Yes you can, but grip? Yeah, but if you lose it you can slide hard. I ride 10 to 12 hrs a day in Britain as a courier. The best tires are round meaty sports bike tires, if you slip a bit you have more patch contact tire run off to catch the tire again and stop the slide.
hey papa yam, i was wondering, does the Motorcycle Give away also include people outside of the USA?> if someone wins from europe, does the bike get shipped over seas? how does this work
this video dropped around an hour after my first time biking in the rain - buddy of mine said it's my baptism lol. legs soaked, felt like I was sitting in a puddle of water, got water in my jeans under my thighs. got home soaking wet, doing well.
Practiced rain, night, and rain at night extensively in my first couple months. You're right; once you're soaked, you just accept it and keep riding. Seeing through rain at night is insane and not something I'll intentionally do now that I have the experience.
Stuff that's rather slick when wet: Paint stripes Metal grating (drain lids, sewer covers, slatted bridges) Metal rails (as in RR crossings) Wooden surfaces (as in RR crossings) Tar snakes Patches of pavement where the pavers messed up the mixture and made essentially "black ice" out of tar spots. And good word on the "sport-touring" type tires. These tires heat up much quicker to operating grip temperature than "sports" tires, especially in cold temperatures (air and road surface).
@@davidbrayshaw3529 True that. Also stuff that's slick when it's not raining: Sand Leaves Grass clippings Gravel Dirt/manure (from farm equipment) Tar snakes on a very hot day And people want to put a bunch of distraction devices on their handlebars? Haha
@@exothermal.sprocket I can tell you all about gravel from first hand experience, one that I don't care to repeat. My bars have an ignition switch, cut out switch, indicator switch, hi/low switch, horn, clutch and brake levers mirrors and a throttle attached. Maybe I'm not the sharpest guy in the room, but that's about all I can manage at one time.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 Hahaha I remember rolling on new rubber around a rather moderate highway bend at rather average speed, and the front wheel side-stepping about 8-10 inches on a stinking tar snake. Yeah that'll engage the adrenaline gland.
I came to the video to find how to tackle exactly this. I'm relatively new to riding and even when dry I avoid manholes and painted areas while turning. My commute to work includes passing through tram tracks and when it's raining or has rained I'm terrified of them. I had a near oopsie once (and I was conscious already)
When I was young, I rode my motorcycle to school rain, snow or shine. These days, I ride to enjoy the ride, not fight the elements. I’ll stick with dry road conditions as much as possible.
I don't use the thumb wiper to clear my visor. At decent speed, turning my head to the left for a second and right for a second will blow off the water.
My exact wiper technique lol. Just did a painful 475km on my Gsxr600 on the Alaska Highway, ofcourse I chose the day it was raining 98 percent of the ride distances, first 25 minutes was awesome 😅.
Literally rode home in a down pour on my Streetfighter V2 after a track day meeting. Up here in the Canadian Rockies it can rain (or snow) any given time. You have more grip than you think - but like Yam says, the rain has no tolerance for your bad decisions and gixer tendencies. It’s rain, respect it and it won’t kill you. One other comment here … if you’re not confident in the rain on your bike, maybe your bike isn’t the right bike. My dual sport ES700 is a demon in the rain and snow and the SFV2 takes some serious attention (it always thinks it’s on track). How is your confidence on dry? If it’s lacking, there’s a sign to build your basic handling skills. I’ve been riding 49 years and never crashed on road … should I even say that out loud? But off road, many times. That’s where skills are really learned and tuned. Food for thought youngsters! Haha
All weather. Rain. Ice. Snow. Honestly though I like heavy, cold rain the least. Heated gear is phenomenal even down to -25C, but once you get wet you're not going to be warm. Got hypothermia once in a trip riding in 9C - not even near freezing - because it was pouring rain.
