Riding in the rain?

[Tink]

A topic I want to know peoples opinions on... I have no issues with it... and with a good rider, I think its actually fun... does that make me partially mad... you don't have to agree (for those that do)...:calm:

[1 Free Man]

A topic I want to know peoples opinions on... I have no issues with it... and with a good rider, I think its actually fun... does that make me partially mad... you don't have to agree (for those that do)...:calm:
Do it if I have to, avoid it if I can. That whole wet crutch thing at my age just does not appeal some how.
Don't enjoy it round town for sure, but the open roads OK.

[Waxxa]

if you have to you have to...just hope you are carrying wet weather gear (not so common during summer) because as 1 Free man says arriving at the destination with a wet crutch doesn't look to good :whistle:

[98tls]

Not really an issue i reckon,getting on a bit now and will admit to not being to fussed on embarking on a long trip when its pissing down,in my experiance theres no such thing as fully waterproff gloves nor boots,there is however a neverending supply of plastic bags so it doesnt really matter.With a good set of tires its amazing how little the rain need slow you down.As for riding round town no idea,couldnt imagine anything more boring so dont do it.

[klingon]

I enjoy riding every time I ride - rain or shine. (I think this identifies me as a newbie :baby:)

With the right gear, there's no reason why riding in the rain should be less comfortable than riding in the sunshine. In fact the heat in summer is less pleasant than rain, IMO. Of course there is always the discussion about "the right gear." I suspect I'm the only person on this forum whose wet weather gear doesn't leak! :bleh:

People who enjoy riding because they can push their bike to the limit may find it less fun in the rain, because their limits will be drastically reduced. But for those of us who ride with a large margin for error it makes very little difference whether the road is wet or dry.

[P38]

Riding in the rain is no problem.

Thats what your wet weather gear is for.

It's the bloody high cross winds that give me the shits.

[Brownbikerbabe]

Riding in the rain and all soaking wet with cars driving by splashing you as well, you can hardly see through your windshield, or through the helmet visor....not to mention, hydroplaning possibilities...naaah, no fun at all...even with rain gear. It just icky!

[xxcbr69xx]

As long as I can stay dry.... I love riding in the rain :yes:, however commuting in the rain is just a drag.

[ManDownUnder]

I personally enjoy it when I have good gear on and visibility is ok.

Pouring rain's different, and wind makes it worse

[icekiwi]

Rain is fun....
Keep warm an its all good..
Biggest problem I have in the wet is keeping the rear wheel behind the front wheel.

[KoroJ]

I do it when I have to...and I've been out in some real crap thanks to the Rusty's!

It's OK on a trip but round town it's a pain with all the painted lines (complete with plastic buttons) and manhole covers that can be rather treacherous, not to mention taking longer to get the gear on and off than it takes to get where you're going.

The bike makes a difference too. The ST with electric screen and fairings makes for a pretty dry ride and with a good set of tyres

[MarkH]

I don't mind riding in the rain, it is easy enough to stay warm and dry with the right gear. But I do ride like a nana, I'd rather be slower than I need to than faster than I can get away with and in the wet it is just that much easier to lose grip and slide the bike.

What I really hate is driving a car in Auckland in the rain, the traffic problems are amplified by the wet weather and I can save more time than usual by riding the bike instead.

[AllanB]

Horrid stuff - makes ones bike all dirty.....(he awaits the 'gay Honda' puns).

Seeing as how I ride for the pure pleasure of it I avoid rain unless I get caught out on a trip.

Must be getting old............:crybaby:

I do enjoying seeing a bike fatting along the open road in the rain spraying a 3 meter tall rooster-tail out the back all over the following cars :woohoo:

[BarBender]

I dont mind the rain if visibility and traction are good.
Like others my preference would be for the open road as opposed to the city mainly because some road users just panic and spit the dummy at the site of rain....and as most of us would know, the first 5 mins of downpour on a road after no rain is always interesting....

Been doing a little bit of road cycling recently. Now, thats just a tad scary when youre clipped in and cornering over a rail way line in the wet...

[twotyred]

... does that make me partially mad...

join the club... I actually enjoy it:weird:

[Maha]

If its wet, its gotta be fun right???.....

[want-a-harley]

All weather rider, but no don't like the rain

[Tink]

Heh never even thought of wet weather gear, I have leather, and it keeps me reasonably dry... but I have not been in a downpour, just constant showers on the open road... totally cool!



