Are you confident riding in the wet?

[Rainbow Wizard]

I've driven fast in my cage to keep up with a biker on the way to New Plymouth, I was amazed at how far he laid that thing over.

I'm OK with it on my bike but I have felt the backend let go a couple of times on seal that's suddenly different to everything I've been on up to that point; maybe a repair or something. Both times it was all over before I realised I was even sliding because it was the sudden grip afterwards that I noticed.

C'mon fellas, just how much do you hold back in the wet when lack of visibilty is not the issue?

[FROSTY:Me]

Wont.

But a lovely thought nonetheless.

Or are you trying to be clever, perhaps a sub-erotic phraseology to tittilate those who ride sans partner?

Dare I suggest it was a double entendre (sp) and a pretty darn good play on words too

[James Deuce]

Dare I suggest it was a double entendre (sp) and a pretty darn good play on words too

Wot I sayed.

You're speling woz perfick.

[250learna]

Wet riding is good fun. Hitting the gas around a corner and letting the rear slide out a bit is awesome. I can see myself getting killed though so I don't go out in the wet that often

erm i dont mind riding in the wet thanks to my gears (boots arent waterproof but if tucked in dont get much on them), and well i like riding all the time but loss of traction in the corners is not my idea of fun... im not that confident...not yet

[Skyryder]

Don't mind the wet. Hate when the rain has just started and roads are greasy. That's the bad time when all the shit and dirt has not been washed away. Good tyres in the wet and with all the dirt gone there is actually very little difference. I tend to be more aware of the revs in the wet. Keep the revs up and with good tyres and tread bike will track properly and not drift. If you start to drift in the wet get down a gear fast.

Skyryder

[Hitcher]

Wot I sayed.

You're speling woz perfick.

Gah. And Gahhhh!

[madboy]

I use the bike for commuting so the rain experience is not unknown to me. I'm quite indifferent to it for commuting where I know the roads well, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to go out for a recreational ride in the wet. I do slow down considerably on the commute, mainly cos there seems to be so much crap/oil/diesel on the roads to work. I can guarantee you 3 wet days out of 5 there will be a slick at some point between the bottom of the gorge and the top. Not my idea of fun on a sportsbike. And since dropping it is no where on my priority list, I'll put my hand up for being a pussy.

But I've got to admit, getting a bit of wheelspin from 8000rpm onward in 2nd is fun - when I'm expecting it!!

My own question to the more learned riders - what's the deal with drying conditons, like it's been raining and now it's drying out. Obviously I've been taught to ride in the wheel tracks, either left or right, and avoid the centre (okay, except for high winds). But when a dry line starts forming, I usually find the centre drys before the wheel tracks. What sorta grip levels would be on offer here? Should I stay in the wheel tracks (wet) or the centre crap (drying)???

[Sensei]

Me personaly would do the dry strips just for the fact there could be oil / gravel etc on the wet bits

[Two Smoker]

1:Are you confident riding in the wet?
2:And if so how did you become confident?
3:And if not what are you doing about it?

1: Yes i am
2: Im very stupid, but it seems im a smooth rider, hence no worries about getting my knee down in the rain
3: trying to get faster, sliding is fun...

[Coyote]

erm i dont mind riding in the wet thanks to my gears (boots arent waterproof but if tucked in dont get much on them), and well i like riding all the time but loss of traction in the corners is not my idea of fun... im not that confident...not yet

I like the loss of traction. It reminds me of doing motard. Not once did I race on a clear and dry day

[SpankMe]

Yes By experience. Don't be a fair weather rider

[Motu]

I'm pretty confident in the wet,but then I've done a lot of miles in the wet.With the tyres I run I have to be on my toes,but then I like that...

A tip for those who get a bit worried about an almost wet road - like,is it wet enough to be slippery or not?.....gently try out a white line,any slip you feel will be momentary,but give you an idea of how much water is on the road.

[Toast]

I used to be confident riding in the wet back when I commuted 100kms every day on my 250 and got pissed on without fail, nearly every day. After not doing it as much due to a few run ins with those deathly slippery road repairs, I've kidna gone off going hard in the rain.

Which begs another question...is that the only stuff they can use to repair the roads? With all of the bullshit, OTT rules that OSH (OHS?) put in to the workplace, you'd think that something which can bring a bike down in a second if it's hit such that both wheels track on it would be considered a bit of a safety hazard...no?

[Ixion]

I..
Which begs another question...is that the only stuff they can use to repair the roads? With all of the bullshit, OTT rules that OSH (OHS?) put in to the workplace, you'd think that something which can bring a bike down in a second if it's hit such that both wheels track on it would be considered a bit of a safety hazard...no?

A few years ago I corresponded at length about this with LTSA, Transit and ACC. Conclusion was, they all admit it's lethal for motorcycles, and none of them give a shit. Official line from *ALL* government departments amounts to motorcycles should not be on the roads, and if something kills off a few bikers, so much the better. Cages don't have a problem with it , that's the end of the story. Same as the cheese cutters.

[Odin]

I do take it a bit easy in the wet but aren't scared of it. I actually dislike the newly laid stone seal more.