Riding in the rain?

[CookMySock]

Where you are able to, keep your speed up in the rain. Obviously, you have to be bloody careful doing this, but on the open road where there are plenty of straights you can crackle along at the speed limit and a little bit and magically you will find your visor clears up very nicely.

Like I said, be fucking careful doing this, because your stopping distance is vastly increase etc etc, and your ability to corner aint a lot better, so you must be watching or you will skate up the back of something for sure.

Steve

[smoky]

...... but instead resorted to short periods of opening my visor and getting hit in the face with rain/hail.

Why open it - was the main issue more about fogging up?
If you keep up a bit of pace the rain should run off OK - how clean or new is your visor? What kind of speed did you try to maintain?
When I ride in rain with the visor closed, a quick tilt of the head one way then the other clears it up well enough
But when I get a bit fogged up and I have to crack the visor open a wee bit; the water can get blown down the inside of the visor - water and fog on the inside gives you heaps of problems

Actually I feel that this was a very risky and stupid trip. Others my think this was brave but in winter on a 250cc without understanding the weather having a poor lighted bike. You are lucky to have come home without getting involved in an accident. The Metservice was warning bikies to stay off the road FGS.

get real

A trip that size broken over a couple of days is not too much risk in those conditions, infact by the time they were a couple hours into the ride they would've been getting a little bit of confidence and learning, nothing like a whole day of repeating what you've learnt for it to stick in your head

A 250 is actually a better bike to ride in the wet conditions, on a bigger bike, like my 1200, the slightest bit of enthusiasm on the throttle has my back wheel braking loose
It's a good way of learning throttle control

My advice; sort out your helmet so you don't fog up when its closed, and so rain runs off the visor better
keep up a decent pace to shift the rain off
Keep your tyres correctly inflated

always look for the dry line
watch out for painted bits and shiny tar on the road
increase you following distance by 10 x - best not to follow any one, you're better off passing them

[Mystic13]

Like I said, be fucking careful doing this, because your stopping distance is vastly reduced etc etc,

Steve

Vastly, really?

I think it's useful on a rainy day to find a clean piece of road and find out how well your brakes work in the wet. And play with the rear and front.

I've discovered that the bike stops damned fast in the wet. Unbelievably fast. I trust my bike to haul up quick in the wet if I need it. The deal seems to me to be that you practise things before you need them. As your skill grows then re-visit some of those things.

I'd go for braking before you lean but I do carry braking into the corner at times.

Another thing I've played with is jumping onto some grass, locking the front up then riding the bike. It seems to me a locked front wheel in the wet while going straight isn't a major although I'm still looking to keep the wheel rotating to stop quicker.

When the bike is moving it's a giant gyro and wants to stay upright or at the angle it's at.

While we're on wet stuff. I'm also fine with running different branded tyres front and back as long as they're of a similar nature, or slightly softer on the front. This thing of it being important to run the same brand and model of tyre seems to me to be a marketing thing.

[smoky]

I'd heard people talking about pinlock helmets quite a bit. How do they work?

Think double glazing; it's one system that puts a second skin on your visor with an air gap between it and the main visor - locked in place by these special pins (pin locks)

the idea is; when cold air on the outside cools off the visor, your hot breath will condense on the inside of the visor and get fogged up
By having a second skin and an air gap - you effectively insulate the inner surface of the visor so it don't get cold enough to condense your hot breath

Of course you could just suck ice cubes while you ride to cool your breath down - then it won't condense either (except in your lungs)

[pritch]

Lower Hutt to BOI & back on a Hyobag in the weather we just had????? Well Done!!!!

I'm with this guy. That might well be a more significant ride than some of the nay sayers have undertaken themselves.

Experience is really about what you have done, not how long you have been doing it.

And my sig is particularly appropriate on this occasion

[smoky]

I've discovered that the bike stops damned fast in the wet. Unbelievably fast. I trust my bike to haul up quick in the wet if I need it. ...

I'd go for braking before you lean but I do carry braking into the corner at times.

Another thing I've played with is jumping onto some grass, locking the front up then riding the bike. It seems to me a locked front wheel in the wet while going straight isn't a major although I'm still looking to keep the wheel rotating to stop quicker.

When the bike is moving it's a giant gyro and wants to stay upright or at the angle it's at.

