As a newbie got maybe 250 miles under my belt and decided to ride the bike to work yesterday considering it was perfect weather get back to find it’s raining even tho google said it was gonna be clear til 7pm. I can say that this ride was the slowest and most unenjoyable rode I’ve had since I’ve started. Didn’t go over 30mph for the entire ride 🙃
With good gear, you can be warm and dry in the rain all day.
Motorcycles have good grip in the wet. Especially with the right tires. Sure you can’t lean over like in dry conditions and a few hazards but it’s not impossible. Just takes time, building up of smooth actions to get the bike where you want to go.
So I could’ve went faster is what I’m hearing lol
The strangest bit for me, was learning to turn my head left and right to let the wind clear my helmet's visor of rain occasionally. RainX does help, but tilting one's head side to side is how we don't need windshield wipers on our helmets.
With good tires, riding in the rain shouldn’t be a problem. However, traction is of course less than on dry asphalt, so factor that in when braking or doing evasive swerves. Better keep some extra distance to the car in front of you. Tire spray sucks more than the clean rain from above.
If you plan on doing it more often, get good rain gear. Nothing sucks more than being wet to the bone, and it will distract you from riding. As long as I stay dry and warm, I don’t really care about the rain.
Your bike could’ve gone faster.
You couldn’t.
And that’s OK, as you should always ride within your own comfort level.
Just like riding when it’s dry, you’ll get smoother and faster with practice and experience.
Great advice here
He could also have tires that aren't conducive to riding in the rain with wet roads. The other thing is the gear. If he didn't expect it to be raining until after he got back, he probably wasn't wearing waterproof gear. Riding for long in the rain without proper gear sounds like a nightmare to me.
Just be smooth with throttle and braking, and leave bigger gaps.
Rain and motorcycles mix just fine. I've done several track days and a few club races in rain, stay smooth and it's no big deal, was running q3s not even wets.
I like to say that I don't mind riding in the rain and I don't mind riding in the dark but riding in the rain and the dark sucks.
With the oncoming traffic's headlights shining through the raindrops it's like someone bedazzled your face shield. Less than ideal. For me it was STILL better than a cage.
I turn into a nana in the rain. Stay at the speed limit and take zero chances .
One reason I love My Yamaha XMAX. First class wind/rain protection from my neck down.
Depends on your road and your tires. You can usually get a feel of how grippy the road is mid ride.
If your area has a lot of exposed aggregate in the concrete, it will be slippery. Any metal grates are ice. Thick painted lines are also not good.
You could go very fast in the wet but only if the roads are very ideal.
I've gotten caught in downpours before, even ones where all the car people parked themselves under a bridge, good tires and gentle inputs make all the difference.
Think I was riding back from Atlanta it was pouring rain and I got soaked [rain pants & jacket only help so much], by chattanooga the sun came out and the temp got up to nearly 80, it was like getting blow dried, it was great :)
Rain and inexperience don’t mix. Motorcycles are just fine in the rain if you know how to adjust your riding.
Gear is everything.
If you are comfortable and dry, rain is just a weather state (cager dumbness correction factor aside)
Choose a good rain cover to wear over your jacket, rain trousers that can be cheap (no protections; bare minimum of course), good rain gloves (still didn't found anything better than Gore Tex, but every membrane has it's limit) and good waterproof riding boots (Gore Tex too...)
I rode under heavy rain, big storms and all, and can't complain... Wind is worse than rain IMHO 🤷🏻♂️
They do mix, it really wasn't the rain's fault you didn't take it above 30. Idk what to say. You can still ride pretty fast in the rain on good tires and as long as you're smooth.
Rain is MORE fun once you get over being wet in my opinion. Idk, maybe I’m the minority
I took my basic rider msf course in freezing rain in March in Michigan with two motorcycle cops as instructors and man do I tell ya what, something about that whole experience got me pumped on rain riding for a long time afterwards. Today though I got hit so hard on my way home with rain and small hail it went straight through my frogg toggs even though I was doing 35-40ish, not like at the seems or edges of the garments coverage, but like circles on top of both knees surrounded by somehow completely dry pants
I was doing about 140 at Brainerd on the front straight in the rain when I got waved wide for debris. I drifted to the right and hit the first rut left by the drag cars which was a 1/4 mile long pond. Rear end kicked out to the right, motor bounced off the limiter, chopped the throttle and gathered it up. Lucky nobody was behind me.
Just ride normal traffic speed. Ride smooth, that’s the key.
I believe with modern, good quality tyres you loose about 7% of grip in the wet. I think though you’ve stumbled over a basic principle of motorcycling - riding a bike when you want to ride is awesome, riding when you have to is horrible.
The key things are;
A. Slow on roundabouts or anywhere trucks are likely to drop diesel, bus stops etc B. Avoid painted lines on the road. C. Pinlock in your visor - really important to see where you are going. D. Good quality waterproof clothing. I’ve a Scott 2 piece suit which is awesome in the wet. Very waterproof, breathable and lightweight. Don’t leave home without it as I never know when I’ll need it!
Other than that, exercise caution and it’ll come with time. Ride your ride, don’t feel pressure to go outside your comfort zone, take your time.
Before I retired I had a scooter as a backup for my bicycle which I -only- rode during rainy or hot days.
You are new, so it is an i comfortable experience for you. Good sport touring tires and rain gear. And you can ride comfortably at 65mph with a good windshield pushing the rain to the top of your helmet.
I grew up riding in Scotland. If bikes and rain don't mix then I'd never have made it to my 46th year on 2 wheels. You need an attitude adjustment. Stop panicking, learn to ride smoothly and the confidence will grow. Always read the road ahead, which you should be doing anyway, and learn to relax. Concentrate on smooth application of brakes and power, have confidence in your tyres, try to feel what they are doing under you. All of this will come in time. remember too that the first rain after a dry period will bring all the oil and crap to the surface and ride accordingly.
Rain is a little nerve racking at first, but becomes easier. Hail hurts though.
I keep a tail bag on my bike with a rainsuit in it. Riding in rain is not so bad. Riding in a hail storm sucks!
You’ll get used to riding in the rain. With good tires and common sense it’s not that bad. Being wet sucks ass though