riding in the wet

[Kaya75]

Hey all, just done about 75miles across A-roads through a city its being raining all day, still is.. It was the wettest I've ever being out in, and on my "new" bandit with shite tyres. Rain loves me, my cbt it pee'd down, my mod 2 I passed in the rain, by the end of my first "proper" outting on my first "big" bike I kinda started to love rain right back. It was seriously wet, spray, standing water, trucks the whole lot, and where did ALL the white paint come from!!? And all those deadly beautiful rainbows scattering every inch of black tar where white paint hadn't being laid... Why did I come to love the rain? I realised that impending doom don't half focus my riding and roadcraft! It also gives me more understanding of the bike, some slow riding experience that's for sure. I was practicing emergency stops the other day on a privately owned carpark locking up the back wheel and just trying to get to grips with size and weight and how it feels locking the back wheel. It was sunny and hot, I tried this morning and it was a skid pan, so I rode super slow, didn't really use the brakes much just to hold a complete stop really, am I being over cautious? i I was wondering what's the "proper" / accepted "best" ratio to brake in the wet F:R ?
:beer:

[Pigeon]

Whatever doesn't fire you into a hedge, or lay you on your arse

Each bike is different, different weight, suspension, wheelbase, tyre size, brake type, pad material etc

Roughly guessed, I think I'm currently
Dry = 80/20 front/rear
Wet = 70/30 front/rear

But the brake pressure in the wet is at least 50% less, everything is slower and smoother and planned further ahead.

[Taught2BCauti...]

+1 for forward planning.

Set yourself a challenge to not use the brakes above 25mph (if it is completely safe to do so) and just moving the lever enough to activate the stop light, and you will soon get a feel for it

Maybe even try 1 or 2 psi less in the back tyre if it keeps locking-up in the wet.
____________________
Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[Matt B]

[Kaya75]

Thanks for the replies, I on the <25mph trick, it seems a good way to go, Matt, pilot 3's coming soon, got a set lined up, just waiting for a coupl of weeks, one for cash and two so I can make friends with the bike without worrying about running tyres in. I put street pilots on my ybr, the difference was epic, just spoilt the tail slide fun... I went out early doors this morning before the rain and actually got to "ride" without masses of traffic or wet crappy roads. Awesome, so now the first ride is out of my system, I'm booking in the tyres Asaph.

I've not had anything but pilots but the difference was huge on the ybr, I had some nasty tyres on that at first, the rear acted like it was made of glass, I could lock the back wheel at will and even get a little snake going, it was a bit mad. But the pilots just changed the whole bike, looking forward to a set of 3's

[talkToTheHat]

Dropping pressure in the wet to increase contact patch? Myth, higher chance of aquaplane.

Increased use of back brake in the wet means increased chance of locking the rear.

Be smooth, apply the brakes really progressively. Applying back brake loads your front tyre. Got audi'd today in the rain at a roundabout. It was by a big motorcycle training school, i think he expected me to dither. Stood on back brake and big handful of front. Bike stopped. Bike stopped short. I think I was wearing my pillion though.
____________________
Bandit. does. everything.

[Islander]

[daifuco]

Last week I found out that I don't mind riding in the rain at all. It might be different when the rain is cold.

But I am really disappointed with my overtrousers, I was soaked inside. Is there any tip to stay dry inside? Or just better change clothes on arrival?

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I've just got a cheap pair of bin man's waterproofs - about a fiver off ebay.

As for riding in the rain, I don't mind it for the most part (as long it's not motorway). However I do think it's night and day different from riding in dry conditions. I also find that tailgating is more likely - you slow down, so people behind get frustrated. So you slow down some more, hoping they'll get the message. But it invariably adds up to a somewhat less relaxed ride.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[MCN]

[Ribenapigeon]