Riding in the rain...

[alanmcorcoran]

Having had some (bad) experience riding the bicycle in the rain, (and running a marathon in the rain), I'm a little apprehensive about taking a long ride (out) (say 350 miles) and then getting stuck the next day in a steady downpour on the way back.

I've done a little riding in the rain with the GZ, none so far with the 'Liner, and it's not so bad when it's a light drizzle, but I could see it getting old real fast if it is coming down heavy or it's wet for a long time. To you old-time riders, I have some questions:

1) Do any of you have a strict "no ride in the rain" policy?
2) What's the longest (in time or miles) that you've gone in the rain?
3) Do you ever sort of get used to it, and just accept it as part of touring?
4) I have a leather, allegedly waterproof jacket... (ICON Motorhead) but I don't trust that leather is waterproof. Is it common for people to wear a rainsuit, or other non-natural layer OVER a heavy leather jacket?

5) Is it better to take a chance on getting wet and do a possibly nice long ride, or should I just stick close to home and wait for an extended period of predicted clear skies?

[Water Warrior 2]

Having had some (bad) experience riding the bicycle in the rain, (and running a marathon in the rain), I'm a little apprehensive about taking a long ride (out) (say 350 miles) and then getting stuck the next day in a steady downpour on the way back.

I've done a little riding in the rain with the GZ, none so far with the 'Liner, and it's not so bad when it's a light drizzle, but I could see it getting old real fast if it is coming down heavy or it's wet for a long time. To you old-time riders, I have some questions:

1) Do any of you have a strict "no ride in the rain" policy?
2) What's the longest (in time or miles) that you've gone in the rain?
3) Do you ever sort of get used to it, and just accept it as part of touring?
4) I have a leather, allegedly waterproof jacket... (ICON Motorhead) but I don't trust that leather is waterproof. Is it common for people to wear a rainsuit, or other non-natural layer OVER a heavy leather jacket?

5) Is it better to take a chance on getting wet and do a possibly nice long ride, or should I just stick close to home and wait for an extended period of predicted clear skies?

1) I will go out in light rain providing the streets are washed clean. If I am already out and rain starts then a rain suit goes on. Or a waterproof liner in a jacket will do. A lot of it depends on the temps with rain. My first real experience with rain was at 50 some degrees F and heavy rain on the highway for a number of hours. I was not in waterproof gear and did suffer from hypothermia(sp).
2) See above, 60 to 70 MPH for a minimum of 6 hours.
3) Yes you get used to it Sort Of. You learn to dress and adapt for various weather conditions.
4) It is common for folks to wear whatever works for them. A rain suit is another layer of protection in the rain and will block the wind and lower temps are not as bad.
5) Load up on warm clothing and a rain suit. If you need them you have them. Ride Safe Alan.

[alantf]

Just remember that when it starts to rain after a dry spell, that the first thing that happens is that all the tiny bits of rubber that come off the tyres & get down into the pores of the tarmac will be be washed to the surface. This means that until the road has had a steady downpour on it, it will be as slippery as hell.

[Easy Rider]

1) Do any of you have a strict "no ride in the rain" policy?
2) What's the longest (in time or miles) that you've gone in the rain?
3) Do you ever sort of get used to it, and just accept it as part of touring?
4) I have a leather, allegedly waterproof jacket... (ICON Motorhead) but I don't trust that leather is waterproof. Is it common for people to wear a rainsuit, or other non-natural layer OVER a heavy leather jacket?
5) Is it better to take a chance on getting wet and do a possibly nice long ride, or should I just stick close to home and wait for an extended period of predicted clear skies?

1) Yes, but the best laid plans of mice and men.......and all that!
2) 100 miles; 6 hours WITHOUT the proper gear. Godawful.
3 & 4) Yes with the proper gear (a good rain suit) it is not bad unless it turns REALLY cold.
5) I now do the second because I am a wussy. I am not afraid of rain; just avoid it when possible.

Tip of the day: Regardless of what bike you are on and how good your gear is you MUST slow down. Just because the trucks and cages can maintain 70 in relative safety does NOT mean that you can on the bike. If you have any sense at all you will discover this in the first few minutes.

[Sarris]

:plus1:

To Easy. I'm not a "rain gear" sorta guy, so I avoid it if I can. I usually won't start a ride while raining, but won't stop if it rains. (I don't ride typhoons)


:)

[JWR]

Riding in the rain is not all that bad.
With a shield on the bike and over 30 mph, about all that gets wet is your hands and knees down to your boots.
http://www.froggtoggs.com/ is a good light rain suit that is sold in most cycle shops.

Back off a little and easy on the stops. Going straight and corners are usually not bad.

Jerry

How important are the tires? The only couple of times I rode in the rain, it was a relatively light rain both times, and I still felt like my rear end was water planing pretty bad. As a relative noob, it scared the hell out of me. I've since purchased new tires, but not really ridden in the rain on them, but I've also read in other places that the gz250 is not good in the rain generally. What do the veteran riders say?

