Do you consider riding in the rain and wind dangerous?

[bosslady]

A lot of people seem to pack their bikes up for the winter because of the wind, rain and cold, got to admit it's not very fun riding in either of these conditions let alone all three combined. I usually use my car to commute but due to wanting to get a dirt bike and needing to save my pennies I've started commuting on my wee ginny. The weather hasn't been that great this week but I actually think it's not been that bad (at least it's not snowing!). I told my Aunt (who is like a surrogate mother to me) that I was using my bike to commute at the moment and she absolutely SPEWED at me (not literally), it's dangerous, it's unsafe etc. I must admit of course I am a lot more cautious on the wet road(s) but it hadn't crossed my mind that I would be in any more danger than if it were nice and sunny and dry outside. I've only had a few of instances this week where I possibly could have got myself hurt but I wouldn't even call them "close calls" because I was paying attention and that's nothing to do with the weather, just idiots in cars. Do you consider riding in the wet, rain and cold in traffic etc. a little risky?

[Hitcher]

The wind and rain spectrum is a pretty broad one. I would think twice before riding in a hurricane, but have ridden in most other forms of wind-borne moisture. The worst part is getting geared-up to ride out in it. Once astride one's steed it's a great way of heightening the intensity of one's riding experience.

Getting off and entering dry premises may be problematic. I once stopped at Maccas in Levin to shelter from a torrential downpour. While queued up waiting for my Quarter Pounder, an attentive staff member placed a wet floor hazard sign next to me.

[bosslady]

While queued up waiting for my Quarter Pounder, an attentive staff member placed a wet floor hazard sign next to me.

LOL!!!! hehehe

[Banditbandit]

Rain .. No .. just raises the risk level a little - I just slow down a little ...

Wind .. Yes .. too strong and I won't ride .. I have been blown across the road on a blind left hander - into the other on-coming lane - lucky nothing was coming the other way .. I have also scrapped my footpegs while riding in a straight line on a windy day (on a Meridan Triumph) ...

I once stopped at Maccas in Levin to shelter from a torrential downpour. While queued up waiting for my Quarter Pounder, an attentive staff member placed a wet floor hazard sign next to me.

I stopped at the Tokoroa Shell station for gas one day in the pissing rain ... I got hit by the rain as I turned for Cambridge at Taupiri ... it was so sudden I was drenched before I could put on my wet gear ... so my leathers were soaking .. as I went for a pee I dripped water all over the bathroom floor .. puddles of it ... I wonder what they thought I had done in there ...

[bosslady]

Rain .. No .. just raises the risk level a little - I just slow down a little ...

Wind .. Yes .. too strong and I won't ride .. I have been blown across the road on a blind left hander - into the other on-coming lane - lucky nothing was coming the other way .. I have also scrapped my footpegs while riding in a straight line on a windy day (on a Meridan Triumph) ...

I reckon I only ride from St. Lukes to Glenfield (go over the bridge) it's not that bad. 17 or 18km each way.

[Supermac Jr]

I don't mind riding in the rain and wind.

I find the wind more of an issue; especially if it is gusty and side-on but you get use to riding in it.

However since moving up to the 600 i find the wind much less of an issue. The 250 got blown all over the road.

Proper wet weather gear makes a big difference.

[Murray]

commuting in heavy traffic when very wet can be more dangerous - cars generally dont look for bikes in the dry and with it darker, greyer and window wipers going they see even less

[HenryDorsetCase]

it can be.

motorcycling for me these days all about the pleasure. I don't need to ride in those conditions and don't want to. So I very rarely do.

I did see a brave soul yesterday riding home in the sleety snow.

[oneofsix]

commuting in heavy traffic when very wet can be more dangerous - cars generally dont look for bikes in the dry and with it darker, greyer and window wipers going they see even less

Agreed and don't forget the fogged up windows, they have demisters but don't use them or a directing the heater to keeping their feet warm because of course their immediate personal comfort is more important than some unspecified thing out there that might happen, they can kind of see the big stuff after all.

But in the wind they slow down in the gusts just as you want to blip the throttle to stabilise the bike and being blown sideways on a corner is no fun but you learn to handle it and avoid leaving your lane.

[Gremlin]

Not too fussed about it, and I've ridden in most conditions. I would draw the line probably at snow and ice (haven't had snow) as you get zero warning for ice and it doesn't really matter what you're doing. Similar to bandit, I hit ice on Desert Rd one night, round a left hander. Slipped, got it back, slipped again, and ran out of lane on my side. Fortunately, nothing coming the other way so used the oncoming to get the bike back under control. Not nice.

Ridden in rain thick enough that the motorway was flooded, the frequent aquaplaning was certainly a test.

As for danger, well, some idiots think it's best to drive faster, and then some drive so slowly it drives me nuts. Just have to be even more defensive, and as someone else said, watch for the cars that can't see out.

[bluninja]

Don't like riding in gusty wind, but rain is not an issue when you have the right gear on. I see the forecast for this weekend is crap, but I'm having a weekend riding at the KB gathering anyway...perhaps on my own

Rain in the cold winter is worse than rain in the summer as it's slightly more viscous and takes a little from available grip away. Having said that there is still normally more grip than most people expect Riding smoothly and dropping the speed is the key to having grip enough to change direction or stop, same as when going from grippy to shiny tarmac, or tarmac o gravel.

The real hazard is the reduction in visibility for car drivers; combined with the reduction in grip to be able to deal with the unpredictable things they do.

[unstuck]

Ride to the conditions. I think stupid humans are more dangerous than wind or rain.

[The Reibz]

I consider riding in any weather to be dangerous. The possibility to lose life and limb is always there.
The risk just increases when the weather and visability is bad. I happily ride all weather but I take extra care with the throttle in the rain. With this many horses its easy to spin the tire up in the dry let alone to wet. Shouldn't have that problem on a GN though.

[bluninja]

Forgot to mention that hazard identification and planning become a different challenge in the rain.....Thinking about where water might run across the road, or pool and preparing for that. Considering deciduous trees by the road side and thinking about the leaf drop that can make the road an ice rink. Thinking about drivers coming the other way who may end up on your side of the road as you approach a right hand bend and putting yourself in the best position to see them early and stay away from them.

[BuzzardNZ]

It's dangerous to my nuts. I've never been able to find a pair of wet weather pants that don't leak thru the crotch area. It's made worse by the fact that the tank acts a a funnel pouring cold water down the tank onto me nads