Riding in the rain

[Jit Lim]

I am a fairly new rider with not too many miles in the seat. Up till now I have only been riding when the roads are dry. Whenever I see the weather report that they might be rain I'm a little hesitant to take the bike out too far from home. I would appreciate it if you experienced riders would give me a few pointers on the strategy of riding in less then perfect weather. I have questions like how do you clean the rain drops from your visor. How do you deal with rain drops on the windshield and many more questions associated with riding in the rain. Living on the West Coast we tend to have more rain days .

[alexrider]

I've read somewhere that fairly new tires retain about 80% of traction in the rain. The rules for riding in the rain are simple - stay dry and warm, slow down and keep the distance in front of you and make sure that no one is following you too close. Wear a motorcycle rain suite or waterproof jacket, waterproof gloves and boots. If you are looking over the windshield, you don't need to worry about rain drops on either windshield or your visor. The wind will take care or this. If you are looking through the windshield, there are water repellants on the market such as Rain-X that help keep the windshield clear. Helmet visor has tendency to fog in the rain. It usually clears once you start moving. Some helmets come with a Pinlock anti-fog lens. Most people who installed it liked it. This is basically it. Happy riding!

[Jim]

I found the wind will blow the drips of water off the visor if your above the air flow. If your behind the air flow, not that much goes on the visor, or in my case, glasses. As for the windshield, rain and bugs are the main reason why you should be looking over the windshield and not through it. The windshield is just that, or In my opinion, it should be called a wind "deflector". What is fun to watch in the summer rain, is the bugs that will wash off in about 10 minutes.

[Buffalo]

One thing to be careful of is the time period when it first begins raining. If there has been a prolonged dry spell since the last rain oils can build up in the surface of the road. When the rain first starts those oils rise to the top and make a slick combination. Once it has been raining for a few minutes the oils will be carried off and you will get back most of the traction you have on dry roads.

Same caution goes for paint markers and water. When the painted markers on roads get wet they are slick so be careful when turning or braking while crossing them. Also be careful when coming to a stop that your foot is not going down on one of them as your foot can slip out from under you.

[Daboo]

As Buffalo wrote, be careful about the paint markers on the road. Also, anything metal that you'll ride over. Railroad tracks, manhole covers, etc. Practice this summer in the dry for what you'll encounter in the fall and winter. If you practice, it becomes second nature and you'll avoid the hazards without spending too much time thinking about it.

Rain-X is your friend. I use it on my visor all the time. In fact, I have a bottle at work as well as at home in case I find on the commute that it had begun wearing off. If there isn't much moisture, and you don't have much speed, just turn your head to the side for a second and all the water drops will come off. Then turn to the other side to clear it too.

You really do not want to be looking through your windscreen. Cars have windshield wipers. I haven't ridden a bike yet that did.

Chris

[Jit Lim]

Thank you very much for all your advice. I must be not understand the concept of looking over the windshield rather than through the windshield. If I was looking over the windshield would it not be logical to assume that raindrops and bugs would now be hitting my visor rather than the windshield and create a problem for me.Please excuse me for asking this rather basic and simplistic question. I am inexperience and would rather find out before hand rather than while I'm out on the bike in the rain.

Another point that has been sitting in the back of my mind is while attending the riding school it was pointed out to us that we should not ride in the center of the road because of potential dangers from dripping oil left by cars. It is okay to ride on either side of center when the roads are dry. During the rain, the water collects in the grooves on either side of center. To avoid these I would have to ride on the outside of these grooves which would put me very close to the center or the curb of the road.Do you guys ride in the grooves left my car traffic. Please advise which is the safest route to take.

[dsfraser]

Don't sweat the rain. I did quite a bit of touring in BC last year (8500km) in both wet and dry. The Burgie has excellent weather protection, so is much more comfortable than many other bikes when it's wet.

