The joy of riding in the rain...

[caspernz]

So in the past 10 months I've regularly done an Auckland to BOP trip, for family reasons, and it struck me today when I made my way back to Auckland in the rain...how regularly doing a bit of riding in the rain keeps me more relaxed about "being in control" in variable circumstances. Now don't get me wrong, I'll never be a fan of shiny tar in the wet, but being exposed to it on a semi regular basis makes me less nervous about it.

But the biggest impact this wet weather running has had, is the tyre wear, or squaring off of the tyres. Now about 8k into a set of PR4s (at least 2k of that in the wet) and while there's still around 2.5mm left in the centre, the flat spot in the centre seems more extensive than I'm used to. Not crying about it, but funnily enough when I used the Busa as merely a fine weather toy with sports tyres, the squaring off seemed far less pronounced. Oh well, maybe I should go back to sports tyres and just cycle thru them quicker.

Anyway, those who are nervous in the rain or running on wet roads, the only thing I can suggest is to ease your way into doing more of it...

[george formby]

I really enjoy it. Very focusing and involving. Gets the old brain cycling a bit faster.

The only thing I don't like is being silt blasted by trucks on slushy, salty motorways leaving me blind and buying new visors every week. Not an issue, as such, in NZ.

I even enjoy riding in the rain at night. Can't see shit. Gotta use bum radar and reflections from the road side markers. Very and exceedingly focusing.

I reckon your tire is flatter because you pick up the bike slightly more before you apply gas. Be a devil, dont wait. Oh, a Busa? They drift well.....

[Autech]

So in the past 10 months I've regularly done an Auckland to BOP trip, for family reasons, and it struck me today when I made my way back to Auckland in the rain...how regularly doing a bit of riding in the rain keeps me more relaxed about "being in control" in variable circumstances. Now don't get me wrong, I'll never be a fan of shiny tar in the wet, but being exposed to it on a semi regular basis makes me less nervous about it.

But the biggest impact this wet weather running has had, is the tyre wear, or squaring off of the tyres. Now about 8k into a set of PR4s (at least 2k of that in the wet) and while there's still around 2.5mm left in the centre, the flat spot in the centre seems more extensive than I'm used to. Not crying about it, but funnily enough when I used the Busa as merely a fine weather toy with sports tyres, the squaring off seemed far less pronounced. Oh well, maybe I should go back to sports tyres and just cycle thru them quicker.

Anyway, those who are nervous in the rain or running on wet roads, the only thing I can suggest is to ease your way into doing more of it...

Rode through a massive thunderstorm at night in Canada last month. Was fuckin scary lightening was striking in the distance (a motorcyclist got killed as he got off to take a photo of a the lightening). Never ridden in rain quite that heavy, with a pillion, at night, on someone elses bike and with thunder striking all around .
That said, I was more worried bout being stuck down by lightening that the rain causing me too fall off. There were cars pulled over on the highway as the rain was so heavy so they must have thought the nutter on the Diavel blatting past them was a lunatic, but I never once felt anything in the bike that made we want to pull over.

I attribute my confidence (or over confidence?) to my recent track riding I have done in the rain, while it was fucking terrifying and I was mega slow it showed me what a bike can and can't do. That and my bike was my only form a transport a few years back till I got a company car. If you gotta be somewhere you gotta be somewhere.

[nzspokes]

So in the past 10 months I've regularly done an Auckland to BOP trip, for family reasons, and it struck me today when I made my way back to Auckland in the rain...how regularly doing a bit of riding in the rain keeps me more relaxed about "being in control" in variable circumstances. Now don't get me wrong, I'll never be a fan of shiny tar in the wet, but being exposed to it on a semi regular basis makes me less nervous about it.

But the biggest impact this wet weather running has had, is the tyre wear, or squaring off of the tyres. Now about 8k into a set of PR4s (at least 2k of that in the wet) and while there's still around 2.5mm left in the centre, the flat spot in the centre seems more extensive than I'm used to. Not crying about it, but funnily enough when I used the Busa as merely a fine weather toy with sports tyres, the squaring off seemed far less pronounced. Oh well, maybe I should go back to sports tyres and just cycle thru them quicker.

