Is riding in heavy rain on the motorway safe?

[guile]

New job means I might be commuting in British weather on 60/70mph roads in the British winter (rain, ice etc).

Never ridden at those speeds in rain but know I can't see a forkin thing in heavy rain even at 20/30 mph. I havn't tried rain products for visors yet. Still the thought of it scares me - aquaplaning under a truck etc.

Am I being a pussy?

[CaNsA]

[TheArchitect]

In the heaviest of rain keep your speed as low as safely possible and avoid riding behind big vehicles that will have lots of spray behind them.

Re visor treatments, imo RainX and pinlock is all you need. RainX is the best thing for dispersing water off your visor. You may need to retreat your visor after a particularly bad wet journey. I tend to keep a bottle at home and one at work just in case. Pinlock will keep the inside of the visor fog free. That's all you need rally.

For the colder months get yourslf some decent gloves or mitts over the grips otherwise your fingers will fall off from the cold.
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GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
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[Pol Anorl]

Rain x isnt meant for plastic visors.
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[P.]

Ride fast, turn head slightly, clears visor like magic.

[Celera]

[natefz6]

Speed keeps my visor fairly clear in pretty heavy rain, when its really really wet you cant see shit for spray you will have to slow down.

I will say figure out a good place to dry your shit, i.e above a radiator. putting on wet clobber to go to work in the next day or ride home in the same day sucks.
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[TheArchitect]

[monkeybiker]

Make sure your visor is clean and has no scratches. If it has scratches either polish them out with a plastic polish or replace the visor.

On the motorway turning your head sideways the wind will blow off the rain. For slower speeds my winter gloves have a wiper thing on the thumb.

Also the alpinestar andes drystar clothing is very good in the wet. I only have the trousers as I like to use my leather jacket and have a waterproof top to go on if it rains heavy.

Best trousers I have had. Once I have had in the past always let water in but these I have been completely dry.

[andyscooter]

Only ever been scared in rain once

It was monsoon like and you couldn't see the road through water
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[Fowlersrs]

It's all great until you have to stop fast, then you might aswell just pray. Mind you, you could say that about riding in the dry too

[Beehive Bedlam]

It isn't too bad you just get used to it though I would recommend some rukka textiles or rain suit and a chain oiler for the bike if you have to ride in such conditions on a regular basis.

Even with the best gear money can buy it is still utter shit I always get envious when I see people in cars with nice warm heater especially in the winter when it is bitterly cold.

[RhynoCZ]

Avoid puddles/standing water. Also, never use your brakes on the white stuff on the tar.
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'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[ForestRunner]

Two winters on a 125 down dual carriageway for my commute.
(Norfolk doesn't have motorways )
It's OK.
Strong cross winds are more of a bother, that and snow...

Said I wanted to ride in the snow for the experience. Done that now Being able to make a snowball with what had accumulated on the tank was fine on slow town roads, but dual carriageway, not so much fun....
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[Parson]

On the bad day's I take the car. Nothing like heated seats, climate control and electrically heated windows in the rain.

Yup, I know I am a woos!!
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Then gsx650F - Now VFR800F

[Wonko The Sane]

You'll often find one or two slower routes that run alongside the motorway allowing you to have a break if it's really bad.

You may find that traffic grinds to a halt allowing you to carefully filter through
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[stinkwheel]

With standing water, it can be impossible to see anything at all within a 30 yard radius of an HGV due to the spray.

I generally keep well back. Pull out into lane 3. Wait for a straight bit, spot the way is clear then accelerate like holy hell to blast through the blind area as quickly as possible. Be aware it can be like running into a wall when you hit the curtain of spray.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[c-m]

[MCN]

As Stinkers mentioned stay out the spray as much as possible.
If lane three (the fast lane) is clear then pass vehicles in that lane.

Mind that you may be less visible in vehicle spray so watch for dopey cnuts pulling into the lane too.
The usual rule normally applies for them. Move out just as the indicator is switched on. I can ever understand the point or logic in that. Do they think they are driving courteously.

Driving in rain also lets you see how air moves around vehicles. If there is massive spray then there is lots of drag/turbulence.
You can get buffeting from this if you sit in the 'dirty air' from vehicles in front. It can affect your vision if if shakes your head and you could miss some edjit doing something stupid.
Pull back out of it.

I also used big trucks as a rolling battering ram when riding in that thick fog.
If he blooters into something invisible you may get some warning and be able to stop. And it also helps protect you from any dopey fcuker crossing over onto your side and taking you out.