Been doing a little bit of road cycling recently. Now, thats just a tad scary when youre clipped in and cornering over a rail way line in the wet...

Ha I can't say I do railway lines... I have non motored bike... for sale... and I refused the clips point blank...


join the club... I actually enjoy it:weird:

I knew somebody else out there was mad tooo.... :chase:

[Buster]

Its nice to have preset ignition maps to tone things down a bit... but its in no way like traction control. I love the wet its really good fun! Who cares if leathers leak :2thumbsup

[zzzbang]

Horrid stuff - makes ones bike all dirty

agreed, what a pain in the ass it is to clean off all those rain marks. cars drive like even bigger idiots (and slower too). then theres the added benefit of the water running down your arm into your gloves everytime you need to slow down a bit.. maybe i just have bad gloves?

wind is fine.. makes you dry.

[SARGE]

meh .. dont mind riding in the rain if i get caught out in it .. probably wouldnt start a ride in the pissing rain though.. used to commute in it and i've had my fill of the wet stuff

dont own any wet gear .. just good boots and gloves

[peasea]

If you tour in NZ you need some sort of wet weather gear becuase sooner or later you're going to get caught out. Give me wet over cold any day, I don't do cold.

With enough gear you can enjoy a wet day though.

[jtzzr]

I don`t mind the rain(it`s all part of riding, Right),Like peasea though , I`m not that fond of the cold.I mean the bone chilling kind of cold.

[mozzee]

Yeah I LOVE it too !!

But must get some wet weather gear that is actually wet weather gear.

[BMWST?]

in town it was a pain.Took longer to get geared up than the actual ride sometimes.Whites lines,bridge expansion joints,cats eyes,poor visibility.Good throttle control and a relaxed stryle means the bike can move round a lot!

[McDuck]

I love wet riding, just not cold.

[Grahameeboy]

A topic I want to know peoples opinions on... I have no issues with it... and with a good rider, I think its actually fun... does that make me partially mad... you don't have to agree (for those that do)...:calm:

Love rain...I go out in rain to practice in the winter...usually do SH16...sounds mad but you need to practice...l had one close moment when the rear went...but that is what you need...

Riding in the rain I don't tend to slow down too much but everything I do is relaxed....

[Grahameeboy]

If its wet, its gotta be fun right???.....

You talking bikes......?

[Grahameeboy]

If you tour in NZ you need some sort of wet weather gear becuase sooner or later you're going to get caught out. Give me wet over cold any day, I don't do cold.

With enough gear you can enjoy a wet day though.

Doesn't get cold in Auckland...

Never wear wet gear...too hot...just get wet instead of sweat drenched...

[CookMySock]

I enjoy the rain, but I have nice sticky touring tyres (PR2.) Yes theres a big cleanup job afterwards, but thats a nice job for two people if we sit down together and find something to yak about. Have to be warm too, heated grips and jacket take care of that.

Steve

[Grahameeboy]

I enjoy the rain, but I have nice sticky touring tyres (PR2.) Yes theres a big cleanup job afterwards, but thats a nice job for two people if we sit down together and find something to yak about. Have to be warm too, heated grips and jacket take care of that.

Steve

Heated grips!!! Yah poof.............

[klingon]

Love rain...I go out in rain to practice in the winter...

Me too. One really rainy night I escorted my partner to a meeting in town - him on his scooter, me on my bike. I left him at the venue then on my way home decided I hadn't had enough of the lovely rain so I diverted to the Unitec carpark and practised riding in ever decreasing slow figures of 8 without putting my feet down. Was fun!

Then I got home and found my partner's meeting had been cancelled and he had gone straight home - he had been there for almost an hour getting more and more worried about where I was. Oops! :pinch:

He also enjoyed pointing out that the Unitec carparks are bristling with security cameras. There were probably some security guys sitting in their dry, cosy office watching some mad biker riding round and round for an hour.

[klingon]

I just remembered another time when I was enjoying riding in the rain and had an unexpected lesson. I was almost at work and as usual was all properly kitted up and my work clothes were bone dry under my wet weather gear.

The rain had been really bucketing down, and there was some surface flooding in the street where I work. Instead of crossing into the other lane to avoid the massive puddle, I rode through it. Just for fun.

The lesson:
Rain generally comes down from above. That's what wet weather gear is designed to handle.

However, when you ride through a shallow lake, the water comes up from below at rather high pressure. It gets forced up your trouser legs to at least the knee, then cascades back down and into your boots.