Anyway, those who are nervous in the rain or running on wet roads, the only thing I can suggest is to ease your way into doing more of it...

You are getting 8k out of tyres on a Busa?

[caspernz]

I reckon your tire is flatter because you pick up the bike slightly more before you apply gas. Be a devil, dont wait. Oh, a Busa? They drift well.....

Pretty much my assessment as well. Yes the Busa will drift, but it's where one ends up when it goes wrong...them shiny patches are dodgy for feedback.


That and my bike was my only form a transport a few years back till I got a company car. If you gotta be somewhere you gotta be somewhere.

Been there as well, quite a few years with bike as primary form of transport. And yep when you gotta roll, you just get on with it.


You are getting 8k out of tyres on a Busa?

Yep, the Pilot Road 4s are just past the 8k mark. OEMs and S20s did around 5k each. Wearing my wifes' panties helps too :eek5:

[sidecar bob]

I had a fantastic involved & fast ride down the Buller gorge last year, two up & loaded to the roof on a R1200gs in torrential rain.
It remains the most memorable ride I've had on the bike to date.
I doubt the half a dozen Harley's I passed like they were stopped have forgotten that day yet either.
Some bikes love the rain, some really don't, I felt that the GS has never been more in its element. My old RSVR would probably have killed me ten times in the same ride.

[DamianW]

Really enjoy it and will get a good dowsing today from Taupo to Aucks.

[iYRe]

Yep, if you gotta go, you gotta go..

I'll ride forever in a one piece rainsuit... but if my gear isnt gonna keep me dry.. I aint gonna do it. I've done my time riding in storms getting saturated and frozen to all hell. Got nothing to prove anymore.

[caspernz]

I had a fantastic involved & fast ride down the Buller gorge last year, two up & loaded to the roof on a R1200gs in torrential rain.
It remains the most memorable ride I've had on the bike to date.
I doubt the half a dozen Harley's I passed like they were stopped have forgotten that day yet either.
Some bikes love the rain, some really don't, I felt that the GS has never been more in its element. My old RSVR would probably have killed me ten times in the same ride.

Some bikes do feel more relaxed in the rain. I must admit my previous Suzi, a 750 Katana (ok Teapot), felt at home in the rain. The Robert Taylor treatment at CKT helped...


Really enjoy it and will get a good dowsing today from Taupo to Aucks.

I'm sure you won't be taking the long way home then...


Yep, if you gotta go, you gotta go..

I'll ride forever in a one piece rainsuit... but if my gear isnt gonna keep me dry.. I aint gonna do it. I've done my time riding in storms getting saturated and frozen to all hell. Got nothing to prove anymore.

Oh heck, I'm with you on the right gear approach .

[TheDemonLord]

Since I commute - I have rather a lot of time in the rain, both on my old GSX650 and on my Busa - all I have to say about riding in the rain is this:

Its bloody wet and my waterproof lining has rips in it :(

[Banditbandit]

Now about 8k into a set of PR4s (at least 2k of that in the wet) and while there's still around 2.5mm left in the centre, the flat spot in the centre seems more extensive than I'm used to. Not crying about it, but funnily enough when I used the Busa as merely a fine weather toy with sports tyres, the squaring off seemed far less pronounced. Oh well, maybe I should go back to sports tyres and just cycle thru them quicker.



The PR4s are the best tyre for rain I have ever used .. dunno about tyre wear, as I don't track it ...

[Ulsterkiwi]

Like DemonLord I commute so riding in the rain is a fact of life. As OP says though do it more often and get comfortable, like all skills use it or lose it. Right gear, right tyres and its another good ride. An hour riding in the rain beats most other things I reckon

[nzspokes]

Like DemonLord I commute so riding in the rain is a fact of life. As OP says though do it more often and get comfortable, like all skills use it or lose it. Right gear, right tyres and its another good ride. An hour riding in the rain beats most other things I reckon

This is true. its not something that bothers me but I read all the time people bitching about a little rain. We are on motorcycles, what do you expect?

