Riding in the rain.

[Tom]

Some basic tips.  There are more that should be included like: 1)  Wait and patient for the rain to wash the oil off the road surface.  2)  Avoid the stripes and arrows at intersections for loss of traction.  3)  Do some practice rides in the rain to get a feel for the performance of you bike.

Any others.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/tips-for-riding-motorcycles-in-the-rain?cmpid=enews082316&spMailingID=26328965&spUserID=NjMxMTY5MDc5MzIS1&spJobID=864306476&spReportId=ODY0MzA2NDc2S0

[Chuck in Indiana]

Stay out of the middle, that's where the oil is from the cars breather, etc. For that reason, don't cross the center of the lane on an uphill onramp, even when it's dry.
In SoCal, the first few minutes of what they call "rain" is especially treacherous. It washes the accumulated oil up. Give yourself more time to brake.
Enjoy. I do.

[Tom]

I like riding in the rain when I have the option.  Hate it when I have to.  Have to reset the brain ecu on that.

[normzone]

On an Eldo with drum brakes, just pump the brakes. ALL THE TIME, CONSTANTLY. Or just whenever you need them in a hurry, your choice.

[fotoguzzi]

We have had way too much rain this summer and it always comes down when I'm riding home.. been soaked to many days to count.. tired of it!

[Arizona Wayne]

We have had way too much rain this summer and it always comes down when I'm riding home.. been soaked to many days to count.. tired of it!

Next time stop and put on your rain gear before it's too late instead of putting it off hoping you won't have to.    This past weekend I was lucky enough to have overpasses to assist me. 

[Sasquatch Jim]

 The way to prevent rain is to wear your rain gear, all of it.
 If you do this and it rains anyway, it is because someone else is not wearing theirs.

[rodekyll]

I just replaced my light rain gear down at the marine supply.  Bought some lightweight Grundeons.  These folks make commercial fishing gear, so they know foul weather and the need to move in gear better than the motorcycle folks in the same price range.

The top is a pullover with a hood that can slip under a helmet to keep the rain off my neck.  When not used that way it's out of the way.  The pants are high bibs with quick disconnect suspenders (guzzi content).  They are bright red with some black on the top. 

My criteria was bib, pullover, weight, moveability, fullness of cut, and ease of getting into and out of.  Cuffs were an extra, and the top has neoprene.  The bottoms are floppy -- no elastic or Velcro to tighten them around the boots.  But they are lined with a material that makes them slip on over boots and pants without dragging or tangling, which makes on and off even already wet an easy chore.

I'm not saying I look forward to the next storm, but when I meet it, I'll be ready.

[simonome]

Tips to keep your hands dry, if your bike is not equipped with handshields or you don't want to use those ugly mittens.

1) Wear latex gloves under your riding gloves
2) (Even cheaper) wear disposable PET gloves from your grocery shop
3) (For those, like me, that don't like the feeling of options 1 and 2) Spread a thin layer of vaseline on the back of your hands-fingers

More:

Stay away from waterfilled potholes: you never know how deep they are

[frans belgium]

One simple rule that every rider knows: it will NOT rain as long as you keep your rain gear on.
So you know what to do.

[Muley]

Tar snakes are treacherous in the rain.  Some roads are absolutely loaded with them, and they seem to be more common in the mountains on the twisties.  When wet they'll cause the sphincter to tighten

I have problems staying comfortable in a summer rain, not so much in a cool season downpour.  The heat and humidity soak me from the inside out, OTOH thunderstorms in the summer can be seriously cold. My normal raingear is just a jacket to keep the torso dry.  The mesh pants dry out fairly quickly while riding.

In the winter, the water resistant and heavier gear works OK since one doesn't tend to get sweaty with all that garb.

With me, it's sometimes a choice between being soaked from rain but not being hot or being soaked with sweat and sweltering under most rain gear.  I suppose I can always wear the rain jacket and just take it off if conditions are too warm.  Sometimes the rain actually feels refreshing.

