Riding in the wet. Please advise!

[scoodlescooterist]

yeah..i should get the tyres checked out..maybe they've worn out or something..but would it really make a big difference? could still skid off white markings n stuff..right? maybe some wider tyres would help..any idea how much it costs? and if its possible to do that? struggling student here. heh.

[sinfull]

You could reduce your risk by riding a "real bike" with a bit more presence, a bit more power, better tyres & brakes. Ride like you belong on the road and don't be intimidated too much by the impatient people behind you (because the ones in front of you are the really dangerous ones). More experience will give you a better ability to assess risks.

But the fact is that the combination of wetness and darkness makes the roads more dangerous. The lower grip is an issue, but the big problem is that people just can't see where they're going, and they don't adjust their behaviour accordingly. Only you can decide if you want to expose yourself to that danger.

You'll find that wet days produce more aggressive driving/grumpy drivers !

Your on a Scooter, ppl look at it like, she wont damage my bumper faaark all !

Try practising in a carpark, riding one handed swinging a f..koff chain in ya left hand and see what happens on the road when ya try it there ! Or for that matter the odd kick to the right with a steel cap boot works !

The same old rules apply, wet or dry. Assume any and every car is going to try and kill you. You need to drive for everyone else on the road... that is the only way to stay safe. I am a huge fan of scooters however a 50cc machine that wont keep up with the flow of traffic is downright dangerous... It sounds like your problems in the dry are due to not following the rules on line 1 and 2. Yes cars should look out and should be careful and should do lots of things... fact is... they don't so look out for yourself. as for the wet... yes you have to be a bit careful especially on white lines etc but even a 50cc scoot, assuming a reasonable tyre shouldn't need to be toodling around at 30 or 40ks Could I very politely suggest you practice riding in the wet a bit more....

Smaller wheels/more slip on white lines ! Stay off them whites !!!

Acceptable to whom?

If you go a bit faster (the speed of the flowing traffic), the cars aren't as likely to be overtaking you to start with. 50 is too slow, and you'll be pushed into the gutter.

What ???? She is within her rights to do 50k in a 50 area, do you not give a push bike rider the right of way just cause he has no horses ?

Try wearing a big sign on ya jacket *my hells angle boyfriend is in your rear vision mirror* (its all about being seen and given your space) NZ drivers are the worst (dont think the rest of us f..ks are left out of the loop here, just cause you/we ride as well) for courtesy and allowing other drivers/riders to merge etc The mentallity here is, me first f..k you !!!
On a Scooter you will be pushed around (unless they think you will dent their new BMW) there is another sign for ya jacket !! * i have no insurance and like to dent the most expensive cars*
Truth be known, what the guys/gals are saying is right, because you have a smaller bike that cant split the cages and keep ahead of them, you are vulnerable ! If i were only able to travel 60 k max on my bike they MAY try to push me around on the road as well ! (another jacket sign ! *I have a gun*)

[Lee Rusty]

or at least some contact with other scooter riders

You should ride in the dry like it is raining ie stay offthose white arrows you are complaining about - learn to pick the best lines away from oil ad paint in the dry then when it rains you dont have to change your riding style.

A bit if thinking goes a long way

[motorbyclist]

I'm thinking..even if i get a slightly bigger bike..100cc? isnt it still the same? small wheels..etc..?

i believe the jog has those little squat wheels does it not? even if you got a 50cc scooter with "proper size" wheels i bet you'll find things easier and more stable, plus little bumps in the road won't be so bad (all a long story involving physics and ensuing arguments i don't want to start) -and again, a motorbike is more stable with better acceleration and more importantly, better brakes.

maybe an upgrade to a 150cc scooter/bike (they both need the bike licence) would be a good move? i ride one of those vespas for a job and can say while they do slip out if you make them, they have enough momentum to carry on reguardless (alot of rider skill comes into play though). plus the mileage is still good enough to make even a biker jealous

[tgb_novice]

yeah..i should get the tyres checked out..maybe they've worn out or something..but would it really make a big difference? could still skid off white markings n stuff..right? maybe some wider tyres would help..any idea how much it costs? and if its possible to do that? struggling student here. heh.

