Scared of the rain! [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

georgie

12th February 2008, 12:52

fireball

12th February 2008, 12:56

if you need an escort home in the rain im keen to help. maybe you should come play with AWNMR or kittys monday nights help you gain confidence. plus the only way to learn is to do it!

MaxCannon

12th February 2008, 12:58

Trudes

12th February 2008, 12:58

Yep, just do it. Once you've done it a few times you may start to like it!! You just need to be a little more aware of stuff, but it can be quite pleasant as long as nothing leaks!!

Jimmy B

12th February 2008, 12:59

Well Georgie the good news is that the roads will be pretty clean by the time you head home this evening so you will have more grip than you are expecting. Its most iffy in the first 10 or 20 minutes of rain after a dry spell. This morning it was pretty slippy around Albert Street but all good now.

Keep an eye out for oil on the road (rainbow coloured water) and take it easy on the brakes, look to modify your stopping distances and most importantly relax. You will have no worries :yes:

magicfairy

12th February 2008, 13:07

And make sure you have good tyres and check the pressures regularly. Good rubber is even more important in the wet I reckon.

Devil

12th February 2008, 13:07

Yeah as has been said, dont worry. All the shit has been washed away by now so you should be sweet.

Relax, double your following distance and just be smooth.

Pwalo

12th February 2008, 13:08

What everyone else has said. Stay loose on the controls (the death grip on the bars won't help), go easy on the power and braking inputs, and look where you're going.

Mrs K is right. Practice is the only way that you get better, and you may even get to enjoy it.

ital916

12th February 2008, 13:10

Just ride slower, and be extra cautious. The RG's tend to slide a little more and the 110's tend to give your greater feedback from the roads surface so it might feel like the bikes doing wonky things. Just take it easy, try not to lean to much and go easy in corners. Plan the route ahead if you can,knowing where heavy traffic is, this will help you prepare for sudden traffic changes and the such. Also be wary of diesel, very slippery on it's own, pretty invisible in the wet. If you want, i can cruise with you on my rg if your nervous, but i'm sure you'll do just great. Don't be scared, calm, slow and smooth. Oh and try not to jam on the rg's rear brakes in the wet, they are very effective haha.

georgie

12th February 2008, 13:15

Feeling better about it already.... Awww Fanks guys and gurls :)

Ragingrob

12th February 2008, 13:16

You should come on our ride tomorrow and keep Drider company with another RG! Meeting Auck Uni 10:30am :)

ManDownUnder

12th February 2008, 13:17

Where is the ride from and to? Ride with someone (I'm central heading west) if you want.

As has been mentioned - practice and just get used to it. It's not as bad as you might think but being cautious is always a good thing.

Ragingrob

12th February 2008, 13:19

The weather's going your way now anyway :)

Jimmy B

12th February 2008, 13:20

ital916

12th February 2008, 13:20

Ragingrob

12th February 2008, 13:21

Don't know really, just meet up and cruise. Piha is tempting, it's only 45 min out and 45 back in I think. Or silverdale on the shore or something maybe. Or maybe henderson, has some nice twisties out there.....*trails off* if your keen georgie.

I think he was meaning to ride home from work!!! :rolleyes:. But yeah tomorrow Piha sounds pretty good ay, like that ride we did first a few months ago when we met.

ital916

12th February 2008, 13:23

Drove through a big patch of diesel in newmarket today, saw it well in time *after my last encounter with it*, straightened up and rolled of the throttle, the rear still slid a little though..that stuff is scary. How the hell do we get to piha though? I can't remember for the life of me lol

YellowDog

12th February 2008, 13:23

ABS is good for when it rains.

BUT as has already been said, take it easier and give yourself more time to react.

GSVR

12th February 2008, 13:27

No one likes riding in the rain. Avoid it if you can but if you have to then just take it easy the more you ride in the wet the more comfortable you will get with it. Cars don't tend to slow down as much as most bikers do becuase a slide to them isn't as serious a problem.

Try to stay in car tracks not in the middle of the lane. Two reasons in big cities where cars sit in traffic they can leak oil there and its bad news braking coming up to lights. And by not being directly behind the car in front of you you only have to swerve half as far to avoid it if it stops suddenly. You should be at increased distance as well. Usually the right hand tracks are the ones I take as its easier for the car driver to see you. Cars tracks have less water there as well. One last thing is never sit in a cars blind spot (applys to two lane highways) for any length of time or they will forget you are there and turn onto you.

Just tips some are just as useful for the dry.

georgie

12th February 2008, 13:28

if you need an escort home in the rain im keen to help. maybe you should come play with AWNMR or kittys monday nights help you gain confidence. plus the only way to learn is to do it!

Your right! I think we have only had about 3 days of rain in since I've had the bike, and I've left him at home all those days. Haha, I guess i gotta do it sometime aye?

Ixion

12th February 2008, 13:30

I like riding in the rain. So long as I don't have to stop.

trump-lady

12th February 2008, 13:31

I too apon moving to auckland was a rain riding biiiaatch. If you live in Auckland you soon wont have a choice lol. The other option is to tell GI JOE and then go ride with him. He will say "just a little ride" nd youll go cross country and through gravel for 10ks (another fear of mine)

Just take it slow, dont let other cars bully you into going faster than you feel comfortable.