Your questions:

You don't need to worry about water beading on the windscreen. The airflow quickly whips it away even at moderate speeds, so it's not am issue.

Water will only get on your visor when you're stopped, and if it becomes a problem, sitting up a bit and putting your face in the airstream will clear it. Some of the better riding gloves have a bit of fabric sewn on the left hand to use to wipe water away, but I rarely use it. I keep a soft cloth in the glovebox to wipe off water if necessary.

Water on the pavement will generally pool on either side of the driving lane. The center of the lane may have slippery on it, but don't sweat it. A minute after the rain starts in earnest, the oily crap is rinsed away and you don't need to worry about it. Half an inch of standing water is not a concern, either. Motorcycle tires are shaped quite differently than car tires and do not hydroplane the way a square-profile car tire will. A car tire pushes the water forward and eventually climb on top of it, causing hydroplaning. A motorcycle tire is much narrower and generally pushes water to the side.

As for riding in rain, heed the advice about oil film on newly wet pavement, and most definitely watch for those slick yellow and white pavement patties left by Highways. They are truly greasy when wet, downright treacherous. The other important thing is tires. The OEM Bridgestones are general-purpose tires that work well enough for most, but which may not be the best tire for the rain. I just finished researching tires for my cruisers, and the Dunlop 404 is widely hailed as the best wet-weather tire for larger bikes, better than the Metzeler ME880, Pirelli MT66 or Michelin Pilot. Unfortunately, the 404 isn't made in Burgman sizes, so I'm still shopping around for a good rain tire. This is what I've found to choose from. https://docs.google.com/View?docid=dgndw664_1064k55rdsgv&pageview=1&hgd=1&hl=en. At this point, my inclination is to take my dealer's advice and go with the Metzelers, but I'm not finished looking around. (Does anyone have a recommendation for a solid rain tire? )

Finally, stay dry. A good rainsuit doesn't cost much, and makes a huge difference. It's easy to get wet, and and then it's almost impossible to stay warm. It's not likely that you'll be riding for hours at a time from Nanaimo, but I know West Coast rain, and you can get soaked through to the bone in two minutes. Invest in some good waterproof gloves, too. I have a pair of AllStar Apex DS gloves for weather, and they kept my hands warm and dry through hours of freezing rain last fall. There is an MEC in Victoria where you can get quality underwear (underarmour) that keeps you cool when it's hot out and warm when it's freezing, and I recommend it for any weather. An ounce of prevention, and all that.

So don't be afraid of the rain. I ride in all weather, short of a snowstorm. (I tried that once and didn't like it.) You'll find bits of gear that will help you stay comfortable, but there really is nothing to be afraid of. Except the drivers in BC ...

Ride Safe
Scott Fraser
Calgary

[Daboo]

Good questions and observations. Regarding looking through or over the windscreen, this is what I've found. No matter how fast I go, at some point, I'll slow down and the rain will land directly on me. Then I'm looking through rain drops on my visor and rain drops on my windscreen. If one is bad, two didn't make it any better.

Some windscreens are impossible to look through in rain. The Givi AIRFLOW is one. The upper adjustable portion gets beaded over and it is only slightly better than looking through a bathroom window. I've had times when I've been riding in the early morning hours and the road dipped in a valley where there was some fog...and the OEM windscreen and mirrors both fogged over in seconds. You would think the wind pressure would clear them off, but it didn't. All those are reasons to get a windscreen you can look over, because while you may chose to not ride when rain is in the forecast, you can't predict when you'll encounter that fogging condition.

As I wrote before, RainX is your friend. I've never needed a wiper attached to my glove finger yet when using it, and I've ridden a little in the rain these past few years.

If your visor fogs up, that's normal. There are lots of products you can use on the inside of the visor to help. One I've used in the past, is liquid dishwashing soap. Smear it on the inside, let it dry, and wipe it off. The soap contains glycerin to cut grease, and is the same active chemical in most anti-fog products...and it doesn't cost much.