I need to sort tyres out for mine as mine are toast. Sadly I have a pair of almost new PR3s but the rear is a 160, may be a bit small on a 1200 Bandit. :laugh:

[vifferman]

I'd rather not ride in the rain, but I've done a lot of it. (And twice in the snow, when I lived in Chch, hail several times, torrential downpours a few times.) Having good wet weather gear and good tyres helps. The current tyres are not that flash; the Michelin (PR2 or PR3? I don't honestly know) on the rear is OK, as is the PP2 on the front. Despite the fact that when I took it for a WOF last December, I was gleefully informed it was "...marginal, and if it was wet today, I would have failed it!"
OK / yeah / whatever. :whistle:
No "oopses" or moments in the last 160+ rides, many of which were various degrees of moist, so what was that all about? :wacko:
I guess I'll replace it though, on/before the next WOF. PLENTYmuch miles left though - no cords showing yet.:wacko:

[ellipsis]

...I hate the shit...it makes you wet and my mascara runs...rain is just, so not fair...

[mossy1200]

Got the Gusta wet on Sunday. It has quick release fairings so only took 2 hrs to clean after a 10min ride so im happy.
Not going to be able to sell it as never ridden in the wet now though.

[george formby]

I had a fantastic involved & fast ride down the Buller gorge last year, two up & loaded to the roof on a R1200gs in torrential rain.
It remains the most memorable ride I've had on the bike to date.
I doubt the half a dozen Harley's I passed like they were stopped have forgotten that day yet either.
Some bikes love the rain, some really don't, I felt that the GS has never been more in its element. My old RSVR would probably have killed me ten times in the same ride.

My two pot, upright seated cycle, loves the rain. Somehow it manages to travel at the same speed as it does in the dry despite my best efforts at riding to the conditions.
Time & again I get stuck behind vehicles creeping along. Keep thinking to meself, fuck sake, it's rain not snow. No ice is hiding and your vehicle won't spontaneously throw itself into a ditch.

I like proper rain, not that drizzly, fairy piss aspiring to be rain. Proper rain cleans the road.

[Motu]

Time & again I get stuck behind vehicles creeping along. Keep thinking to meself, fuck sake, it's rain not snow. No ice is hiding and your vehicle won't spontaneously throw itself into a ditch.

2 or 3 weeks ago I was following a Ducati SS of some unknown size on a wet road, he was doing 90kph and had 2 cars behind him. When he slowed to 70 on a 85kph posted corner I take at 100 in the rain, I just had to get past the fucker. Maybe he was on slicks - but so was I, my centre groove had gone weeks ago.

[DamianW]

Yesterday arvo between Tirau and Cambridge was epic - couldn't see for shite lol.

[caspernz]

Riding in the rain isn't for everyone of course. The comment about one of you catching up to and overtaking a rider who was obviously lacking in confidence/ability to cope with the wet conditions, quite common for anyone who's ridden for a good spell to encounter this.

An amusing story relating to weather, back a few years when I lived in Welly still. Been to Gisborne for the weekend, coming home over the Rimutaka Hill in the rain on a Monday afternoon. Caught up to what was quite obviously a mufti cop car at the base of the Hill. He kept getting faster and faster, not sure whether this was play racing or trying to teach me a lesson... Kinda funny really since I'd traverse the Hill many times during my working week anyway, and often enough on the bike. So with a car setting the pace, and me well within Mr Michelins' comfort zone, just found it amusing.

Went thru the Dome Valley today in the rain in the truck, hadn't been up that way for a month or three, and by crikey the amount of shiny tar was staggering. Just trying to pick a safe and sensible line thru there on the bike would be quite a task :facepalm:

[mossy1200]

I used to like racing in the rain.
Wellington road surfaces and blacked over white lines and metal grids leave me traveling carefully though.
The first near miss I had was on ice grit that hadn't been removed from the hills outside Dunedin. It had mounded up but in the rain you could not see that it was there. Got the bike so sideways it must have looked like speedway. The guy I passed must have thought he was going to run me over when I came off. Very lucky I didn't.

