Riding in the rain....

[johnsf1980]

Just wondering how much grip on the road during corners, etc others here feel they lose while riding around the city (Im in Auckland) while its raining?

[John]

Just wondering how much grip on the road during corners, etc others here feel they lose while riding around the city (Im in Auckland) while its raining?
I think that on average you loose 20% of a lean angle (more if the tires arent up to scratch for the conditions, or a crap tires) in rain..

Me personally I don't feel like I loose much, backend floats alot under the power - nothing that shouldnt be expected...

[Lou Girardin]

None if I ride a tad slower, apart from the odd touch of wheelspin. (Purely accidental Officer!)

[Motu]

For me riding on knobs the difference is huge ,I was slipping and sliding all over the place yesterday,but I know to expect that so it's ok.With modern street tyres you don't lose that much - but the important thing is when things go wrong...you need a hell of a lot more up your sleeve.OK,so you can go around corners fast in the wet,20% someone said? But give it 50% or more for stopping or taking avoiding action...basicly,slow down!

[johnsf1980]

I have slowed down.... to about half the speed of what I usually drive at (holding up all the cages behind me :devil2: )

Its just that this is my first winter driving on Auckland and NZ roads and trying to figure out what to expect :)

[Sniper]

Nah, I dont notice much, Im too busy walking the bike :)

[bugjuice]

bloody hate riding in the rain. Especially around now, cos all the crap is washing to the surface, so grip is even less at the moment. It'll get better as the roads wash off a bit.
Personally, I just ride like a granny. Was thinking the same thing on the way in this morning actually.
I gave it some stick with the throttle to see if I could unstick it, but obvisouly didn't try hard enough. Still didn't give me the confidence to attempt to get my knee down..
Generally I back of 50%+ and be happy with getting there..

[Biff]

Bridgestone claim that the majority of bike tyres loose around 10% of their traction properties in the wet.

The bottom line (state the obvious time) - slow down, brake before you normally would, and progessivly. It's not just the wet road that's out to get you. That diesel spill becomes more of a hazard, as do they painted road markings.

[Ixion]

You lose a bit of grip on corners, more on braking, and you lose 100% of grip on white paint . It's not a problem, just slow down, ride between white paint, and leave more braking space.

Since I always ride like a nana it mays little difference to me

The biggest danger in rain is visibility. You can't see well through a wet visor and cagers can't see you as well through the general murk. Lights on, use your horn, watch out, make no assumptions.

[Morbid]

and i think it needs to be said - although obivious - careful of those bloody green bus lanes we're all allowed to ride in now. Sure its great that we can, but can someone shoot the person who decided to paint the entire lane with green paint - slippery as hell in the wet... i dont even bother using them if its raining.

[Mr Skid]

When riding around town, remember that lots of yuckky stuff builds up in the dry. Oil, coolant, dust, tire rubber etc. You don't generally notice this in the dry.

If there's a light shower after a long dry spell, then the roads will be nicely lubricated by this mix, and offer little grip.

If there is a heavy storm, the rain will serve to clear this mix off the roads providing adequate traction.

Also, riding in the rain is great on a underpowered bike. There's less chance of wheel spin compared to a more powerful bike, so you don't need to feather the throttle in case the rear spins up.

You can get the rear wheel loose on the foot brake much easier in the wet, and at lower speeds too (for some that's a bad thing, for some that's a good thing :devil2:).

[placidfemme]

Yeah I saw the rain this morning and thought I'd leave the 2 wheeler at home, then sat dismayed and miserable watching all the bikers ride past while on the bus...

Glad this question was asked :) Now I know... might ride into work tomorrow then :)

[XTC]

Had an awesome ride home from work last night in the rain at 7:30.... Back end stepped out on a few of the shiny slippery bits but as I know the road well I know where those bits are. Yes I slow down a bit on the road and the dunlop trail max on the back of the XT doesn't grip like a sports tyre but had no real drama's on the 55km journey home. My clover jacket and IXS pants are still waterproof after 7 years but my boots have sprung a leak (must be time to polish them) :) Love riding in the rain but riding in the dry is always better.

[Holy Roller]

Just wondering how much grip on the road during corners, etc others here feel they lose while riding around the city (Im in Auckland) while its raining?
On your drag star you should not loose much as the style of bike and riding position I have found (IMHO limited as it may be) to be more suitable in wet conditions than sport bikes. You do not have a huge lean angle avaliable even in the dry before something scrapes. Still in the wet extra care is needed, better if it is really persisting down the road has better grip than after a slight shower. Take the option to ride in the rain and gain experience. I ride every day in all conditions have done for years. No shame in going slower if conditions merit it. Had a cage pass me in some twisties that I knew were slippery so was taking it easy, next saw the cage waltzing across the road before regaining composure and fortunatly continueing on his way a little wiser I hope. I did not like riding at night in Auckland in the rain really relied on my guardian angel then.