Good tires, 100% of the time, they r the only stuff thats between you and the road.
Now since no one has offered too yet, What time do you go to Uni ?
I would in no sense tell I am an expert, as I am relatively new to driving 2 wheelers in NZ, but I have been driving 2 wheelers in my birth country for a wee while!! So if we can match times up we could actually drive down that route together, so maybe we will feel safe in numbers ?
If you so wish pm me and we can see what we can do ?

[sinfull]

Good tires, 100% of the time, they r the only stuff thats between you and the road.
Now since no one has offered too yet, What time do you go to Uni ?
I would in no sense tell I am an expert, as I am relatively new to driving 2 wheelers in NZ, but I have been driving 2 wheelers in my birth country for a wee while!! So if we can match times up we could actually drive down that route together, so maybe we will feel safe in numbers ?
If you so wish pm me and we can see what we can do ?

Two sets of chains to whip off the odd side mirror that dont get used anyway !

[scoodlescooterist]

Two sets of chains to whip off the odd side mirror that dont get used anyway !

HAHAHA! good one. ah only if i could really do that.

anyhow..a friend of mine who works at some bike workshop in the city said he drilled holes in his exhaust and its way louder, so people actually notice him coming and he offered to change the tyres to something better and wider that'll cost around 60ish each for each tyre. Also he said he could do something with the plugs that will make the bike go 10k faster. Wadya guys reckon? safe to do so??
I don't wanna mess up my bike..drilling holes in my exhaust would that screw up the compression? he said it won't harm the bike etc. i thought i'd check with u guys..wat do u think?

ps: KB IS THE COOLEST EVER.

[sinfull]

HAHAHA! good one. ah only if i could really do that.

anyhow..a friend of mine who works at some bike workshop in the city said he drilled holes in his exhaust and its way louder, so people actually notice him coming and he offered to change the tyres to something better and wider that'll cost around 60ish each for each tyre. Also he said he could do something with the plugs that will make the bike go 10k faster. Wadya guys reckon? safe to do so??
I don't wanna mess up my bike..drilling holes in my exhaust would that screw up the compression? he said it won't harm the bike etc. i thought i'd check with u guys..wat do u think?

ps: KB IS THE COOLEST EVER.

Drilling holes in your exhaust ? NO !!! ( you still have to get warrants?) lol and if thats the way he works, No to the 10 k faster thing with the plugs as well ! Your scoots fine for whats its designed for, you wont find one person on here that is confident braking or leaning on white lines when it's wet (just another hassel for bikes, avoid them !)
What ya want to do is find where the bucket racing is held, go there, watch learn and see if some generous person lends ya a bucket to ride for a bit ! Learn to ride more aggressively and ya problems with aggressive car drivers will all dissapear (sort of) ! (growl at them cages)

[scoodlescooterist]

Drilling holes in your exhaust ? NO !!! ( you still have to get warrants?) lol and if thats the way he works, No to the 10 k faster thing with the plugs as well ! Your scoots fine for whats its designed for, you wont find one person on here that is confident braking or leaning on white lines when it's wet (just another hassel for bikes, avoid them !)
What ya want to do is find where the bucket racing is held, go there, watch learn and see if some generous person lends ya a bucket to ride for a bit ! Learn to ride more aggressively and ya problems with aggressive car drivers will all dissapear (sort of) ! (growl at them cages)

oh true, i forgot abt the warrants. LOL. sounded too good to be true. wat abt changing the exhaust to something louder in a more safer way. do ppl do dat??

whats bucket racing? I have a 50cc scooter cos i'm useless at the clutch gear thing on a bike.. but yeah..i dont know how it works and i haven't been taught that by my brother who used to have a bike back in the days..plus anything larger than a 120cc bike is too heavy for me.

