Wet weather riding?

[slofox]

OK - so I am a pussy when it comes to riding in the wet - let's get that out of the way right at the start. I tend to get off at every corner and push the bike around it and then get back on for the straight bits...which is slowing me down man, slowing me down!!! (You get the picture....)
Back in the day I rode in all weathers and don't really remember taking that much extra care in the wet...and didn't ever fall off because of the wet...welll maybe once....
Nowadays I just don't trust a wet road and am too chickenfarted to find the limit by falling off it....which brings me to my question, for all our resident aces: viz: How much do you back off in the wet? What is your strategy on wet roads? And yes I have watched Rossi et al at the Indy Motogp but I don't think I would bounce as well as they do.....
All suggestions duly read before being dismissed out of hand.....haha.....but seriously, would appreciate any tips.

[mud boy]

old age man!:yes:

umm could but some wets on haha:clap:

[vifferman]

It's important that you trust your tyres. Before I got the Storms, I was just like you (well... maybe not quite so much of a pussy). Now when I ride in the rain, if I catch myself being too hesitant, I have this mantra: "Remember: there's more grip than you think!". Sounds silly, but it helps a lot.
FWIW, the Storms have only slipped once in the wet, and that was quite understandable: accelerating over a lane marking that had been painted over with shiny tar or black paint. By the time I noticed, the wheelspin had stopped.
I still ride more cautiously in the wet than in the dry, especially around town, as there's so much crap on the roads, but I've never actually crapped off because of slippery roads, apart from a newly-repaired gravel patch on a corner. It's (like you?) just that I've been down enough times that my imagination always chcuks me an image of losing it in the wet and sliding on my butt. Don't much like that feeling...

[ManDownUnder]

Nothing but experience in the wet will improve your riding in the wet. I hate to say it but it's really as simple as that for me.

Trust your tires, back off a little etc etc etc... but it's mainly manly miles that matter

[Swoop]

... but it's mainly manly miles that matter
So "pussy miles" are lower in value than "manly miles"???:scratch:

[The Stranger]

It's important that you trust your tyres.

I never really appreciated this until I got the current Pirellis.




They suck arse big time, even the Shinko I had on the GSXR was better in the wet.

[slofox]

old age man!:yes:

That too!......but remember - "age is a privilege not granted to us all".....

[KiwiRat]

I never really appreciated this until I got the current Pirellis.




They suck arse big time, even the Shinko I had on the GSXR was better in the wet.

Funny that innit? I thought that Pirelli was quite a respected tyre brand until I told Lyndsey (?) @ Cycletreads that I wanted to try some when my favoured Michelins weren't available.

He looks at me as if I said I wanted to shag his wife AND his mum at the same time! I mean if looks could kill!!

He said "Try these Bridgestone BT45s". I've not looked back, now on my third set. Mucho comfy in the wet.

[slofox]

Funny that innit? I thought that Pirelli was quite a respected tyre brand until I told Lyndsey (?) @ Cycletreads that I wanted to try some when my favoured Michelins weren't available.

He looks at me as if I said I wanted to shag his wife AND his mum at the same time! I mean if looks could kill!!

He said "Try these Bridgestone BT45s". I've not looked back, now on my third set. Mucho comfy in the wet.

My SV has Dunlop Sportmax's on it.......the man that sells them says they are good in the wet, but then he would say that woodny?

[98tls]

Funny that innit? I thought that Pirelli was quite a respected tyre brand until I told Lyndsey (?) @ Cycletreads that I wanted to try some when my favoured Michelins weren't available.

He looks at me as if I said I wanted to shag his wife AND his mum at the same time! I mean if looks could kill!!

He said "Try these Bridgestone BT45s". I've not looked back, now on my third set. Mucho comfy in the wet. Really?On about my 4th set of Pirellis after trying pretty much everything else,had one set of Michelins not an experiance i wanted to repeat.As for riding in the wet,cant comment on riding in town as i dont do it but on the open road i do nothing different apart from take the twistys a bit slower.

[NighthawkNZ]

How much do you back off in the wet? What is your strategy on wet roads? And yes I have watched Rossi et al at the Indy Motogp but I don't think I would bounce as well as they do.....
All suggestions duly read before being dismissed out of hand.....haha.....but seriously, would appreciate any tips.