[justsomeguy]

Be very careful and make sure you do not ride on the painted road surfaces. Some of it will be unavoidable so be extra careful.

You loose a lot of grip in the wet. Try to stick to the speed limit and take corners at their marked speed. I hang off the bike a lot and try to not lean it at all.

[placidfemme]

I did not like riding at night in Auckland in the rain really relied on my guardian angel then.

I think we all need a guardian angel riding in Auckland, regardless of the weather :ride:

[Fart]

I dont ride in the rain if I can help it. Thats what my car is for. Riding in the rain sux big time. Cant see cos helmet fogs up and as slippery as a salmon.

[hondacmx450]

i dont mind riding in the rain but year things r diffrent were i was living befor moving to hams was bad ie slips and the road gets washed away to but in the city first look of rain and all the dicks come out and then whatch out :mad: :ride:

[Wolf]

For me riding on knobs the difference is huge ,I was slipping and sliding all over the place yesterday
Hah, more fond memories.

When I was riding the TS in the wet it was very "hairy".

Took my friend Pauline out for her first-ever bike ride (much to her father's disapproval) on the TS, gave her her first taste of riding a motorbike - with me on the back (under 25 so my brain hadn't fully developed :D ) - and then rode around to her boyfriend's place.

The weather turned foul - it fair bucketed down - and her boyfriend suggested that he take her home in his van rather than me taking her on the bike, a suggestion I accepted as the safest option (brain had developed that much).

Visibilty was rat-shit as I was heading home down Grey Street towards the lights at Clyde Street so I didn't notice the lights had changed until it was nearly too late (inexperienced, trying to look in a million directions at once through the rain). I touched the brakes, possibly a trifle hard, and the bike started skidding. I released the brakes and put both my feet down on the road to steady the bike that was threatenening to fall over under me. I kept the bike upright by dint of standing on the road, boots sliding over the wet surface, and holding the bike up. Slid out into the intersection - into which cars were beginning to cross. Fortunately most the cars coming off Clyde were turning down towards the bridge rather than going straight ahead into the dead-end section so I angled leftwards toward the dead end, out of the way of traffic turning from my right. Came to a rest part way down the dead end with my front wheel against the curb. Left me a bit shaky.

Rode home, suitably rattled. Got in the door and the phone rang.

"Where the Hell is my daughter?" blares a voice when I answer. I then get a tirade about taking her around to that "Den of Iniquity" and how they think he doesn't know what goes on there but he does, etc etc.

When he paused for breath I opened fire.

I informed him that I knew nothing about what goes on there, neither did I know that she was not supposed to be going there for I had not been informed. I had taken her to visit her boyfriend in good faith. It had then started raining and her boyfriend had suggested that he take her home and, as a responsible rider, mindful of my pillion's safety, I accepted. And on the way home I bloody-near had an accident because of the slippery roads and "if your daughter had been on the back we'd've been in the hospital or the bloody morgue. I bloody-near died out there and I don't need an earful of abuse."

He apologised, acknowledged that my actions were grounded in responsibility and concern for his daughter's safety and hung up.

That was about the hairiest it ever got in the wet on that bike. Learned to brake early, take it slow - for braking and visibility purposes - even on machines with street tyres. Avoid road paint even in the dry whenever possible - I refuse to let the local council kill me.

[justsomeguy]

Also use you rear brake a bit more.

Using only your front is not a good idea.

[Quasievil]

Dunno, dont get rain in the Mighty Waikato, ok I lie ,we did get rain once but I was very young so thats at least 30 years ago.

[erik]

Bridgestone claim that the majority of bike tyres loose around 10% of their traction properties in the wet.

The bottom line (state the obvious time) - slow down, brake before you normally would, and progessivly. It's not just the wet road that's out to get you. That diesel spill becomes more of a hazard, as do they painted road markings.

I wonder what kind of road surface they base that 10% figure on?

Like you say, it's the diesel spills, road markings etc that become particularly bad in the wet. I'm sure you lose way more than 10% on stuff like road markings, the bits where they've repaired the road with tar or where the stone chip has been pushed beneath the tar, or manhole covers etc.
I think identifying the crap on the road/reading the road is even more important in the wet.
If the road was all nicely sealed chipseal or whatever, with no manhole covers, roadmarkings, oil, slippery tar bits, etc, then riding in the wet wouldn't be all that much different to riding in the dry. Take a look at how hard the motogp guys on their nicely surfaced racetracks can push it in the wet! It's bloody incredible (I know it's also of course due to their much better tyres and skill, but still).

