[bikerj]

"Every biker knows that if you don't ride in the rain, you don't really ride...."

I came across this statement at a website for a pretty cool product- a helmet/bike cam.
Here's the link to show I'm not making this up:

http://www.tachyoninc.com/bikercam.php

The statement got me thinking, and I would like to pose a few questions to the members here with no right or wrong answers:

1. Do you as a rider agree with this statement?
You can simply answer "yes" or "no" or you can elaborate.

I imagine most riders have been caught in some rain at least once to some degree or another. I've read some posts here of some rather long distances in the rain. For those who have:

2. How far or how long did you continue in the rain?
a) until it let up (or until you got to where you were going)?
b) until you got to the next overpass or dry spot to wait it out (assuming no rain gear)?
c) until you got to the next place to take shelter in a dry restaurant/store/hotel/etc. to
wait it out?
d) until you could navigate to an alternate course/route that was dry?

3. For those who have a choice of using a cage or riding your bike when you find it raining, how many take the bike anyway?

4. For those who would be riding two-up, how does this, if any, influence your answers to the above?

Again, no right or wrong answers. Just curious to know. :bmw:

 

[dabadou2]

I love riding in the rain. I'm dressed for it and it poses no issues for starting the ride or continuing.
This being said, there's a limit. When it's raining so hard it's dangerous - time to stop.

 

[bikerj]

I love riding in the rain. I'm dressed for it and it poses no issues for starting the ride or continuing.
This being said, there's a limit. When it's raining so hard it's dangerous - time to stop.

Thanks for the feedback :wave

 

[DaveDragon]

Funny, I used that quote in a novel. And I say Yes.

I ride rain or shine, hot or cold. Getting caught in the rain is just part of riding in Florida.

The longest distance I've traveled in the rain was from Morton Washington to Eureka California, down the PCH while on a vacation trip. Rained so hard it drowned the BMW/Garmin Street Pilot GPS, which is water resistant.

I have all the gear to be comfortable in the wet, but my gloves became so saturated that my hands kept getting cold, so I stopped at a grocery store and picked up a set of dish-washing gloves to slip over my riding gloves.
Looked funny as hell, but worked great.

 

[saddleman]

I enjoy riding in the rain & I don't slow down either unless it's a light sprinkle. Once the roads are washed by a good rain it's hammer down time. Watch out for manhole covers,railroad crossings & the paint on the pavement.. I don't have a car so that is a moot point. The farthest I've rode in the rain is just under 1,100 miles straight. I can't count the 800 mile plus trips I've had in the rain. I use to keep track of my yearly miles I rode in the rain (but not anymore) & one year was just under 12,000 miles.

 

[XMagnaRider]

"Every biker knows that if you don't ride in the rain, you don't really ride...."

1. Do you as a rider agree with this statement?
You can simply answer "yes" or "no" or you can elaborate.

2. How far or how long did you continue in the rain?
a) until it let up (or until you got to where you were going)?
b) until you got to the next overpass or dry spot to wait it out (assuming no rain gear)?
c) until you got to the next place to take shelter in a dry restaurant/store/hotel/etc. to
wait it out?
d) until you could navigate to an alternate course/route that was dry?

3. For those who have a choice of using a cage or riding your bike when you find it raining, how many take the bike anyway?

4. For those who would be riding two-up, how does this, if any, influence your answers to the above?

1. No. Who am I to judge what is in another rider's heart?

2. - (a) When I am riding, I do not stop for rain. I may take a brief pause to change or adjust gear, and then I go on. Rain adds to the fun and adventure. I have ridden all day in pouring rain. That said, if there were a safety risk (ice, lightning, tornadoes, flash floods ...) I would not hesitate. I would seek safe shelter immediately.

3. For local trips, it depends on where I am going and what I will be doing when I get there. For longer trips, the question is moot - I take the motorcycle unless the family is also on the trip.

4. SWMBO rides pillion only when conditions are ideal.

 

[bikerj]

I enjoy riding in the rain & I don't slow down either unless it's a light sprinkle. Once the roads are washed by a good rain it's hammer down time. Watch out for manhole covers,railroad crossings & the paint on the pavement.. I don't have a car so that is a moot point. The farthest I've rode in the rain is just under 1,100 miles straight. I can't count the 800 mile plus trips I've had in the rain. I use to keep track of my yearly miles I rode in the rain (but not anymore) & one year was just under 12,000 miles.

Thanks Dave for the feedback. All I can say is Wow! I'd cordially say you're hardcore. :bmw:

My most annoying issue is being able to see, so when I can't I wind up stopping- good excuse to take a break- maybe have a doughnut.

 

[Tracus]

Riding in the rain - been there done that. Two days of steady downpour from Franklin, NC to Harrisburg, PA. Riding solo on I-81. Likewise from Freeport, ME to the Delaware Water Gap.

Riding two up in the rain? Only when we were caught by a cloudburst in Colorado or heading home from Nova Scotia. The missus will tolerate rain, but prefers not to get soaked.

If it's raining in the morning and the forecast is for a sunny afternoon, I'll wait. My edict for travelling is borrowed from Thru-hikers on the A.T., "You have no where to go and all day to get there!"

As to whether I will venture out when it's raining depends on a couple of conditions.
1. A six mile round trip to the grocery store? Take the cage. Anything longer - ride.
2. How heavy is it raining? I don't care how much siping is on your tires, large puddles (Think pond or lake) and hydroplaning is no fun on two wheels.
3. How heavy is it raining? Motorists aren't expecting motorcycles to be out in the rain.

Which beggars this question, "Why do I see most rainsuits being offered in either grey or black? I know there are some in yellow in Hi-Viz, but is it just my perception that most are designed to make you blend in with the rain, mist and fog?

