Tips for riding in the rain
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 688
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From:
RE: Tips for riding in the rain
ORIGINAL: drrandall1
It's like being shot by a machine gun. I put a bandanna over my face and forhead and look for shelter. That's when you wish you had the full helmet!
It's like being shot by a machine gun. I put a bandanna over my face and forhead and look for shelter. That's when you wish you had the full helmet!
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 572
Likes: 6
From:
RE: Tips for riding in the rain
Besides all the above:
Concrete! Beware of concrete roads! Believe it or not the local dealer where most of the poker runs start from has a nice concrete on-ramp to the highway right outside their front door. Slicker than snot when wet. Puckered my *** right up when I gave only a little throttle!
And yes, them painted lane dividers when driving the corners in the mountains, phewwww!!!!! [&:]
Concrete! Beware of concrete roads! Believe it or not the local dealer where most of the poker runs start from has a nice concrete on-ramp to the highway right outside their front door. Slicker than snot when wet. Puckered my *** right up when I gave only a little throttle!
And yes, them painted lane dividers when driving the corners in the mountains, phewwww!!!!! [&:]
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 811
Likes: 0
From: Inverness, FL
RE: Tips for riding in the rain
You won't be able to tell the difference between a puddle and a "POTHOLE"! If you can't see what is in a puddle, you don't know how deep it is or if there is any debri, like a piece of metal or a licence plate.
In Michigan we have potholes that swallow cars.
I have to ask - how long have you been riding? Why did you get one of the biggest damn bikes made for touring? Some people might get mad a me but I am a firm believer in spending a year or so getting that kind of experience on a mid-sized bike with a lot less chrome and plastic.
Too late for that now. Good luck.
In Michigan we have potholes that swallow cars.
I have to ask - how long have you been riding? Why did you get one of the biggest damn bikes made for touring? Some people might get mad a me but I am a firm believer in spending a year or so getting that kind of experience on a mid-sized bike with a lot less chrome and plastic.
Too late for that now. Good luck.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
RE: Tips for riding in the rain
Back a few years, I commuted to work 60 mi to Houston on a '80 FLT and often encountered storms especially on the way home. It was fall and got dark half way home one night and I hit a big thunderstorm. In the dark and pouring rain I was following a PU trucks tailights on a curvy road. Handling wasn't a problem as the hard rain had washed the roads pretty well, but when the headlight breaker popped it got real exciting. The truck was doing 60-70mph and I was doing my best to guess where the road was by where the tailights were. Rode like that for what seemed forever(~2-3 min) til the breaker kicked back in. You can't even imagine how relieved I was. If I hadn't ridden that road several hundred times I would have ended up in a ditch in the rain, in the dark and probably hurt.
Got caught in another Tstorm on my chopper, just headed for cover thinking "I wish I still had the FLT with it's big windshield and fairing".
Got caught in another Tstorm on my chopper, just headed for cover thinking "I wish I still had the FLT with it's big windshield and fairing".
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, IL.
RE: Tips for riding in the rain
That is a very good question. How to ride in the rain. Been there done that.
As most post have said, have a good helmet with a shield, prefferably one that will not fog up.
Have a good set of rain gear, and rain boots, and yes, good pair of gloves.
From experience, relax, dont over-ride your bike. If it doesnt feel comfortable, find a exit and get out of the weather and wait for it to pass over. Better safe than sorry.
Three things that scare the **** out of me when riding in the rain. And were talking about a real down pour. Been there, done that, not fun. Being passed by the 18-wheelers, Lighting so close it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, a yes, last but not least strong wind gust ...
Wife an I were on are way back from a road trip with 5 hours to go. We found numerous locations to exit and wait till the rain slowed down before getting back on the road. Good thing too, a few times it started to hail. Needless to say a 5 hour trip took an extra 3.5 hours.
And later you can joke around and tell your buddies you have had your first shower with your bike.
ToadsUltra07
As most post have said, have a good helmet with a shield, prefferably one that will not fog up.
Have a good set of rain gear, and rain boots, and yes, good pair of gloves.
From experience, relax, dont over-ride your bike. If it doesnt feel comfortable, find a exit and get out of the weather and wait for it to pass over. Better safe than sorry.
Three things that scare the **** out of me when riding in the rain. And were talking about a real down pour. Been there, done that, not fun. Being passed by the 18-wheelers, Lighting so close it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, a yes, last but not least strong wind gust ...