[Wolf]

Dunno, dont get rain in the Mighty Waikato, ok I lie ,we did get rain once but I was very young so thats at least 30 years ago.
Ah, yeah - my above tale refers to Clyde and Grey streets in, umm, Waikikamukau, not Hamilton. It doesn't rain here. :bs:

[Ixion]

Dunno, dont get rain in the Mighty Waikato, ok I lie ,we did get rain once but I was very young so thats at least 30 years ago.

uh chaps, don't quite know how to break this to you, but you know the fog that perpetually blankets the Waikato? And you know how sometimes the fog gets especially wet ? . Well, that's what other (less fogbound) souls call rain.

[Wolf]

I think identifying the crap on the road/reading the road is even more important in the wet.
Agreed.

Bloody hard at night in town with all the streetlamps, shifting headlights, shop lighting/signage all reflecting off the wet surface - bloody impossible to see the road markings displaying what lane you're in, in some places.

I love those raised reflective "cats eyes" - they stick up above the surface of the water and show you at least the median strip.

[Waylander]

I have yet to see a rain storm here that I could not ride through. Don't like to cause I dont have proper waterproof gear but the heavy rain here is like a light drizzle in Dallas. When your streets turn into mini rivers after 3 minutes then you can call it rain.:msn-wink:

[Lou Girardin]

It sure bloody rained last night, it even waited till 5.30 to really turn it on.

[jazbug5]

Well; I ride in wet weather, and so far so good.
However, it'd be good to see some more tips here for wet weather riding?
Obviously, good gear = Very Important.
Rear brake; well, I use mine proprtionally more in the wet, but I'm not *sure* that my technique is particularly spotless, as i've only been riding a few months and haven't had much formal training. If any.
What I'd like to know is, if you do go into a skid as Wolf did, what should you do? Come off your brakes and re-apply them more progressively?
Obviously, you want to be braking much earlier where you know that you will, but if, Heaven Forfend, you have to brake in an emergency..?
What's uppermost in your mind, experienced folks..? (Apart from 'Oh sh*t')

[Ixion]

It sure bloody rained last night, it even waited till 5.30 to really turn it on.

That it sure did. I came home about 6pm and it was pissing down. And the roads were as slippery still as a Very Slippery Thing. Wish I knew what the formula for that slipperiness was, synthesise and bottle it and you'd put KY out of business.

I try to avoid braking at all in the wet, use engine braking. And keep lane changing etc to a minimum.

I find one of the hardest things is that the mirrors stream with water, so with wet mirrors wet visor, I can't see well at night what's behind - the mirrors just show great blurs of light from the headlamps.

Rain riding on the open road is fun, but I'm not so keen on it in traffic.

[Ixion]

..
What I'd like to know is, if you do go into a skid as Wolf did, what should you do? Come off your brakes and re-apply them more progressively?
Obviously, you want to be braking much earlier where you know that you will, but if, Heaven Forfend, you have to brake in an emergency..?
..

Avoidance. Try to steer out of the problem rather than brake.

If I do have to brake hard in the wet I use a thing called pulse braking, which was shown to me years and years ago. I've never seen or heard mention of it so it may be horribly bad , and I do NOT recommend it (so don't blame me ) ; and if people who know more than me tell you it's bad then believe them. Works for me is all I can say.

Basically you "tremble" your hand / foot on the brake. Squeeze , let off a little but, squeeze, let off, but as fast as you can . And each squeeze a bit more than the last one, and each release a bit less. You don't let the brake off completely, just relax the pressure a little bit .

If I'm braking gently for lights etc I do use the back brake in an on off on off way, because I think car drivers take more notice mof the flashing brake light thaan they do of a steady one.

[jazbug5]

If I'm braking gently for lights etc I do use the back brake in an on off on off way, because I think car drivers take more notice mof the flashing brake light thaan they do of a steady one.

Thanks, Ixion- I'll be interested in what others have to say about the 'pulsing' technique- sounds like 'manual' ABS to me- if you get it right, no doubt excellent...

The blinking thing's an excellent idea; I sort of do that in a once, twice, thrice way (especially if I think the person behind me is particularly unaware) but actually making a constant flashing would probably be an improvement.

Another thing I was told to do some time ago was to periodically apply my brakes (lightly!) during a wet ride to get rid of some of the water in them. Especially after going through puddles etc.
What say you?

[Ixion]

..
Another thing I was told to do some time ago was to periodically apply my brakes (lightly!) during a wet ride to get rid of some of the water in them. Especially after going through puddles etc.
What say you?

