1: Riding to remind me of the good old days riding during the monsoon on 2 strokes back in India ( no choice of owning or driving a car )
2: To keep up with the wet weather riding skills
3: Why not test all the expensive and fancy waterproof MC gear we have here which is still used 99% in dry conditions
track days in the rain are the bomb! you don't really understand how good today's tires are until you do it.
Riding a bike in the rain is like driving a car in the winter. Ride a little slower with more room for stopping. No sudden moves either accelerating, steering, or stopping.
Expect drivers to behave badly if it is raining heavily, especially if thunder and lightning are involved. It makes them nervous and distracts them.
Even if the roads are not wet, leaves are dangerous. The ones on top may be dry, but the ones underneath may not be. I learned that the hard way the first year I started riding. Fortunately no damage done to me or my 305 Yamaha.
When Penny and I toured on our Goldwing, we had fleece lines rubber boots in the trunk to change into. We left our leather gloves on, but covered them with rubber linemen's gauntlets. There is no such thing as waterproof leather boots nor gloves despite the ads.
Given a choice, I never deliberately ride in the rain because I don't enjoy it.
But over the past 25 years I've ridden in lots of rain far from home while on a tour/trip when there was no other choice but to go on.
I have good rain gear and tires, and I understand the perils of a sudden shower on possibly slick pavement, so I've never had a problem.
If I have to do it, then I do it. I just prefer a sunny day and dry pavement.
Safest tip for riding in the rain is DEFINATELY use your gearbox properly to slow down and less use of the brakes. As mentioned above, avoid road stripes (and tar snakes), and the first couple minutes of a light rain is very slippery. And don't ride in middle of lanes, more oil is spilled there.
If going on a vacation trip, if it's raining when I'm planning to start, I prefer to wait it out because I have the choice. Vacation should be stress-free.
(03-01-2017, 02:32 PM)IndianRider_imp Wrote: [ -> ]1: Riding to remind me of the good old days riding during the monsoon on 2 strokes back in India ( no choice of owning or driving a car )
2: To keep up with the wet weather riding skills
3: Why not test all the expensive and fancy waterproof MC gear we have here which is still used 99% in dry conditions
... and discover none of it really works.
A number of years ago I bought Columbia Wetskins rain gear for fishing. It's expensive, so I waited until it was on sale. Its been tested a number of times over the years and has kept me dry both on the water and the road.
Most motorcycle gear does not have a hood, so the water drips off your helmet and down your neck. Fishing gear does and it is small enough to wear under your helmet.
The Columbia stuff breathes, so you don't get wet from the inside-out.
Like a good tool it may cost more, but mine is still like new.
That's probably right. The only thing I've ever found that really keeps water out on the motor bike is a set of ocean racing wet weather gear.
Very well done. Both humorous and informative