That’s the kind of rain we get in my city in Australia. I’ve got some old joint injuries that legitimately ache bad after 15 minutes in that weather I think it’s the chill factor
@@johnnytower6169 Unlucky........ Ex despatch rider for thirty one years and broke both wrists, both ankles, my foot, shoulder, split carpal tunnel clean open all in separate accidents. Also dislocated my thumbs so often that I can't push in a thumb tack without taking great care. That being said, I'm now 70 years old and not a twinge from any of them.
I commute into London year round. Goretex is not breathable when it's wet; I use water resistant gear with rain shells over the jacket, trousers and gloves. I've ridden through monsoon levels of rain without getting wet. The other advantage is that the rain shells DRASTICALLY cut the wind chill, especially on the hands. The big risk is not the wet, it's the cold! I run sport touring tyres and have had the rear go sideways on gentle throttle when changing lanes or exiting roundabouts even when it wasn't raining. Be careful when your tyres are cold. I use ceramic coating designed for car paint on my visor. It works really well and should last longer than something like rainx.
Yes! This is actually a huge misconception that I know as an all year rider also! What goretex and alike don’t say out loud, is that at any one time the stuff only either breathable or waterproof. Never both at the same time. Because the pores of the clothing do let through air and do not allow in water, however if water is sitting on top of the tiny pores in the fabric, because you’ve gotten and are getting rained on, they are effectively sealed, thus it’s not breathable anymore until the fabric is dry again. So while goretex is truly breathable and waterproof - it’s only one thing at a time. Just wanted to add this for anyone interested.
Always good to follow in the tire track of a vehicle in front of you. The water has already been pushed away and there is much better contact. This is good to follow in a car as well!
the biggest thing i learned riding in the rain is to be aware of shit like dirt that returns to mud around driveways and stuff. almost made me eat shit in a parking lot.
There's a famous 1962 Honda rider manual warning that has six safety warnings. One of them is : Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. Press the brake foot as you roll around the corners, and save the collapse and tie up.
This was from a WW1 British article that was so censored, it came out as pigeon English. It is not from Honda, nor is it from 1962. It is hilarious though, and I’m more than glad to tell other people that it’s an “ingrish” version of Japanese motorcycle safety rules.
The scariest part of riding in rain is when you have to ride over road markings mid turn. Only time I ever lost traction in rain was when I was mid-turn and my back tire slipped going over a white crosswalk line cuz I leaned too far, that gave me a pretty good scare, at least I kept the bike up
oil comes up out of tarnac for first half hour of rain. if you're someplace like California, that can be 6 months worth of oil, turning the riad into a skid pad.
As someone who uses my bike for commuting 10+ months out of the year, the deciding factor for whether or not it is "too rainy" is visibility not traction. It's usually not the road but things on top of the road (oil, tar snakes, pavement lines, ect.) that present the greatest risk for slipping on wet pavement, but you can't avoid what you can't see. So long as my visor is clear enough, I can approach the rain much the same as in a car. Control your speed, increase your following/stopping distance, slow down more before corners, and ride on!
Old grey beard here that happens to own a dual sport amongst several bikes... Rain is easy, snow isn't bad, but ice sucks! No wonder I live in Southern Arizona!
It felt good to get my knee down in full wet conditions. It always blew me away that pros could do it. I wasnt doing it every corner, but it did happen during the race and it made me smile.
Took the MSF course 2 weeks ago, bought my new royal enfield from the dealership, immediately started commuting to work. (I rode dirt bikes as a kid) 6 out of the 8 days I drove to work I had to worry about rain. bonus tips: carry a pair of WOOL socks in your backpack to replace once you get to your destination. the scram 411 scrambler tires work really well in the rain. make sure you have a scarf to block rain from going into your full face helmet.