Auckland plus riding= rain so just get out there :)

GSVR

12th February 2008, 13:35

I like riding in the rain. So long as I don't have to stop.

Yeah but you like gravel and mud as well right?

Maybe I should have said prefers. I don't mind the rain but would take a dry clean road anyday.

Forgot to mention always ride with your headlight on rain or not..

georgie

12th February 2008, 13:36

I'm heading from Eden Terrace to Kohi... Thinking i'll probably pootle home along the waterfront - It's always slow moving around there. Thank you for all your advice and offers of help. If anyone sees a VERY slow red RG looking scared, that'll be me hehe! :)

ital916

12th February 2008, 13:52

Take the twisty route! lol Go down symonds, then through the domain then through rem till you hit the roundabout where if you go right you go to kohi. Go left to mission bay then after mission bay turn right to kohi.....i think :laugh::laugh: I don't need no stinkin map lol

Ixion

12th February 2008, 13:53

Yeah but you like gravel and mud as well right?

Maybe I should have said prefers. I don't mind the rain but would take a dry clean road anyday.

Forgot to mention always ride with your headlight on rain or not..

And wind. One of the best rides I ever did was in a tropical cyclone. Gravel roads are actually easier and faster in the rain.

mstriumph

12th February 2008, 14:01

And make sure you have good tyres and check the pressures regularly. Good rubber is even more important in the wet I reckon.

tyres have less grip in the wet - you can offset this by riding smoother to limit the amount of grip you are asking for - also, if you move your bum and your weight to the inside of the bike on corners you don't have to lean so much so more rubber stays in contact with the road ..... theoretically

johnnyflash

12th February 2008, 14:28

Um, ok, I'm scared of riding in the rain:crybaby:... It was such a nice morning when I set out for work this morning, and now it looks like I have to ride home in the pissy Auckland weather - and it makes me really nervous. Advice anyone? Should i bring my sleeping bag to work on days like today so that I can stay here and avoid the rain altogether ? :laugh:

As with most things practice makes perfect, if you feel insecure in the rain, deal to it head on, next time it rains head out somewhere reasonably quiet and at low speeds try various stops on various tarmac surfaces, learn to scan the road, try stopping over these various shaded surfaces, so you can get a feel for the grip, try a little harder braking on the next run over same patch.. if patches shine or reflect it needs special attention,

Maha

12th February 2008, 14:34

Um, ok, I'm scared of riding in the rain:crybaby:... It was such a nice morning when I set out for work this morning, and now it looks like I have to ride home in the pissy Auckland weather - and it makes me really nervous. Advice anyone? Should i bring my sleeping bag to work on days like today so that I can stay here and avoid the rain altogether ? :laugh:

Nothing to be that worried about, feel the fear and hit it head on!
Couple of years ago, i was in the predicament of ....Riding in the rain at night two up and with a tinted visor, an hour from home. Everything was a 1st for me, except the visor thing, i swapped with my Pillion who had a clear one. Wasn't a good feeling starting off but 10 mins into it...yeah no worries.

ManDownUnder

12th February 2008, 14:38

Nothing to be that worried about, feel the fear and hit it head on!

You beat Mom??? You bastidge! :shit:

Maha

12th February 2008, 14:43

You beat Mom???

Im always first....:first:

discotex

12th February 2008, 17:05

One bad thing about such a great summer... No time to practice in the rain!

If your tyres are half decent there's much more grip in the wet than you think (except the first 30mins after a dry spell where it's slick as).

Nothing beats getting out in a carpark and practicing quick stops in the wet. If you don't you may be too scared to use the brakes in the rain when in reality you could have stopped.

Goblin

12th February 2008, 17:14

At least its warm rain!
Rain in July is nasty.:cold:

I find riding in the rain keeps you smooth and hones your skills. If you're afraid of it then get out while it's warm and get over the fear.

Bonez

12th February 2008, 18:06

The more you ride in it the better you get. If you ride an m/c it's inevitable that you'll get caught in a down pour at some point.

Some of us go for a ride in the rain for the hell of it.

Subike

12th February 2008, 18:19

rain awsome rain had 110mm in the last 18hrs

but riding in the riain..cool fun...i enjoy it...But!

when it first starts, I stop for a coffee if I'm out on the road, that gives the shit on the road to be washed away. Takes about half hour, or the rain stops anyway :wacko:

I don my High Visability gear.. cages are blind in the daillight, how do they see with foggy windows...???????::crazy:

High beam headlight...fuckem if they flash you, you know you been seen...:angry2:

A then just ride smooth and be happy , listen to your machine, plan your corners to stay in wheel tracks, slower of course than your normal speed.
An be prepared to stop in twice the distance than in the dry.

Dont wipe your visor....never....never....never!