[BMWST?]

i reckonn tyres do waer faster in the wet.My only explanation is that at he interface of tyre and road the water pressure is very high as the water is squeezed out through the sipes and grooves...water blaster effect

[mossy1200]

i reckonn tyres do waer faster in the wet.My only explanation is that at he interface of tyre and road the water pressure is very high as the water is squeezed out through the sipes and grooves...water blaster effect

Also noticeable is the small grit that wet surface seems to throw around. There must be an increased amount of slippage against the road when there is less traction even if you don't feel it also. I find I button off earlier and use engine braking more which will promote some surface sliding on the back tire. Maybe a colder tire slip factor also as its operating below its normal temperatures.
I couldn't get any real heat into supercorsa at road legal speeds last ride in the wet. Poor wet weather tire compound.

[Berries]

My two pot, upright seated cycle, loves the rain. Somehow it manages to travel at the same speed as it does in the dry despite my best efforts at riding to the conditions.
Time & again I get stuck behind vehicles creeping along. Keep thinking to meself, fuck sake, it's rain not snow.
Classic. I do my standard speed on a wet commute and overtake a lot more than in the dry. Just waiting to get pulled and to be asked about driving to the conditions. Good tyres, good brakes, good wet weather gear, they are the conditions. I haven't slowed down that much, it is just that my dry 'riding to the conditions' speed is tempered by the instant 28 day suspension I would get if I did it all the time.

Rain is great if you have confidence in your tyres.

[caspernz]

i reckonn tyres do waer faster in the wet.My only explanation is that at he interface of tyre and road the water pressure is very high as the water is squeezed out through the sipes and grooves...water blaster effect

The crap that ends up sloshed around has a bit of a grinding paste effect I'd say. Sure can see this on my 9 axle truck n trailer unit after a run in the wet, seems to smooth the tyres' surface quite noticeably.


Also noticeable is the small grit that wet surface seems to throw around. There must be an increased amount of slippage against the road when there is less traction even if you don't feel it also. I find I button off earlier and use engine braking more which will promote some surface sliding on the back tire. Maybe a colder tire slip factor also as its operating below its normal temperatures.
I couldn't get any real heat into supercorsa at road legal speeds last ride in the wet. Poor wet weather tire compound.

Absolutely agree. And again like in the truck, on the bike that slip factor shows up in the long run. We won't mention the Slipperelli tendency to be a fair weather tyre :lol:


Classic. I do my standard speed on a wet commute and overtake a lot more than in the dry. Just waiting to get pulled and to be asked about driving to the conditions. Good tyres, good brakes, good wet weather gear, they are the conditions. I haven't slowed down that much, it is just that my dry 'riding to the conditions' speed is tempered by the instant 28 day suspension I would get if I did it all the time.

Rain is great if you have confidence in your tyres.

No comment needed really. But officer, I was only cruising...at 150 clicks in the rain :nono: Been there but didn't get the ticket, many moons ago mind you.

[98tls]

I had a fantastic involved & fast ride down the Buller gorge last year, two up & loaded to the roof on a R1200gs in torrential rain.
It remains the most memorable ride I've had on the bike to date.
I doubt the half a dozen Harley's I passed like they were stopped have forgotten that day yet either.
Some bikes love the rain, some really don't, I felt that the GS has never been more in its element. My old RSVR would probably have killed me ten times in the same ride.

Hear you on the Buller gorge..when everything comes together a fantastic ride.Fwiw my old TLS is a fucking handful on a really wet day,coming back from a rally in Hokitika a few years ago its was absolutley pissing down and the TLs antics provided many moments much to my mates mirth who was riding behind me,hate it when you start a big sweeping bend on the rough suface then 1/2 way through it it changes to that shiny shit with a lake on top:brick:Pucker up and hope....

[tri boy]

I take the car:baby:

[BMWST?]

The best bike I had for wet weather riding was a k100rs,I am sure the shaft drive gave better grip when accelerating,

[george formby]

The best bike I had for wet weather riding was a k100rs,I am sure the shaft drive gave better grip when accelerating,

Hmmm. I had a shaft drive Kawasaki that was fantastic in the rain. Even standing water on a motorway did not faze it. I discovered that at 120mph, indicated, my visor would stay perfectly clear. I also discovered that approaching 130mph, indicated, it would go into a thumb crushing tank slapper.