Only for drum brakes of course. I find this is only an issue with long rides. But it can do no harm. The road code rabbits on at enormous length about it, but I've never been sure that it's not an old wive's tale

[Wolf]

Only for drum brakes of course. I find this is only an issue with long rides. But it can do no harm. The road code rabbits on at enormous length about it, but I've never been sure that it's not an old wive's tale
I was always told to "pump the brakes" in the wet to dry them out - drum brakes, of course. I've also often pulsed the brake to let people know I'm about to stop before putting it on for real - if I have time.

[jazbug5]

Interesting. Well, mine are disc, so I suppose I've been wasting my time!
Meantime, had a look at About.com for motorbike info on brakes (http://motorcycles.about.com/library/parts/blpart010.htm) - may be interesting for some of us. Here's a quote from it.

Since many beginners use the rear brake too much they often lock them up during panic situations and skid the rear tire. Please remember that if you find yourself in a rear wheel skid, DO NOT release the brake pedal. Ride it out. Releasing the pedal will often cause a high side incident where you will be thrown over the handlebars. This is the opposite of the advice given for a front-wheel skid with the front brake locked up. You need to know the difference between these two situations.

[Krayy]

I think that on average you loose 20% of a lean angle (more if the tires arent up to scratch for the conditions, or a crap tires) in rain...
Hell, I'd be impressed if the Dragstar could get over 20% in the dry!! :ride:

[jazbug5]

Another couple of links, this time from a U.K. site.

Real newbies look at this (http://www.motorcycle-training.f2s.com/tips.html)

Not-so newbies, look at this (http://www.motorcycle-training.f2s.com/improve.html)

Seems pretty good stuff to me, anyway.
Maybe we should have a sticky with links to useful sites like this? It might be easier than getting people to agree on a KB 'approved techniques' list sorta thingy...

[johnsf1980]

Hell, I'd be impressed if the Dragstar could get over 20% in the dry!! :ride:

I dont about about the % but I sure can lean it over quite a bit in the dry... thats the fun bit! :ride:

[Motu]

If I do have to brake hard in the wet I use a thing called pulse braking, which was shown to me years and years ago. I've never seen or heard mention of it so it may be horribly bad , and I do NOT recommend it (so don't blame me ) ; and if people who know more than me tell you it's bad then believe them. Works for me is all I can say.

Basically you "tremble" your hand / foot on the brake. Squeeze , let off a little but, squeeze, let off, but as fast as you can . And each squeeze a bit more than the last one, and each release a bit less. You don't let the brake off completely, just relax the pressure a little bit .

I wonder if it was the same guy who showed me all those years a go - you wasn't a Panmure Boy was you?

A highside is less likely to happen in the rain,just try and keep the bike straight when it locks up,you can use a fair bit of front brake,just keep the bike vertical and stay way from all the slippery stuff like painted lines and steel covers.This is where the left foot brake was so good in NZ - the road camber will naturaly make the rear step out to the left under braking,it was easy to maintain brake control and yet put the right foot down to steady the bike at the same time....you got no idea how many times a left foot brake saved me from landing on my arse in the wet.Bloody Yanks,taking away our freedom of choice.

[Ixion]

Interesting. Well, mine are disc, so I suppose I've been wasting my time!
Meantime, had a look at About.com for motorbike info on brakes (http://motorcycles.about.com/library/parts/blpart010.htm) - may be interesting for some of us. Here's a quote from it.

Since many beginners use the rear brake too much they often lock them up during panic situations and skid the rear tire. Please remember that if you find yourself in a rear wheel skid, DO NOT release the brake pedal. Ride it out. Releasing the pedal will often cause a high side incident where you will be thrown over the handlebars. This is the opposite of the advice given for a front-wheel skid with the front brake locked up. You need to know the difference between these two situations.

Probably true, though as Mr Motu notes, a highsider is unlikely in the wet (because the grip probably won't change quickly enough to initiate one). I tend not too worry quite so much about locking the rear, because it's relatively easy to ride out a rear wheel slide. Scarey, but usually if you just leave it alone you'll be OK. Mr pyrocam successfully rode out a rear wheel lock up at 110kph, so that shows what can be done even by someone without a vast amount of experience. Just keep the bike upright and pointed in a a safe direction.

[jazbug5]

Excellent stuff.
Yeah, that was more general advice about rear lock up, but it's good to know you're less likely to highside in the wet, what with the reduced traction etc.
I'm really enjoying reading everyone's input on this, especially from more experienced riders such as yourself (Ixion) and Motu: hopefully more people will put in their 2c and experiences. It's very educational stuff, and very worth reading, even if you have before or it seems 'obvious'.

