Riding in the rain?

Originally Posted by northwind

In the rain, Northwind recommends cowardice over overconfidence

Sound advice.


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Rain riding?

Pull over,remove bike cover from under seat/back pack and cover bike. Fit any security device that you normally use and hitch a ride home!

I absolutely hate rain riding...not for me anymore!

Self confessed wimp on that front!

Yes... it must be a big issue where you are .


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"Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents."

From: http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~john/vfr/hurt.html

Food for thought, eh?

Originally Posted by Muttley

I try not to touch the rear brake in wet

I think that that makes it more dangerous!!! On dry I use mostly strong front brake combined with engine brake. On wet, I am smoooooooooooooth as I can with the front, using rear brake as first choice and front as end backing.

Originally Posted by kate

I know from personal experience, you lose the front you are f*cked, you lose the back you've got more chance of recovering it.

I agree.... and first of all, we should not be on a speed on which we can not stop safely in a clear path (is amazing how this thought get lost on dry!!)

there goes my penny...

You're not from round here are you?


Nice to meet you at Soho last Friday


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[northwind]

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

"Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents."

Ah, statistics. Remember that a huge number of bikers- especially less experienced ones- just don't ride in the rain unless they get caught out- weekend warriors, etc. And these tend to be the one that crash the most.

Then remember that the huge majority of bikers don't go for recreational rides in the wet, and you're far more likely to crash in a hundred miles of recreational riding than in a hundred miles of commuting.

Then, bear in mind that even in this god-benighted hellhole, there's more dry days than wet for most of the year, especially for most of the summer (and again, you get that weekend warrior effect, with what is it, 1/3 of all bikes never leaving the garage in winter)

Then, bear in mind also that most bikers ride very cautiously in the wet.

All in all, lots of reasons for that to be the case, and most don't imply that riding in the wet is safer than you'd think

Originally Posted by northwind

Ah, statistics. Remember that a huge number of bikers- especially less experienced ones- just don't ride in the rain unless they get caught out- weekend warriors, etc. And these tend to be the one that crash the most.

A fair point. There's also the factor that people who regularly ride in the wet tend to develop smoother throttle control etc. as a neccessity, which makes them smoother and safer riders all round.

Originally Posted by northwind

Then remember that the huge majority of bikers don't go for recreational rides in the wet, and you're far more likely to crash in a hundred miles of recreational riding than in a hundred miles of commuting.

I'm not so sure I agree with this. Okay, during recreational rides you tend to be going at higher speeds, trying to get your knee down/drag the pegs, etc. However: When commuting you're typically in a more urban setting (so more lights, roundabouts, spilt diesel, pedestrians, cyclists), at a busier time of day, more cagers to pull out in front of you etc. you're also more likely to be riding in rain (I agree you may not go for a recreation ride in the wet, but you'd probably still go to work) , you're also more likely to be rushing, as you have to get somewhere by a particular time.

Have you got any stats/reports to back up the point that recreational riding is more dangerous than commuting?

[northwind]

Not to hand, no... It's quite a commonly reported "fact" though IIRC, you're something like 10 times more likely to have an own-fault accident on a group ride than riding solo, for example. I'll see if I can find some actual numbers for you.

Originally Posted by northwind

Not to hand, no... It's quite a commonly reported "fact" though IIRC, you're something like 10 times more likely to have an own-fault accident on a group ride than riding solo, for example. I'll see if I can find some actual numbers for you.

I agree re: rideouts being more dangerous. Everyone (myself included ) seem to lapse into 'flock mode' from time to time and just follows the person in front blindly