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That's it in a nutshell and why lets some rain stop you from riding.
Riding in the rain
- Thread starter RichKirk
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If you ride then eventually you get caught out in the rain. The best training for this eventuality is to ride in the rain for practice. Then you are comfortable and safe and not scared and all tied up in knots over it.
- Joined
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- 4,348
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- 70
- Location
- Ledgewood, NJ 07852
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- 03&04 ST1300
- STOC #
- 5079
Very true Dave a few years back a small group of us went to the Adirondaks to ride. It rained all weekend We rode anyway and I learned more about riding on wet roads that weekend than I would have imagined. And we rode pretty hard. But we all had the proper gear stayed dry and had a fantastic weekend inspite of the rain.
You sir are correct. It's like ACL said about Moonshine,the same holds true for riding in the rain. If you don't ride in the rain your not a bike rider your a bike owner. But keep in mind there are different degrees of rain too.
Bones
Your Humble Scribe
And I was finally drying out from that weekend. Then we left Moonshine...
Rode from Deadwood, SD to IL this year in the rain on the way to Moonshine... about 1400 miles
I agree with the center thing but here in the west be careful of the tire tracks filling with water.
Grain trucks are heavy. They create depressions in the asphalt.
Although bikes do not hydroplane, the sudden slowdown of the deep puddle can unseat you big time.
Ask Will England.
note: My delay in Casey this year waiting for a tire ended up being a good thing... the weather passed and I had pretty good weather all the way home to Billings via KC and Colo.
I agree with the center thing but here in the west be careful of the tire tracks filling with water.
Grain trucks are heavy. They create depressions in the asphalt.
Although bikes do not hydroplane, the sudden slowdown of the deep puddle can unseat you big time.
Ask Will England.
note: My delay in Casey this year waiting for a tire ended up being a good thing... the weather passed and I had pretty good weather all the way home to Billings via KC and Colo.
- Joined
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- Jacksonville
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- GL1800 R1200RT NC700
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- STOC #
- 6651
It rained in those varying degrees on me for 350 miles after leaving Moonshine this year.
BakerBoy
It's all small stuff.
I think Dinkie bid the most -- he really wanted it. ;-)Well be sure to keep the NatSTOC thread updated... Depending on who is going to be "the pig", I may change my plans and try to attend this year!
Mike, I was thinking the same thing. The wheel ruts are deep in many places, both from the weight of the loads pressing the pavement and from the studded tires and/or chains chewing down the road surface during winter months. The worst rain I've ridden in was in the mountains of Colorado along I-70, where both occur. I found it safest for me to slow down and ride out of the tire ruts because they were rivers of water.
I live in the west of Scotland......
To not ride in rain, means very little riding......
If you don't ride in rain, how can you become more proficient at riding your machine?
Riding in the rain sharpens your skills, makes you more aware of your surroundings and teaches you to ride smoothly..... forward observation, reduce speed sooner, easy on the brakes..... smoother into turns.... and out.....
To not ride in rain, means very little riding......
If you don't ride in rain, how can you become more proficient at riding your machine?
Riding in the rain sharpens your skills, makes you more aware of your surroundings and teaches you to ride smoothly..... forward observation, reduce speed sooner, easy on the brakes..... smoother into turns.... and out.....
Well said. I used to be a little paranoid of riding the ST in the rain, mainly because of it's weight. After a few times of riding in the rain I gained confidence of my machine, concentrated on riding smooth, slowing down earlier and all had been well. Only stop for heavy rain when I can't see but a few feet in front of me.
STBernard
BlewBayou
Living and riding in Seattle, you get to experience the weather a bit. Riding in the rain is a mind-set once you have good gear. If you loath and fear it, it eats at you. Getting beyond that and accepting it allows me to remember, I am still riding a motorcycle. 
And when given a choice, I want to reach for the helmet. It is also like poker. You have to know when to go and when to hold. If your visibility, their visibility, your traction and general welfare are at stake, pull over someplace safe and wait it out. We have all been in some deafening, gully washers that turn roads into rivers, and it is like riding with a blindfold on! Good gear or not, get off the road. For me, many days my commute starts out dry, but begins to rain half way there. I generally do not stop and rain-suit up. It is only 14 miles. I will dry out quickly. If it is raining when I leave, I will suit up. Not wanting to scope creep on this topic, but WIND and Lightning are the other environmental buggers we may face. I do draw the line when faced with all three.
And when given a choice, I want to reach for the helmet. It is also like poker. You have to know when to go and when to hold. If your visibility, their visibility, your traction and general welfare are at stake, pull over someplace safe and wait it out. We have all been in some deafening, gully washers that turn roads into rivers, and it is like riding with a blindfold on! Good gear or not, get off the road. For me, many days my commute starts out dry, but begins to rain half way there. I generally do not stop and rain-suit up. It is only 14 miles. I will dry out quickly. If it is raining when I leave, I will suit up. Not wanting to scope creep on this topic, but WIND and Lightning are the other environmental buggers we may face. I do draw the line when faced with all three.Oddly enuff....I kinda like ride'n in the rain, but not a monsoon. I have ridden 500 miles in the rain off and on. The ST has good WX protection and with the proper gear, you stay dry and comfy. In CO the mtn rains can be cold, that is for sure. In CO we don't to often have to deal with rain, maybe some in the spring, but isolated and quickly ride out of the storm cloud. Dave B. Denver
Styles
2000 Non-ABS
On the Olympic Peninsula rain is a daily given. Tomorrow I'm riding out to the Quinault Beach Casino. Luckily, I'm not heading to the Quinault's lakeside rain gauge.
I'll let you know how lucky I was.
Styles
I'll let you know how lucky I was.
Styles
Oh I think you'll be quite lucky tomorrow with a much better forecast then we had today. Enjoy the casino, MVDave and I will ride to Bucoda tomorrow via Elbe and Morton with no rain in the forecast.On the Olympic Peninsula rain is a daily given. Tomorrow I'm riding out to the Quinault Beach Casino. Luckily, I'm not heading to the Quinault's lakeside rain gauge.
I'll let you know how lucky I was.
Styles
However, good luck!
Where do you find this 'rain' stuff to practice in?
To get some to practice in we'd have to get the fire department to hose down a parking lot and then keep the nozzles going to simulate it!
We did the same with a little less miles. It was the second weekend in a row that we rode in the rain. Oh well, that is motorcycling. Supposed to rain today, maybe we should go for a ride
This rain is really over rated, you really don't need it!
Riding in the rain validates my gear choices and provides an opportunity to enjoy the novelty of riding the speed limit.
Riding in the rain provide the opportunity to validate my gear choices and enjoy the novelty of riding the speed limit.
Styles
2000 Non-ABS
Well, for what it's worth, I had rain to and from the Quinault Beach Casino.
As I wrote, rain hereabouts is a daily given.
Styles
As I wrote, rain hereabouts is a daily given.
Styles