Interesting perspective, 2017EX. Like ferret said, in our area we're getting rain about 1 of every 3 days. That means on average 1 of every 3 weekends. And that means on average 1/3 of the riding season. I don't think I "enjoy" riding in a hard rain any more than the next bloke, but a lot of times rain is light and/or a temporary inconvenience. But, the road remains wet and dirty long after the precipitation stops.
I have this vision of being less concerned about checking my weather app, scouring it in hour-by-hour detail, looking for clear breaks so my nice bikes stay clean. Rather, I could see taking a quick look; if the forecast looks messy then I jump on the beater bike and sally forth. Given that usage scenario, a more modern / reliable / low-maintenance bike would be an asset. Four-stroke, fuel injection, electronic ignition, ABS, tubeless tires in a common size, low-maintenance final drive, etc. Turn a key, push a button, go. No choke, no carb, no points, no inner tubes, no chain lube, no fear of wet-road braking.
The other part of the vision I have is riding back into the garage on a wet / muddy / dusty / gritty / salty bike and parking it without conscience until I feel inclined to hose it off.
I know, right! I thought of that. I think I’d feel bad about neglecting it that much. It deserves an appreciative owner.
