Riding In Rain And Wet Roads

[bross]

I try to avoid riding in wet conditions, I am always leary of turning. I was forced to ride in a downpour back in April. It was raining so hard, I saw animals lining up two by two...

anyway, after about 1 hour in the rain, I became more comfortable but still hated every second of it. I looked for the tracks left by the cars ahead of me, slowed down, paid attention to the road, not the misery of the cold rain and made it thru.

I don't mind riding in the rain (hey I'm still riding! so it's all good), as long as I tarp up first. I have waterproof over gloves, slip on waterproof boots (fit over your boots) and rain suit. But getting caught without your gear stinks. Jodie and I got caught may long weekend. Just looked like a little cloud that we thought we'd ride through then be clear again so we didn't gear up. Ended up getting worse by the minute and by that time we were soaked so you figure, ah there's no point gearing up now. Well 2 1/2 hours later we finally pull into the driveway, miserable, cold, shivering uncontrollably. I pretty much had to pry Jodie's fingers from her grips, they were frozen on there. Took a couple hours sitting in front of the fire to get the chill out.

[CTRider]

...Took a couple hours sitting in front of the fire to get the chill out.

Hmmm, so the day wasn't a total loss....

[bross]

Hmmm, so the day wasn't a total loss....

Nope.

[southjersey636]

I got caught a few times in rain and once in a downpour that was really bad but overaul I never had any problems riding in rain. I know that when it rains turns become alot slower and even turning around a side street I take it down to a crawl just incase she does slip I can have a chance of catching it and not going over completely.

When I got caught in the downpour I didnt feel no slip from the front or rear tire and was really surprised how good the stock Bridgestone Battalx tires did in rain but after reading in a mag Bridgestone is like the king of wet handling sport tires in the GP races.

Overaul in rain I just slow down, take my time, and take turns slower and make sure my braking is alot sooner. Its all common sense if you wanna make it home in one piece.

[pitchinguy]

Doggone good thread guys!! Lots of good input!!

Thanks to all!!

[youngblood]

I just took the class and got my license in June. On my first real trip I rode up to the mother in laws, about three hours. On the way back I got caught in the rain with no gear. No fun! I was soaked. It was good experience though. I ended up getting off the interstate about 20 miles from home and took the back roads so I could slow it down. Don't know if that was better or not. I know I'm probably a better rider for going through it though. I need to buy some gear, because the worst part was probably the cold.

[Lazydog]

I got caught in the rain this weekend. Went to visit my mother on Saturday. Sun shining and very little clouds. Forecast was partly cloudy and no rain. It's about a 45min ride from my house. On the way home I see the sky grow black very quickly. I'm now half way to everything. I decide to ride on home and hope I beat the storm. No luck this day. It poured. I got very very soaked. speeds were 35mph all the way home that afternoon. I did learn a lot about my bike while riding. Got to see first hand how she handled and it was great. All in all I am glad I decided to ride out the rain. Yeah my first big scare was turning but soon figured it all out and then everything worked out for the best.

[78_KZ750_Cafe]

The rules we use in chassis engineering for the road/tire friction coefficient are.

1(100%) for dry clean freshly sealed roads (tracks, well kept freeways)
.9 for dirty roads (country roads)
.45 for the first five minutes of rain
.6 for rain soaked roads
.2 for snow
.05 for ice/freezing rain

So you have about 60% of normal traction available on a rain soaked road. The "dollars worth of traction" metaphor still works in inclement conditions too, but your dollar has been subject to inflation and can't buy as much.

[canuck]

I think you guys covered this stuff well. I do two things about rain and riding.

1) Try to wait until the roads are wet, and oil has run off somewhat.
2) Don't avoid riding in the rain. I have a fairing so its easier on me. But the important thing is to ride, ride, ride.

[radical]

For those who haven't ridden in the rain. Go for it! It is one of the best things about motorcycling. The scents and experience that we as motorcyclists claim are so much more raw on a bike than in a cage are even greater in the rain. In addition, learning to control your bike in the rain makes you a better dry road rider as well.