Rain riding
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 587
From: Michigan
Was told by Dunlop engineers back in '93 (at the H-D 90th) to do the very same thing when I complained their tires back then had poor wet weather traction. Said BS back then & still say BS today.
Last edited by Hammz; Oct 5, 2013 at 11:11 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 201
Likes: 4
From: newark
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 12
From: DOWN SOUTH
Its flippin stupid to let air out just for the rain, these bikes are made (and desigined) to ride in the rain and sunshine, keep the correct air pressure and ride it till the wheels fall off. Never heard of such non sense, whoever you heard that from, stop talking to them, lmao.....
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 565
Likes: 2
From: Palmyra Missouri
Its flippin stupid to let air out just for the rain, these bikes are made (and desigined) to ride in the rain and sunshine, keep the correct air pressure and ride it till the wheels fall off. Never heard of such non sense, whoever you heard that from, stop talking to them, lmao.....
"Everybody is a bad *** when the sun is out"
Reads the patch on my vest!
I just pay more attention to what my right hand is doing on that throttle, and most importantly watch the idot's in cages around me closer. Much closer!
Any and all input (especially sudden) I can avoid; by the brake or the throttle the better my wet ride turns out. However, if I have my ole lady on I know we're not going very far before we seek shelter. I start looking for Neon signs when the first drops dot my windshield. ;-)
I just pay more attention to what my right hand is doing on that throttle, and most importantly watch the idot's in cages around me closer. Much closer!
Any and all input (especially sudden) I can avoid; by the brake or the throttle the better my wet ride turns out. However, if I have my ole lady on I know we're not going very far before we seek shelter. I start looking for Neon signs when the first drops dot my windshield. ;-)
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 13
From: Fort Worth
The hydroplaning formula is pretty simple. The speed (in knots because I'm an aviation guy) equals 9 times the square root of tire inflation pressure.
It actually takes very, very little water on the road surface to hydroplane. Keeping your tires properly maintained is a key step of removing the water away and not hydroplaning. If you have 40# psi, your hydroplane risk speed is 65.5 MPH.
In north Texas, I worry more about all the pot holes filled with tar that are slicker than ice as well as the first rain and the oil that raises to the surface. I've had my back end squirley once on me and it scared chit out of me.... Thought for sure I was going to dump it at 45.
It actually takes very, very little water on the road surface to hydroplane. Keeping your tires properly maintained is a key step of removing the water away and not hydroplaning. If you have 40# psi, your hydroplane risk speed is 65.5 MPH.
In north Texas, I worry more about all the pot holes filled with tar that are slicker than ice as well as the first rain and the oil that raises to the surface. I've had my back end squirley once on me and it scared chit out of me.... Thought for sure I was going to dump it at 45.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,138
Likes: 26
From: Southern Oregon
My #1 advice is have some rain gear and decent tread left on your tires.
Letting air out of your tires sounds really stupid. How about just slowing down and proceeding with caution. Coming from Oregon I'm a lot more careful when I get hit in a downpour after it hadn't rained for awhile. The road film & painted lines can be some slippery chit.
Letting air out of your tires sounds really stupid. How about just slowing down and proceeding with caution. Coming from Oregon I'm a lot more careful when I get hit in a downpour after it hadn't rained for awhile. The road film & painted lines can be some slippery chit.
When riding and it starts raining I like to pull off for a bit and let the rain wash the oil off the road. The new rain loosens the oil that has accumulated and brings it to the surface. After a few minutes of steady rain it washes it away.
I would never let air out of my tires for riding in the rain though. Used to ride off road years ago and did some trials riding (all the rage in the late 60's) and we would ride low pressure tires to improve traction over the rocks.
I did learn one thing this past summer when riding out west that when the rain washes the sunblock into your eyes it burns like hell!
I would never let air out of my tires for riding in the rain though. Used to ride off road years ago and did some trials riding (all the rage in the late 60's) and we would ride low pressure tires to improve traction over the rocks.
I did learn one thing this past summer when riding out west that when the rain washes the sunblock into your eyes it burns like hell!
Last edited by Rico Rose; Oct 6, 2013 at 12:50 AM.