First off you need to put a bit of trust and faith in your tyres, bike, and riding ability and confidence. You also need to relax...

Secondly your gear... good gear makes it that little bit easier, being dry and warm... if your hands are freezing means you reactions are that much slower...

The main thing is yes slow down till you feel comfortable, ride your own ride and all that. However slow smooth motions ie don't flick the bike into a corners, no sudden movements, but steady smooth movements, and you will be surprised at the speed you can achieve. It is basically a confidence thing.

Add more to your following distance. Wipe your visor regularly (especially in that misty rain that doesn't clear that well on your visor) you will be surprised... having visibility helps ;)

Also if you need to do that emergency stop you will find that just because its wet doesn't mean you are going to thrown from you scoot.

[CookMySock]

Your bike isn't going to flip upside down just coz its wet. I know thats easy to say and hard to believe, but like many things motorcycling you just have to beleive it and do it, and you will see.

Conversely, there ARE some days when it is going to be FUCKing slippery. If you don't want to have a wee slip and a slide then just don't ride these days - light drizzle after a long dry spell etc. But again, your bike will do a little squiggle here and there, but unlikely it will completely give you the finger and throw you on the ground, unless you hit some white line while leaned out, or brake hard on some diagonals.

I hated the rain at first, but now its quite surreal riding in the rain - it seems quiet and nature-like. I keep my open-road speed up so the water beads off my visor properly. Anything under 90k's and the visor collects a lot of water.

Strangely, even in heavy rain my visibility is very good - better than the car. shrug.

Steve

[98tls]

Fwiw for my money what road your riding in the rain and recent weather conditions factor into it,long dry spells followed by rain on a road thats had lots of truck traffic/diesel makes me take more care.Just a personal thing.

[CB ARGH]

Hey mate,

The thing that I hate most about wet weather is being stuck behind a big huge cow truck spraying water up onto the visor and having the smell of cow shit up your nose.

Anyway... :baby:

I do back off a lot in the wet, there's no rush to get to a destination, besides, it'll take a shit load longer if you bail on the slippery stuff and limp to your destination. I run Dunlop GPR 100's on the bike (may be 1000's), they are very sticky on the wet and the dry (although they are my first tyre so I cannot compare), I have had the rear give way once whilst changing down a gear too roughly (letting the clutch out fast and not easing it out slowly whilst in a corner - big mistake)...

Just ease back into the ride and take extra time on every move... increasing your following distance is most important!

And keep the thought of "every day is a great day for a ride" in the back of your mind... Well that's my therapy anyway!

Just remember, the speed limit is the FASTEST you can go (in good conditions)... not the SLOWEST you must go. The world won't end if you go under the speed limit to increase your safety and crontol of the bike.

Most of all, have FUN! :drool:

[KiwiRat]

Really?On about my 4th set of Pirellis after trying pretty much everything else,had one set of Michelins not an experiance i wanted to repeat.As for riding in the wet,cant comment on riding in town as i dont do it but on the open road i do nothing different apart from take the twistys a bit slower.

Fair dinkum cobber. He referred to them as "planks of wood". Mind you we could be talking about 2 different types of tyres on 2 different types of bikes couldn't we.

In all fairness I am only repeating HIS opinion. I don't really have one as I have never had a set of Pirellis on any of my bikes. He looked pretty hacked off with life that morning, and I really needed a set of tyres, and the only other option apart from taking his advice was to argue the point. (Which I really didn't feel like doing).

[Pwalo]

Does it really matter if you're slow through the corners, and fast down the straights? Sounds pretty reasonable to me. I ride to work every day regardless of the weather.

What I notice is that I'm much more aware of corners (and road surface, road markings, etc) when I ride in the wet, and this seems to make everything FEEL slower. It's almost like being more aware of breaking a bit longer and waiting to get back on thethrottle. My actual times to and from work are pretty much the same whatever the conditions.

[slimjim]

it Rain's.........;)
nothing thats not already been said...............
Trust Your skills.........Bike only Does What You Do.....
even on slicks you can ride..:weep:..............you Trust what you Do...
tires are very even nowday's....
road conditions are not...

control is all your's...