Wife an I were on are way back from a road trip with 5 hours to go. We found numerous locations to exit and wait till the rain slowed down before getting back on the road. Good thing too, a few times it started to hail. Needless to say a 5 hour trip took an extra 3.5 hours.
And later you can joke around and tell your buddies you have had your first shower with your bike.
ToadsUltra07
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,521
Likes: 15
From: Bremerton
RE: Tips for riding in the rain
It very seldom rains in the Seattle area.If I get caught in the rain I just take things a little slower and allow more time for stops.Good rain gear and full face helmet if rain is expected.Try not to ride when it first starts raining(oil etc).Dont panic,if you ride sane should be no problem.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Tips for riding in the rain
You need to be able to see, use whatever it takes. Sunglasses will not work as will not most open framed eyewear. Even a good set of full coverage safety glasses will either fog or push water around into your eyes. Nothing better than a 3/4 or FF with a sheild.Especially one that you can move the sheild up and down, if you start to fog you can let in some air flow. Goggles will work, but the best kind are the large lenses type.
A rain suit and water proof gloves. Be surprised how fast your hands will lose heat.
Carry something to keep your windsheild waxed and clean.
Ask yourself if you where in a car could you see you. Have been in torrential rainstorms where I knew that absolutely no one around me could see me. Get off the road and wait a few minutes, find a less traveled back road. From the side or back your spot in the road looks like an open hole to move into under normal conditions in the rain you are even more at risk.
Watch your speed, motorcycles can and will hydro-plane. Happened to me and a buddy two years ago on the PA turnpike, scarier than chit. Hit an area with 6-8 inches of water under an overpass never saw it but sure did feel it.
Watch the oncoming lanes at least 100 yards out, look for water being thrown over the median from trucks especially. Those waves of water can knock the crap out of you.
Drive as defensive as possible, keep away from cars if you can. In the rain your bike becomes that much more invisable, and there is less sound reaching the car drivers. They have their wipers & fans running, windows are closed and the water being thrown up by their tires into their wheelwells just drowns out outside noise.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 513
Likes: 2
From: Coconut Creek, FL
RE: Tips for riding in the rain
I'm in Florida also and if you can't ride in the rain, then you probably don't want to waste your time or money on a bike. First of all, it hurts. You will only be able to ride as fast as your pain threshold will allow.
If I'm riding around town, I'm very careful of any painted parts of the road...especially when coming to a stop at an intersection. Never, never, never stop where your feet will land on a painted line. If you do, most likely you and your bike are going down. I also give the idiots in the cages plenty of room and stay extra alert.
When riding on the highway, a good windshield is probably the biggest protection you can have; second would be a FF helmet. Rain gear is nice but at least if you have a windshield you can make it to the next exit. Sitting under a bridge is okay only if there is plenty of room to get you and your bike far enough away from the road so neither of you gets hit.
Slow down to your comfort level until you get the feel of just how bad it is. I have been in rain at 75mph that wasn't too bad. Also been in rain at 20 mph that was kicking my ***.
Lastly, did I mention that it HURTS. It hurts like hell if you aren't prepared so if there is any chance of rain, make sure you'vegot the proper gear with you.
If I'm riding around town, I'm very careful of any painted parts of the road...especially when coming to a stop at an intersection. Never, never, never stop where your feet will land on a painted line. If you do, most likely you and your bike are going down. I also give the idiots in the cages plenty of room and stay extra alert.
When riding on the highway, a good windshield is probably the biggest protection you can have; second would be a FF helmet. Rain gear is nice but at least if you have a windshield you can make it to the next exit. Sitting under a bridge is okay only if there is plenty of room to get you and your bike far enough away from the road so neither of you gets hit.
Slow down to your comfort level until you get the feel of just how bad it is. I have been in rain at 75mph that wasn't too bad. Also been in rain at 20 mph that was kicking my ***.
Lastly, did I mention that it HURTS. It hurts like hell if you aren't prepared so if there is any chance of rain, make sure you'vegot the proper gear with you.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 806
Likes: 1
From: Upstate NY
RE: Tips for riding in the rain
If you get caught in the rain, pull over and get a cup of joe. Sounds like you got your rain gear, and if you must push on, dress for it, and take it easy! Avoid slowing down and speeding up acutely! do it easy... Dressing for it is 80%