Keith

[patrick_777]

My GZ is awesome in the rain. I intentionally went out and rode in the rain (parking lot exercises and such) to get used to the slip on pavement, and had a hard enough time intentionally skidding. I have since become very confident in the rain on the GZ and the Ninja. Both handle very much better than I expected, and I am still very impressed.

[Chris]

This veteran (bikes and military) rider will not ride in the rain. Even if I live through it I am not having any fun and that is my main purpose.
Thirty years ago I was riding down a highway in a heavy rain and not thinking much about it. I put my foot down on the wet pavement and it hydroplaned so easily I could not believe it. My foot was just like on ice! Then I realized how tiny my tire patch was on the wet pavement and cut way down on my speed. Never rode in the rain again. This is dangerous enough without dramatically increasing your odds of going down.
Not everyone agrees, of course, and I spent the night in the emergency room with a guy that is smarter now.

Chris, retired near Atlanta

[Easy Rider]

How important are the tires?

but I've also read in other places that the gz250 is not good in the rain generally. What do the veteran riders say?


Tires are important for riding in general and EVERYTHING for riding in the rain.

Performance when the road is wet vaires by tread style; some styles get squirrley with more tread left than others. If you have wear bars showing OR any one groove that is almost gone, you should PARK it when the road is wet.

Riding (safely) in the rain takes a completely different mindset; no leaning, no sudden stops or starts, no sudden swerves.....and in order to do that, you must be going WAY slower than normal. Brakes also lose a lot of efficiency when wet.

Can you ride fast in the rain? Sure, some riders can......if they have really good tires and practice in the rain to get a handle on the different skills needed. MOST riders should NOT, however.

As for the GZ not being good in the rain: It probably won't "stick" to the road as good as an 800 pound bike with wider tires but other than that, it really depends on the tires.

[alanmcorcoran]

After giving it some thought, I postponed my two day trip and went on a 300 miler one day-er that started and ended in my garage. As someone above pointed out, "if you're not having fun, what's the point?" I'm sure there will be a longer window of predicted clear skies in the future.

[Joho]

I drove from Ft Lauderdale, FL to Myrtle Beach, SC via I-95 in August 2008 (rainy season!)

The ride *to* FL was great! Sunny skies, warm wind - an all around great 10 hr drive.

However, the ride HOME took 13 hours, and it was raining 50% of the time. I had become so worried about visibility on the interstate that I tied a bright red/green t-shirt to my backpack. This made me feel a bit safer, but I had not dressed for the rain and was completely soaked. (down to the underwear)

I was VERY lucky that it was not cold enough to induce hypothermia. I made it home in one piece, but since then, I am weary about riding in even light downpours, simply because I hate arriving at my destination wet.

[Easy Rider]

I was VERY lucky that it was not cold enough to induce hypothermia.

Sounds much like my ordeal, though mine was much shorter but somewhat colder......as my teeth would chatter at times and had to stop once or twice to let the "shakes" pass. :skull: :cry:

I certainly feel your "pain". On my trip, with steady light to moderate rain, I found I could NOT stand the interstates; trucks that normally don't bother me are formidable foes when they are throwing up a WALL of water. Thankfully I had a sparcely traveled 2-lane as an alternative.

Two "words":
Rain suit
Flexible schedule

While I don't dwell a lot on what I might do if the rider or bike "breaks" during a trip, I DO give some thought to what the options are if the weather turns nasty. Strapping the bike into the back of a rental truck is always the last option.......for breakdowns too, I guess.

[dhgeyer]

Riding in the rain, in my view, is not an ordeal, and can be almost as much fun as riding when it's not raining. But, you have to have gear that keeps you dry, and you have to be more careful. Traction is compromised, and so is visibility - yours and other drivers' ability to see you.

I got into touring about 7 years ago - a week, two weeks - three weeks. On longer rides, you just have to accept that a certain amount of rain is part of the adventure. I'd much rather ride in rain than sit a day out in a motel room doing nothing. There have been days when I rode hundreds of miles in steady, hard rain.

I've been through several rain suits, and have yet to find one that will keep me dry in a steady, day long rain or a shorter heavy downpour. Frog Togs don't even come close. I have a two piece Tourmaster rain suit that's a little better, but the pants won't keep me dry if it rains much. The top works quite well, and is brightly colored to help people see me.

What really works is a pair of riding pants I got at my BMW dealership. Didn't look at the brand at the time, and the only marking I can find on them now is "Reviti". Anyway, they are all weather pants with a removable liner that has kept me warm down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and dry in steady, hard rain for hours at a time. My Olympia riding jacket is completely waterproof, but if I'm expecting rain I put the Tourmaster rain jacket on over it anyway. I don't get wet at all. You need good boots with Gore Tex. Everything must fit so that it overlaps like shingles. And, of course, a full face helmet with a good rubber seal for the face shield. The HJC's have never let me down. Years ago, in a little hardware store in Andover, Ohio, I bought a pair of rubber coated, bright orange gloves. I think they're designed for linemen, but I'm not sure. They don't leak at all, and have just enough cuff to overlap my rain jacket. This whole outfit will keep me totally dry in a day long hard rain in any kind of riding.