[pritch]

I'm a bit startled to see the comments here about the Pirelli products.

I have now seen several comparison articles in various mags and on the 'Net which rate them at or near the top. Admittedly not all did wet testing.

I'm happy with my Metzelers but I guess I'm going to have to get a pair of Pirellis and try them for myself. (Currently I'm not convinced they are made in the same factory as some suggest but will check that prior...)

[NighthawkNZ]

I'm a bit startled to see the comments here about the Pirelli products.


Depends on the bike they go on... and how the bike is set up... the riding style

I have see two exact same bikes just set differently ie; susspenion etc... had the same tyres, I took both of the for a ride... and one handle like shit... while the other was a good ride...

a week later the second bike same set up just different tyres and handle just as good as the other...

Any way if you are happy with a brand of tyre that suites your bike, your riding style etc then continue to use them...

[The Stranger]

I'm a bit startled to see the comments here about the Pirelli products.

I have now seen several comparison articles in various mags and on the 'Net which rate them at or near the top. Admittedly not all did wet testing.

I'm happy with my Metzelers but I guess I'm going to have to get a pair of Pirellis and try them for myself. (Currently I'm not convinced they are made in the same factory as some suggest but will check that prior...)

My comment was not aimed at pirelli in general, aplogies if it read that way. I was intending to mean my particular Pirelli tyres (Diablo).
I kind of thought that it would be obvious and thus superfluous that I can not possibly be saying that all Pirelli are shit in the wet.
However, based on these, I doubt I will be too keen to try other Pirelli tyres as I don't like to waste my money and they already got me once.

[slofox]

Thanks to all who have replied with advice. For the record:

1. I have all the gear and yes, I do stay warm and dry. Commutes in the rain are generally short anyway.
2. I have actually done a lot of wet weather riding over the years without mishap - I think maybe this newest bike has made me a little more cautious than previously - dropping $100 worth vs $10,000 worth....go figure....
3. Much of what has been said I am familiar with - fresh rain on dry roads, "person access hatches", white lines, shiny patches etc etc.....
4. My query relates more to the degree of caution other people exercise relative to their dry road riding style....
5. What has made most sense to me here is that the tyres have more ability than I give them credit for...very true in my case - I treat them like vicious evil-minded little bastards who are out to get me....not that I am paranoid of course,,,(is that a cop? CIA? FBI?......)

Thanks again all.......

[Wannabiker]

I think you have just hit the nail on the head...you are worried about protecting your investment, and thats natrually understandable....hence your level of caution has increased pro-rata. ...go get a $500 dollar hack and throw it round in the wet. I bought an old DR 200 to do just that on the fire-trails behind our place. Oddly enough, it hasn't cost me any extra over the purchase price and I have had many hours of enjoyment and skill building offroad motorcycling for a modest investment. It is not all that slower than my boys wizzy-doo CR motox bike either!! I spent many years an a competitive mountainbiker, and still maintain that the bike will outride the rider most times, and that if you just let the bike do its thing, all will be OK.

[mtroskill]

Had my first venture out in the wet today out mission bay way....

There are black lines of tar(?) on the road that caused my front wheel to spin a couple of times... was only going about 45k not all that confidence inspiring.

So in general, as long as you are steady on the throttle you're sweet?

Think I need to head to a carpark and practise a bit.

[The Stranger]

Had my first venture out in the wet today out mission bay way....

There are black lines of tar(?) on the road that caused my front wheel to spin a couple of times...

All good, just suck the bike up your arse and it'll be nice and stable.

[MentalFacility]

due to local weather and my bike being my main means of transportation i have to ride in rain alot.
New cbrs have some sorta traction controll which helps it in wet, but my main problem is that antifog in my helmet is FUCKED. Most of the time i cant see shit. But i ride it anyway. I dont enjoy walking.

[Grub]

There are black lines of tar(?)

Yup ... "Tar Snakes" are baad karma. They seem to be slipperier than even the white lines. I hate riding in the wet having had an off in the wet where i didn't think I was pushing it at all. Then I think back to the Vic Club Rnd 4 in Sept when those guys were going at what looked like full race speed in the wet and at extreme lean angles too. I guess I just don't want to bust my CBR ... or me.