When I first began riding again, I read various articles about riding in the center of the road. Some said not to under any circumstances. Another had a good point. The only place you really encounter an accumulation of oil is where cars stop. So avoid the center when you come to stop signs and lights. As you've pointed out, when it rains, the water pools up in the tire tracks. When that happens, I'll usually move to the center. You can also find the water isn't pooled up, if you're following another vehicle. At times like that, I'll move into the tire track...but it all depends on conditions.

I'll move around from one place in the lane, to another. It all depends on the conditions. Often, I'm moving just to be seen. It seems "wrong", but I'll ride in the right tire track on I-5's HOV lane. I'm only feet away from the cars I'm going by...but they can see me coming in their rear view mirror. If I'm over to the left tire track, and especially if following a car, I'm invisible and where I'm riding appears to be an empty space for a car to pull into. It must work because I've only hit my brakes hard about 7 times in over 55,000 miles of mostly freeway travel. (I also wear a hi-vis yellow safety vest that helps make me more visible.)

I found one thing though that keeps me from riding in the center of the lane. In the first year of owning my Burgman, I got 3-4 punctures. I haven't had any since that first tire. The difference is that I usually don't ride in the center. The cages out there do us all a service by picking up the metal debris on the road in the tire tracks. When you ride in the center, they haven't had the opportunity to clean it off for you, so you pick those nails, screws, cotter pins, etc. in your tire.

Chris

[Elliott Larron]

And you forgot to Mention OIL, and Oil thats come up from under the Surface of the Asfalt when it rains real Light.

On the first Picture Somebody told Me these were Rounds simlar to a Bullet and the firing pin in the Center to Blast the Asfalt, I SEE These every where with Paint marks around Circle & Squares & Triangles


The rest of the Photos are Slippery Spots included Pegs, Reflector Markers, Which do Slip as soon as you drive over them in Wet Conditions..

Gary,

[Garnet]

Here in the sunny and dry Pacific Northwest we ride in a lot of rain, and I never leave home without this.

http://store.mm411.com/index.cfm?fuseac ... entCat=193

[Jit Lim]

Much appreciated for your tips and advice. It is raining again and when I get home today I will take it out for a ride rain or no rain. I have all the necessary safety and rain gear that you guys have suggested that one needs to ride in the rain.. I guess with this new knowledge that I have ,I have no reason to avoid the rain. Thanks again

[Anon]

As mentioned above, decent rain gear. Advice I picked up a while back... PUT IT ON!

At the first hint of rain, stop and suit up. Sometimes you'll find you didn't need to, but it is much better than needing it, and waiting too long.

EDITED TO ADD:
Decent rain gear is not expensive. I use a Columbia raincoat (not-motorcyle-specific, just a yellow coat from a clearance-rack), and pullover rain pants (motorcycle-specific, $25). These have lasted 3 years now, and take my through rain and cold (I use them for cold-riding, more often than rain).

[Buffalo]

This is what I've found to choose from. https://docs.google.com/View?docid=dgndw664_1064k55rdsgv&pageview=1&hgd=1&hl=en. At this point, my inclination is to take my dealer's advice and go with the Metzelers, but I'm not finished looking around. (Does anyone have a recommendation for a solid rain tire? )

I tried the standard Metzler Feelfree and didn't find it gripped any better in the wet than any on the other brands. The Wintec version might but it probably wouldn't wear very well in our Texas heat so I have not tried it.

[tomfelock]

Didn't I read on here somewhere that Rainex is not good for your windshield?

[Daboo]

There are a lot of warnings...some from the helmet makers themselves...regarding RainX. All I can tell you is that I've used it on three helmets. I haven't seen any degradation on the visor in frequent use on any of the visors. As they say, YMMV.

If you are in doubt, try it on a spot out of your immediate vision first.

