Can't believe I forgot to tell you all, I rode my first big ride in the rain... actually a DOWNPOUR.  

Saturday morning, hubby and I decided to take a ride, get some food, and take in a movie somewhere.  (He has been wanting to see The Expendables)  So we headed west, about 60 miles, found a theater, and a little hole-in-the-wall to eat in and have a beer.  While we were eating, we looked outside and it kept getting darker and darker.  

I walked outside and it was starting to sprinkle.  I told him we had to do something!  Then it started coming down in buckets.  Decided we would head back toward home, hopefully drive out of it.  Well, it took about 30 miles!  Part 4-lane 55mph road, part 2-lane 55mph road.  I was riding about 40-45, tractor trailers were passing me but I couldn't ride any faster!  After about 45 minutes of this, we were soaked to the bone, and I was starting to get cold.  Told him I had to pull over.  Once we stopped, I took off my boots and squeezed the cup of water out of each of my socks!  No, we didn't have any rain gear!  We were stopped maybe 5 minutes, if that, and the rain stopped.... totally stopped.  Headed on home, rode wet roads until about 10 miles from home, then it was totally dry.  Cranked the throttle and was happy to have survived.  A little dramatic, but I had never ridden in rain before, so I was proud of myself and much relieved!

Good News: You are not sugar, you do not melt in water.
Bad News:  You DO get wet in water.
Bad News:  Water is COLD in the wet.
Good News:  It does stop.
Good News:  You know that you CAN ride in the wet.

Congratulations.  Real Bikers ride in the rain.  YOU are a Real Biker.

The really embarrassing part for me is,... not getting caught in the rain, but riding out of it into the clear sun,...
...and then having people look at you dripping wet on a dry road... ...

Congrats Babyhog!
It's even more fun when you get off work at 3 AM and it's raining and half way home the rain turns to sleet.  My fingers we're numb when I got home.  :'(

I have an old oilfield slicker suit. Poor thing must be close to 20 y/o. Its got a couple of patches on it, its YELLOW & its floppy. Its SOOO Ugly, but, I own it & when its needed, I use it. A guy on another forum sent me some pants, cuz slicker suits have pants like bib overalls & use suspenders. Theyre huge to fold up & I wanted something better & he said "Here, you can have these",, All I had to do was sew fresh elastic in the waistband.
Anyway, a trip to a FireSafety store or a place where industrial supply stuff gets sold could be a place to find some stout, reasonably priced, wet weather gear.
Remember, we onlyrarely ride in the rain. Think about it. Your vision is impaired, so is the cardrivers. They also dont expect you to be riding in the rain. Now, not only can they not see you as well, theyarent really expecting to see a bike. An Ugly, Horrible Bright flopping thing is a good thing at that point. Id`rather they laugh at me as I go by than run over me.

Yeah Piglet!!!  Awesome job!  to be quite honest, as long as i have my 3/4 helmet on, i actually like riding in the rain as long as its warmer out.  once you get past that uncomfortable wet stage to completely soaked its not to bad.  if its a warm day it feels great.  im also a polar bear so i never get cold.

Congrats on your first wet weather ride!

I'm in Oregon and I don't own a cage.
I ride in the rain often in the fall, winter and spring months.

I got a set of the grayish frogg-toggs for $40 bucks at a local MC shop. They lasted the whole winter, burned a hold on the right leg the first day I wore them...that exhaust pipe is really hot   but high boots keeps the water from coming in. I was always totally dry.

Riding in the rain isn't so bad, just be more alert and avoid the big puddles. Leave lots of cushion space around you so you can see water on the road, junk that lays in the road, let others pass when they want to, and stay calm. It's only water.

Hail..only 1 time in that and that I pulled over for. Nothing like slippery little ice pebbles on the road to make you think twice about climbing on two wheels.

Oh, and stay off the roads for an hour or so in the first rain of the season (or if it hasn't rained in a while) and let all that grime, oil, and other slick fluids wash of the road. Never ride the crown of a road in wet weather for this reason.

Happy wet butt riding  

Congrats Piglet on making it thru the rain. I don't particularly like riding in the rain, yet on occassions I have had to. I understand your boots being full of water. I found out that the eyelets on both pairs of my boots allow water to seep in.

A couple years ago I got caught in a hail storm. It was sunny when I left and I had a wonderful ride all by myself. I was about 15 miles from home when it started and no where to go. It was hard to see, I slowed down and finally made it to a safe area to rest and wait it out. I don't care to ever do hail again. It stings worse than rain when it hits your face. My shield and glasses were fogging up so I had to raise my shield some. OUCH...Tender skin I have..  kim