Riding in the wet?

[baffa]

Hey guys, just wanting to get your opinion.

I've been riding around in the last week that I got my VTR, and last night I was out for a ride on the North Shore of Auckland, it had been raining heavily, and started raining halfway through the ride. I was slowing down to a snails pace for corners, and braking really early, but I want to know how much grip you realistically have in the wet?

So say a corner you could comfortably take at 50 km/hr cruising in the dry, would you be able to do anywhere near that in the wet? This is on sealed ashalt and bitumen roads, avoiding white lines etc.

I plan to start riding across the bridge to work, and it's going to rain a fair bit, and dont want to be going round corners at a snails pace if I can help it.

Also, have an oxford helmet that fogs pretty easily in wet conditions, any tips?

Thanks

[unstuck]

Experience and skill, tyres. Would advise just riding within your cofort zone until your more confident.

[Stirts]

Hey guys, just wanting to get your opinion.

I've been riding around in the last week that I got my VTR, and last night I was out for a ride on the North Shore of Auckland, it had been raining heavily, and started raining halfway through the ride. I was slowing down to a snails pace for corners, and braking really early, but I want to know how much grip you realistically have in the wet?

Less than in the dry

So many factors contribute, what tyres you are running, the condition of them etc. How you ride. Just concentrate of keeping your riding smooth. When cornering in the wet, I put a little more weight on the outside peg.

I plan to start riding across the bridge to work, and it's going to rain a fair bit, and dont want to be going round corners at a snails pace if I can help it.

Watch out for the metal connectors thingies on the bridge, they are slippery little suckers, oh and the stupid drivers that come out in droves when it is wet

[george formby]

I have been amazed by how much grip modern tires can give you in the rain & equally appalled at how slippery a wet road can be. No real way of telling without visiting the scenery or having a moment. I'm in the habit of dragging a boot if I'm particularly worried about the road. The rubber sole gives a good indication of grip.

I ride extra cautiously & smoothly in the rain, earlier braking, wider more upright lines & increased braking distance in traffic. Funny thing is, even though I'm putting extra effort in worrying about grip I still ride at the same speed.

Be smooth & progressive in the wet & ride to your ability.
I really enjoy riding in the rain because of the high level of concentration required, it's the only time I get anywhere near being an "advanced" rider.

Rub a tiny bit of washing up liquid onto the inside of your visor & polish 99% off. Works like a charm to stop misting. Try it on your bathroom mirror..

[Maha]

Hey guys, just wanting to get your opinion.

I've been riding around in the last week that I got my VTR, and last night I was out for a ride on the North Shore of Auckland, it had been raining heavily, and started raining halfway through the ride. I was slowing down to a snails pace for corners, and braking really early, but I want to know how much grip you realistically have in the wet?

So say a corner you could comfortably take at 50 km/hr cruising in the dry, would you be able to do anywhere near that in the wet? This is on sealed ashalt and bitumen roads, avoiding white lines etc.

I plan to start riding across the bridge to work, and it's going to rain a fair bit, and dont want to be going round corners at a snails pace if I can help it.

Also, have an oxford helmet that fogs pretty easily in wet conditions, any tips?

Thanks

Just open the helmet one click if it fogs up.
On the corner question, 50 in the dry and 50 in the wet, makes no odds really, decent tyres/confidence in your bike and yourself is the key.
Visual awearness in the wet is also high on the agenda, stay vigilant and watch out for spillages on the road that wouldn't normally matter so much in the dry.

[baffa]

Awesome, thanks for the tips all.

[steve_t]

Also, have an oxford helmet that fogs pretty easily in wet conditions, any tips?

Thanks

Pinlock

[davebullet]

If you get caught in the rain and the road has been dry for some days, watch the first 20 mins or so. Reason being, all the muck, grease, oil that has deposited on a dry road starts to wash off (allow more time if it's a misty rain).

Once the road has been swept clean by the rain, assuming you've got decent brand tyres (that are up to pressure and not worn out), you'll get good grip. It's hard to provide a figure but I've herard some say 80% of dry. I usually run at about 50% of dry (wimp).

These tips are just as applicable in the dry, but moreso in the wet

Keep the bike a little more upright (= weight the outside peg more and move to the inside a bit or just slow down a bit).
Avoid sudden jerky movements (don't do fast on the gas, fast on brakes, avoid twitching the steering in the corners).
allow extra stopping distance and margin for error
Practice your peripheral vision and focus. Don't look at the white lines or metal manhole covers - but be aware of where they are and look at the "gaps" to ride your bike on clean tarmac

[MSTRS:Me]

On the corner question, 50 in the dry and 50 in the wet, makes no odds really, ...

I wouldn't.
Although, it does depend on how 'extreme' 50 is, in the dry. There are corners that will have you scrapping your pegs at that speed. Would you really want to try that in the wet?
Best advice for handling wet...do everything a bit gentler. But not as gentle as you would on loose gravel.

[Maha]

I wouldn't.
Although, it does depend on how 'extreme' 50 is, in the dry. There are corners that will have you scrapping your pegs at that speed. Would you really want to try that in the wet?
Best advice for handling wet...do everything a bit gentler. But not as gentle as you would on loose gravel.

Sure but the words used were..''comfortably take at 50 km/hr''...

[MSTRS:Me]

Sure but the words used were..''comfortably take at 50 km/hr''...

I know he is a newbie...but define 'comfortable'.

[oneofsix]

If you get caught in the rain and the road has been dry for some days, watch the first 20 mins or so. Reason being, all the muck, grease, oil that has deposited on a dry road starts to wash off (allow more time if it's a misty rain).

Once the road has been swept clean by the rain, assuming you've got decent brand tyres (that are up to pressure and not worn out), you'll get good grip. It's hard to provide a figure but I've herard some say 80% of dry. I usually run at about 50% of dry (wimp).

These tips are just as applicable in the dry, but moreso in the wet

Keep the bike a little more upright (= weight the outside peg more and move to the inside a bit or just slow down a bit).
Avoid sudden jerky movements (don't do fast on the gas, fast on brakes, avoid twitching the steering in the corners).
allow extra stopping distance and margin for error
Practice your peripheral vision and focus. Don't look at the white lines or metal manhole covers - but be aware of where they are and look at the "gaps" to ride your bike on clean tarmac

Good advice Dave.
Also remember you will be concentrating harder in the wet so will tire earlier. Personal comfort will also affect your riding a bit making it harder to keep your mind on the job, cold wet hands on the controls etc. Water transfers heat out of your body something like 30% faster than dry. Rain-off make good over-gloves if you need them.

[Stirts]

This is what "comfy 50 km/hr" looks like ....

[superman]

I found the best thing that helped me was go 50km/h in the dry (ON A STRAIGHT) on a certain type of road and see how much back brake by itself is required to make the back wheel lock and give you a slight fish tail. Do the same in the wet. Gives you a good feel of the difference, I used to putter in the wet, but then I realised the bike (with plenty of tread) doesn't mind the wet sooo much.

Lets say a corner in the dry I usually do fastish at 100km/h (marked 55 by those truck recommendations). In the moderate wet I'll do these at 80 with no problems, (knee out is helpful to increase surface area of tyre in contact with road which makes a big difference in wet). Though in heavy, heavy rain I still slow down to 60 for that corner.

[Maha]

I know he is a newbie...but define 'comfortable'.

Without exertion.