Chris

[Daboo]

...I have no reason to avoid the rain. Thanks again

I was thinking of this thread later and wanted to add something. You can ride in rain for a number of reasons, one being that you're poor, frugal or cheap. Another being that for me, this is by far the most efficient way to get to work and cuts my commuting time by half.

One of the things I realized during one of my winter commutes, is that it is fun. Yes, fun. With the riding gear I normally put on for the spring and summer, I'm almost totally prepared for cold, wet riding. Add some heavier gloves and a neck gaiter, and I'm good down to about 40. Slip on a raincoat over the top of it, and I'm now good for the 20s and 30s. It takes very little extra to prepare for...and as long as you are dry and warm, it is almost as much fun as riding in the summer.

Chris

[Jit Lim]

I took a ride in the rain last night and it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I think for me it was more psychological than anything else. When I first left the house I was trying to remember all the advice that was given to me on this topic all at one time and this actually made it worse than it should have. Once I got going very quickly realize that it was not much difference than on a dry day. I did try some of the advice given like turning my head sideways let the wind blow rain drops off my face shield. I tried riding in the groove of the road where the water collects and the bike travel quite nicely with no problem. I took the bike to the parking lot at the shopping mall where there were no cars and intentionally ran over markers on the ground, manhole covers and reflectors to see what it feels like over these surfaces. I'll have to say this is one of the things that I liked most about this forum. All the little things that was posted would have taken me a lifetime to learn. Just from reading and hearing advice from experienced riders like yourself is making my riding experience more enjoyable and safer. Thank you all.

Jit

[DJJTK]

Last year, travelling in the truck .. ran into a huge downpour that I had to pull over on the side of the road as visibility was at the end of the hood on the truck. As the rain let up a bit, the caravan of cagers who pulled over, started on our way granted wipers on full and travelling only 40KM/h on a 100km/h roadway (fortunately the other cagers were too) .. came around a bend and saw a biker pulled over, in full rain gear, but huddled under an umbrella.

Got me thinking that should I run into that Water Faucet type of rain or freakish hail .. the umbrella might just give that extra bit of water protection .. or in case of hail .. just protection from the pelting of ice.

Now carry a collapsable umbrella in my glove box ..

Anyone else carry one ?

Dave

[Daboo]

I saw lots of scooterists in Taiwan using umbrellas...as they rode.

Chris

[Elliott Larron]

Are bikes are to fast for those umbrellas it will blow away

But from the look at that scooter it only do 30 MPH tops

Gary,

[dsfraser]

I took a ride in the rain last night and it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I think for me it was more psychological than anything else. When I first left the house I was trying to remember all the advice that was given to me on this topic all at one time and this actually made it worse than it should have. Once I got going very quickly realize that it was not much difference than on a dry day. I did try some of the advice given like turning my head sideways let the wind blow rain drops off my face shield. I tried riding in the groove of the road where the water collects and the bike travel quite nicely with no problem. I took the bike to the parking lot at the shopping mall where there were no cars and intentionally ran over markers on the ground, manhole covers and reflectors to see what it feels like over these surfaces. I'll have to say this is one of the things that I liked most about this forum. All the little things that was posted would have taken me a lifetime to learn. Just from reading and hearing advice from experienced riders like yourself is making my riding experience more enjoyable and safer. Thank you all.

Jit

And there you have it, sir. Living in Nanaimo, if you hide from the rain you only have forty days a year you can ride, being on the Wet Coast (not quite that bad). Apart from specific hazards, riding on wet pavement isn't much different. The main concerns are visibility, both seeing and being seen, staying warm and dry, and knowing how a wet surface changes the way those pavement patties interact with your tires.

BTW, rumour has it that the run to Gold River is one of the best motorcycle roads in western Canada. Please check it out, and let me know. We might head there this summer.