[vifferman]

The blinking thing's an excellent idea; I sort of do that in a once, twice, thrice way (especially if I think the person behind me is particularly unaware) but actually making a constant flashing would probably be an improvement.
Yeah, I do this too, especially on the Harbour Bridge, where ther's this funny 'rubber band thing' going on, where the traffic speeds up, then slows down, then speeds up... So I keep an eye on the rear view mirror, and trigger the brake lever a few times to make sure the person behind me is awake, while looking for an exit route if they look like they're going to rear-end me.


Another thing I was told to do some time ago was to periodically apply my brakes (lightly!) during a wet ride to get rid of some of the water in them. Especially after going through puddles etc.
What say you?
Yeah, I've noticed my front brakes take a while to bite in the wet, even if it's not raining much. This is where the "Dual Combined Braking System" is good, because the brake pedal gives effective retardation with less chance of locking things up, due to the proportioning valve.
I've noticed that one of the car manufacturers (BMW?) is touting a system where the brake pads are lightly floated against the disks to ensure they are free of water so when they are applied they are more effective.

I used to ride in all weathers, including snow, hail, gale-force winds, etc. (apart from that one time in Chch when there was black ice :eek:) But I realised that (a) I didn't actually much enjoy riding in the wet, due to having to don wet-weather gear, and due to the increased stress from concentrating; and (b) it was more dangerous, and I didn't need that; and (c) I was putting on a staunch attitude about the whole thing.
So now I try to avoid it if I can - not studiously, but if I don't feel like it, and I have a choice, I'll take one of the cars.

[Waylander]

Someone once told me that the back wheel was mainly there for power. That you could have it lock , slide, buck and kick ya around but aslong as the front was steady and straight then all ya had to do is ride it out. I've had the back wheel lock up on me before had something get caught in it, rode it out and got to a stop like Pyrocam did. Had heads of impressed looks from bystanders. Had it slide on some loose gravel. Even locked up the rear cause wasn't about to go through a red light I didn't see change. All times I just held the front steady and rode it out like I was told. I may be wrong (but if Ixion is right then I'm not) but it's always worked for me so I'll keep doin it till it doesn't.

[Motu]

Yep,this is one of my theories - it's seldom that you will lose control of both wheels at once(oh,believe me,you can do,and I have done) and it's much more preferable to have the rear wheel lose traction,it's much easier to control.Speedway,flattrack,MotoGP...all have the rear sliding as much as possible - that keeps the front planted.You can change a bad news front wheel slide to a rear wheel slide with a dab of rear brake.Keep the rear nervous and the front will be secure.

[vifferman]

Someone once told me that the back wheel was mainly there for power.
Well, that's true, unless you have one of those two-wheel drive Yamahas, or a motorunicycle. :msn-wink:
Most of the braking force comes from the front brake, due to weight transfer as the bike slows down. However, any extra braking you can get from the rear wheel helps, and you can also use it as a 'rudder' when doing slow-speed manouevres, and to settle the bike going into corners (apply the back brake to transfer some weight to the front tyre).

[vifferman]

Keep the rear nervous and the front will be secure.
So if you're pillioning, as long as your passenger is nervous and jittery, you'll come to no harm? :whistle:

[scumdog]

I always kinda 'pulse' the brakes, it at least lets people behind you know that you're about to stop.

Even do it in the cages and more so when stopped waiting to do a right turn off the main street, I've seen too many rear ends prangs, especially involving manual gearbox cars where the driver has the car in gear, foot on the clutch and the indicator (if it's used) on and the only indication that the car is not moving until too late.

[enigma51]

Depending on the tyre and how dirty the road is (oil and stuff) it can get a bit slippery in the city but on the motorway it is usauly alright

[N4CR]

Strangely I like riding in the rain.. going from home>uni>work>home is pretty cool while raining. The waterfront is windy as hell but the sea sure looks cool in crappy weather. I seem to get to work about 10 minutes quicker in the rain (WTF!!??) and most other destinations roughly 30% faster... weird.

The reason I like the rain is it teaches you to handle the bike much better... the bike slips easier, it feels much more delicate and it gets the arse out if you aint conservative with power in *very* low traction situations (gotta love those metal covers outside the high court :msn-wink: ).

Only thing is that the kevlar forearm weave on my spool fabric leaks :cold: very badly (strange seeing three streams of water while relieving myself :lol:).

[Wolf]

Yep,this is one of my theories - it's seldom that you will lose control of both wheels at once(oh,believe me,you can do,and I have done) and it's much more preferable to have the rear wheel lose traction,it's much easier to control.Speedway,flattrack,MotoGP...all have the rear sliding as much as possible - that keeps the front planted.You can change a bad news front wheel slide to a rear wheel slide with a dab of rear brake.Keep the rear nervous and the front will be secure.
Reading all this, I'm feeling very lucky - the number of times in my early years when the back locked up or skidded and I let off the brake... and never once highsided.

