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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> I'm all ears......rain advice. /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1338991483 Message started by bess227 on 06/06/12 at 07:04:42 |
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Title: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by bess227 on 06/06/12 at 07:04:42 so last night i got initiated......got caught in an average rain. then it stopped and the road was just really wet. i must admit.......made me nervous, and surprisingly, found I had to MAKE myself push on the bars to get into the turns, even at a reduced speed. just drinking from the well of wisdom here again. other than the common sense stuff, go slower, drive ahead, control the braking....any tips or nuggets for a newb? thanks. |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by Greg on 06/06/12 at 07:12:23 My advice may not be the best, but, when it rains here, the gullies where the car tires wear down the road collect a lot of water. I ride the center "hump" when it rains. |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by bess227 on 06/06/12 at 07:18:36 thanks Greg, i was a little conflicted because it does the same here at times, but in the back of my mind i was thinking "that is where the oil will release first". i would rather be more cautious than crazy, but i was too nervous to suit me on that ride. i appreciate the input. |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by Serowbot on 06/06/12 at 09:20:43 Yup,.. here in Tucson, where it don't rain often, .. the oils and anti-freeze soaked in the pavement is just waiting to be released... I avoid the center between tire tracks like the plague... ... but most roads are crowned in the middle and slope to each side for drainage... Ride near the crown... (as far left as possible) ;)... Watch the painted stripes,.. they are slick as snot... Double, or triple flash your brake lights, instead of just pulling them, to get drivers attention... Open your visor about a inch to prevent fogging,... peek through that opening if your shield gets covered... ... or,.. stop and have a hot cocoa... ;D... Ohhh!... and watch when you put a foot down at a stop... slick on your boots too... (ask me how I know)... :-?... |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by bess227 on 06/06/12 at 09:24:50 Serow, the hot cocoa was sounding like a really viable option at the time. when i got home i was ready for a toddy, hot or cold. forunately for my first time i was not that far from home. it was a good test for me, but left me with more questions than answers. i was solid staying away from paint. guess i just have to learn to trust her at an angle. baby steps. thanks for the input. |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by Sunchasers on 06/06/12 at 11:01:00 In addition to all said... I also avoid manhole covers. ;) |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by babyhog on 06/06/12 at 12:50:56 I hate the mess that riding in the rain leaves on the bike! Which reminds me, I still need to clean mine, since I got caught in a little shower the other day. Its not quite time of the year yet... but in addition to all the other stuff above, watch for wet leaves when the trees start to turn. Talk about slick as snot! |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by Greg on 06/06/12 at 14:24:18 4E5843494F2A0 wrote:
And manholes without covers... |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by ZAR on 06/06/12 at 20:09:44 Back in the dark ages when tires were not nearly as well designed and brakes were all drum and of questionable stopping power in dry conditions I rode sometimes 100 miles in the rain. Everything stated above is good advice. I'll also add to be very sure your tires are in good condition.plenty of tread,designed for rain useage and properly inflated. Remember always your tires are you connection with terra firma. If the tires are not up to the conditions...........your body WILL be kissing mother earth! |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by Savage_Rob on 06/07/12 at 06:30:24 http://www.froggtoggs.com/images/Top_Navigation_01.png (http://www.froggtoggs.com/#outerwear/motorcycle/) |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by mpescatori on 06/07/12 at 07:18:03 I've been riding in the rain since... 1978 ? But I'm still here to tell you about it, so it can't be all that bad... ;) My tips and observations : 1) You can see through a rainy helmet visor much better than through a windshield with no wipers, so it ain't all that bad; 2) Like Serowbot said, lift the visor that inch (or half inch) you need to get a little circulation of air to prevent misting; 3) Watch out for stupid drivers who drive in misted up cars (many will keep the ventilaiton vents shut and just wipe the screen with their hand :P) 4) Lights on all the time, when there's too much mist raised by trucks etc, flick the left indicator (cars will take it as the left indicator of a car and avoid pushing into your right side) 5) If it rains a lot where you live, get used to it ! BUT, on the bright side, with A/T or rain tires rather than the typical semi-slick cruiser tires, you will still have excellent traction 8-) An