything called a RUB or a twin cam. My guess is it was just being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
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From: Ft. Worth, TX
You can never anticipate where that next impaired driver will come from. Shrouded in the rain makes it so much worse. Hope your friends heal fast.
I don't make it a habit to ride in the rain, been caught out and if it looks like it won't let up or is exceptionally hard, I'll do the overpass thing till it dies down a bit. Most of the time I'll slog through it whether I've put on rain gear or not. Always makes me critically evaluate the condition of my tires on the spot!
I don't make it a habit to ride in the rain, been caught out and if it looks like it won't let up or is exceptionally hard, I'll do the overpass thing till it dies down a bit. Most of the time I'll slog through it whether I've put on rain gear or not. Always makes me critically evaluate the condition of my tires on the spot!
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From: NC, USA
I got caught in a heavy rain at Myrtle Beach this year. I managed to get under shelter before it came down real hard. I sat it out for about an hour then went on my way. There's very seldom anyplace I just have to be that will require me to ride in rain soaked roads especially in traffic. The hour spent resting and relaxing is better than getting in a wreck.
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I'm actually getting this as it unfolds. Some of the details may not be accurate. But, the end result is. It happened Saturday. As me tioned, sometimes it's raining so hard that everyone is going 35 mph. Btdt. Also as mentioned, this guy knows what he's doing so I'm sure there's more to the story.
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Joe Kucinski
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Always hard to judge since we don't know all the facts, but yeah, sounds like the bike should have been off the road. I got caught in a downpour a few weeks ago. The worst part was my glasses fogging up. Pulled under a canopy at a gas station and watched it rain for a while.
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From: PA
What other facts do you need? A 4 lane highway has got to have at the very least, a 55mph speed limit. I don't care what kind of road that you're on, if you are compelled to do 20mph under the speed limit, then you shouldn't be on that road. Come one Man, this isn't rocket science.