Mate - it might be the case on your DRZ400, it's made for loose and messy conditions, a hell of a lot easier to ride in wet conditions

I can assure you, from numerous experiences, the stopping ability of my Bandit 1200 in the wet is Vastly different than in the dry - and would be for a lot of road bikes

Once my front wheel is locked up - the slightest pressure to any other direction will see me kissing the tarmac real quick (or grass if i tried it on there)
After years of dirt bikes it's amazing how quickly the front wheel on a road bike can disappear from under you in slippery conditions - it's the way the bikes configured

I think it's useful on a rainy day to find a clean piece of road and find out how well your brakes work in the wet. And play with the rear and front.
.... The deal seems to me to be that you practise things before you need them. As your skill grows then re-visit some of those things.

Thats very good advice

I'm also fine with running different branded tyres front and back as long as they're of a similar nature, or slightly softer on the front. This thing of it being important to run the same brand and model of tyre seems to me to be a marketing thing.

That's not good advice

Again maybe a DZR400 perspective, but mixing tyres on a road bike should only be done if you know what you're on about, and can feel 'feedback' well enough to understand what's happening (you may do), but I prefer to play it safe - nothing wrong with buying a set?

[HenryDorsetCase]

So long as it isn't hot rain, you'll be fine.
Hot water shrinks most things.

really?

my worst shrinkage problems come from cold water......

[HenryDorsetCase]

oh, and the latest Performance Bikes (June) has a test of a CBR600 with the new ABS, a BMW with their ABS, and a 675. The comparison of stopping distances is really really interesting.

the conclusion is basically that motorcycle ABS is now at a point where it is a workable option for sprots bieks.

I'm not sure they will have the article online but will have a look.

[BMWST?]

A good surfaced,clean wet road will offer almost as much grip as a dry road.However some parts of a clean wet road are almost like ice...ie the smooth shiny tar bits,pick your line well......
if you dont beleive me go ride at manfeild in the wet.......

[Mystic13]

Mate - it might be the case on your DRZ400, it's made for loose and messy conditions, a hell of a lot easier to ride in wet conditions

Again maybe a DZR400 perspective, but mixing tyres on a road bike should only be done if you know what you're on about, and can feel 'feedback' well enough to understand what's happening (you may do), but I prefer to play it safe - nothing wrong with buying a set?

You reference the DRZ a lot but I mainly ride a sport tourer. I actually think the sport tourer handles the wet road better than the DRZ. I've also had many front wheel slides on the road bike and I don't like them. The all occurred when I was running a particular brand of front tyre and oddly enough a matched set front and back. Never again will I use that brand.

As for mixing tyres. It's not an issue if they're a similar type. I'd have no hesitation running different branded sport tyres or touring tyres. So having a sport set or tourer set but of mixed brands. I have no issue with this advice and it's sound.

This has come up before. There are those that have bought into the "it must be the same brand and model" theory and those that haven't. I'm currently running a Metzeler Z6 front and a Pirelli Corsa 3 rear. the bike actually feels much better than when the Z6 was on the rear.

When I change next time I will have two tyres the same because both are due for replacement. When the rear goes next I'll put on the back what I think works best. I'm not so worried about having matched tyres as having good tyres. With winter coming on it'll be PR2's or the Angel's if they've arrived. I am also interested in trying the Shinko because it's got a tread that looks like it would expel a bit of water. I do a lot of wet riding so the tyre is important.

I can't imagine the DRZ with it's road legal knobblies being great in the wet. I certainly have less confidence with that bike in the wet on tarseal than i do with my bigger road bike.

[smoky]

You reference the DRZ a lot but I mainly ride a sport tourer. .... I'd have no hesitation running different branded sport tyres or touring tyres. So having a sport set or tourer set but of mixed brands. bla bla bla same brand and model" theory bla bla bla a Metzeler Z6 front and a Pirelli Corsa 3 rear....bla bla bla....When the rear goes next I...bla bla bla.... I do a lot of wet riding so the tyre is important. Oh hello on topic for a change

Mixing tyre types or brands is a whole other discussion, for another thread.
There are issues of variable harmonic physics that result from running tyres with different tyre construction front to back, triplonic vibrations between front and rear wheels, they effect the handling of your bike - issues around running tyres with different side wall characteristics in cornering or braking - but if you're comfortable feeling this and making the call - good on ya, but shouldn't you start a new thread if you want to discuss it?