Ride safe
Scott Fraser
Calgary, again
ex-Victoria, ex-Nanaimo

[Jit Lim]

Scott, how does it feel to be a flatlander now. It may rain lots on the West Coast but I don't have to shovel it(been there done it, I grew up in Edmonton). According to the weather report it might be another month before you guys can bring your bike out. I've been on the road to Gold River in a car , the scenery is absolutely stunning. They are a lot of winding thirsty roads. This would be a very nice road for bikes. The drawback for this road is it is not divided and lots of wildlife on it. In the summertime you have to put up with lots of RVs and tourists. In the fall and winter lots of logging trucks and a tendency to have lots of fog.
If you going to come out this way drop me a line.

[57mike]

One more thing...in light rain or just after rain, I stay on pavement I can see rather than run through puddles that I can avoid. Because you can't tell how deep the pothole is when it's filled like you can when it's dry and empty. That approach doesn't help much during a heavy rain, but use it when you can.

Thanks, Chris, for covering the debris vacuuming issue. That's one thing we can thank the cagers for!

[dsfraser]

Scott, how does it feel to be a flatlander now. It may rain lots on the West Coast but I don't have to shovel it(been there done it, I grew up in Edmonton). According to the weather report it might be another month before you guys can bring your bike out. I've been on the road to Gold River in a car , the scenery is absolutely stunning. They are a lot of winding thirsty roads. This would be a very nice road for bikes. The drawback for this road is it is not divided and lots of wildlife on it. In the summertime you have to put up with lots of RVs and tourists. In the fall and winter lots of logging trucks and a tendency to have lots of fog.
If you going to come out this way drop me a line.

Harrumph. I had my bike out yesterday, first time since November, and my lady rode hers to work today. We think spring has sprung, but then I've seen it snow here on the August long weekend.

As for living in BC, I tried it for 17 years before moving back to the prairies. It didn't stick. Living in Victoria was very odd for a redneck flatlander like me. I do like granola, but I live on beer and red meat, not green tea and tofu, and I would rather hug a logger than a a tree! I was glad to move back. We do get snow in Calgary, but it seldom stays around. It gets cold in winter, but we get a lot more sunshine, more than anywhere else in Canada. Wages are higher here, taxes are lower, roads are better, and the government isn't always in your face with their hand out. The downside is that you have to ride farther to get to decent twisties...

I mentioned Gold River deliberately. There is a book you should know about called Destination Highways, written by a long-time rider from Vancouver named Brian Bosworth. He has rated the top motorcycle roads in BC, and lists the run to Gold River as #4 on the list. There will always be too many RVs on any BC highway, all driven too slowly by idiots, but riding during the week reduces their number. Another totally delicious ride is just across from you, from Horseshoe Bay through Squamish on BC99 to Lillooet and the Fraser Canyon, DH#3. In any case, I heartily recommend the book to you, or to anyone contemplating a tour through BC. It's well worth having, and makes route planning easier and more fun. Here is the link: http://www.destinationhighways.com/default.htm

We will be in Nanaimo at some point again this year. We have family in Qualicum and Saanich, so we know that part of the world very well. When we get close to a travel date, I'll drop you a line and we might make a day trip to Lake Cowichan or Mt.Washington. Until then, enjoy your ride, and don't fear the elements.

Ride safe
Scott Fraser
Calgary

[Scootereno]

Cars have windshield wipers. I haven't ridden a bike yet that did.

I have and they do kinda work on a flat non Burgman stock shield. They are an after market accessory that is more of a gimmick though.
I use eagle one nano-wax on the windshield and it beads the water well allowing some decent visibility. I find the droplets tend to wrap around the edges of the shield and down the inside creating a unique mixture of shedding and dripping droplets. As for the helmet I have a wiper on my left glove and just wipe the helmet visor as needed and a good anti-fog treatment like Cat Crap will help with it fogging. The advice given above is all good especially stay as dry as you can because a soaking wet ride is never as much fun. But the most important thing about riding in the rain is to remember yours and the other drivers visibility is impaired somewhat so be hyper-aware.