[Tazz]

Bit more involved on knobblies than it was on Sports Demons, but I still enjoy riding in the rain on the open road. Around town not so much.
The tahs I have at the moment slide so much in the dry on the outer knobs (if even that far) she becomes a fucking speedway bike in the wet if you're not careful.
That carry on is a bit above my skill grade so I watch my lean angles closely :sweatdrop

Like someone said about a memorable ride, one of mine was also in the rain. Just over the Whangamoas to Nelson 2 years back around New Years getting pelted with the usual rain as well as the stuff bouncing off the road and over the top fairing. Wasn't exactly pushing as it was bloody hard to see, but not one hairy moment. Think it was a Bridgestone BA on the front. Like a knife through butter with surface water.

[BMWST?]

Hmmm. I had a shaft drive Kawasaki that was fantastic in the rain. Even standing water on a motorway did not faze it. I discovered that at 120mph, indicated, my visor would stay perfectly clear. I also discovered that approaching 130mph, indicated, it would go into a thumb crushing tank slapper.
We wont talk about overtaking cars on the desert road with snow on the road

[george formby]

We wont talk about overtaking cars on the desert road with snow on the road

We should. If you lose to much momentum in snow the bike starts fish tailing horribly. Much more betterer to keep up some pace and drift around obstacles. Stopping for people who think there cars are going to fall over is disastrous. Pulling away on God's teflon is a PITA.

[BMWST?]

We should. If you lose to much momentum in snow the bike starts fish tailing horribly. Much more betterer to keep up some pace and drift around obstacles. Stopping for people who think there cars are going to fall over is disastrous. Pulling away on God's teflon is a PITA.
again ze k 100 rs,heading to tauraunga from wellies one day i bacame aware around hunterville ways that the rain had solid bits in it,at about the same time the honda rider i was sorta riding with suddenly didnt want to play anymore.so i got to the desert road the snow has started to collect on the road,but i soon found that narrowish motorcycle tyres seemed to bite through quite well.So i went through at quite a good clip passing al and sundry.When i go to turangi the front of my jacket and fairing had a good coating of snow.Wide mirrors and heated grips were appreciated that day(bout 86)

[T.W.R]

Have had some of my most memorable rides in rain, from tackling the 2004 Manawatu floods having to make it back to Wellington from the back blocks of Okoia outside Wanganui which would be the most extreme weather I've endured on 2 wheels; just phenomenal conditions the roads were like shallow flowing rivers and the rain was torrential & relentless.An experience that I'll never forget, the highs & lows were opposite ends of the scale but made for a epic trip.

Got caught at the 91 Punakaiki rally and rode back to Runanga in the early hrs of the Sunday morning head-on into a classic full-on west coast storm.....spent 2 days at a mates place drying out, the rally got nick-named the Punakaiki mud run due to the damage it did (washed the rally out) but an awesome experience all the same.

Spent many kms tackling southerly storms commuting to & from ChCh at all hours night & day dealing with all the extremes a good southerly can throw.
Years commuting in ChCh were never a nice experience in the wet, especially after a spell of dry weather the crud build-up made for dicing on a skating rink once the rain got on it...have seen some spectacular bins & saves from greasy roads and have seen the extremes of rider confidence caused by the conditions from the overly cautious dry rider becoming a bench mark to follow; to a so-called rider trainer becoming a dangerous unpredictable liability.

[Grubber]

Have had some of my most memorable rides in rain, from tackling the 2004 Manawatu floods having to make it back to Wellington from the back blocks of Okoia outside Wanganui which would be the most extreme weather I've endured on 2 wheels; just phenomenal conditions the roads were like shallow flowing rivers and the rain was torrential & relentless.An experience that I'll never forget, the highs & lows were opposite ends of the scale but made for a epic trip.

Got caught at the 91 Punakaiki rally and rode back to Runanga in the early hrs of the Sunday morning head-on into a classic full-on west coast storm.....spent 2 days at a mates place drying out, the rally got nick-named the Punakaiki mud run due to the damage it did (washed the rally out) but an awesome experience all the same.