But riding safely in the rain on a bike is just like in a car.  Just slow down more slowly, speed up more slowly and, most important, remember there are morons out there sharing the road with you.

[Chuck in Indiana]

We have had way too much rain this summer and it always comes down when I'm riding home.. been soaked to many days to count.. tired of it!

Maybe Tex will get you one of those WBA patches..

[Nic in Western NYS]

Most of this good advise regarding tar snakes, potholes, etc. assumes good ability to see.  For that reason I do everything I can to avoid riding at night in the rain.

[charlie b]

The only thing mentioned in the article I find interesting was he mentioned hydroplaning.  Last time I checked it took a speed well over 100mph before a typical motorcycle tire would hydroplane.  Is that still correct?  Or is it mentioned because of those folks with the huge rear tires?

I like all the advice.  I don't get to ride in rain much because around here it is mostly in thunderstorms, and I avoid lightning as much as possible.

[atavar]

I know I am the oddball but I love riding in rain and even thunderstorms.  It really is quite elemental and somehow makes me feel very connected to nature and my environment.  Yes I ride slower and more cautiously than I do on a dry day, and I try to be extra alert for hazards.

I have even enjoyed being caught (ATGATT) in the occasional hail storm.  There is something very satisfying about sitting on the bike with hail bouncing noisily off my helmet and puffing up my chest when I look at the cage drives and see the amazed looks on their faces.

Of course this is much more enjoyable when inside a nice warm and dry suit, which I admit sort of goes against the whole aesthetic.
I am not saying any of this is rational, but then I have never been accused of that.

[Nic in Western NYS]

I know I am the oddball but I love riding in rain and even thunderstorms.  It really is quite elemental and somehow makes me feel very connected to nature and my environment.  Yes I ride slower and more cautiously than I do on a dry day, and I try to be extra alert for hazards.

I have even enjoyed being caught (ATGATT) in the occasional hail storm.  There is something very satisfying about sitting on the bike with hail bouncing noisily off my helmet and puffing up my chest when I look at the cage drives and see the amazed looks on their faces.

Of course this is much more enjoyable when inside a nice warm and dry suit, which I admit sort of goes against the whole aesthetic.
I am not saying any of this is rational, but then I have never been accused of that.

I have felt the same way, but only on my Sport or Bandit, which I didn't worry would have any bad effects from rain.  On bikes with sophisticated electronics, I'm trying my best to keep them dry and so the rain is just crummy.

[atavar]

I have been in some pretty serious downpours with the Norge (gen1 S/N 007) and have not had any problems. There was one storm where I had to pull over because the water running down my faceplate was too thick to see through.

Also no problems riding in sub zero or 100+ weather. 

[normzone]

Last time I checked it took a speed well over 100mph before a typical motorcycle tire would hydroplane.  Is that still correct? 

Back in the previous century I did hydroplane once on the Eldo, nothing exotic about those tires. It only lasted a second, but it was a LONG second.

(EDIT) I was doing about 65 mph in Northern California, and it was on a gentle sweeper doubling as a freeway onramp. A set of Continental K112 in good condition. I could feel the bike float, and we drifted a little bit in the lane.

[Cage Free]

The way to prevent rain is to wear your rain gear, all of it.
 

Or move to So Ca where it never rains, and thats not a good thing.

[rocker59]

Any others.

When in doubt, gas it out...

[azguzzirep]

Over here, if you don't ride in the rain you don't often ride.

[Nic in Western NYS]

The only thing mentioned in the article I find interesting was he mentioned hydroplaning.  Last time I checked it took a speed well over 100mph before a typical motorcycle tire would hydroplane.  Is that still correct?  Or is it mentioned because of those folks with the huge rear tires?

Anyone with experience regarding hydroplaning?  I've never heard of it happening on a motorcycle.  It is the rounded profile of the tire that prevents it?