A scarf is a good idea regardless of weather, unless it's super hot/humid. I've only been riding a year and just discovered the scarf thing around winter when I watching another vid. Come spring, I picked up a scarf on clearance and it makes a world of difference on those cool mornings, even when it doesn't feel very cold. I had a night in April where we got hit with a cold snap and sleet. It wasn't in the weather report, so I didn't have my full face helmet, but I had my scarf and I was able to pull it up just enough to cover my mouth so it didn't feel like I was being pelted with little rocks :D
Your videos seem to have perfect timing for me, I finally got another bike after not having one for years, and finally got my actual license and all of them line up with new questions or refreshers that i need
Me too! Almost 4 years ago now at Schaeffer's Harley Davidson in Pennsylvania. My bike had a check engine light and it rained all test day haha trial by soggy
@Tom-tq5oq straight in the deep end 🤣 my instructor advised us to take it easy for a while. Don't ride in heavy rain, peak hour traffic or night time. Used my bike as my daily. First day after the license, pouring rain, heavy traffic, early night
The most dangerous part is when it just started to rain. The oil and dust float on top of the water, the mud from the road also begins to loosen. Id prefer to ride in the rain if the roads have been soaked for 10-15 minutes as the water and roads are now cleaner.
Rode from Houston to Austin and it began monsooning on me and my buddy about a quarter a way through. It’s a very tense ride, but don’t panic and don’t make any sudden directional changes, maintain a slower than normal speed and you should be okay..
Coming into the rainy season here in Thailand, I've had my bike parked for most rainstorms. Those monsoon rains are no joke. This video came at a perfect time.
Back in 2017 I bought an Indian Springfield. One of the things that ended up as a recall on those big Indians was a breather pipe for the charcoal canister. When riding in rain it would sometimes feed water into the fuel system and cause motor problems. One of the forum members was telling of his experience when it started happening on his bike and before it was a known problem. The Indian workshop guy listened to the problem and said, "Normal people don't ride in the rain."
Did this yesterday. Just like you said, just keep riding and accept you're wet. I looked forward to toweling off when I got home. Also I saw two other bikers riding on the same highway. One rode sans helmet- Ouch. The rain can feel like little needles hitting you when you're at speed, lol
I was fortunate enough that my safety course had some rain at the same time. I was able to experience riding in the rain for the first time, as a beginner, and it is remarkable how well your bike will handle in wet conditions. Definitely gave me extra confidence, not only for riding in the rain, but extra confidence in that I can trust the bike will maintain traction while cornering, especially in dry conditions.
The thing that catches you out in the rain are the things that can suddenly reduce grip like painted lines, metal covers and worst of all, diesel spills. Following the tire tracks of cars can help because they act to scrub the road clean after rain.
In my very first riding season, I got a lot of unwanted practice for riding in the rain, we got suprised so many times by sudden rain that year. But it helped, I know how my bikes perform in the rain, and on my second bike I installed Michelin Road 6 Tires, best tires I used in the wet until now.
34yrs + in the saddle, 25 or so of which was through the very best of what the British weather could throw at me, I don’t do winter weather anymore. Hallelujah, I have see’d the light !!! 😂
My first bike had a overused rear tire, replaced it with a new Michelin Road 4, thing was a dream in the rain. Literally could ride the same as the dry(obviously at full to half tread), and gave me full confidence in the tire. I remember slipping once at speed during a downpour, and it corrected itself in under a second, just ride like normal. A lot of research goes into tires!
My truck was in the shop for a week so I was riding my Drz400 with knobbies across town to work in the rain. Everything you said is true, take your time and always think about traction and you'll be ok. A garbage bag cut at the bottom and side completely covers my bike, poke a hole on each side for your break levers and tuck it in the seat and your bike stays dry.
I started on asphalt, so I did not have the awareness of traction control that dirt riders already have. I learned traction control in the rain. It definitely boils down to chilling out and being impatient. I have written countless miles in the rain. As I have gotten older, I try to time my rides to avoid rain, but it's really only rain at night that keeps me off the road, and that applies to driving cars as well.