example by Pirelli - - - - - - - - - - A/T MC tire - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MT66 (my ride) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pirelli Supersports Semi-slicks http://www.pirelli.com/mediaObject/pirellityre/ww/en/catalogue/motorcycle/scorpion_mt_90_a-t/moto_alt_img_scorpion_mt_90a_t_set/original/moto_alt_img_scorpion_mt_90a_t_set.pnghttp://www.tire-information-world.com/images/pirelli-route-66-motorcycle-tires-21319487.jpghttp://dalefranks.com/cycles/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Pirelli-Angel-ST-Tires.jpg 6) In a neighborhood, don't be shy and waste that horn ! Honk at anything, regardless, just to let then know you're there (many pedestrians will look down when walking in the rain) 7) If you have a good quality jacket, fine; now buy a pair of rain chaps and Totes, roll and tuck them in your tool roll (you DO have a tool roll, I presume?) 8) GLOVES ! When the weather looks like it'll rain, use waterproof riding gloves, or gloves with a woolen lining, to keep your fingers warm and dry. :) |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by gerald.hughes on 06/07/12 at 07:25:04 I love the rain. Aside from growing up in the desert, which never gets enough, it is the only time that my bike gets washed off. |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by Savage_Rob on 06/07/12 at 09:42:59 Oh yeah, for fogging... http://www.campmor.com/wcsstore/Campmor/static/images/sunglasses/83081.jpg (http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___83081) |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by bess227 on 06/07/12 at 10:35:56 all awesome info!!! thanks to everyone. |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by John_D FSO on 06/08/12 at 03:32:34 64564156505268655855370 wrote:
I've heard that's good stuff, but haven't seen any around here. I used one of those Fog City things that sticks on the inside of your shield, and it work great for the first winter, and ok for the second one; after that things started fogging up some, but way better than nothing at all. In addition to manhole covers and paint stripes and road ruts I'd like to add railroad tracks and those little plastic turtles they put between lanes. There's a route to work that I will not(!) ride in the rain because you cross the same track twice going into and out of sharp corners, and it's real hard to hit them completely straight. :-/ |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by Savage_Rob on 06/08/12 at 13:46:53 Just order it from that link. Most of the time I wear my Scorpion helmet, which has fog-resistant shields that actually work pretty well. I also have an HJC and have used Cat Crap it to prevent fogging, with pretty good results. It's odd looking though. A red container with yellow writing and the stuff inside is kind of a pale blue/green color. |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by Greg on 06/08/12 at 16:36:29 I just got home in the rain. My real world advice is to always carry a handkerchief/doo-rag. If you are wearing an open face or half helmet, the rain really hurts at speed. I pulled over and covered from my nose down. Worked great!. I wear eyeglasses so I don't think the biker masks will work well for me. I think the bill/visor thing on my half helmet helped to keep some water off of my face as well. And like it was said earlier, it isn't as bad as riding in a car without wipers. My glasses got wet but never to the point that it was much of a hindrance. |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by SimonTuffGuy on 06/08/12 at 19:05:26 I concur with Greg... During the ride this last weekend, we got caught in some sprinkles mid ride when I only had the half helmet out. They provided a free bandana as part of the registration, so we stopped and put that over the bottom half of the face and it really did help. |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by Trippah on 06/08/12 at 20:41:27 1) Stop for about 10 minutes when the rain first hits (if you can)- this allows for some of the oil to wash away. 2)Ride basically in the path left by the left haand tires of the cars, the center does get most of the oil and fuel leaking. 3) Rather than pushing the bars (that usually means you are ..well..shall we say nervous..loosen of the grip..like you should do when crossing over a grated bridge. 4) Most obviously, slow down a bit, increase distance to the vehicle in front; don't stop at the Stopsign but a bit before, Idling cars will have left oil etc right at the sign. 5) Carefull of painted street markers (like cross walks and as noted earlier, metal surface like man hole covers. 6)and if you wear glasses like I do, invent some miniwindshield washers please. ;) |
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Title: Re: I'm all ears......rain advice. Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/08/12 at 21:40:55 Maybe youd be ahead to wait for a nice warm day & head out after the rain starts. Get some experience around home base, on roads you know. Stay out of heavy traffic. because if you think they arent looking for you in broad daylight on a sunny day, they REALLY dont expect a bike in the rain,.& They arent lookin for you. |
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