[sinfull]

oh true, i forgot abt the warrants. LOL. sounded too good to be true. wat abt changing the exhaust to something louder in a more safer way. do ppl do dat??

whats bucket racing? I have a 50cc scooter cos i'm useless at the clutch gear thing on a bike.. but yeah..i dont know how it works and i haven't been taught that by my brother who used to have a bike back in the days..plus anything larger than a 120cc bike is too heavy for me.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=bucket+racing

Bucket racing is almost affordable racing and looks like heaps of fun ! Do a search for auckland (sudden thought ! Are you in auckland ?) buckets in the forums and find where they race, go watch these guys and girls ! You will come to realise that you are quite capable of riding anything you want ! Pretty sure that is you get to know these racers, someone will teach you the clutch/ gear thing !
My partner is stepping up to a 900cc once she has finished the learners crap and at 5'5" she aint the tallest out there !

Aww and ppl do change exhasts all the time(sometimes to make them louder) but on a scooter ummm i'd say not very often !

[motorbyclist]

the plug could give an improvement, but that's more a reliability thing or if the current one is the wrong one

drilling holes in the exhaust of what i assume to be a two stroke isn't too wise
the drop in backpressure can make it run lean, which causes the engine to overheat, results in rooted engine that needs replacing (or serious mechanical work)

either that or it runs rich and fouls up with oil


also, fatter wheels are not going to help much in the wet. remember yamaha or whoever made your scooter selected those tyre sizes with good reasons behind each choice. plus, a fatter tyre just means more hydroplaning over paint, not neccessarily more wet traction

have you looked into any rider training?

tomorrow arvo i'm "supervising" one of the SMC's newest bikers while he pots around in a carpark, probably in epsom; maybe you'd like to join? might be something obviously wrong you're doing, or maybe something's up with the scooter.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=1#post1566724

[Del Fuego]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...=bucket+racing

Aww and ppl do change exhasts all the time(sometimes to make them louder) but on a scooter ummm i'd say not very often !

You can definately change the exhaust on a 50cc scoot. And in combination with correct re-jet of the carb can produce a bit more power... which may solve some of your problems with being crowded by the cages. Talk to the boys at Scootling in the city they are bloody clued up with this kinda thing. Could be easier just to trade up to a 125cc scoot.

In saying that it sounds like more a handling issue... just practice in the wet and get a feel for how your bike actually performs... as opposed to how you "think" it performs. Agreed that small wheels aren't a bunch of fun on bumps and white lines, but really no bike is fun leaning or braking on a line.... you should be able to avoid most of them in the wet or the dry. Practice practice practice. Practice in the rain in lots of safety stuff so if you push it a bit far you will not hurt yourself. Perhaps go to a practice day down at mt wellington when it is raining... nice grass run off if you fall... Im sure the bucket guys wouldn't mind giving you a few tips.

Riding a scoot is actually similar to a bike. get off the seat more so you don't have to lean the bike as far etc this keeps the bike more upright and stable and you should feel more comfortable cornering especially in the wet. People must think I am a right clown, knee out and ass off the side of the seat on a scooter but it sure helps in the handling stakes...

[denill]

The same old rules apply, wet or dry. Assume any and every car is going to try and kill you.

Because they are.

[denill]

The tyres on the Honda Dylan are made out of banana skins. I've ridden a few bikes in my time but never anything as lethal as this combination. Wet or damp roads it's tippy toe stuff. And painted lines - SCARY.............

It would be the equivalent of a 500cc MotoGP two-stroker thrills - on a Dylan????

[scootnz]

What tyre brand are they?

The tyres on the Honda Dylan are made out of banana skins. I've ridden a few bikes in my time but never anything as lethal as this combination. Wet or damp roads it's tippy toe stuff. And painted lines - SCARY.............