I also tended to overuse the rear brakes, too - seldom used the front because I'd dropped the bike on previous occasions when the front slid out from under me while braking.

All things considered, I was bloody lucky.

[Waylander]

Reading all this, I'm feeling very lucky - the number of times in my early years when the back locked up or skidded and I let off the brake... and never once highsided.

I also tended to overuse the rear brakes, too - seldom used the front because I'd dropped the bike on previous occasions when the front slid out from under me while braking.

All things considered, I was bloody lucky.
Yea I use the rear brake more than front aswell. Was always worried about flipping the bike over.I know odds of this happening on a cruser are slim but still just one of those things. Only use it when I am comming to a full stop.

[Motu]

A gravel road has more grip in the wet....that's why I like to ride in the rain,I go find a gravel road and give it shit.Same with a Speedway track - they don't water the track to keep the dust down,but to improve traction...some tracks will have lime in them and this binds the particals together improving traction.Northland roads have a lot of lime in them and are some of the best roads to ride - makes a big mess of the bike and you never really get them clean.....but I'm not a clean type of guy....

[Ixion]

Reading all this, I'm feeling very lucky - the number of times in my early years when the back locked up or skidded and I let off the brake... and never once highsided.

I also tended to overuse the rear brakes, too - seldom used the front because I'd dropped the bike on previous occasions when the front slid out from under me while braking.

All things considered, I was bloody lucky.

Unlikely to highside if the bikes upright and going straight ahead. It's when the rear locks on cornering then unlocks. Locked rear wheel is going sideways, then grips. Stops going sideways, but you and the upper part of the bike want to keep going sideways. You get flung off high and wide, bike does a flipsy trick.

[Ixion]

A gravel road has more grip in the wet....that's why I like to ride in the rain,I go find a gravel road and give it shit.Same with a Speedway track - they don't water the track to keep the dust down,but to improve traction...some tracks will have lime in them and this binds the particals together improving traction.Northland roads have a lot of lime in them and are some of the best roads to ride - makes a big mess of the bike and you never really get them clean.....but I'm not a clean type of guy....

yeah, stops the tiny particles acting like ball bearings under the bigger gravel.Wet gravel can be as good for grip as dry seal I reckon. In a different fashion, you'll slide a bit but very predictably.

[Skyryder]

In the rain I use the brakes as little as possible. The Drake is heavy beast (251kg) and even though I have linked braking I don't like use brakes in the wet other than the final stop or to make a minor adjustment of speed. In the rain I use engine braking as the primary means of slowing down; more so than in the dry. I am a great believer in keeping the revs up so that if you throttle back you have instant engine braking and if further reduction is needed just change down.

It is surprising how quick you can travel on wet roads as against a greasy road but no matter what if you want your bike to 'track' in the wet, keep up the revs and use them.

Skyryder

[Skyryder]

Reading all this, I'm feeling very lucky - the number of times in my early years when the back locked up or skidded and I let off the brake... and never once highsided.

I also tended to overuse the rear brakes, too - seldom used the front because I'd dropped the bike on previous occasions when the front slid out from under me while braking.

All things considered, I was bloody lucky.

It sounds like you are braking to late and you are into the corner. If this is correct then sooner or later you will bin out. Not for me to tell you how to ride but brake hard if need be before you lean and power out, or use the engines reves to slow down in the bend.

Skyryder

[Sensei]

Rain riding is one of the best ways to improve your riding skill as you ride smoother take better lines . & learn to brake more carefully . Plus there is the bonus you tryes don't wear out as quick you can drift your bike round corners

[MikeL]

It certainly makes you concentrate. Unfortunately at my age I've only got so much concentration left before I get tired and start asking "what the hell I am doing this for?" I remember the ride to the Tokaanu rally last year which was a bit of a challenge. I'm also getting disenchanted with commuting in the rain (like today). Like vifferman, I've got to the point that on days like today I'd prefer to take the car - except that parking at the university is impossible, and my son's always borrowing the car anyway, and, who knows, the weather in the afternoon might be brilliant and there's nothing worse than being stuck in a car in a traffic jam when you could be on your bike...

[scumdog]

It certainly makes you concentrate. Unfortunately at my age I've only got so much concentration left before I get tired and start asking "what the hell I am doing this for?" I remember the ride to the Tokaanu rally last year which was a bit of a challenge. I'm also getting disenchanted with commuting in the rain (like today). Like vifferman, I've got to the point that on days like today I'd prefer to take the car - except that parking at the university is impossible, and my son's always borrowing the car anyway, and, who knows, the weather in the afternoon might be brilliant and there's nothing worse than being stuck in a car in a traffic jam when you could be on your bike...

