Caught in the rain
 

Well that was a good experience! First i would like to say Happy thanksgiving! :p

Woke up this morning and it was beautiful! by 9:00a.m it had to be about 50. Jumped on the bike and took a ride to the relatives. My first long trip so far on the bike, probably 30 minutes (lol). So i get down there around 11 and its almost 65 out with blue skys. Am stoked and happy at this point, nicest day i have ever rode in, i didnt freeze my ass off, was relaxed not wearing 4 sweatshirts, 3 shirts, and my leather jacket. I leave there to go on my second longest cruise (41 miles) down south to spend thanksgiving with my girlfreinds family. All day its been nice. Sit down have dinner, go outside for a smoke, blue skys. I go inside for 10 minutes and come out and the sky is black!. ****! hurray up and say goodbye jump on the bike and head out. Get 5 minutes on the road and it starts downpooring. Ugghh Hour long cruise in the rain. I was scared/Worried seeing it was my first time in the rain. I took turns as straight as i could not leaning the bike, id say i did well. Girlfriend was scared ****less behind me more then i was lol. I pull into the driveway, look up, CLEAR SKIES! just my luck lol

Should i not worry too much if am stuck in the rain if its not really really bad? does it handle well in wet roads? it only downpoored for about a minute then just regular steady rain.

Re: Caught in the rain
 

Don't worry about it, so long as your tyres have plenty tread rain doesn't do much harm.

Obviously whacking the power on mid corner isn't going to be too clever, and you need to take it steady through any deeper puddles to avoid aquaplaning and total loss of grip. Also avoid manhole covers, drains and such, wet iron is very slippy.

Just go steady, don't rag it, you'll be fine.

Re: Caught in the rain
 

you should be fine, the only thing that you need to worry about as chris said are, man hole covers, white lines, and standing water. all of which will have you on your ass double time.

Re: Caught in the rain
 

Riders over here in Britain ride in the rain about 60% of the time... and some even in the snow ;) Just take it easy.

Re: Caught in the rain
 

all the above.

+1

Re: Caught in the rain
 

Smooooooooooth is the key. Any harsh inputs will be magnified by the rain. Be aware of anything on the road that isn't just a normal road surface, but not to the extent that you start slamming on the anchors ar swerving radically to avoid them. Be smooth!

Re: Caught in the rain
 

I tell you what, riding in the rain is a good thing to do. You develop a much smoother riding style (so end up being mechanically kinder to your bike) and you learn so much about "feeling" your way around corners. You'd be suprised how far you can lean over with a good set of tyres on; and also, you'd be suprised how good modern tyres are in the wet.

I will say however that if you suspect rain, then take a waterproof oversuit with you, and get some handlebar muffs. The muffs will keep your hands dry and warm, and the drysuit will do the same. If you are mid-corner, and run over a man-holecover, dont tense up! Just relax, let the bike find its own grip. This happened to me, and I felt the bike slide but it regained grip quickly. Relax, relax, relax

Matt

Re: Caught in the rain
 

Steady throttle and drive through the corners on the gas.

Steady, smooth braking.

Different surfaces have very different levels of grip and feel.

Watch out for patches of diesel that have risen to the surface of the road cos of the rain. Slow down in the car tracks of your lane at traffic lights. (A mate of mine still limps from a 3mph off after losing the front, stopping on the dirty,diesel strewn bit of the lane at lights in the wet )

Sounds like you did more than fine though.You will be more confident next time you get ****ed on.

Hope you've still got your g/f after getting her soaked through!!:p;)

Re: Caught in the rain
 

cool, thanks for the input all. I have plenty of life on the tire seeing its only 500 miles old. It was alittle nerve recking but i didnt tense up and was confident enough i'd say.

the g/f was in her car following me, she was dry as can be lol. She's only been on the back of the bike twice so far for less then a mile. I need alittle more experience before i have someone with me. I couldnt believe the difference there is with weight on the back. She does know how to ride on a bike, lean with me yatta yatta.