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Wet Weather riding tips by Dablue1 |
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Dablue1 was kind enough to write an awesome thread on riding tips. read the thread here LINK I thought I would add a few Riding & Safety Tips about riding in the rain. A few people have get to ride in the rain and snow, either on purpose or by accident. In either case there are some things to consider for those who have not had the joy of doing so yet.
One of the first things to consider is visibility. Your ability to see in either a light drizzle, shower, fog or downpour is essential. So make sure your visor is capable of repelling water and potential fogging on the inside. A little wax, polish or Rain X for plastic helps. Drizzle and fog get worst at slow speeds because the water droplets are smaller and do not roll away as fast as bigger drops. Most times your speed will decrease with less road visibility.
Second is to make sure you have good traction. The biggest problem here is braking, stopping and slowing down on rain slick roads. Keep your tires properly inflated and make sure the treads are in good condition. If you plan to do extended periods of riding in the rain, you may want to lower the pressure in your tires by a few of PSI. This and reducing your overall speed (this should be a no brainer)can help reduce the potential for hydroplaning and help provide a little extra rubber contact if you should lock up the rear or front during braking. Using a tiny bit more rear braking (or feathering your braking) can help prevent a potential lock up or slide. Also reducing your lean angle in a turn helps keep as much rubber on the road as possible.
Third, make yourself more visible if you can. Sometimes this may not be possible, however prior planning and preparation goes along way. Whenever I go on long rides (which is most of the time), I keep a reflective belt and vest, portable air pump, the waterproof liner to my jacket, glove liners, flashlight, cable lock, a couple of small microfiber towels, kickstand disc and cable lock in my back pack. (I know it sounds like a lot) Wearing anything reflective will increase you chance of being seen. Most drivers will turn on the headlights when it is raining. Water on a windshield and light reflecting off of an object can be readily seen by an alert and cautious driver.
You are going to be much better off if it starts to down pour by pulling over in a safe spot if and when possible. I would not recommend riding on snow or ice to anybody on two wheels. You are asking for trouble, however sometimes it can not be prevented. Car spray, standing or moving water and high speed are not good factors when riding, especially when streets start to hold water. Be more observant of the road surface your are riding on and take the appropriate action for the riding condition.
So ride smart, ride safe and enjoy cleaning your super dirty motorcycle after the ride!
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