monsoon weather!

[gettin2dizzy]

couldn't help but notice on thursday in the monsoon weather that the traffic slows so much in heavy rain. I speed up as i want to get home quickly! was a little concerned as motorcycle tyres must aquaplane so easily- as there's a distinct lack of grooves on them!
so , how fast would you ride comfortably in heavy heavy rain? (ie when the 'spray' warnings come up on the motorway)

[Viney]

As fast as i could see, so as i have X-ray and IR sight, 120+ ;)

[STRAMASHER]

I'm always in-front, so no spray.:smt028

120+:smt110

[Toypop]

Before buying my current bike I went out on their demo machine and it was absolutely belting down at the time. Had it up to around 130 on the DC and it was fine. You can always take bigger risks on someone elses bike though! :) I wouldn't do it with lots of cages around because they tend to get even more sleepy in the rain and with the spray reducing visibility it is silly.

[Baph]

How hard is hard rain?

I've been on the M60/M56 before now doing 30 in thick fog thinking it was too fast, and had cars coming past me at approx 80.

If I can see & I feel comfortable, fine, if not, slow down.

[fizzwheel]

Depends how hard its raining, what the road surface is like, what the visability is like and how much traffic there is.

I tend to ride / drive as fast as I feel comfortable.

[dizzyblonde]

ridin all year round makes you ignore rain, however heavy it is. But when its cold and wet your visor steams up and so does your specs, funny i could swear theres no fog today..oh there you are....

[Essex of Essex]

Dynamic aquaplaning onset speed = 9*square root of tyre pressure in PSI. So the front tyre will be more prone if you are running standard pressures, that and the fact that it normally arrives at the water first.

[Ping]

I've ridden through rain that you couldn't see more the 30ft ahead, with the mortorway practically a river (albeit a shallow 1-2ish inch one :lol:). Even though you get used to how it feels when it happens, aqua-planing on a bike is not a fun experience in my book... :lol:

I'll scare myself doing the speed limit and then back off to a more comfortable speed until I get impatient and speed up again. It's a vicious circle... :lol:

[Law]

Wait, where's the 'under 60' option or the 'rain??? You're having a laugh if you think I'm going out in rain' option.

As fast as I dare.

[MeridiaNx]

How hard is hard rain?

I've been on the M60/M56 before now doing 30 in thick fog thinking it was too fast, and had cars coming past me at approx 80.

If I can see & I feel comfortable, fine, if not, slow down.

Ha, I had a situation like this last winter, it was a few days before Chrimbo in those 3 days of horrendous nationwide fog. Left Durham at just after midday (whoops, overslept :rolleyes:) and only got to my destination south of Exeter at about 11ish following an hour stop for a 5 or 6 fatality crash at Bristol. Thickest fog I've ever seen in my life, but I ended up having to travel through it at 90ish to keep up with the cars. With my dark visor on, (forgot to check before I left, utter tit that I am) following the tail lights in front was the only way to work out where the road went bar slowing to 20 and becoming a hazard in the slow lane and risking arriving at Exeter an icicle at 4 in the morning.

Still, I guess in heavy rain I'd be comfortable doing anywhere from 70-90 or thereabouts, unless I was creating bow waves as happened to me once near Guildford. When the water on the motorway was high enough to be lapping over the top of my boots I decided that 20mph was fine for the rest of the journey ;)

[hovis]

how fast would you ride comfortably in heavy heavy rain?

How fast would you drive in heavy heavy rain comfortably?

drive or ride?

:stupid: ;)

[Beenz]

No faster than the safe slowing distance that I can see. The less I can see the slower I go. The less grip for slowing the slower I go. I also have crap eyesight.

[DanAbnormal]

Have been known to do silly speeds in teh wet. Like last night, but most of the time I tend to slow to at least 100. :rolleyes:

Depends on road conditions, lighting etc. On the A31 at night in the rain I would say 40 -60, on the A331.....well.........whatever you're brave enough to go!

[gettin2dizzy]

cool. glad i'm not the only stupid one :) i just see too many bikes that have obviously never seen a hint of rain! last night was pretty nasty

[John 675]

[-o< i said 100+ but it really does come down to wether or not i could see through the visor and the wind.
if i had a pillion it would be no more than 60 on any road.

[gettin2dizzy]

i can't see anything through my visor in heavy rain. Pinlock was excellent but its shot now, it was fitting so loosely i took it out :(

[Sosha]

If you go fast enough twisting your head cleans the vizor off nicely...

Tend to base my speed on where I am and who else is on the road - I go a lot slower in the rain if it's busy.

[Tim in Belgium]

On a dual carriageway 70-80.

Can remember once heading into Luxembourg on a single carriageway, pulling an overtaking manouvre, dropped a gear, pulled out , throttle, wheel spins up on some overbanding/white line, bike fish tails, ease off throttle. Readjust tightened sphincter muscle. Contemplate the new experience, finish the overtake.

[fat_brstd]

last thursday i had a look at a tls and took it out for a ride in some of the worst rain ive seen. Sat at 120 and felt comfortable doing so but when i got back onto my bonnie it didnt feel good doing more than about 90 on the lanes on the way back.

[Jester666]

As fast as you feel safe!

[kcowgergmm]

as fast as i can still keep traction

[Stig]

I tend not to alter my speed all that much. If I aquaplane then I'll knock a bit of speed off. If I aquaplane again I'll slow down a bit more. :wink:

The tyres offer more grip in the wet than most people think. :smile:

[the_runt69]

I tend not to alter my speed all that much. If I aquaplane then I'll knock a bit of speed off. If I aquaplane again I'll slow down a bit more. :wink:

The tyres offer more grip in the wet than most people think. :smile:

Im with Big Ape here, Though the 20MPH car drivers as soon as a spot of rain arrives doi tend to get in the way on London Roads

[kcowgergmm]

i have been scared to find out exactly how much grip the tires have when wet but i am progressively ridding harder on them when its wet out

[Stig]

In last years "wet season" I was getting quite used to spinning the rear out of corners. Not sure if the Dullsville even produces enough power to spin the rear on ice. :lol:

[gettin2dizzy]

dullsville seems like an excellent idea though, i can't believe how cheap you got it. Certainly cheap long distance travel :) spinning the rear = great fun! just need to learn how to do only intentionally ;)