Is it worth it? (rain)

[rac3r]

Riding in the rain. BTW this isn't a 'im a all year biker' blah blah blah thread, I want some advice!

Now first of all I don't have to use my bike for anything, uni is close enough to walk (30 mins) or bus but sometimes I ride the longer way round and the rest of the time it's 'for fun' rides. At the moment I only ride when it's pretty much dry as I'm a bit of wimp

Should I force myself to ride in the rain? or is it a more of a 'ride in the rain only if you need to' thing

Stupid question probably but oh well
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[BanditJeff]

If i have to go somewhere and its raining i take the van. I dont like getting the bike shitted up with road crud and like it looking pristine all the time.

[That_Hornet]

I enjoy the rain sometimes. Stick some waterproofs on and stick some warm clothes on and off you go.

Some one said on here quite recently they are surprised how much grip they have in the rain. So am I.................


Go for it.

[Maruchino]

Unless it's absolutely hammering it down it makes no odds. If you're in a downpour it's going to end up miserable regardless of what you wear or how high your spirits are!

[TheDonUK]

The rain is fine if you have proper gear and decent tyres

I think its fair enough to say that riding in less than optimal traction conditions (rain) will improve your riding when the grip comes back to you...

I used to go for fun rides in the rain, now i just save the 20 quid or so for a nicer day.

Having been without a bike for 10 days now if it was fixed and ready to ride now (its raining here) i would...
____________________
[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[Ichy]

What happens if you go for a ride out and it rains?

[Tonka]

Only ridden the offroad bike in the rain. Got caught out last weekend riding back on the road and, with an open face helmet, it's not to be recommended. Felt like pins on the face, very uncomfortable and my goggles kept steaming up too. Not a happy experience and very much a necessity rather than a pleasure.
____________________
'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[strag]

Bollox to that, if it rains the bike stays in and the car gets used.
____________________
carbon bling

[BanditJeff]

[Jayy]

I was also wondering, how do you commuters cope when it's pissing it down hard and you're on the motorway?

What I mean by that is, whenever I'm riding down normal roads and it rains heavily, I can't see shit out my visor, so can't imagine what it's like doing 70mph on a motorway in heavy rain.

[nasty]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[neil.]

To be absolutely honest I don't notice a massive difference in grip when it's raining, as in I can't lock the wheels easily, but that's probably because the brakes suffer in the wet anyway. Car drivers tend to do silly things in the rain and drive way too close. Visibility is crap, the bike gets filthy, you have to keep cleaning and lubing the chain, if you don't have decent waterproof gear you get soaked and feel like absolute poo... I only do it because I have to as I can't afford the train. I would avoid it if I could.
____________________
CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[rac3r]

I've only been caught in the rain once on my old 125 and that was very light rain.

That's what I mean, I have a choice. Is it worth going out on purpose just on chance that I might learn a bit more?
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[metalangel]

My week of having to ride regardless of the weather (which this week meant rain) is over and today I was very glad of the car as it was just like Saturday again... pissing it down going into work and pissing it down coming back.

I don't enjoy riding in the rain but I don't really have too much of a problem with it. I tend to take it easier, mostly because I can't see as well first off, with the slippery conditions second.

Rain in the dark, though, is awful... all those droplets just turn into a kaleidoscope of tailights and headlights.
____________________
Previous: 2002 Honda CB500 (sold), 2007 Suzuki SV650SK6 (crashed), 2005 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer (sold). Currently bikeless
"A faired bike will get you 10x more clunge than a unfaired one." -Marlboro Matt

[Rowey]

I can get the bus to work. It's about a 1hour journey going by bus or 20mins going on my bike.

If I had the choice then sometimes, in heavy rain, I would like to drive a car. But bike wins over public transport in all situations but snow/ice.

My least favourite rain is that light clingy shit. The stuff that sticks to your visor but wont bead. Heavy rain isn't too bad especially on motorways as it just streams off.

And my BT021's work very well in the rain.
____________________
ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[c-m]

If you are wearing proper gear what difference does it make whether its raining or not?

Its a bad as saying driving in the rain, is it worth it? or Walking in the rain is it worth it, or cycling in the rain (likely you get you wettest) is it worth it?

[G]

I prefer riding a bike in the rain than taking the car for my commute - in the rain the car journey takes ever longer and is even more miserable as traffic is worse.
As above - I try and make sure I have the right kit. For my commute draggin jeans and a textile jacket. For longer journeys the Roadcrafter is very good at keeping dry despite hardly taking longer than a jacket to put on.

[swiftb]

[Fahd]

[Paulington]

I don't mind riding in the rain, it's a different kind of fun as previously stated and the feeling of raindrops on my leathers/wetsuit as they hit is actually quite relaxing whilst riding. .
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[Doovy]

pfft. its amazing to be out riding in the rain (in the correct gear obviously helps, goretex trousers, waterproof gloves and boots and rainjacket) because you can sit there and not feel wet, even if its pissing down around you.

gotta just smile at it riding style has to be adapted but ive had some awesome rides home from uni in the pissing; and i mean absolutely pissing, those few weeks in jan+feb of torrential rain, 20 miles home.
____________________
Yamaha RXS 100 > Honda CD 250 > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda CBR 600RR > Yamaha RXS 100 > Kawasaki ZX6R J2 > Yamaha FZ1

[chris-red]

I ride to work rain or shine, it's not exactly an achievement and it sucks. Still better than public transport. It's only snow and ice I don't bother with now as it is easy to use public transport I've been there seen it not the tshirt crashed the bike and it is pointless, IMO when there is heavy snow a 30 min journey takes 3 hours, I can do it on the train in 1hr 15 and I'm not as cold and tired.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[G]

[Visitor Q]

If I had a car as well, I'd probably use the bike if their was the slightest hint of traffic or decent corners to be encountered.

A dull blat down a motorway in the rain sucks.

But fook it, invest in some skiing salopettes (I don't care how you spell it) and just lob them over your jeans. Job done.

I wouldn't go for a ride for the sake of it in the rain, but then I only get the urge for a random blat when the weathers exceptional anyway. But never let it put you off going somewhere. And I'd rather be 5 minute bike wet then 30 minutes walk wet.
____________________
China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...