n00b riding in rain

[c_dug]

I've only had the bike on the road a few days, im finding riding in the dry really good, loads of grip and the bike handles like a dream round the lanes however today i had to ride home from work in the rain and the front end felt like it was floating around, i have a feeling the front end even locked up at one point (glad i did an offroad course a few months back and learned how to deal with locking the front wheel ).
I also found myself riding around in 5th and 6th gear because i was so paranoid about spinning up the back wheel.

I felt like a bit of a pleb having to slow down to such an extent, its not like i was holding anybody up but i was only just touching 40mph down some lanes that are normaly 60+, i think some new tyres would help as the current ones are getting on abit, still plenty of tread but i think the front is about 7 years old now (bike was sat in the garage for a long time)

I know braking should be 50-50 front to back ratio etc but the bike still didnt feel right and tight bends became a nightmare!

Any suggestion or tips?

thanks

c_dug
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Alex-RS]

Defo suggest getting your tyres replaced. And would also like to say, don't for 1 second feel like a pleb for slowing down, you will feel even more of a pleb for coming on here saying "I binned it going too fast in the wet". I personally hate riding in the rain with a burning passion but the more you do it the more comfortable you feel with yourself and the bike, so I would say once those new tyres on, spend 20 minutes extra after work in the rain and get your braking as comfortable as possible mate.
Good luck

[Stelmer]

I tend to go through the gears and use the engine as well. Just don;t go down too fast or the rear locks up.

False of habbit from the car but it seems to work for me.

[Moonie]

I was told 75-25 front-back?
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Don't practice it until you get it right, practice it until you don't get it wrong.
Presenting the one and only Chinkmobile

[c_dug]

[tutton]

Would of thought 75 on the front is likely to make your front fade out and see you sliding along sideways

Ye, wet riding just needs more thought, like leave 4 second gaps between cars insted of 2.

Leave more space to brake,
Do actions slowly, slowly break, slowly feath clutch when downshifting. that kind of thing,

I just ride like 25% slower in wet, scared of hurtin myself bad ha.
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Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Ravo]

Increase your stopping distance and space cushion by about 1.5x in the rain. Your only worry will be getting wet.

[ms51ves3]

[ratboy]

try keep everything smooth, plan a bit further ahead and anticipate breaking earlier. try avoid things like drains/grates as they get slippery when wet, and watch the road carefully for oils and unfirmiliar surfaces. i tend to set off slowly and try gauge the conditions, being more cautious of changes in the road surface, and build to a level i feel fairly safe with.


tom

[St0rmer66]

[thx1138]

If commuting in the rain, do watch out not to be braking on the white road markings, specially at rounabouts in rush hour. Find yourself braking on a nice white arrow....

Just allow a bigger gap, and ride so as not invite car drivers to overtake you, esecially if you are on a 50 or small 125.

[Kal]

Keep it slow, keep it smooth, don't lean it as far, don't hit standing water hard (or you will aquaplane) use your brakes evenly 50/50

If you are cold wet and uncomfortable then take a break - comfort IS a safety issue.
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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

[tristan]

What bike have you got, is it the one in your avatar?

The reason you are being tentative is not due to the tyres, bike or wholey road conditions but because you are inexperienced and have yet to learn how hard you can safely push the bike in the wet without falling off. I'm the same, and ride quite hesitantly in heavy rain - as you should, but am beginning to understand how to ride the bike in those conditions.

The only thing you can do to improve your speed up to a pace which isn't holding cars up is to keep riding, but in the mean while don't worry how fast you're going; look at the road ahead and not at your dials. Smoothness is key as said, I very rarely use my rear brake, but for god sake use that instead of a handful of front if you go into a bend and see yourself straying wide in the wet

[c_dug]

yup thats the one, apart from today its decided to stop working again so i wont be worrying about riding in the rain for a little while

cheers for the advice guys

c_dug
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Noxious89123]

Rear ends slides are easy to control and regain control, so always go for the rear brakr it the wet. I use the front just enough to let me know it's doing something.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[Seb]

+1 on the smoothness, riding in the rain is a good thing imho, it forces you to plan further ahead and in more detail, as for the front end feeling vague, I get the same on the RST, shifting my weight a bit further forward than normal tends to help a ton, it restores a lot of front end feedback giving me more confidence in my front tire.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[DidierD]

Not sure what you guys think but I find leaning off the bike a bit more round corners tends to keep the bike slightly more upright which gives me more confidence in getting round the bends. I do still go a lot slower in the wet though and use the back brake a lot more.

The good thing about the wet though is it cleans your helmet all nicely for you
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Bike - '98 Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat Pics

31st March 2008 - Fully converted from four wheels to 2 sets of two wheels