 

[05Train]

I've ridden in rain, snow, hail, and pretty much any other bad weather. I've ridden in rain so heavy that the bike's bogged down from water getting sucked into the intake. The key thing is having the right gear on, or in absence of that, being OK with getting wet.

I tend not to leave the house on the bike if it's raining, unless I'm heading out on a trip. If I'm commuting to work, I'll take the car. I don't have anything to prove to myself or anyone else, and I don't measure my worth or manliness based on the weather I ride in.

 

[kevincaron]

I am with 05train, if it is raining when I open the door I take the truck. Otherwise lets ride!!

 

[byke33]

If you never ride in the rain...how does your bike get clean?

Left at 4:30 am from Northern Burbs heading down to Norther Ga and NC smokies trip. didn't quit to Louisville. got my tunes cooking and well dressed in waterproof riding gear with Frogg togs over them and Rubber coated oversize mitts. A little dampness around the edges but I was dancing around and enjoying things....sure got some strange looks of pity/amusement from my fellow road users though.

Ron

 

[powwow]

Well, if you don't ride in the rain in the PNW, then your riding is pretty much limited to July through October. If, on the other hand, you don't mind the rain, then the riding season lasts all year as even winter temps are reasonably mild most of the time.

I have ridden in sprinkles, showers and torrential downpours. Other than being extra careful right after the rain starts (and staying out of the center of the lane, where oil drips become a dangerous slick until washed off) the LT is a superb ride in the rain. Great protection and you stay reasonably dry (as long as you're moving). I also have to put in a plug for the BMW Comfort Shell riding gear. Absolutely the most rainproof riding gear I have ever owned and I don't have to stop to put in a liner when the rain starts. My wife and I both have them, have ridden in all day downpours and stayed completely dry. Amazing stuff.

 

[pipestone]

I don't intentionally ride in the rain but it does come with the territory..so I'm always prepared gear wise. Some of my more memorable rides have been in the rain. If it were all sunshine / blue skies...what fun would that be

I don't mean to stray this off topic but was wondering...

Does anyone use front fender extensions...while riding in the rain?

Are there adverse effects in how the water spay is laid back towards the back tire?

 

[WhittleD]

I have to say, I hate riding in the rain. The poor vision, the slick lines, iffy traction.
I check the weather before every ride, and before heading to work (especially), I don't want to ride home in the rain if I don't have to. But I love it when it does rain and I catch the flack from the guys.
I am always prepared for it, don't stop unless its really heavy or there is lighting, But I still hate it. Besides all the other reasons, the water beads up at top of windshield and hits me in the face shield with big drops.

 

[ChrisSkor]

Riding through light rain can be a great way to cool down in 90+ degrees. Waking up the 2nd morning of a ride to another all day downpour makes me want to stay in bed.

As long as I keep moving on my R1200RT, I can stay reasonably dry is most rain. It is only when I stop at light I get wet.

I try to avoid riding at night, just way too hard to see the road.

--Chris

 

[BennyBob]

1. Yes, but there's a limit. Rain is one thing, severe weather is another topic, when wind, visibility or other developments create an unsafe environment, time to get off the road & wait it out.

2. e) all of the above (see answer to 1.)

3. One up, depends on forecast, two up it's the cage.

4. Mama don't like riding in the rain. If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

 

[bikerj]

My wife and I had just made it back to the airport in Lansing, Michigan after picking up our HD Wideglide w/ only 409 miles on it from a town about 40 min. or so away, and we were turning in the rental car when it started to sprinkle pretty good size drops. I got the business done, and we took off to find the hotel, and it was raining pretty good by the time we got out of the airport. I ended up going the wrong way to the hotel, and once we got pointed in the right way, we didn't have far to go, but it was rush-hour, so a lot of stop and go initially. We got on the local highway, which was a brief trip and got off at the exit and the hotel was just around the corner. I had called ahead of time to see if they had a place to park it out of the weather, and they gladly suggested I park it out front under the overhang where people drove up. We probably ran around in circles in the rain for a good 25 min. Anyway, I had been tense as all get out, hoping nothing would happen, jeopardizing my wife's well-being. We were as soaking wet as clothes taken out of the washing machine in mid cycle, leaving a trail of puddles all the way to the room. The hotel staff was very understanding, and my wife was in good spirits the whole time, and it was then I knew I had the perfect back seater. :dance:

We ran into a little rain leaving Lansing for Illinois, but it was very brief, and that was the last of the rain we saw while riding for the 1800+ mile trip. I guess I'll be buying rain suits for the next trip.

 

[bikerj]

Benny, I meant to ask you. I noticed you use to have a Concours. How did that handle in the rain and did you stay fairly dry w/ the available fairing on it?

 

[BennyBob]

My Connie was the original 1000cc version. I put a rifle windshield on her which created a quiet air pocket and kept me pretty dry (except for hands) unless I was sitting still. My wife was never quite comfortable on the Connie even with the Corbin seat & backrest. That thing ran like a scalded cat and was excellent in the twisties, it was like it read my mind. Could never get more than 5k out of the D205 radials but, MAN I miss that bike. That said, I could never ride more than 500 miles at a time due to engine vibration. My first LT ride was 600 miles and I've had many long rides without any hint of "hand buzzing."

 

[jeffklt]

I had to travel 350 miles one way to Blacksburg VA for a meeting Wednesday morning. Let Tuesday about noon knowing I would go through some showers but my gear is waterproof. No problem getting up there. Expected some of the same on my return Wednesday afternoon but felt like the Peanuts character on the way home. I have weather radar on my GPS and spent the majority of the day in yellows. While I don't particularly mind the rain, I would prefer dry weather. When I hit the reds on the radar that usually indicates significant wind and lightning and I tend to find those times to grab a bite to eat.