Hmm, there was a time I was stuck at a land-slip in the Kawerau Gorge (on the way to Queenstown) in the pissing rain on my old H-D, no heater, no windows to wind up, rain trickling down my neck, no stereo to listen to - yeah, then I thought "those dudes in their cages have got a sweet deal right about now" - luckily 15 minutes (and 15 litres or rain)later I was on my way (but slowly due to traffic).

[Ixion]

It certainly makes you concentrate. Unfortunately at my age I've only got so much concentration left before I get tired and start asking "what the hell I am doing this for?" I remember the ride to the Tokaanu rally last year which was a bit of a challenge. I'm also getting disenchanted with commuting in the rain (like today). Like vifferman, I've got to the point that on days like today I'd prefer to take the car - except that parking at the university is impossible, and my son's always borrowing the car anyway, and, who knows, the weather in the afternoon might be brilliant and there's nothing worse than being stuck in a car in a traffic jam when you could be on your bike...

Yeah the temptation is always there. Trouble is, if you sucuumb to it, you end up finding more and more reasons to take the car until the bike becomes just a fine weather toy, brought out a few times a year on Sundays. You get soft and end up a poser like John Banks.

I'd got to this point last year, virtually never took the bike anywhere (well, maybe once a month) Either the weather was bad, or it was too hard to get out of the gargre, or this or that. And it is self feeding , because when you do this you find that when you do get inspired to go, the battery is flat or something.

So last year I made a resolution to toughen up - take the bike always. Only exception if I have to take Mrs Ixion along , cos she won't pillion. (And get back more into the biking scene)

The weather at present is testing my resolve, but I'm going to stick it out.

Next year I may let up on myself.

[NhuanH]

gotta say, after several sets of Pirellis, and having communted so far this week, I am quietly impressed with the BT-014s I have on my bike now.

It also helps to have a self imposed 8000rpm limit :whistle:

[Motu]

Yeah the temptation is always there. Trouble is, if you sucuumb to it, you end up finding more and more reasons to take the car until the bike becomes just a fine weather toy, brought out a few times a year on Sundays. You get soft and end up a poser like Motu.

I don't know why guys like that bother to ride bikes,sign of the times...image is everything.

[NordieBoy]

Hmm, there was a time I was stuck at a land-slip in the Kawerau Gorge (on the way to Queenstown) in the pissing rain on my old H-D, no heater, no windows to wind up, rain trickling down my neck, no stereo to listen to - yeah, then I thought "those dudes in their cages have got a sweet deal right about now" - luckily 15 minutes (and 15 litres or rain)later I was on my way (but slowly due to traffic).

Went to a 10am job on the mighty Savage in heavy rain.
Finished at 11:30.
Got 400m away before I came upon a slip was covering about 50-60m of road and 1.5m thick on the outside and 5-6m thick on the inside.
Hmmm...
No cell phone coverage out here.
Finally got out at 6pm.

[Madmax]

i think the new bikes like the 10s etc
suck you in to a feeling of it feels fine i will
be alright (wrong) i rode my ZX10R home in the rain
New gear all round but was still bloody full of good fun
shit,(some guys did not even get home from the shop
without binning them in the dry)I think the guys at the bike
shop had a bet about it,so i went back the next morning
to the parts guys and bought some new kit (shit they even had the
parts list out) spent about 2000, stuffed them though
:D

[Lou Girardin]

OK, I'm sick of the rain now.
What's with the fricken cagers that slow to 50 k's on the bridge and won't pass trucks because it's bit wet. If I can do 80 on a bike, they can do it in their boxmobile.

[scumdog]

OK, I'm sick of the rain now.
What's with the fricken cagers that slow to 50 k's on the bridge and won't pass trucks because it's bit wet. If I can do 80 on a bike, they can do it in their boxmobile.

Come down here, clear (but frosty) sunny day. No rain since Sunday. :niceone:

[Wolf]

It sounds like you are braking to late and you are into the corner. If this is correct then sooner or later you will bin out. Not for me to tell you how to ride but brake hard if need be before you lean and power out, or use the engines reves to slow down in the bend.

Skyryder
I think you missed the bit in my post where I said "in my early years" - that was all back when I was blatting around on the RX125/TS125/RD350 and being ten-foot tall and bullet-proof.

They were lockups on the straight, not on corners - so I think Ixion had it pegged with his assessment: I didn't highside because I was upright.