So having been dry until the last couple of hundred metres, I was saturated by the time I arrived at work. I had to sit all day in my wet work clothes, then at the end of the day put on my wet socks and boots to ride home.

But at least I learned a lesson. :done:

[BiK3RChiK]

We got caught in a heavy shower on the way home this morning from town - a 15 minute ride.

Previously, I haven't enjoyed riding in the rain, but am getting used to it. Although, I must get some more water-proof gear as I was a bit wet upon getting home this morning.

One thing I didn't enjoy was the car that wanted to sit 2 metres or less from my rear tyre! What is it with some people? It had only just started raining, so I wasn't wanting to push it, especially on the roundabouts and tight u-turn corners we have around here!

[Maha]

You talking bikes......?

No, jelly/the ocean/shower/beer etc.

[hospitalfood]

i like the way 2 hours of heavy rain gets all the dead bugs off my jacket and hat, aside from that not a big fan as I like my bikes clean.

[MarkH]

I had a look at these: http://www.rain-off.com/prdt_dsptn.htm at Mt Eden Motorcycles, bought a pair and use them when it rains. Their claims are true and my gloves & hands stay dry. Dry hands makes riding in the rain much less annoying!!

[SPman]

It's just weather - another variable to take into account whilst riding.

I neither enjoy nor suffer, riding int' rain ..........

[Grahameeboy]

No, jelly/the ocean/shower/beer etc.

You talking about your middle age spread....:rolleyes:

[peasea]

Heated grips!!! Yah poof.............

My missus has heated grips and she's no poof. I much prefer warm hands, whether they're mine or hers.:niceone:

[peasea]

I had a look at these: http://www.rain-off.com/prdt_dsptn.htm at Mt Eden Motorcycles, bought a pair and use them when it rains. Their claims are true and my gloves & hands stay dry. Dry hands makes riding in the rain much less annoying!!

I'm lucky enough to know the guy who makes them; great idea.

He's given me a couple of different types to try and while my only criticism is that they can (not always) bunch up a bit, I'd rather have them than not have them. They take up bugger all space when not in use and save your hands (when water might seep in) from wetness and subsequent chill.

Rain-offs are a go IMHO. Good link dude.

[KiwiKat]

I don't mind light to medium rain. Riding in heavy rain is just bloody stupid. Life is too valuable. What bugs me is the visor fogging or just hard to see through. I'd like to know the best solution. (Had to ride in fog today with the visor up.)

[PrincessBandit]

Klingon and MDU are both spot on IMHO. Increasing your normal riding parameters (except speed - duh) should enable you to ride without too much bother in the rain; and as MDU said pouring rain and wind are a different kettle of fish.

Personally I love the surreal effect of seeing rain on my visor and feeling it splat on my gear yet knowing I'm dry and warm. The pouring pissing downpour we rode home from Wellywood to Auckland in at Christmas (yes, complete with drenched crotch, and no, it wasn't that way due to any saucy excitement on 2 wheels) wasn't so pleasant.

But yeah, rain or shine I'm a happy camper.

[oldrider]

A topic I want to know peoples opinions on... I have no issues with it... and with a good rider, I think its actually fun... does that make me partially mad... you don't have to agree (for those that do)...:calm:

I enjoy riding in the rain actually I enjoy riding in any conditions but my least favourite has to be wind.

My Tiger is one of the best bikes I have ridden in wind and it does not phase me but it is not as nice as the other conditions. :ride: John.

[MarkH]

I don't mind light to medium rain. Riding in heavy rain is just bloody stupid. Life is too valuable. What bugs me is the visor fogging or just hard to see through. I'd like to know the best solution. (Had to ride in fog today with the visor up.)

Visor fogging solutions:
Cat crap
pinlock
visor open a thumb width
dish wash liquid


What is wrong with riding in heavy rain? I don't find it much different to riding in light or medium rain TBH.

[peasea]

Klingon and MDU are both spot on IMHO. Increasing your normal riding parameters (except speed - duh) should enable you to ride without too much bother in the rain; and as MDU said pouring rain and wind are a different kettle of fish.

Personally I love the surreal effect of seeing rain on my visor and feeling it splat on my gear yet knowing I'm dry and warm. The pouring pissing downpour we rode home from Wellywood to Auckland in at Christmas (yes, complete with drenched crotch, and no, it wasn't that way due to any saucy excitement on 2 wheels) wasn't so pleasant.