Spent many kms tackling southerly storms commuting to & from ChCh at all hours night & day dealing with all the extremes a good southerly can throw.
Years commuting in ChCh were never a nice experience in the wet, especially after a spell of dry weather the crud build-up made for dicing on a skating rink once the rain got on it...have seen some spectacular bins & saves from greasy roads and have seen the extremes of rider confidence caused by the conditions from the overly cautious dry rider becoming a bench mark to follow; to a so-called rider trainer becoming a dangerous unpredictable liability.

I always maintain that the tough rides (wind,rain, snow etc) are the ones you always remember.
I did a trip to the southern land about 5 years ago and my ride around the bottom of the island from Te Anau to Invercargil was in 80kph winds with rain horizontal. Riding at 70 kph was even a struggle. Will never forget that one in a hurry. Won't forget the 2 old ladies in the cafe with the cold range going letting me hang all my wet stuff around it to dry and feeding me cups of hot tea with scones for 3 hours for free either.Good times.

[TheDemonLord]

I washed my Bike on Sunday

And then it rained today

and now it is all Grubby again

I hate the fucking Rain!

[swbarnett]

I washed my Bike on Sunday

And then it rained today

and now it is all Grubby again

I hate the fucking Rain!
I washed mine yesterday. No plans to ride today and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny.

The only thing grubby here is me - been water blasting the driveway.

[Maha]

I washed mine yesterday. No plans to ride today and tomorrow is supposed to be sunny.

The only thing grubby here is me - been water blasting the driveway.

Wash? I had to dust mine at the weekend. :confused:

[Tazz]

I washed my Bike on Sunday

And then it rained today

and now it is all Grubby again

I hate the fucking Rain!

I thought riding it in the rain was counted as washing it?

[Gremlin]

I thought riding it in the rain was counted as washing it?
Perhaps it's those road riders eh? (tis in their forum I s'pose). My bike gets cleaner in the rain :sunny:

[DamianW]

Riding in the rain is always preferable to four wheels; like this arvo when lane splitting slow/stationary traffic from Manukau to the Shore. Do I wanna be in a cage? Bugger that.

[Crapple]

Yep, if you gotta go, you gotta go..

I'll ride forever in a one piece rainsuit... but if my gear isnt gonna keep me dry.. I aint gonna do it. I've done my time riding in storms getting saturated and frozen to all hell. Got nothing to prove anymore.

I'm with you on this one, I ride everyday to work (rain, hail or shine) the rainsuit keeps the heat in on cooler days and keeps me dry unless it's pissing down for the length of my trip. The leaky boots aren't too fun though, just lined them with plastic bags so feet stay dry- ish. I may look like a bright yellow flying pineapple but it's better than looking and feeling like a drowned rat when I get to my destination.
Decent gear is a must!

[george formby]

Skinny tires? I very much like them.

I've noticed that it always rains when I get new tires fitted. I do not recall riding away from the tire shop in the dry. Not once, in 25 years down here in NZ.

[TheDemonLord]

I'm with you on this one, I ride everyday to work (rain, hail or shine) the rainsuit keeps the heat in on cooler days and keeps me dry unless it's pissing down for the length of my trip. The leaky boots aren't too fun though, just lined them with plastic bags so feet stay dry- ish. I may look like a bright yellow flying pineapple but it's better than looking and feeling like a drowned rat when I get to my destination.
Decent gear is a must!

Yeah - the Plastic bag trick has been a life saver - it sucks working with wet socks.

[Tazz]

Yeah - the Plastic bag trick has been a life saver - it sucks working with wet socks.


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UHftHP5b_tI/U__Fu_qg46I/AAAAAAAARnk/DogUfsMSiHk/s400/socks-and-sandals.jpg

:blip:

[Big Dog]

Yeah - the Plastic bag trick has been a life saver - it sucks working with wet socks.
I have had quite a few people chuckle when they see in have spare undies and socks in my desk at work.
I don't care. At least not as much as I care sitting at a desk all day with wet feet or nuts because I chose wrong deciding to wear wets or not.

Sent via tapatalk.

[TheDemonLord]

Wet nuts I can deal with, but the Squelch Squelch Squelch when I walk is irritating.

