Advice for riding in crap weather

[mrbluesbox]

Ello

As im pretty sure everyone over the last last week or so has noticed the weather has been absolute shite.
Lots of wind, rain and general nastiness - and this has started to affect my confidence a bit - especially cos ive only had my 600 for a month.

I had my first major skid (rear wheel lockup posted about on here) recently and since then have had a couple more (just little ones though - nowhere near as bad)- seems as though my rear brake it a bit keen so im now getting worried about using it in the rain. Does anyone else bother using their rear brakes or is there summot i can do to help stop it locking cos it really feels like i cant use it any more than literally resting my foot on the peg with no pressure?

Also im getting worried about wind and leaning the bike over in the wet. Had a few cases this morning where i had the bike lent over a little (seriously not a lot) and wind blast almost felt like it was gonna take the bike out from under me. hence i really didnt want to lean into corners / roundabouts at all and just ended up bimbling round them. Is there any way i can change my riding to help lessen this?

(p.s. ive slowed down quite a bit and am riding no where near as quickly as i would do in decent conditions)

All advice greatfully recieved.

Ta

Gaz.
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I seem to have misplaced my pants...................

[doggone]

Well realistically some days it would be better not to use it.

One thing which sounds odd but works is to avoid tensing up and over reacting to every little movement.
Keep your grip on the bars relaxed and don't worry so much about brief loss of grip or wind pushing you.

Try to keep your road positioning such that a slight change in intended route doesn't matter.(!)

[garth]

Stay relaxed, be smooth, no sudden braking etc.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[fourten]

+1 to relaxing! When it's windy, the best thing to do is relax/ be loose. This allows for your body to better naturally adjust the steering, whereas if you are stiff and tense, the movements will be jolty and less controlled.

As for bends, I find slowing down completely especially when it's wet helps.
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www.artridertraining.co.uk

[Finglonga]

[Itchy]

[mrbluesbox]

must admit probably was a bit tense this mornin, after i locked the rear wheel and then nearly got blown off so i can imagine that that didnt help and made eveything feel 10 x worse.
think im gonna try and play with my rear brake pedal to put it a bit lower so im not putting as much pressure on it and that might help stop the locking up thing.
unfortunately my bikes my only transport and i fecking hate pubic transport so im gonna be on it unless it really is dangersous (ice, snow or gales n things).
ill guess ill get more confident eventually and just keep thing slower in the meantime

i would kill for a dry road at the mo
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I seem to have misplaced my pants...................

[iooi]

Look at it this way, rear lockups are recoverable.
Unlike when the front locks up.
Personally the worse the weather the more uou need to use the rear brake.
Also think further ahead and let the engine do most of the braking for you.

Good idea to adjust the rear so its a bit lower and takes your foot that bit longer to get there.
As to wind, not a lot you can do, make sure you dont have stuff flapping around.
You think a 600 is bad try a smaller bike, my divvy seem well planted in cross winds and that with a top box as well, compared to the 250's i used to ride.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Method]

There are a few threads on here that give a realy good insight into riding through the winter / pants weather, with advice on everything from kit through to riding techniques... Might pay to check them out.

Winter Riding - Method's Perspective: https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=96152&highlight=winter+riding

Killa's Guide for the Winter Ride : https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=61629&highlight=winter+ride

Both got good karma reviews and a pretty comprehensive - definately worth checking out.
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[doggone]

[Walloper]

Most of all whats above ^
Just everything you do is less than when you're on dry roads.
Read the road ahead and behind you.
Be very attentive (As you always should be ) you have 50% less vision. And other road users suffer the same. They canny see you either.
Stuff a microfiber cloth somewhere in the handle bars so you can give your visor a swift wipe every couple of minutes (try to look cool whilst you do it). Or get one of those useless wiper things you slide over your gloved finger.

I never use the rear brake unless helping the front, rarely. But if you are following the rule of 'take it easy' then you will not meet situations where you end up grabbing a handful of lever to stop.

No point in worrying about lean. Don't. Not worth it. Unless you are on a track and you over cook it you'll not meet your end horribly under a bus coming the other way.

Stop regularly for endless cups of tea or batter on till you get there.

Don't go too fast as you can't stop as quick on shitty road surfaces.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[killa]

[Kal]

Haha! You've not lived until you'gve had the whole bike going sideways!!!!

and now I am done with macho bullshit for this thread


You are worrying too much

If the rear locks just lift your foot and then reapply the rear brake

Smoothness wins in winter. Smooth throttle on, cornering and braking will all contribute to keeping you upright.

Braking moves from a 70/30 front/rear split to a 50/50 front/rear split

Double your braking distances and likewise following distances.
On the ice double again at least...

Keep in mind things like cold tyres have less grip than you are used to, and as the weather gets worse they take longer to warm up.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Barney]

Keep your arms relaxed, drop your elbow below your hand and shift your body weight into the corner, this will keep the bike more upright.

Plan way ahead and brake lightly eariler than normal to give yourself more time to slow down. Keep your distance from the car infront.

I often do most of my commute lightly touching the rear brake now and again just from planning ahead. No need for heavy braking this time of year.
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CG125|CB400SF|CBR600FX|Triumph Daytona T595|CBR929RR

[Walloper]

[Barney]

[mrbluesbox]

[Louise]

Past week or so ive had to come home in bad weather. Relaxing dose help, take time to slow down sooner - my rear brake locks easy so I use 50/50 in the rain.
Almost lost the bike on a wet drain on a corner.
Im used to it now, rain used to worrie me alot at first, now I take it as it comes.
As for wind, be extra carefull on flyovers - Once I have been pushed into the other lane when I first got a 600, then the other last week where I almost went into the barrier.

[ken]

Don't know if anyone else does this. I let my tyres down a couple of pounds in the winter months (although I don't ride much in winter) as It gets them warmer quicker and less liable to skid, wash out.

And the valid points about, relaxing whilst still keeping total concentration at all times.
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latest bike 03 R1 in zee red and black

[mrbluesbox]

[Walloper]

[Kal]

Dress warm

It dosn't make you a sissy or a girl - it's a safety issue.

If you are cold then you will be thinking about that instead of what is happeing around you, and if you get very cold your thinking processes (assuming you aren't a troll ) and reactions will slow.

Midway through my first winter I got my first cold weather gear and I was surprised at the difference it made to my riding.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[mrbluesbox]

[Walloper]

[Feasty]

You wanna try riding my XR125 in this crap weather, especially last couple of days in the gales! Feels like I'm sailing rather than riding, and the cornering is sooo much slower - just in case that odd gust of wind decides to come and kick the bike out from underneath me as I'm leaning...

I've also gone through a few BIG puddles expecting the steering to be taken from my hands or something like in the car, didn't feel a thing though! (Apart from my bike boots that have now been smelly and damp for the past few days)
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).