But yeah, rain or shine I'm a happy camper.

Yup, nothing wrong with a few wet bits.
You're a happy camper? I love camping; it's so intense.

[peasea]

I enjoy riding in the rain actually I enjoy riding in any conditions but my least favourite has to be wind.


Quick-eze mate.

[Grahameeboy]

My missus has heated grips and she's no poof. I much prefer warm hands, whether they're mine or hers.:niceone:

Are you sure Mr P..............

[klingon]

I don't mind light to medium rain. Riding in heavy rain is just bloody stupid. Life is too valuable. ...

Actually I prefer riding in heavy rain than in a light drizzle. At least you know the road is clean after the rain has water-blasted it!

The scariest thing is riding in a drizzle and seeing all the pretty rainbow colours on the road - especially on corners. And all those lovely, slippy white lines and arrows just where you'll be wanting to brake coming up to an intersection.

That's what gives me the heeby-geebies more than a nice steady cleansing downpour.

[klingon]

... I suspect I'm the only person on this forum whose wet weather gear doesn't leak! :bleh:

...

:doh: I jinxed myself!

As of this morning I have joined the Wet Crotch Brigade. :(

[MarkH]

Actually I prefer riding in heavy rain than in a light drizzle. At least you know the road is clean after the rain has water-blasted it!

The scariest thing is riding in a drizzle and seeing all the pretty rainbow colours on the road - especially on corners. And all those lovely, slippy white lines and arrows just where you'll be wanting to brake coming up to an intersection.

That's what gives me the heeby-geebies more than a nice steady cleansing downpour.

That is so true. I remember the rainbows on the corners - that's how I learnt to get going with no clutch. It is also why I now ride like a nana in the wet.

But I would rather ride a bike like a nana in the wet than drive a car in peak traffic in Auckland in the wet. At least I can get home in less than 2 hours and once I take off my wet weather gear I find that I am completely dry!

[Skyryder]

I still enjoy riding but not in the rain. Greasy roads, dipsticks in too much of a hurry in cages, bad vision just to mention a few things. Nope not if I don't have too.


Skyryder



.

[Conquiztador]

Riding in the rain?

Thats why there are pubs!

[LBD]

:doh: I jinxed myself!

As of this morning I have joined the Wet Crotch Brigade. :(

Are you sure it was the gear and not brought on by the sight of rainbow colours on the wet surface of the road?:laugh:

I dont like commuting in the rain, but on a trip with good gear and a visor that dispells rain and does not fog up its all good.

I am much more nervous riding in the wet and therefore more cautious, smoother with the controls and tend to try and ride on the rough surface of the road as opposed to the well worn, smooth, shiney patch. Been all good for the last 34 years on the road....

And doesn't a hot shower and cold bevvy go down well when your nerves have been on edge for a few hours.

[Tink]

wow did not realise how far this post would reach, very interesting reading... AND YES Conq that's what Pubs are FOR.. hehe.:woohoo:

Right I have a ride this weekend, cheers!

Ya only live once right... enjoy the wet guys... winter is on its way!

[klingon]

...And doesn't a hot shower and cold bevvy go down well when your nerves have been on edge for a few hours.

This is so true! A hot shower never felt better! :2thumbsup

[dpex]

Riding in the rain is no problem.

Thats what your wet weather gear is for.

It's the bloody high cross winds that give me the shits.

Used to give me the shits, too, till I watched a Dutch Cop vid on how to deal with it.

Simple, just poke out your windward knee as far as you can. Bugger me but it works at stopping the side-push.

[dpex]

A topic I want to know peoples opinions on... I have no issues with it... and with a good rider, I think its actually fun... does that make me partially mad... you don't have to agree (for those that do)...:calm:

I enjoy riding in the rain. The heavier the better. Man against the elements, and all that guff. :--))

With my bright pink wets I stay as dry as. Gloves are regularly dosed with Rain-Screen.

[slofox]

Don't really notice too much if it rains when I am out and about. But I would probably choose not to go out if it was just for a blast and it was pissisting down. If I have to use the bike I don't really fuss too much...my rain gear DOES work - "rainbird" brand - light as and waterproof. If you pull the sleeves down over your gloves your hands stay dry as well.
What I don't like about rain is the fact that I have to ease back somewhat in corners etc and half the fun disappears...confidence has improved with better tyres though.