Rain :-(
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 1,588
From: Eastern Ohio
If you ride to work the bike is going to be dirty. Even if it's just a little dusty. Then throw a cover over it. Then wind blows the cover around. Then you have some nice scratches on the painted parts the cover touches. Covers are for boats. I've found that if I plan a road trip, it's gonna rain. I bought good rain gear. It's inevitable it's gonna get wet.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,581
Likes: 669
From: Rolla
Even a little water in the A/C won't hurt anything.
Anybody that does any kind of touring will always run into rain.
On our way to Sturgis last year, we rode through about 100 miles of pretty solid rain.
And once there, it rained at least once or twice a day the entire time we were there.
The bike will not melt.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 620
Likes: 61
From: Castle Rock, CO
Riding back to Colorado from eastern Kansas. Picked up a heavy rainstorm in Topeka, finally rode out of it in Kiowa, Colorado...about 500 miles. Bike ran great, never missed a beat. Rain doesn't bother a Harley.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 7
From: Eastern NC
Have the cover removed from the seat and cover the foam with plastic (trash bag works). Then have the cover put back on. This keeps the foam from absorbing the water and helps the cover dry faster if it's leather. If it's vinyl it will keep the water from going through the seams and into the foam
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 803
Likes: 3
From: In the wind.....
As others have said, it will not melt in the rain. Keep a towel handy to wipe the puddle out of the seat and go. I've had plenty of 400 plus mile days in the rain. No issues.
If you RIDE your bike and not own a garage queen it will get wet and dirty. It's a badge of honor, own it
If you RIDE your bike and not own a garage queen it will get wet and dirty. It's a badge of honor, own it
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Yes, we Oklahoma riders kind of have a love hate relationship with rain. We have been in a drought so long that we need as much as we can get before summer, but it does make riding more challenging. One reason I added lower fairings to my RKC was to help keep me a little more dry.
Beary
Beary
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3,367
From: Idaho Panhandle
I live in the Pacific Northwet. I have a mostly waterproof seat cover for when the bike is parked in the rain. This is just to help keep water from soaking through into the foam through the stitching. Seems to work. I have used it to cover the seat when in heavy rains all day. A garbage bag would do the same thing, only the "Harley" seat cover has elastic hem and has the back rest cover built in. Water pools on it, so it must be doing something. Any bike with an aircleaner cover should be fine in the rain. I've ridden 6-7 hours a day for 3 days in a row in the pineapple express weather. The bike was fine, I was a soggy mess by day three. Seat dried up within a couple of days. Harley gauges fog as soon as the sun shines on them, have since 1964. I think we pay extra for that feature. Makes you feel retro, like you are riding a 1964 panhead in the rain.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 4
From: Lansing, MI
Have the cover removed from the seat and cover the foam with plastic (trash bag works). Then have the cover put back on. This keeps the foam from absorbing the water and helps the cover dry faster if it's leather. If it's vinyl it will keep the water from going through the seams and into the foam