People with more money buy one piece, all weather riding suits. They will protect against almost any kind of weather except extreme heat, and there are solutions to even that problem. One day maybe I'll invest in one of those.

I actually find it rather exhilarating to ride in the rain. But, you do have to recognize that there is some increased risk, and be extra careful. As pointed out, you don't want to do this on tires that are badly worn, as you need those grooves to prevent hydroplaning. And you don't have as much traction as on dry road.

One other thing. On bikes with chains, you want to relube the chain immediately after riding in any rain that amounts to anything.

As I write this I just got back two days ago from a ride up to Watertown, NY and back. Not a real long ride, and dry some of the way. A lot of light rain on the way up, and a horrific thunderstorm for the last hour into Watertown. I got suited up early, as I have learned the hard way several times that, after it starts pouring, it's too late to put your rain gear on - you're going to get soaked anyway! Anyway, it was about 350 miles each way from here, all two lane, and I enjoyed every mile of it, rain or shine!

There is a certain die hard culture among some riders, who say "If you don't ride in the rain, you don't ride.". I wouldn't go that far myself, but I gotta tell ya, the way this year has been around here, if you don't ride in the rain, you don't ride much!

[alantf]

you have to have gear that keeps you dry

Not being able to afford the fancy prices they were asking, in England, for riding gear, I went to a camping store & bought a two piece waterproof suit designed for hikers. This was around 10 years ago. I still use the suit - just spraying it, each year, with waterproofing solution. I've had no problems, & it keeps me dry. I wear a 3/4 helmet & the only exposed area (when I put on the suit) is around the mouth. The suit rolls up into a mesh bag, so it's small enough to keep in a saddlebag, all the time.

Just in passing - A coupla years ago I bought a can of reproofer in a giant supermarket, over here. When they passed it through the scanner I realised that somebody had made a BIG mistake, as the price came up as a few centimos (a dime?), so I went back in & bought the entire stock (around 15 cans). Over here the law says that they must sell at the asking price, so they were obliged to let me have them, so I'm set up for a few years to come. :2tup:

[davedrave]

I live in Ireland and so definately ride in the rain. Im actually dryer on the bike than I would be using public transport PROVIDED I have my wet gear on the bike.

Little tip: Although obviously not as protective, ski pants give great rain and cold protection and are usually much cheaper than motorcycle trousers

[burkbuilds]

Lately I have been riding in the rain a lot around Atlanta. It's not my favorite weather to ride in, but as dhgeyer pointed out, dress for it and you don't really get wet, just takes a little longer at both ends of the ride getting into and out of all that gear. As Easy pointed out, slow down, don't risk taking the turns with a heavy lean and give yourself some extra room for braking. If the car in front of you locks it up on the highway you probably will need more room to stop under control than that car will, so back off. As to enjoyment, well, I don't enjoy riding in the rain as much as I enjoy riding on beautiful sunny days, but as I got off the bike the other day in a heavy downpour I remember thinking, "I'd rather be on the bike in the rain than in my truck".

[Easy Rider]

If the car in front of you locks it up on the highway you probably will need more room to stop under control than that car will, so back off.

Very true.....and somewhat understated.

The car panics and locks up all 4. That will probably result in a momentary loss of control that can be corrected with just a little skill.

The bike on wet pavement, however, if all the wheels lock up, you won't have time to recover before you are down and sliding. Back WAY off ! :cool:

[alantf]

We have a BIG problem with cars/rain in Tenerife. The Spanish are just not used to those conditions, so when it DOES rain, one of two things happen. They either just keep on driving at the same crazy speed (and I've never seen a rainy day, yet, without 3 or 4 BAD accidents) or they slow down to walking pace, holding everyone up, & causing the mad drivers to overtake & cause even more accidents. I reckon that it's not more traffic cops handing out tickets that they need - just more educating. Having driven in England for most of my life, rain is just a way of life on the roads, so it amazes me, just how much it throws the Spanish drivers. Thank God it never snows! :cry:

[Water Warrior 2]

It's not just the rain in Spain. Rain anywhere seems to make drivers go brain dead and stop using common sense.

[Red_bike]

I was on the road back in Oct heading to Va for a funeral and needed to get up there fast and it looked like rain so I started the ride with my rain suit on.
After about 50 miles it hit and it stayed with me. I guess I was about 200 miles into a 500 mile ride and the rain had soaked into the rain covers on my feet and into my boots, my feet had gotton wet and cold. I knew this would not work so I started looking for somewhere to stop. I pulled into a Tractor Supply Co and spent $12 for some rubber boots that were on sale and man, did they do the job. It still rained on me the entire ride but my feet were dry. They are not the safest boots to wear while riding but they do keep my feet dry and warm. Now they are part of my rain gear that I keep with my bike.

Duck