I live in the south of England. When I first bought my current bike in 2017, I was committing to riding for work, as I handed back a crappy company car that was fleecing me with the monthly salary sacrifice and car tax benefit every year. Every day was a great day, come rain, shine, ice and snow. In two years, I dropped the bike once into a snowdrift near Chipping Norton. It hurt my pride as a trucker, with rigger boots, had to stop and help me onto my feet and the bike onto it's chewy bits. Learnt a lot about riding in adverse weather conditions, starting with Oxford waterproofs being shit. Honda OEM heated grips are the shit. Pin lock visor works well until it suddenly doesn't, as materials flex at different temperatures. Found I could enjoy rides at minus 10ºC (I fitted a digital thermometer to the bike as I needed heads-up on the potential for ice on the road), though you had to ride to the conditions. And F! me. The Cotswolds are freezing around the A40, with the blast of icy air as you're the tallest thing out in the open. Bike... Halfrica Twin. Chewy bits, Battlax T31.
Here in Middle Tennessee we get 120 days of rain per year. Been riding 20 years so it doesn't bother me now too much with gear. The only thing that sucks is when the rain comes in so can the heavy wind gusts.
I live in Oregon and ride all year long pretty much every day commuting. Rain rides account for at least 1/3 of my riding. I even ride when it's below freezing if it's dry out, which in the winter here happens more often than you'd think. You just have to slow down, leave room, and keep alert for hazards.
There is rain, and there is rain.. have been through downpours where your boots fill up.. also going through floods might be an adventure but it's pretty hairy and unpleasant as the mucky water gets in your kit. But I think getting caught out in the rain and riding till you dry out does make your leathers mold to your body quite nicely. If they were not made to measure before they might feel more so after.😊
You haven't lived until you ride the Los Angeles Interstate 405 in rush hour in the rain on your bike. I locked the front brake several times and released it enough to get control back. Never crashed and I got slowed down enough not to hit the cars that were almost stopped because of some idiots in their cages. Way to much fun! Oh by the way, I've done similar actions on at least 3 different motorcycles. I passed a guy from work and had the front brake on hard when I went through the gravel on the white line, while coming up on a stop sign. Regained control and still stopped for the stop sign. That was on a Suzuki GT380. Did it a couple of times on my 1969 Honda 750. Did it on the 405 on my Suzuki 650 VSTROM on my way to work. I don't claim to have any great skill, I could never road race but if I can do it, so can you. Just keep your head and do what you need to do.
Some of my first longer journeys on my motorcycle involved unintentional rain riding and I have been comfortable ever since. Be smooth and be cool... not that you have a choice, you are likely going to get soaked through so embrace it.
As someone who's been daily driving a motorcycle for a few years, I've only had a single situation where I felt unsafe in the rain... It was the worst kind of evening twilight and HEAVY clouds in the sky, resulting in it being basically pitch black outside of that my bike's headlights could light up. Then when adding heavy rain to the visor, and the occational semi-deep water-puddle on the road... I was not in a happy place. My most vivid memory of that evening was going through one of said puddles and feeling the bike hydraplaning for a split second, sliding in the buttom of the farings, throwing water all the way up to my knees... So yeah... do a Yammie says, and add some form of nano-coat to your visor... at least you'll be able to see when you're fucked.
Having a rain top layer stashed on my bike got me through life with only a motorcycle back in Atlanta. Weekend chain cleaning and cable inspections helped too.
I got caught in a heavy thunderstorm on my '09 R6 several years back and besides getting soaked, it was fine. Actually, I think it was a valuable experience and I think all bikers would benefit from riding in the rain at least once. Gives you a different perspective to the sport.
Instead of rain x, go to the dollar store and get LA Totally Awesome, use on both sides of the visor and acts as an incredible anti fog and rain repellent on the outside. One bottle is a few bucks for years of use.
another good TIP regarding motorcycle maintenance. is having your clutch cable tuned properly... if you've got no play in your clutch, basically no "slip zone" and its either ALL or nothing. makes it very hard to do slo-speed rain riding.
My front tire hydroplaned at 70 mph riding through a thunderstorm in 1983. Handlebars went full lock to the right & I stomped the road to stay upright until I slid to a stop. The car in front of me turned left just as I slid past. I haven't ridden in rain since. I know tire technology has changed drastically since 1983 but my instincts tell me no go.
