confidence in the rain

[Bubbs]

Can't seem to ride when it's raining. When it's dry I have all the confidence in the world but the second it get's wet and the rain is coming down i'm convinced I'm going to wash out and slam down.

How do I get over this? Just ride like an absolute n00b in the rain. I used to be ok until on day on one corner I was banked over, round a long sweeping left bend and there was a line of tar in the middle of the road, both wheels slipped out and as it caught it forced the bike up slightly and put me into oncoming traffic. Managed to force it back into the corner but it shit me up.

Any advice?

Just feel my arms tensing up on the handlebars which is causing the bike to ride badly. Can't seem to stop myself.
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[The999Kid]

Im like that in the dark... as soon as it'd dark and i cant see beyond my headlights i turn into a right granny!
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NDB 19/10/1989 - 1/11/2010 |Nowhere.Elyseum wrote: I get the distinct feeling that Tim should be our secret weapon for future trolling. I don't know many people that can rip the piss in Iambic pentameter

[Sload]

Dont ride in the rain.


Or spend some money and go do a bike skidpan type day, should be some available.
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Honda Varadero >> Triumph Speed Four >> Honda CBR1100xx

[Mikey3]

Ideally in the rain you wanna just try to stay as upright as possible, generally as well as cornering .
Its not a race, just take your time (dont take the piss slow though) but ride within your limits; you've no need to push them, youre not breaking any records .
I feel the same in the wet, im not confident leaning, but you wont be the one looking stupid when someone goes round the outside of you on a roundabout cranked over and hits the infamous rainbow puddle... you can never predict anything in the rain, expect the unepected, and ride accordingly.

Mike
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'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[Alpha-9]

Do it more, get used to it.

I'm not looking forward to riding in the rain again after crashing, in the rain. But I will, it's england, you don't have a choice.
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Fzr-600 1999

[Recluso]

[chris-red]

Keep a positive throttle round bends, if you are off the throttle it loads the front up more. I also recently got my suspension set up properly that made a big difference to my confidence in the wet.
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[Bubbs]

[shazza65]

Ride slower, anticipate more, lean less, and practice until you get some confidence back. Somebody else said "it is not a race" -- it is not so don't ride beyond your limits.
If you can, get an experienced and reliable mate to go with you while you gain experience and confidence, and if you can afford it, get some advice from a professional trainer, even if it is just an hour.
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Adios to Bandit and Ninja. Hello VFR.

[shazza65]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv8cVOkfvTI&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL9E24363DBFE7B44A

Bubbs, have a wee looksie at this video to help with your confidence (not sure if the link is posted right but I'm sure someone will let me know).
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Adios to Bandit and Ninja. Hello VFR.

[sidewinder]

I think iv'e learn't something today

On another note what is the case of action if you do feel your bike going on you in the wet?

[Mikey3]

[daemonoid]

New tyres!

I switched my no brand crap to som Michelin road pilot 2s, massive confidence boost. It's strange, but you can feel the improved rubber way before you're any where near the edge.
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current: ducati monster 750
past: hyosung gt250r, bajaj pulsar 180, hyosung gt 125 comet
@thomasgarrard | www.straitjkt.com | www.racingseven.com

[shazza65]

[JoeDougieDoug...]

I had exactly the same problem, just do it more and more and you will be fine!

Also, don't be scared of the rainbow patches, I have found that most of the time you can ride over them (both and straights and around medium-tight corners) without too much trouble Don't take the piss though, or they'll bite you in the ass.
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CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[Dazbo666]

-Easy on the throttle

-Easy on the brakes

-Avoid manhole covers, particularly in corners

-Look further ahead, so that you can prepare for the ^ steps
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[garth]

Adopt a sm style riding position and practise getting tail happy.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Bubbs]

Thanks for all the tips.

I think it's pretty impossible to miss all drains and manhole covers, they are located in some stupid places.

Think i'm just going to do my 30mile ride in to work tomorrow riding similar to dry conditions to see how much grip ive got.What's the worse that can happen?

Another question... does anyone here have pinlock in their visors? My visor is crap for misting up, especially in the rain. Do they work?

Oh and is there a product that stops rain from sticking to the front of your visor?

I commute on my ninja 80miles a day and these's small things are doing my head in.
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[scream aim fire]

Will never forget when I was on my RS coming down a bendy hill in the rain and the back slid out...fuck knows how but it sorted itself out...Not panicking was probably the reason I never went down

Shit myself big time though
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CBT PASSED 18/01/09 THEORY PASSED 14/04/09 DAS PASSED 17/04/09 3 minors wet test.
Bikes: 2009 Aprilia RS125 (PX'D) - A1P ZX6R - Stolen -Triumph Daytona 600 -wrote off via BMW
Current bike: P7F ZX6R

[GetawayDj]

Riding when its absolutely pissing it down can be a nightmare...even more so in the dark, just take it easy and dont let any stupid cars/vans pressure you into anything, had an idiot transit driver right up arse tonight on my way to work, decided to overtake me right before the roundabout and cut me up......what a genius. I like how all the manhole covers are positioned in the best spots aswell
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CBF 125 (sold), XJ 600 Diversion (sold), RF900
Renault Kangoo x2 (sold), Ford Transit x 2

[Howling Terror]

[Suntan Sid]

I'm not troubled by these conditions anymore, , however:-

Try and RELAX.

In conditions you're not comfortable with try and relax.
The more stressed you are the worse your riding will be.
If you're not relaxed, your body tenses up, you'll tend to have a "death grip" on the handle bars and you'll end up not moving around on the bike, at all.
None of these things are conducive to riding smoothly!

If you're not happy with how the bike feels in wet conditions, try and do a day off roading, on a trail bike.
If you've not done it before you'll be amazed how out of shape a bike will get without spitting you off. It'll get you used to a bike squirming around underneath you: you'll also get a feel of how hard you can brake in dodgy conditions, (assuming you don't have ABS).
Yeah, you'll fall off, but it's better doing it here than on the road, you'll learn a lot about your own capabilities and what you can expect from a bike.
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[cornish]

[moppy]

Pinlock works exceptionally well. I don't think I could go back to a helmet without it now.

Riding in the rain, came back from seeing Avengers with the missus on the back last night, been drizzling for about 3 hours by then. Went around a corner, all fine, hit one of those metal squares in the road (tiny little ones, dunno what they are) and felt the back end skid right over it for about half a sec. Caught some grip again, nothing happened but yeesh you do shit a brick for that half sec.

But it's all about practice, I spent 2 days riding around the 3rd highest road in the world in India and calling it a road is a bit much. Lots of steep inclines, gravel & sand instead of tarmac, you get used to the back sliding out and almost enjoying it

Just ride at a speed you're comfortable with, stay as upright as you can on corners and look a lot further ahead and be prepared to start stopping sooner.

[Bubbs]

So I spent the day in the rain, and decided to loosen up and ride just that little bit slower and take the corners with same body positioning as in the dry. I noticed in the rain I got wet which made me not want to move around the bike as much which made me tense and ride like a knob.

Well today was great. Proper hanging off and having a gentle touch on the steering... not much different from the dry really, don't know why I was doing it so wrong. Confidence I guess.

Biking is a funny activity.. The more you try the harder it is. All of your survival reactions make you more likely to die!! It's like backwards land.

Thanks for your advice by the way it really helped.
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.