It is all so definatly complicated

:scooter:

PrincessBandit

12th February 2008, 19:25

I rode home from Matamata this afternoon in the pouring rain (at least for part of the trip) and learnt an important lesson about taking extra care in the wet. Even though I know to be more cautious I still got a valuable experience while overtaking (on a passing lane) about handling my bike. I won't go into details as I don't want to accused of giving anyone the heebie jeebies; suffice to say that I regained control of the bike and all was fine. Sure, it could have been bad but my lesson was that with a level head and quick reactions some nasty situations can be brought back under control. If I can cope with it, then there is definitely hope for anyone else who is concerned about riding in less-than-ideal travelling conditions. I used to be terrified of the prospect of riding in the rain, now it's "oh shit get out the wet weather gear" or if it's really bad, i have the luxury of my little cage.

georgie

12th February 2008, 19:56

So, typical Auckland - by the time I went to leave work, the sky was blue and not a drop of rain to be seen! Guess it wasn't my day to learn to ride in the rain huh? Thanks for all your help though, muchly appreciated :yes:

heyjoe

12th February 2008, 23:42

Focus on being smooth on the brakes and throttle
keep an eye out for oil slicks
try to avoid riding on the painted lines
beware manhole covers

basically it's like riding in the dry - you should always be paying attention regardless of the weather

Yep. What he said. Also have lights on to make your bike more visible in the poorer light conditions. Get out there with some good wet weather gear on and do some practise just for fun. Get acquainted with riding in the rain as there will be times when you have to do it.

Big Dog

13th February 2008, 00:12

Have not read the whole thread as sentiments seem universal.
I LIKE riding in the rain. Once you have dealt with the initial fear you move on to actually doing it. With practice it is easier.

Don't get me wrong I dislike getting wet but I regularly go for extended rides in the rain. This is because you get to a zen like sense of focus. Do this often enough and your situational awareness (your spidey sense if you will) gets better.

Also if you can do it smoothly and safely in the wet you can do it any time.

Many racers practice their starts on painted bits of road.
Some racers practice specifically in the wet.

Big Dog

13th February 2008, 00:14

PS if you want to learn more about what will be a part of your riding experience sooner or later come to the AWNMR rides.
The more confidence you have in your abilities the better off you will be.
If it rains we still practice.

Learner Zealot

21st February 2008, 16:09

Just be thankful you don't have to deal with tram tracks. Seriously scarey :shit: in the wet. Only had one near miss but its enough to make me ride half an hour out of my way to avoid them.

NighthawkNZ

21st February 2008, 16:17

Um, ok, I'm scared of riding in the rain:crybaby:... It was such a nice morning when I set out for work this morning, and now it looks like I have to ride home in the pissy Auckland weather - and it makes me really nervous. Advice anyone? Should i bring my sleeping bag to work on days like today so that I can stay here and avoid the rain altogether ? :laugh:

The main thing is no sudden movements, nice smooth and mathodical, trust your tyres, and bike. Before you know it you will be riding in any weather...

When I first got the VTR, took it for a ride, it pissed down, but looked down at the speedo I was still happily cruisin at 120 :innocent:

EnzoYug

23rd February 2008, 11:47

Um, ok, I'm scared of riding in the rain:crybaby:... It was such a nice morning when I set out for work this morning, and now it looks like I have to ride home in the pissy Auckland weather... :laugh:

With an rg150 you should be able to ride faster than the rain and hence not get wet. If this doesn't quite work I suggest getting wet and getting used to it.

Listen to everyone else - they have good advice to share. And if you love your motorcycle dry her/him off at night with a quick rag-wipe. They're not cars!
Welcome to motorcycling!

kevfromcoro

23rd February 2008, 12:30

Can u clear something up for me..on a recent trip to asia i rented a rg 150..
but it was a 4 stroke..is this correct..maye different contries have diffefent models...who noes...

Big Dog

23rd February 2008, 13:48

If you are frightened of the elements today is the perfect day to be out practicing. Even if it is just going around the block.

georgie

24th February 2008, 09:34

If you are frightened of the elements today is the perfect day to be out practicing. Even if it is just going around the block.

Hehe, yep it was a perfect day to give it a go, and I really had no choice because I had to get home... So now I've ridden in rain and gale force winds. YAY! still in one piece too :2thumbsup

Zuki Bandit

24th February 2008, 09:48

IMO, the same hazards are there in the rain as they are in the dry, just amplified. So all the more reason to be that little bit more aware of your environment.

discotex

24th February 2008, 17:23

Hehe, yep it was a perfect day to give it a go, and I really had no choice because I had to get home... So now I've ridden in rain and gale force winds. YAY! still in one piece too :2thumbsup

Good stuff! It's not as bad once you get used to it. Great feeling when you make it home in once piece having conquered the elements eh!

Big Dog

25th February 2008, 00:06

BiK3RChiK

25th February 2008, 06:08

Hehe, yep it was a perfect day to give it a go, and I really had no choice because I had to get home... So now I've ridden in rain and gale force winds. YAY! still in one piece too :2thumbsup

Well done, Georgie! I've yet to ride in the rain, so know where you are coming from. My bike stayed safely tucked up all weekend! I've ridden in the wind though. Can't say I enjoy it much...

Any rate, well done.:rockon:

M