My take on for riding in the rain is to trust the tires. 3 things to keep in mind tho 1: Leaves, white lines and manhole covers are slippy even with the best new rain/water tires 2: Avoid excessive lean angle. Most tires don't have any rain grooves near the edge of the tire. If you catch a patch of deeper water and have no where to drain that, it could slip very quickly and uncontrollably 3: Tread depth. That silica rich compound won't save you if you have like 1.6mm of tread left
My first riding in the rain experience was on the way to Deals Gap. My buddies and I ran into a down pour, road for 2 hours in the rain, soaked to the bone, but I was surprised at how well my SV 650s handled in the wet. Of course, over years I've ridden in snow on the same bike so yeah, be patient, don't be foolish, think and stay safe out there.
I have literally ridden through a hurricane before and it was not fun. But when I used to live in Florida I rode a Harley with no front fender. Talk about interesting.
Another good tip for riding in the rain: Ride a bike with amber rear turn signals so you can turn on your hazards and gain vastly increased rear visibility. Works great when you're in heavy traffic that picks up the water and suspends it in the air like thick fog. (Although I hear those newfangled LEDs work pretty well, too, even when red. Still haven't figured out why those who design vehicle and vehicles codes haven't figured out that the percentage of people who are colorblind for red might impact their decisions for safety requirements regarding vehicle indicator lamp colors.)
I commute in SouthWales UK. Here we have much more than a fair share of rain.. My Suzuki 1050 deals with the conditions, especially with modern riding aids, just fine and experience counts, learn to embrace all conditions and adjust your style. I wear Oxford touring gear and British Army Goretex waterproofs..
I support everything put out in this video it's good information for new riders and a helpful review for experienced riders. Riding a motorcycle on a clean wet road you can brake harder than you might think. You can also corner faster than you might think. What you should never do in the rain is brake and turn at the same time.
like 80% of my rides here in central EU are in my "rain gear." Because it doesn't stop just water but also, wait for it, wind and (hence) cold thus hugely widening temperature range I'm ok to ride in. I literally ride in that gear every day to work, 10 months a year, it might be near 0 in the morning, foggy and raining and a sunny afternoon later that day, and I am comfortable on both occasions. My most often used rain gear is - my Held jacket with baked in GoreTex layer (because it was discounted, has some hi viz stripes but not over the top, works like a charm, it has vents for hot weather and when it's really hot, I use different jacket), - Decathlon sailing overpants over my Rev'it riding jeans (cheap, durable and take almost no space in my bag) - my tall Dainese waterproof boots (there's just no substitute to tall boots as your feet ultimately get all the water from heavens, your body, the road, your wheels, other vehicles... so wet down there...) and British Army surplus Gore Tex mittens (called "DPM MVP" best value for money piece of gear EVER) over my regular perforated leather motorcycle gloves. These mittens also cover huge chunk of my forearm. Combined with heated grips, really don't need anything else. Alright I can't use just two fingers for levers but seriously, I don't care for that when it rains at all. Also british camo can be a downside, YMMV, I'm fine with that. I also have heavier and lighter options in my closet: - goretex overpants (for serious, looong and soaked rides or really stormy days. But day to day, my sailing overpants are easier to live with) - Oxford rain jacket (for hot summer days when I wear my mesh jacket, I throw this into my bag. Becomes handy when I stay somewhere until late and now it's cold and it will keep me nice and cozy.) - some more boots, ventilated ones when I'm like "ok, so I might get soaked, who cares..." and even more boots because I'm a boot junkie. Point of this looooong post: keep it light and variable, find what works for you, think out of the box, it can save you a ton of cash and actually work better, especially if and when you commute!! Also, thanks Papa Yam, love your channel!
I actually really enjoy riding in the rain, especially at night. Everything gets reduced to looking like a vector-graphics video game, and it, 'tightens up' all the throttle, braking, and steering skills required, challenges me to be the best, smoothest rider I can be. The only time I ever lost traction was accelerating in a turn, when my rear wheel ran over a manhole cover -- another thing that gets really slick when wet. The rear wheel just slid a few inches, then regained grip once it was on pavement again. Really predictable, since I was being smooth and controlled on the throttle.
