Rain?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 5
From: North Texas
Rain is nothing but an inconvenience, if it's dumping sense should prevail and you stop for a while to let it blow by. If you are we have been for several days and you can see where it is and where it's going just ride on. Been in Colorado thru Wyoming to the Black Hills and now back to Colorado, it has rained everyday somewhere we were each day we stop we go and sometimes we just suit up and keep going.
It's your call but COMMON SENSE SHOULD ALWAYS PREVAIL.
It's your call but COMMON SENSE SHOULD ALWAYS PREVAIL.
Novice
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From:
We road from just south of Kansas City to Lake Charles La. at the end of June and then again at the end of July went to New Orleans La. Rained at least half the time down there but what can you do at 800 miles from home? So I would say yes you can tour in the rain. Little over 4000 miles in 9 days maybe 500 in the rain still a blast, I was on my bike having good times.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 715
Likes: 1
If local riding, nah, too much of cleaning, a pain in the *** since I get to clean her bike too. I do the maintenance and she.............
But touring? If I'm in it, whatever, rain suit. My biggest bitch is fogging eyeglass lenses and water so heavy I can't make out where I'm going. The water being blown up, in, and around onto my glasses (even when riding with face shield) is quite literally blinding much of the time. And, hail hurts on the highway! One time (at band camp!!), nah, on return trip home we hit small hail steady enough my eyeballs hurt the entire next day from those little ice ***** smacking me on the eyelids. Couldn't see road surface where to pull off so we followed tail lights, oh well. Mostly, rain blows.
But touring? If I'm in it, whatever, rain suit. My biggest bitch is fogging eyeglass lenses and water so heavy I can't make out where I'm going. The water being blown up, in, and around onto my glasses (even when riding with face shield) is quite literally blinding much of the time. And, hail hurts on the highway! One time (at band camp!!), nah, on return trip home we hit small hail steady enough my eyeballs hurt the entire next day from those little ice ***** smacking me on the eyelids. Couldn't see road surface where to pull off so we followed tail lights, oh well. Mostly, rain blows.
Novice
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
We got caught in a nasty one a couple months ago. Raining like crazy and a straight gusting crosswind for approximately 50 Miles. No place to hole up so just kept riding. Reminded me of an old flying proverb - Better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than in the air wishing you were on the ground!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: ohio
I go , sure there are times I've had to stop because it just got to dangerous ( can't see a thing or once in St.louis there was about 6" of water standing) But other than that weather is always gonna be there so I don't let it plan for me.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
It rained 9 of the 12 days on my trip to Alaska. That did not diminish the ride in any way.
Motorcycling when traveling is every extreme of temperature, rains, winds, dust storms, bugs, rocks and everything else that can be thrown at you.
If one can not do that then get a nice big Buick and float along in climate controlled comfort.
Motorcycling when traveling is every extreme of temperature, rains, winds, dust storms, bugs, rocks and everything else that can be thrown at you.
If one can not do that then get a nice big Buick and float along in climate controlled comfort.
Last edited by lh4x4; Aug 4, 2011 at 10:13 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,850
Likes: 220
From: Sacramento, CA.
If I'm home & it's raining I don't ride just to ride. If we're going on a road trip & it's raining,we keep riding & are very careful. I've gotten into snow several times & kept on riding but was careful.