full face 98% of the time... One other item - the portable lower covers - attach to the engine guard - look like hell but work GREAT in the rain... Had a set on my Rental in AK this past July.... got in a little rain and I was amazed how well they worked.. I plan to carry a set on my long rides... on and off in a matter of min...

 

We don't get that much rain here in Calif. but as the song says, when it rains it pours - and pours and pours.

Beware of the paint they use on the road. Even the best is slick when it rains. Your tires will skid or lock up under heavy braking on this stuff and it seems to be everywhere. Same for the stripe down the middle of the road and don't forget to watch for those metal covers they use over underground construction. They're just like an ice patch.

Check out the foul weather gear at boat stores such as West Marine. Try to get the kind with Goretex or one of the Goretex-like membranes. I got a great jacket on sale for about $89 that uses Goretex. These things are designed for really foul weather so they go one up on motorcycle jackets with lots of cords, big collars and elastic to keep water out. It keeps you dry and lets out the sweat so you don't get wet from inside. They usually come in loud colors and have reflectors on them and that's a good thing; in the rain, you want anything that will make you more visible.

I got a pair of matching pants later on sale. They have suspenders and are easy to get on and off over leathers and boots. For gloves I bought some Harley leather gauntlet gloves (98188-05VM) with a Goretex lining. Expensive ($89) but these things really work and they keep your hands warm down to the 30s. I rode for two days in Oregon once with wet gloves and it was horrible. I would have paid double at the time to have warm dry hands.

For boots, I wear Cabelas 12" high Outfitters leather boots, which I also use for snow camping and hunting. These things are insulated and have a Goretex lining and big thick sole. I have been in snow and slush for days in them and they've never leaked. Only drawback is you can't get them in black, but Cabelas has other styles in black that are similar.

The wife and I were coming back from Palm Springs a couple of years ago and got caught in LA in pouring rain. It's bad enough in the LA basin when the sun shines, but it took us almost all day to get across LA in the rain and it was scary as hell. Ain't gonna do that again soon.

 

Just got back from Street Vibes where we got rained on the way up, during and on the way back.

Here's what works for me, ditch the 1/2 helmet, it's not a time to worry if you look cool. I always carry my full face on Road trips. I use Rain X on the outside and a anti-fog cloth that I got from a ski shop for the inside. Water beads off the front and as longs as your vents are open and moving fogging isn't a problem. I have some 2 piece rain gear that I picked up at Cycle Gear and like some others have said 1 size larger then you normally would wear, makes it easy to get off and on over leathers. I have a pair of gortex water/wind proof gloves that keep the hands warm and dry. I am a firefighter and wear boots at work that are water resistent for obvious reasons, I wear the same style boot when I ride. They are made by Warrington Pro. I have never had cold wet feet so I don't carry boot covers but I like the idea of soft fairings that could go on in a hurry if needed. There's the riding gear...

As far assafety, slow down and increase your following distances. It just amazes how many cagers end up tail gating you even more in rainy condtions, this is what I worry about, some cager driving to fast for the condtions. I stop and get rear ended by the cell phone talking, make up applying, drinking a cup of coffee cager who aint paying attention. Also, If it gets real bad, find an overpass to hang out for a while and see if the rain passes. If that don't work, find a bar and get a nice warm Irish coffee to help warm you up from the inside. Be safe and enjoy the ride.

 

Wehit rainon ourlast two tours. The most recent one rained on us all the way from Idaho, across Wyoming, and into Colorado. The last 40 miles outside of Steamboat Srings were the worst. Lightning, and major flash flooding. Whenwe pulled into Steamboat, the water on the street was washing over the floorboards. Some joker in a jacked up 4X4 with mudder tires sent a wave over me like the oneIlast experienced on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. My rainsuit is at least 14 years old, and the seams in the pants need to be resealed. Other than that it held up okay. My waterproof sealskin gloves were anything but. They were soaked through, and I could wring them out. The Redwing boots kept my feet warm and dry.

 

Helpful hint...that really works for face shields. Use Dawn or Ivery Snow dish washing liquid. rub it on the inside of the face shield and it stops the fogging up in any weather. Only problem is it only last a week or less but it works , readly availabe and very cheap!![sm=ts.gif]

 

But you will miss all the fun pullin off your boots and dumping the water!!