[caspernz]

I have had quite a few people chuckle when they see in have spare undies and socks in my desk at work.
I don't care. At least not as much as I care sitting at a desk all day with wet feet or nuts because I chose wrong deciding to wear wets or not.

Sent via tapatalk.

Got a whole locker at work, so that's a problem that's easily solved for me...


Wet nuts I can deal with, but the Squelch Squelch Squelch when I walk is irritating.

You're kinda ambiguous in clearing that up. Would your nuts make that squelch noise as you walk...

The only bad part about arriving wet at work is the prospect of not all gear being sufficiently dry at the end of the shift, and I've got a drying cupboard with heating in our locker room. Hence folks sometimes ask why I need several pairs of gloves :laugh:

[BMWST?]

Got a whole locker at work, so that's a problem that's easily solved for me...



You're kinda ambiguous in clearing that up. Would your nuts make that squelch noise as you walk...

The only bad part about arriving wet at work is the prospect of not all gear being sufficiently dry at the end of the shift, and I've got a drying cupboard with heating in our locker room. Hence folks sometimes ask why I need several pairs of gloves [emoji23]
I quite enjoy the ride,but the wet weather gearing up is drag,esp if its only a short ride,then the disrobing at the other end

[Motu]

My feet got wet this morning - I have waterproof boots, and overboots, but on the Airhead with your feet behind the cyls, feet stay warm and dry. Spending the day in soggy workboots brought back memories of when I didn't own an Airhead. Now I know the level of precipitation that gets into my boots, I'll forget to take measures next time.....

[RAYDEO]

I quite enjoy the ride,but the wet weather gearing up is drag,esp if its only a short ride,then the disrobing at the other end

this exactly is what stops me taking the bike on wet days, literally nowhere to put my wet gear.
its a shame because the bike is literally 2x as economical as the car.

[granstar]

Last week had a breakaway and fish-tale on the 919 Hilda on a dead straight road cruising quietly along at speed limit. Handled it o.k, any faster it would have been an off. Happened also to a mate on a different road, just spat him into the roadside with a bit of damage VFR1000.
It was that shiny tar coming through to the surface. Seems all these trucks on the road are taking it's toll. The rail system is under used, I believe that may change in the future.

What appears to be happening meantime is " Slippery when wet" sign are popping up everywhere, a cheap way around not fixing the problem.

Next tyre change i'm opting for Road Pilot 4's, haven't heard a bad thing about them for riding in wet.

Here's a rant, why isn't the excessive registration fees we motorcyclists pay going into fixing the roads so they are safe to travel on instead of into an ambulance for when you slid off. Fix the problem, and leave the farkin flag alone,over!.:yes:

So meantime... wet and shiny, be bloody care-full out there.

[RAYDEO]

What chacturistics does a good wet weather tyre have? Would a duel purpose tyre be any good on wet Tarmac?

[FJRider]

What chacturistics does a good wet weather tyre have? Would a duel purpose tyre be any good on wet Tarmac?

You wont see ANY "Duel purpose" tyre on ANY race track on wet days ... unless they intend going OFF the track ... :doh:

[granstar]

There is a current thread active on Michelin Road Pilot 4's. Concurs they are great for wet. My mechanic does a lot of riding XJR 1300 and has them fitted, swears by them.

No matter what tyre the shiny stuff is shitte and if not carefull your bum will be stealing the buttons off the seat.

[Motu]

I often aim for the shiny spots to check my grip levels in the rain....you don't know how much traction you have until it slips, good to do it on a small section of less grip than on the better condition stuff. Sometimes do it in the dry too.

[granstar]

Spots, we got stretches of it down here, if it slips there is no grip level, you're basically off unless you do an impressive save.

[mossy1200]

Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SPv2 are fine.............................................. .................................................. ............ weather tyres.

[Motu]

Spots, we got stretches of it down here, if it slips there is no grip level, you're basically off unless you do an impressive save.

It's the same everywhere - aim for a small spot in a corner, or cross over a strip. Mind you, I don't seem to have any problems with all the other dangerous road conditions everyone whinges about on this site.

[george formby]

I often aim for the shiny spots to check my grip levels in the rain....you don't know how much traction you have until it slips, good to do it on a small section of less grip than on the better condition stuff. Sometimes do it in the dry too.

