Riding in the rain?

[Trickypl4]

Just after some more advice

I've been riding now for about 3½ weeks and I've been extremely fortunate in that it hasn't rained yet when I've been riding.

Because I'm a new rider I'm a bit concerned about riding in the wet weather, although I am planning to do it.

On my cbt the instructors told me to use the front and back brakes 50/50.

Can anyone offer me some good advice on what to do/what not to do when riding in 'inclement' weather?

Many Thanks,

Richie.

[ncrn]

depending on how heavy it is, try to keep your speed down, the ground is obviously slipplier, so you may not be able to corner as fast as you normally can, so just back off a bit.

also try to keep your visor relativly free of rain drops, the only way to do this ive found is to rub your glove over the visor, of course when you get very wet this becomes pretty useless, but visibility is very important in the rain.

also keep the visor down, rain kinda hurts :/

[SteveyRF600]

Just take it easy and give yourself plenty of time and room, the instructors are right about 50/50 but when you have a flap on because some 4x4 mum has cranked the brakes on you will revert to form and go for the front break!...... all my DAS was done in the rain and i am still a bit nervy about tyres touching the road (even though i have a set of BT 020 ! But you still have to enjoy the riding!.... steve
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[StottyB]

[Handsome]

Suprised noone has said to pay attention Man Hole covers and Overbanding on the road..... That goes for in the dry also.....
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[mad4it028]

watch man hole covers slipperyer than a slippy thing on slippy day in the wet
as are white lines and the black tar strips in middle of some roads
watch for the cars that over take on round abouts in the wet almost been under a couple in my time swift kick to the wing mirror puts em straight..lol it wasnt me officer..lol

[Lawnie]

What's been said already really...

Look out for man hole covers, and keep off the road paint. Increase your stopping distance, wear sensible clothing (getting soaked will likely distract you), and generally take care, especially when cornering.

[Handsome]

I'll give you One piece of advice though, not specifically rain riding more of an everday thing.....Indicators don't mean Shit nine times out of ten.....
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Lawnie]

[Itchy]

no on bumpy as fuck roads you should turn them off , some drivers interpret such lights as flashing them out at junctions esp.
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[Lawnie]

True...

[_Will_]

Be very cautious when it has rained after a hot day as this is when the road surface is extremely greasy/slippery and avoid the white lines whenever possible and as it has been said drains/manhole covers are a must miss.
when it has been raining hard avoid any size puddles on the side of the roads - they will suck you into the hedge, also vents aren't enough to keep condensation away so i tend to lift the visor slightly, but then again my visor tends to stay open all winter, ironicly its the summer when it shuts because of dam bugs

Have fun be safe
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[Handsome]

I just open the Visor one notch although I have got a Foggy Mask, best 11 quid I ever spent.....Bit of a bitch getting it to sit right though, it either doesn't feel right or it rips your face off when you take your helmet off.....
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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Finglonga]

The visor position is a tricky one you will find out by trial and error. But I always have my visor closed when its raining to stop the rain running down the inside of the visor and removing all your visibility.
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Andy Sez....
F.Y.Y.F.F.

[ncrn]

i ride with the visor closed, and breath carefully so i dont mist up the visor.

and then i open it up whenever i stop at a junction to get some airflow, but always lift it fully to minimize the amount of water getting onto the back of the visor.

[colin1]

back brake if you ever need to brake when you arent going in a straight line
might even be worth straightening up a bit, braking, then going back to the turn

in a straight line you can do 50/50 at the start or for gentle stuff, but if you really need to stop, its the front brake that does the work

its gravel (acts like ball bearings ) which can accumulate at road junctions you need to watch for, not rain

and when roads get slippy from day after day of salting and gritting in winter

rain, and snow arent that bad, but black ice is

a neat trick to get rain off your visor, is to turn your head to the side as if doing a shoulder check but keep your eyes pointing forward. The wind will blow the rain off. Then do the same turning to the other side to get the rest off.
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[ColdInsomnia]

Just another heads up to watch out for manhole covers in the rain. It's like driving on a fat man's frying pan. I know - and it hurts.
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[Dazbo666]

I did my DAS in the rain last year, so I guess I had a bit of a head start compared to most new riders...
The only thing I can add to what's already been said, is to try to look slightly further ahead than you normally do... so that you have more time to prepare for any changes in speed or direction.
This extra preparation time should help to smooth out your riding even more, and smoothness is the main key to safer wet riding
HTH
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Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Trickypl4]

Excellent stuff, Cheers

I have also been told to not lean over as much going round corners, roundabouts etc.

[markandmindy]

That not leaning thing is a bit of a misnomer. it's all to do with speed. If it's the first bit of rain for a while the roads will be greasy as hell plus there will be a snail trail of diesel down the centre of your lane...avoid at all costs!!! manhole covers and overbanding have already been mentioned but also watch out for road painted signs. they can be slippery as fook too! Try buying a Vee wipe for your left index finger. Those who have them will know what i mean, but they are £6 well spent. Acts a bit like a mini wiper blade on your index finger and are great for getting the water off your visor. best not to open your visor as once you do that, it is impossible to keep the rain off, and once it's wet, that's it I'm afraid, you're stuck with it. Don't ride in the gutters or too far over to the left hand side and ride at a speed you feel comfortable. Wet weather riding is an occupational hazard down here so i'm fairly used to it. give it a try, it isn't as bad as some make it out to be

[Dave1216]

I have been riding for 3 1/2 weeks also, and have clocked up 400miles.

Today the weather was partically bad. I was going around a fairly minor roundabout at about 15mph, i felt the backend slide out slightly and put my foot down to compensate.

Riding home, i was nervous around every corner, even though the weather had improved. I felt that the back was slipping even when it wasn't!

[_Will_]

Just because the rain stops it dosen't mean you wont come across greasy roads and aquaplaning, slide ur 'arse cheek over when cornering in the wet, it compensates for leaning over so far.
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[NSR Mick]

It's possible to do stoppies in the wet, it's not always a slippy as you might think.

Although this is coming from 15+ years not days of experience so take it easy.
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[THCi]

The island rear tyre slide was probably due to diesel/oil on the road surface, not the rain itself. But, the water between diesel and tyre would mean the tyre loosing all tracton: aquaplaining.

Did it the week before at the top of the Hermitage in Bridgnorth, hadnt rained in weeks, first drisle, light so I hadnt taken much notice of it, bike steps out by about 2 feet.

Another to watch for, when youve got a bigger bike, is opening it up in the wet. Open it up too much in too lower gear and the back will powerslide, one way or the other, gently lower the rpms till the tyre grips.

The key is being gentle.
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[Trickypl4]

Excellent

This is all good stuff for a noob like me.

So if the back end starts to slide I should give it more throttle to stop it sliding, is that right

And that's the same regardless of weather conditions?