Rain riding
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 293
From: Too close, Pa
Just don't make any sense to screw with the tire pressure, I make sure they are correctly inflated and ride smart in all conditions. Spent quite a few days in the the rain over the past few years while touring and some of them pulling a trailer and never had any problems. My worst expeirience so far was on the Mackinaw bridge on the iron in the rain 2 up and pulling the trailer the bikes traction is already squirrely and my mind starts running damn it's a long way down the wife lets me know she dont like this, well it was a little hard to relax.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 413
Likes: 16
From: Killeen, Tx
Sometimes rain is unavoidable. This is a stretch of road (Hwy 12) in southern Utah, flash floods caused mud patches on the road.
BTW, this was the storm that went into Colorado last month and caused flooding there.
BTW, this was the storm that went into Colorado last month and caused flooding there.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 171
From: Simi Valley, CA
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.
Banned
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 3
From: a small country between TX and AZ
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!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 316
Likes: 3
From: Under a bridge
Numerous occasions I have been hundreds of miles from home
and encountered pouring rain....
Any helpful hints on avoiding such situations ??
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
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.....
Agree. Ridiculous idea.