Ditto. Occasionally give it some gas or rear brake on obviously slippy road for the same reason. Straight road.... no traffic. Just in case. I go out and practice my braking in the rain for the same reason, particularly at the beginning and end of my tires life.

I find it hard to grizzle to much about our roads and I live in Northland, bottom of the food chain. Seen far worse in Europe.

One example being motorway through the Benelux countries. Heading through these countries to France on a 1000km + day in torrential rain I kept coming across whole lanes glued with bitumen, no chip, no grip, no visibilty due to road spray. :sweatdrop The first time, my first lesson, was when I realised the revs were going up but the bike was getting slower, stuck a boot down to test the grip and nothing, like ice. The tar can go for 40-50m and can cover two lanes completely. Terrifying with huge trucks blasting past, riding in a power shower at 120kmh.

Tar snakes, not to fazed. Ride to the conditions.

[granstar]

It's the same everywhere - aim for a small spot in a corner, or cross over a strip. Mind you, I don't seem to have any problems with all the other dangerous road conditions everyone whinges about on this site.


I'm talking real Southland pissing down rain here.:laugh: The shiny described is both sides of the road, cross a wet painted line, no thanks.

5 Rivers, and Ryal Bush if travelling this way. Google maps shows 2013 conditions deteriorating, it's heaps worse now.

[baffa]

Two of my most favourite rides have been in rainy conditions.
Did the coromandel loop a few years back on my CBR900.
Was rainy enough that the roads were quiet, and it slowly cleared up, and became one of the best rides of my life.
The other involved SH16 and Old north road, and racing another bike on a CB1000RR, accidentally powerwheelieing out of corners in the rain. Steering damper saved me a few times that day.

Also second Road 3s and 4s. I'm running 4s on my predator, and in the wet, the bike will sooner wheelie than spin the rear tyre when you open the throttle.

[caspernz]

So today I did the figure 8 on the Coro loop, and went to see olds further on down the BOP after that. The variety of road surfaces around the Coro loop is puzzling, same for the variations of corner speed advisories. Drop down from Whangamata to Waihi and plenty of corners got no speed markers at all...:facepalm: Not sure what to make of the road marking trial showing the tighter corners coming up, if I hadn't heard about them thru the ACC funded council thingee I'd be wondering what the extra paint was all about. Bit damp around the top of the loop, and again on the way home. The run from Waitakaruru thru the Hunuas and home around the back of Papakura showed the variety of surface grip available once again.

Admittedly the PR4s are close to needing replacement, but still they give good feedback, maybe just 'cause I've got nothing to prove and ride relaxed. Bless hot grips and polyprop underlayers as well once the rain sets in :Punk:

[Banditbandit]

So spring is in the air - we can shelve this discussion until late Autumn ???

[BMWST?]

So spring is in the air - we can shelve this discussion until late Autumn ???
hardly sometimes this time of year is worse for rain...like this week for example!

[Tazz]

hardly sometimes this time of year is worse for rain...like this week for example!

I'd say! Fawkin wet to the crotch in 10 minutes flat in Chch the other night. Horizontal as fawk and thick as fog. Fun fun.

[granstar]

So spring is in the air - we can shelve this discussion until late Autumn ???

So, ya not doing the Burt Munro this year :rolleyes: Tis not the weather, tis if you can get through the weekend with out skids ( in any shape or form), that is the challenge , if you choose to accept it, this post will self destruct soon.

[Topes]

Went thru the Dome Valley today in the rain in the truck, hadn't been up that way for a month or three, and by crikey the amount of shiny tar was staggering. Just trying to pick a safe and sensible line thru there on the bike would be quite a task :facepalm:

I'm a new rider and had a couple of pucker moments on wet shiny tar up there. Pulled the pin at the cafe and had a latte to calm the nerves then headed south again. Changed my tyres, did some rider ever courses, some YouTube training and put in more seat time and feeling more comfortable. First scary one was riding at night up the old east coast highway in the rain and realising there's no street lighting. Made me avoid the place for about a month but not anymore.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[granstar]

Fitted Road pilot 4's ...confidence restored.:msn-wink: Must be Autumn