Three real good reasons to slow down. If you're not feeling up to speed, don't try and push it or it'll end in tears. Carry a spare visor too.Originally Posted by Kawagreen
Three real good reasons to slow down. If you're not feeling up to speed, don't try and push it or it'll end in tears. Carry a spare visor too.Originally Posted by Kawagreen
Speed doesn't kill people.
Stupidity kills people.
Slow down, watch for water-filled pot-holes (ya dunno how deep the might be) and if possible try not to get too wet/cold, you start to lose you 'edge' if you do.
Best tip? LOTS of space between you and whatevers on front of you, even if it's a real slow cage just drop back for a bit until you get a GOOD passing spot - after all, what is so urgent you need to risk a bin or can't be a couple of minutes late for????
Winding up drongos, foil hat wearers and over sensitive KBers for over 14,000 posts...........![]()
" Life is not a rehearsal, it's as happy or miserable as you want to make it"
I'm not too embarassed to go slow in the wet,I'd rather get to where I'm going than somewhere I don't want to go.As mentioned smooth is the key word,and increase the distance to the cars in front...and behind,everyones stopping distance is increased...shift your awareness much further out in ALL directions and plan escape routes continuously.
That said even on knobs I am able to take corners 5 kph above posted speed in the wet and pass most cars,a slip in the wet at 120kph is a scary wake up call,but you are usually out of the danger zone before anything nasty happens - with your experiance on dirt you should know your bike will stay upright even when slidding,although without a 21 up front you have less natural forces helping you.....one of the reasons I am reluctant to give up the 21in front wheels,they come into play when you loose contact with the ground.
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One thing to watch in the wet is other vehicles (trucks are the worst of course) throwing a wall of water over you. It can be disconcerting when you suddenly lose visibility.
Originally Posted by skidmark
Originally Posted by Phil Vincent
One thing you mentioned was how tired you were. Something that will help is trying to relax. Once you've got some basics like decent visibility from a clear visor sorted out, sort your mental attitude out. Tell yourself, "There's more grip available than I think there is" and notice that even though you're scared about slipping, there's actually not much (if any) of that going on. Check your grip on the bars: chances are, you're holding them too tight because you're worried about sliding, and this is inhibiting a smooth, safe style because you're so tense and stiff. Remember, unless you're a Rossi, the bike's much more capable than you are.
I was (and often still am) like this, until I did a fine weather ride that turned wet. I was then scared I was going to fall off, until I missed a turn and had to speed up to catch the guy I was following. I noticed the bike wasn't misbehaving in the wet at all, and so I relaxed HEAPS.
... and that's what I think.
Or summat.
Or maybe not...
Dunno really....![]()
Problem is, with a touchy bike like an RG150, its hard to be smooth. Riding in the rain is hard, therefore, ride like a nana, thats what I do!
You're doing nothing wrong mate. Take your time, the rain is not a friend.
Softly, softly catchie monkey - or something like that.
My 2c - http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ht=riding+rain
Last edited by Biff; 7th November 2005 at 11:48.
This weeks international insult is in Malayalam:
Thavalayolee
You Frog Fucker
hang off more into the corner... in that way you have to lean the bike less and hence less chance of a slide...
newbie since August 2004....
VTR250 (retired) / SV650S (Fw:Keystone19) / GSXR750(given up) / CB400(traded for 919) / CB900 Hornet / CBR954 (traded) / CBR1100XX (sold) / TuonoR (sold) / CB900 Hornet / NC700X / MTS1200 / XR250
Im a happy camper in the wet these days, the winter helped in that aspect.
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The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.
Ahhh, the wet, soooo much more to think about. Trying not to focus on the dribbles running down the visor (shit, thats right, watch the road). Then theres the water slowly leeking down my top, inside my boots, and I revisit the last time it was wet and those roundtoit jobs regarding weatherproofing my gear, now its dribbling down the back of my arse... shit, corner upon me, dumbarse cage drivers aiming for the biggest puddles to drench riders with, (socks now socking wet which means I cant take my boots off when I arrive where Im going cause I wont get them back on). Oh well, at least cleaning my bike will be half done. Hell, Im only doing 50kms, there's bloody traffic behind me, power on, forget the wet socks, did I ask the shop about that new back tyre in the wet? Cant remember. Oh well, hot bath when I get home.
NO time to be busy being afraid, but oh the look, a drowned rat with helmet hair![]()
View my new blog at www.girlybikes.blogspot.com
Perfection is not something you should ever attain, but something to always strive for. For if we actually achieve our idea of perfection, is it then any longer perfect?
Boots leaking, socks wet ? You need GAITERS. From your friendly local army surplus store , $12.50, cheap for dry feet.
Originally Posted by skidmark
Originally Posted by Phil Vincent
Or even waterproof boots.Originally Posted by Ixion
Speed doesn't kill people.
Stupidity kills people.
Another thing worth keeping an eye out for is the oil contaminate in the centre of each lane that is laid there by cages with leaky drive chains (Engine Gearbox & diff). Its allways there and you can see it if you look closely. This can give you a few little heart flutters as you shift line on your side of the road especially when it rains after a long dry spell. I once nearly came to grief on a corner in the wet in close proximity to a dead possum. The possum had been there a while and was fairly well decomposed (stinkin a bit) I changed line avoiding the carcass however I suspect a larger area of the road was affected by fat or other seeping from it. A fairly unpleasant slide and a damn near low side to highside saw me recoveing in the opposite lane! Very ugly to all witnesses & thank god no oncoming traffic..! I also keep an eye on tractors working in adjacent paddocks as they often transit from paddock to paddock via the road and their heavily treaded tyres tend to lay a nice trail of wet mud that I once saw a mate of mine get more than his fair share of adrenalin over. There aint no such thing as a wet and miserable ride, only bad riding gear and riding in the rain is a challenging experience that needs to be trod very carefully.:spudbn:
Figment of the imagination.Originally Posted by Lou Girardin
Originally Posted by skidmark
Originally Posted by Phil Vincent
My imaginary feet stay nice and dry though.Originally Posted by Ixion
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Speed doesn't kill people.
Stupidity kills people.
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