Your comments however; on practicing wet road braking before you need it in emergency conditions, is good - and on topic

[Jizah]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm going to reply to everyone I can without using quotes, as I am far too lazy. From reading all of the above, it would seem I need a new visor. Mine is getting on and is a bit scratched. Will probably replace the whole helmet actually. We have pledge for our work helmets, didn't even contemplate that it'd help the water bead off, so I shall be stealing some of that!

Fog wasn't so much an issue, just the amount of rain and splash backs from traffic in front of me (especially trucks) seemed to inhibit any possible run off whatsoever. I should have stopped to rest, but that's the last thing I ever feel like doing. That's why I take a 250, get further on a tank, and like someone else said, I far prefer the lesser power in bad conditions. It's just one less thing to worry about.

Also, yes, I would do it again for a party (this wasn't the first time, just the worst time). I'd done it 3 times previously. The only thing holding be back from doing it more often is my lack of confidence in my current bike.

Thanks for the headlight bulb tip The Stranger, I will be looking into that also. I guess I'll probably need go get it aligned too, as when I got it back after it was stolen, the bulb was facing the ground as they'd taken the bolts...

Apart from lack of visibility, the whole trip was fine. No loss of traction, no overshooting corners, no close calls overtaking. Although the fact that I was exhausted meant that the night of the party, I fell asleep about 1am while everyone else was just going to bed when I woke up at 7

[smoky]

A good surfaced,clean wet road will offer almost as much grip as a dry road.However some parts of a clean wet road are almost like ice...ie the smooth shiny tar bits,pick your line well......

My tyres have good grip on a wet road as long as I keep them warm/hot
The rain and wet tends to cool them off a bit too much if I go too slow, or stop too often.
Conti's seem to be like that - some say they are slippery in the wet, they sure are if they're not warm enough
Others say they are brilliant in the wet - cause they keep the tyre warm

[CookMySock]

I think it's useful on a rainy day to find a clean piece of road and find out how well your brakes work in the wet. And play with the rear and front.

Point taken and conceded. I bet my Michelin PR2's stop damn well in the wet too.

Really what I was meaning was, if he were to take my advice and crackle along at the speed limit and a bit, and if he was riding with the stock shinko tyres on it (I have) he should take my suggestion with grain of salt as he is more likely to be worse off than better.

Yes, definitely try those shinkos in the wet if you feel like pissing $300 against the wall. You won't like them at all, and they will last for ages and ages.

Steve

[Maha]

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm going to reply to everyone I can without using quotes, as I am far too lazy. From reading all of the above, it would seem I need a new visor. Mine is getting on and is a bit scratched. Will probably replace the whole helmet actually. We have pledge for our work helmets, didn't even contemplate that it'd help the water bead off, so I shall be stealing some of that!

Fog wasn't so much an issue, just the amount of rain and splash backs from traffic in front of me (especially trucks) seemed to inhibit any possible run off whatsoever. I should have stopped to rest, but that's the last thing I ever feel like doing. That's why I take a 250, get further on a tank, and like someone else said, I far prefer the lesser power in bad conditions. It's just one less thing to worry about.

Also, yes, I would do it again for a party (this wasn't the first time, just the worst time). I'd done it 3 times previously. The only thing holding be back from doing it more often is my lack of confidence in my current bike.

Thanks for the headlight bulb tip The Stranger, I will be looking into that also. I guess I'll probably need go get it aligned too, as when I got it back after it was stolen, the bulb was facing the ground as they'd taken the bolts...

Apart from lack of visibility, the whole trip was fine. No loss of traction, no overshooting corners, no close calls overtaking. Although the fact that I was exhausted meant that the night of the party, I fell asleep about 1am while everyone else was just going to bed when I woke up at 7

Ya done well mate...some would have stopped and hid under a tree but you ballsed it out. Last June I was on an organised ride, had to do it. Rode in some the most atrocious conditions possible. Southern Motorway, 5pm heading into the city, wind hitting us from the left, had to slow to about 60kph, it was dark and the rain was emmence! the bike behind me could only see my tail light, not alot else. That was the worst of it, the rest of the day was just shitty, rained all day, had to twist/squeeze the water out of gloves within the first hour, yeah it was a real bastard but we rode on and got there, just have to adjust to the conditons at times.