Usually happened owing to panic reactions to sudden emergencies - like cagers coming from behind and cutting in front. One time I was already slowing for a stop light well in advance, going through the gears and augmenting the slowing with gentle pressure on the rear brake, twat speeds past in the right hand lane, cuts across my bows, misses me by three inches so I pushed harder on the brake, bike fishtails and twat flys around the corner to the left (mindless of who might be coming through the intersection from the right), I release the brakes, stop fishtailing, resume more sensible braking, stop far away from intersection, park up on the footpath, have great difficulty getting the sidestand down and experience difficulties lighting cigarette owing to hands shaking in different directions.

These days I use the front brake more than the rear and don't lock either up. Thanks to the Zundapp with its trailing link front suspension - it taught me not to fear the front brake and I developed good braking habits while riding it - enough to counter the bad braking habits I had developed riding other bikes.

I've always engine braked (better on a 4-stroke than a 2-stroke, obviously) as my father and mother (both professional drivers) always drilled into us the lesson: "don't rely solely on your brakes". I still cringe when I see people - especially cagers wrapped in nearly a ton of metal - come flying up to the intersection and jam on their brakes at the last minute. Total fucking morons. Should their brakes fail they leave themselves no room for alternative stopping methods and they have sufficient momentum to do serious damage (far too much momentum to stop safely with a handbrake).

[scumdog]

I still cringe when I see people - especially cagers wrapped in nearly a ton of metal - come flying up to the intersection and jam on their brakes at the last minute. Total fucking morons. Should their brakes fail they leave themselves no room for alternative stopping methods and they have sufficient momentum to do serious damage (far too much momentum to stop safely with a handbrake).


Likewise W. I see so many people approach Give Way (or even Stop) signs at a speed that shows they are thinking "I probably won't have to stop" instead of "I might have to stop". :no:

And then when you have the right of way and they have to slam on the anchors they give you a dirty look 'cos you inconvenienced them (except when I'm in the 'work' car - then they look away or look embarrassed)

[inlinefour]

Although the CB handles pretty well in the wet, I tend to take a very timid approach. If I'm riding A 2-stroke, then its like riding on ice if I'm silly enough to get it into power band :msn-wink:

[Lou Girardin]

[QUOTE=scumdog]Come down here, clear (but frosty) sunny day. No rain since Sunday. :niceone:[/QUOTE
OK, I'll be there by 7.00, warm up the rum.

[Wolf]

(except when I'm in the 'work' car - then they look away or look embarrassed)
Can I have a large BMW motorcycle in your "work colours", please? :devil2:

[Waylander]

Don't go to Tauranga. Apparently it's flooded enough for kids to be released from schools. Might go there this weekend feel a bit like home. lol

[Pwalo]

Come on chaps. There's only one way to improve your wet weather riding and that's to get out there and do it.

Keep everything smooth, watch the road markings, pot hole covers, don't ride in the middle of the road (where most of the four wheelers dump their oil etc), and relax.

Oh and get some decent wet weather gear, clean (pledge outside, washing up liquid inside) your visor, and fit quality tyres. No need to be uncomfortable.

You will get more confident with more practice. The bike is always at risk of moving around under you in the wet, but just follow the first law of biking. Look where you WANT to go, and that's where you'll end up.

As an aside I'm sure that small slides always feel worse in the wet because you're all keyed up.

[XP@]

Come on chaps. There's only one way to improve your wet weather riding and that's to get out there and do it.

Keep everything smooth, watch the road markings, pot hole covers, don't ride in the middle of the road (where most of the four wheelers dump their oil etc), and relax.

Oh and get some decent wet weather gear, clean (pledge outside, washing up liquid inside) your visor, and fit quality tyres. No need to be uncomfortable.

You will get more confident with more practice. The bike is always at risk of moving around under you in the wet, but just follow the first law of biking. Look where you WANT to go, and that's where you'll end up.

As an aside I'm sure that small slides always feel worse in the wet because you're all keyed up.

And in answer to your previous question...
That is why you ride!

[250learna]

man hole covers and cat eyes and the white(&yellow) lines of satan :devil2: are out to get you as soon as the rain comes...other than that take it easy, dont twist the throtle too much, and leave racing for a dry day

if you are anything like me, than youll be taking the corners bloody slow at this stage, but it didnt take long for me to build confidence and realise just how much grip you actualy have in the rain :yes:

[Zapf]

man hole covers and cat eyes and the white(&yellow) lines of satan :devil2: are out to get you as soon as the rain comes...other than that take it easy, dont twist the throtle too much, and leave racing for a dry day

if you are anything like me, than youll be taking the corners bloody slow at this stage, but it didnt take long for me to build confidence and realise just how much grip you actualy have in the rain :yes:

yep... there is a bit of grip for sure... as long as you don't push it... on the back roads I tend to hang off my bike more when its wet so that I don't have to lean it over so much.