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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
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Message started by Ed L. on 10/08/08 at 19:21:10

Title: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by Ed L. on 10/08/08 at 19:21:10

Had a real good ride today, had to run down to the vet to pick up licences for two of my dogs. Had them there yesterday but forgot (who says getting old is fun) to ask for them so had go back today. Got on the main road and began running into showers, nothing bad just a spritz here and there. About two miles from the vet I could see real dark clouds forming just ahead. Could of turned around but just went for it and rode into the storm. Got to the vet, a little wet, picked up the dog licences and ended up riding the entire 25 miles home in a pouring rain and really didn't care. My boots filled up with rain water, my jacket was dripping and my jeans were soaked but I was enjoying it. Kept the bike at around 50mph and stayed off the center of the lane. Needed some dry cloths when I got home but hey it was all around a fun ride and the bike got washed. ;) Just thought I'd share the wet fun

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by saluteTOme on 10/08/08 at 20:24:00

noice!

its the best way to wash the bike! :D

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by BurnPgh on 10/08/08 at 20:26:44

only time i stop for rain if its coming down so hard it chokes me (I wear an open face). After you're thoroughly drenched theres not much to do but sit back and enjoy and stay off the paint and manholes. I feel your pain on the soaking boots though. Nothing quite so annoying I think as having the feeling of being stuck in a swamp no matter where you go.

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by Bear on 10/08/08 at 20:39:03

Be very very careful in the rain. All kinds of traction hazards. Biggest one is center line stripes, fog stripes and crosswalk stripes. Wet ones are really slick. So is the center of the lane at stop lights, rain water on top of oil smears is scary stopping or starting. Bridge grates are a whole new feeling in the rain. I rode a 500 Triumph Daytona to WWU every day in Bellingham Wa. 35 years ago. It rains almost every other day there through the winter. Yep, slid sideways and high sided it once in the rain. darn Triumph brake pedals were on the wrong side in the early days.
NOTE: I wish someone offered 15 inch rear RAIN TIRES for my S40. Something like the old Dunlop K70 with real TREAD.

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by Dj12midnit on 10/08/08 at 20:48:05

I ride into downtown Bellingham every day. good news is they are saying it will be a drier warmer winter. I may not have to put the bike up at all this year.

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by Bear on 10/08/08 at 21:01:33

Just wondering how those guys with the exposed cone type air filters get by. Get one your bike with a soaked filter and ride in the wet. I can't help but think the engine would not like it. Sputter, cough and die? That is why I'll keep my stock setup. Also easier to wash the bike without having to put a baggie over the cone.

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by firetruckredbike on 10/09/08 at 07:13:04

Same thing happened to me on the way to work one day last month and I also thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Had to lift the visor on the FF helmet so I could see - the refraction from the raindrops had made it impossible to see through the visor. Like you I was totally soaked and had about a quarter inch of water in my boots, but it was a great discovery to see how well the S40 did in the rain. He just hugged the road.

Stayed off the paint, the oil and the center of the lane and we did great. Slowed down and gave more stopping distance. It was a fun ride and a big confidence builder.

Since then I have bought a one-piece rainsuit and life is easier these days. :) It's good to know that the rain doesn't have to be a show stopper.

Ride safe,
Amy

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by Ed L. on 10/09/08 at 12:32:26

The bike was running just a bit rough at the end of the ride. I have the stock airbox but drilled a bunch of holes in the airbox door so water had to be getting into the airbox and on the air filter. I would think that after riding 25 miles in the rain whatever was going to get wet got wet. Even if the air filter gets wet there is so much air being pulled thru it I wouldn't think that it would cause a problem. The extra water vapor going into the carb would change the mixture density and make the engine run a little cooler. Beside that I would think the water vapor would go on out the exhaust as steam.

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by flcruzr on 10/09/08 at 19:53:48

I dont mind riding or getting caught in the rain, I carry my rain gear on me at all times, however I always get nervous on turns thinking the bike is going to slide from under me. So far it has not happened and I hope it never does but its a thought that I cant ignore. :-/

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by dumdum30 on 10/09/08 at 19:59:32

My wet ride was Tuesday boots still arent dry. It was nerve racking at first but got the hang of it in a couple miles then just enjoyed the ride. As for the air filter getting wet, water or steam really doesnt do well in combustion chamber. A little causes predetonation, a lot causes misfires. On a good note it does clean out carbon deposits and smut from rich mixtures.

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by MickeyX on 10/11/08 at 09:18:06

About 5 minutes from work the other day, it starts flat pouring. I had my rain pants in my backpack but I figured till I stopped, got off the bike, wrestled them on over my boots (even though they do unzip up to the knees), I would be just as wet and then I'd be inside rain pants without much airflow. So, I rode on. I was only really wet from the knees down. Just damp on my upper legs. Full face helmet really helps and my jacket is waterproof anyway. Not so bad as I change into OR scrubs when I get to the hospital anyway. One thing I forgot... my socks ended up being soaked. The rain had run down into my boots from my jeans. My toes were downright pruny until my socks dried around lunchtime. ;D It rains here 8-9 months out of the year. If I put the cycle up just cuz it was raining, I'd never get to ride. As long as it's not icy or raining sideways with trees coming down, I go out. When it's icy, I don't drive my car either. More because the natives to Portland have no clue how to drive on ice or snow and smack into each other in multiples. I was warned when I moved here from PA and learned that fact my 1st winter here. Take the bus. Of course, they hit those too. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPE8vL5hlFA

Title: Re: Got Caught in the Rain and Didn't Care
Post by EssForty on 10/11/08 at 16:12:26

I used to live in Portland and I rode in the rain all the time. It's funny how quickly you get used to it. It's a different thing compared to Florida, where the rain comes in torrential downpours and sometimes you simply can't see in front of you. The Portland rainy season (Jan -Dec) seemed to be one non-stop drizzle.
The black ice was another thing, I remember finding my car 3 houses down the street when I parked it outside one night and it slid downhill onto a neighbor's lawn. I swear I was not drinking! ;D