[oldbike54]

Anyone with experience regarding hydroplaning?  I've never heard of it happening on a motorcycle.  It is the rounded profile of the tire that prevents it?

 Nic , a motorbike can hydroplane , although it is rare . More likely to simply lose traction .

 Dusty

[atavar]

To my understanding hydroplaning is a risk when either you are heeled over in a turn (don't do that in the rain) or if you get enough traction to lift the front wheel slightly.. 

[JJ]

In general, my rule in heavy rain...SLOW DOWN...about 10-15 mph or MORE...depending on the road conditions. 

Many a rider has lost traction / control and gone down for not following this simple rule...

[atavar]

I do ride somewhat differently in rain, besides slowing down I move my body weight when possible to minimize the lean angle in turns, allowing the bike to remain more upright. 
I also don't push so hard coming out of corners.  That last one bit me a couple times when the back wheel kicked out a bit so I don't do it any more.

[rocker59]

Anyone with experience regarding hydroplaning?  I've never heard of it happening on a motorcycle.  It is the rounded profile of the tire that prevents it?

I've ridden in some crazy heavy rain with water in the road.  At night.

The Metzeler ME Z6 front on the Nero Corsa would cut through inches of water like butter.

I did feel the front hydroplane just a little, but rolling off the thottle and slowing a few mph solved that.

Yes, the narrow profile of motorcycle tires reduces the tendency to hydroplane.

Over the past twenty years of riding in a lot of rain, I've always been amazed at how good top-line sport-touring rubber performs in rainy conditions.

[Two Checks]

Stay out of the middle, that's where the oil is from the cars breather, etc. For that reason, don't cross the center of the lane on an uphill onramp, even when it's dry.
In SoCal, the first few minutes of what they call "rain" is especially treacherous. It washes the accumulated oil up. Give yourself more time to brake.
Enjoy. I do.

The days of engine breathrs have long passed. It's all recirculated and fed into the intake system to be burned.
BUT, we still have the center oil stripe due to gasket leaks, and the oil is further spread by transverse mounted FWD cars. When a F or R main goes the oil is almost in the wheel track.

[Nic in Western NYS]

I've ridden in some crazy heavy rain with water in the road.  At night.

The Metzeler ME Z6 front on the Nero Corsa would cut through inches of water like butter.

I did feel the front hydroplane just a little, but rolling off the thottle and slowing a few mph solved that.

Yes, the narrow profile of motorcycle tires reduces the tendency to hydroplane.

Over the past twenty years of riding in a lot of rain, I've always been amazed at how good top-line sport-touring rubber performs in rainy conditions.

I've always been surprised at how good the traction was in standing water.  Doesn't seem logical, but the bike just goes right through.  Have to think that fresh tires with good groove depth can't hurt.  I would think that on a dry road, a slick gives better traction due to more tire/road contact.  In the wet, a slick would tend to hydroplane more than a deeply grooved tire.  If true, it raises interesting questions about how to maximize traction in both wet and dry - assuming a slick actually will hydroplane more than a grooved tire like I assume. Physics!

[rodekyll]

Hydroplaning is when the tire can't get to the road for the water.  That almost always means the tire is going so fast it doesn't have time to sink, combined with the tendency of the tire to want to ride over it's own bow wake.  With that simple breakdown it's easy to see that with enough water and the right speed, any tire can hydroplane.  Tires have grooves in part to give the water somewhere to go.  But if there's so much water or the speed is great enough that the water can't squish out.  Swamp racers use hydroplaning as a feature, not a problem, so it's a predictable phenomenon. 

In the big storm I rode through, I "hydroplaned".  I was ~1500# on three wheels with adv-type block tread, and the wind was pushing me sideways into the retaining wall like I was on ice skates.  I estimate about 3" of standing water, more coming down at probably 5"/hr, and speeds up to about 50 -- any faster and I couldn't purchase enough road to steer.  I had to be down about 30 or less to feel like I had road under me.