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Message started by flcruzr on 07/08/08 at 17:20:51

Title: Caught in Rain
Post by flcruzr on 07/08/08 at 17:20:51

Well, I got caught in a rain storm today, luckily I always carry my rain gear with me so I did stay dry, however it was a bit frightening driving in the rain, kept fearing that the wheels would slide from under me.
Can Anyone relate or give any rain riding tips? Thanks!

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by rigidchop on 07/08/08 at 17:24:00

i just try and make the most of it, to me its not really any different than riding dry, only a tad slower.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by T Mack 1 on 07/08/08 at 17:25:28

practice...... ;D

Same lessons as in the cage..... take longer to brake..... slower turns, ... and don't accelerate quickly....

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by Skid Mark on 07/08/08 at 17:26:45

Yep:
Yesterday got caght in a thunder storm downpour.
Like you I had rain gerar so the wetness wasn't an issue.
What was frightning thought was when he Semi next to me went thru a deep puddle I couldn't see anything because of the waterfall he laid on me. Thnakfully it was only momentary, but still frightning not to see what was in front of me.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by demin on 07/08/08 at 17:37:30

I'm wishin' for rain here.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by skrapiron on 07/08/08 at 17:45:52

I got caught in a downpour yesterday too. Luckily, I bought a FroggToggs rain suit last year.

As for riding in the rain, slow down. Your brakes will be less effecive and your tires will break loose alot more easily. Take turns more slowly and don't hammer the power.

I also run my headlight on high beam and turn on my 4-way blinkers.

The best thing you can do is treat your face shield with rain-x and an anti-fog on the inside.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by demin on 07/08/08 at 18:16:58

It's raining here WOOOOOHOOOOOO. ;D [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif] [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by photojoe on 07/08/08 at 18:24:46

I got caught in a bit over the weekend. Felt good. Wearing a T-shirt, jeans and engineer boots. Wearing eyeglasses is the biggest pita for me in the rain. I agree with everyone else with slowing down. I slow everything down to avoid getting into situations which require any quick action. Put a lot of distance between myself and the cars in front of me also. I'll react, but the bike won't do what I want on wet ground. Hit the brakes go on my face type of thing.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by flcruzr on 07/08/08 at 18:46:49

Yes, I obviously agree on slowing way down and spacing myself from the cages, i will have to remember turning on my blinkers in heavy rain. Great tips! As always, thanks for your inputs!

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by Trippah on 07/08/08 at 18:54:36

Back in the day, the common wisdom was to pull over for about 20 minutes..get yr wet gear on and allow the oil and other slippery stuff to get washed off the road surface. I still do this although oil messes in the road don't seem to be as common as back in the 70's. ;)

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by flcruzr on 07/08/08 at 19:11:14

Yeah, I have heard of the oil myth so I try to stay out of the middle of the lane and ride in the left or right side of the lane.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by Jay on 07/08/08 at 20:18:13

4C4649585F50582A0 wrote:

Yeah, I have heard of the oil myth so I try to stay out of the middle of the lane and ride in the left or right side of the lane.

Not too long ago, I slid all over the road at the start of a rain storm on some of that myth.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by FreeSpirit on 07/08/08 at 23:02:56

Seems like its been raining here for 2 weeks and weather channel says all next week.

Somebody who needs it, pray for rain and hopefully ours will come YOUR way ;)

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 07/09/08 at 04:47:50

193F243D3D2C254D0 wrote:

Hmmm... I thought there were more Harleys on the road these days. ;D

I just try to find the highest point in the road and don't sweat it too much. So far, I haven't found traction to be a problem in wet weather. Now that I've said that, though...

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by skrapiron on 07/09/08 at 06:48:45

5165727244677E657E63170 wrote:

Seems like its been raining here for 2 weeks and weather channel says all next week.

Somebody who needs it, pray for rain and hopefully ours will come YOUR way ;)

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by aebooze on 07/09/08 at 06:52:46

Its been raining a bunch here too. I still haven't ridden my bike in the rain, I'm still pretty new so I'm still working on the getting confident while riding period! At least having cars behind me in traffic doesn't freak me out anymore. haha.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by FreeSpirit on 07/10/08 at 04:07:27

30283122332A312C2D430 wrote:

[quote author=5165727244677E657E63170 link=1215562852/0#12 date=1215583376]Seems like its been raining here for 2 weeks and weather channel says all next week.

Somebody who needs it, pray for rain and hopefully ours will come YOUR way ;)

It wasn't all that long ago that I saw folks from Atlanta holding prayer services in nearly dry reservoirs, Freespirit. Now you guys want the rain to stop.... Some people are just never happy.... (the last sentence was typed dripping with sarchasm...) ;D

[/quote]

You guys?? Do you think anyone who rides would pray for rain? It must have been all the non-riders praying ;)

I know now though to pray for it to go your way.....since you love dripping (with sarchasm ;D

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by FreeSpirit on 07/10/08 at 04:16:38

6B6F686565706F0A0 wrote:

Oh good!!! Another Georgian ;D

I'm trying to remember where Kingsland is though :-/ Ah,South Ga. I bet you have been to Fernadina Beach.Such a cool little town!

You know its a little strange,I didnt mind riding as a passenger in the rain at all!I actually liked it...LOL. But it still bothers me a little riding in the rain on my own bike. Oh well,As with everything else....I'll get over it ;)

But,it looks like that's normal for most everyone until they get more experience riding in the rain!

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by forrest on 07/10/08 at 04:23:50

060C0312151A12600 wrote:

Yeah, I have heard of the oil myth so I try to stay out of the middle of the lane and ride in the left or right side of the lane.

Well please be careful with the myths about the tar snakes and lines in the road being slick as well. I've had those myths create a pucker factor a couple of times.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by skrapiron on 07/10/08 at 04:58:18

Trust me. We've had enough rain too...... We're somewhere in the neighborhood of 3" above normal for this time of the year. It makes me glad I live on TOP of the hill....

Tar lines aren't the only thing to watch out for in the rain. The line paint they use to stripe the road, mark the stop lanes or write directions or information on the pavement gets REAL slippery when its wet.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by sockmonkeygirl on 07/10/08 at 05:36:40

As for the oil/road "myth", I believe in waiting 1/2 hr or so after the rain starts. I've also been told it's a good idea to ride in the tire tracks that the vehicle infront of me makes.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by mornhm on 07/10/08 at 06:57:38

There are a number of those "myths" that will reach up and slap you down if you don't take them seriously. My favorite is the rubber spacers between train tracks. Those are really great when wet or covered with ice and slush.

As far as riding when it's wet, it's been said before but it bears repeating, be smoooooth on the controls. Try not to do anything abruptly, no "snap" inputs.

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by flcruzr on 07/10/08 at 07:00:12

Great Feedback, thanks again! ;D

Title: Re: Caught in Rain
Post by rpgpgmr on 07/10/08 at 10:44:40

Sockmonkeygirl actually hit it right on the head. The DOT highly recommends that motorcycles ride in the tire tracks of leading vehicles. Also as others have stated, the first few minutes of a good rain is the most slippery time on the highways. Pull over for at least 5 or 10 minutes. Painted lines remain slippery long after the bare pavement so avoid them even after the rain has stopped for a while. Also anticipate your turns so that you can take them much more slowly. The bike needs to be as straight and upright as possible in wet conditions.