Rain Riding
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 795
Likes: 9
From: Manasquan NJ
RE: Rain Riding
Rode up to Adirondak state park Friday morn on my Road King. Poured rain the last half hour of the 5 hour ride. I had to duck behind the windscreen, but then could not see! I makes me wonder about the height the screen should be. There does not seem to be any rule about it, but on my bike if I slouch a little, I look thru it and if I sit up real straight I look an inch or two over it. So I played around with both positions and found looking thru it more comfortable at the speed Iwas going which averaged around 80. I prefer to look over it becauseI feel like I can see better, but the wind buffeting is real annoying. It looks like some of Harleys touring bikes come with the short ones thatonly come up to around your chin. I wonder how that can work?Any comments on this.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, PA
RE: Rain Riding
ORIGINAL: RandyNC
I don't mind the rain so much as just not being able to see.
I don't mind the rain so much as just not being able to see.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
From: Michigan/Florida
RE: Rain Riding
Had to ride my Ultra back North from Ann Arbor after the stage one work was done. Got caught in a downpour for about 30 miles...in the dark. Hard to see much of the road out passed the headlights.The one thing I learned real quick was that whena BIG gust of wind hits the fairing on the ultra the handlebars /front tire follow. Very exicting in a monsoon. The old Goldwing with the stationary fairing was much more stable.The bike would wiggle but would keep tracking straight. Not a complaint just an observation
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
RE: Rain Riding
About 3 weeks ago rode all day in a steady rain during a poker run. I was very impressed with the lowers on my ultra, they work great. Oiled the boots prior to the ride and stayed dry all day, cept for 2 pair of damp leather gloves. Have since took care of that problem with some waterproof gloves for the next time.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 21
From: central florida
RE: Rain Riding
ORIGINAL: shekmark
Rode up to Adirondak state park Friday morn on my Road King. Poured rain the last half hour of the 5 hour ride. I had to duck behind the windscreen, but then could not see! I makes me wonder about the height the screen should be. There does not seem to be any rule about it, but on my bike if I slouch a little, I look thru it and if I sit up real straight I look an inch or two over it. So I played around with both positions and found looking thru it more comfortable at the speed Iwas going which averaged around 80. I prefer to look over it becauseI feel like I can see better, but the wind buffeting is real annoying. It looks like some of Harleys touring bikes come with the short ones thatonly come up to around your chin. I wonder how that can work?Any comments on this.
Rode up to Adirondak state park Friday morn on my Road King. Poured rain the last half hour of the 5 hour ride. I had to duck behind the windscreen, but then could not see! I makes me wonder about the height the screen should be. There does not seem to be any rule about it, but on my bike if I slouch a little, I look thru it and if I sit up real straight I look an inch or two over it. So I played around with both positions and found looking thru it more comfortable at the speed Iwas going which averaged around 80. I prefer to look over it becauseI feel like I can see better, but the wind buffeting is real annoying. It looks like some of Harleys touring bikes come with the short ones thatonly come up to around your chin. I wonder how that can work?Any comments on this.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 503
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, Tx
RE: Rain Riding
I don't mind riding in the rain but I'm a clean freak and I hate to spend 4hrs cleaning the bike to have it all go to hell in 5min of rain. lol...
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 630
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Rain Riding
ORIGINAL: brabbit
I rode to work friday even though rain was in the forecast. I left a little after three in the afternoon and rode twenty five miles in a torrential downpour, bike handled well and even though I didnt bother to wear my rainsuit it was a decent 25 mile ride. Helps show all the folks around that getting wet aint all that bad.
I rode to work friday even though rain was in the forecast. I left a little after three in the afternoon and rode twenty five miles in a torrential downpour, bike handled well and even though I didnt bother to wear my rainsuit it was a decent 25 mile ride. Helps show all the folks around that getting wet aint all that bad.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Rain Riding
Ultra still has a gap in rain coverage. The only part of me that really gets soaked is my legs, just above the lower fairing. In other words, my knees take full rain... then end up running down my leg...
Other than that, I can ride in the rain without a suit.. i just tuck up behind the windshield a bit more and roll on. Anything under 55 thou and top starts to get wet.. 55+ creates enough of a bubble to keep me dry...
If the downpour is real bad, i can put my boots up on the lowers and not get wet at all... looks real funny im sure thou...lol, but im dry
Other than that, I can ride in the rain without a suit.. i just tuck up behind the windshield a bit more and roll on. Anything under 55 thou and top starts to get wet.. 55+ creates enough of a bubble to keep me dry...
If the downpour is real bad, i can put my boots up on the lowers and not get wet at all... looks real funny im sure thou...lol, but im dry