First night I got my bike on the road it was a torrential downpour and me and my bro rode to the gym and back. I squeezed probably a gallon of water out of my pants when I got home, I was so scared! Riding that gs1100 scrambler that felt like an absolute monster with dim headlights through whipping wind and rain. Bad idea, but I made it! Rode in the rain again this evening, a couple months later.
Good video as always, good advice. When I was learning I deliberately stayed out and waited for a rain storm so I could ride home in the wet. It hosed down when I did my unrestricted test and the instructor praised my wet riding. Apparently some folks almost stop. However I am largely a dry day rider. If there are storm clouds on horizon I head for the cage. However it is important to be confident,. You will get caught out one day...
I have rode in the rain many times. I never had an issue with tire grip, but shoe grip is a different story. Shoe choice can make a huge difference when you have to put a foot down.
Actually there is always enough grip in the rain, if you ride at normal speed. Never had any problems in the rain. The vision from a drivers perspective and from inside a car is different. So keep in mind that a car driver might not see you. (loud pipes may save lifes?! hear hear...) Okay, a new bike with all the technical advantages help a lot with Traction Control, Anti This and That, Cornering ABS etc. Back when I got my license in the early 90s I had no ABS. Later with ABS I was just so much more relaxed so when we got a bike for my wife, that was the one thing I wanted to have for her. Safe riding everyone!
First time I rode on a highway, about my third time riding at all, it started off kinda cloudy, but by the time I got out to where I was going it was pouring. Now I wear waterproof boots when I ride. Also my rear tire was pretty bald because because I just picked up my first bike and hadn’t had a chance to change them.
Another piece of gear to have? A scarf. It might not be waterproof, but bunched up around your neck if you're caught without some kind of protection will at least save you from getting water down your jacket. I had one when we had a sudden cold snap in April and it was sleeting out, I didn't have my full face helmet with me (the weather said cloudy that night), but the scarf was nice to not only protect my neck from the cold, it also worked as a deflector to cover my mouth from the little stinging pellets. It also works well in light rain, but if it's a total downpour, it might not be as good.
When I was 18 my motorcycle was my only mode of transportation so I had my share of rain riding and that was on 80's tire technology. In fact I hit some pretty hard rain the 1st week and that made me start wearing full face helmets for the rest of my riding life until I stop. The rain felt like needles sticking me in the face. You're not going to knee drag unless you have some rain slicks but, you still have pretty good traction in the rain once all the oils have washed off the road. You can usually see that on the first rains of the season. I have never owned a bike with rider aids and never had issues in the rain.
Heavy rain’s not a problem, that’s just a clothing issue. But when the rain stops and the dirty water from the road surface flicks up onto the visor!! That’s a real problem. I used to ride behind trucks to get enough water to let me wipe the visor. My longest trip in the rain 600 miles continuous riding. 🤪
In Canada, I rode 235 miles in cold rain, then sleet, snow, more rain, the sunshine, again more rain. I used Yokohama rubber and they worked great! Just reduce speed when you feel slight hydroplaning, still riding around 50mph, even around corners. Our highways were mostly 2 lanes in those days. Had Dunlop on my 750 Honda, worst rubber ever. Too hard and stiff. Rode a few different bikes in my 43 year run, worse was a BMW shaft drive, tended to lean severely when applying power, nicest was the Honda Shadow, shaft drive, different design that eliminated the side sway. Unfortunately, motor wasn’t the best.
Rain gets easier each time. I was in it 3 hours strait a few weeks ago. The storms we've been having in texas with all the wind and hail are a no go. I don't mind riding through the rain if it has an end, I just don't like all day rain.
Got caught out in heavy rain after just breaking in my 2023 RC390. Went like heck to beat it home but it caught me 20 miles out. I was pleasantly surprised at the performance of the cornering traction controll and ABS W/ the Continental Road Attack tires. Not one sketchy moment.
I have hundreds of hours riding in Oregon, Washington rain....................There are a lot of Great Tips in this video........There are times when I employ my vast riding experience when I look outside and say fuggit, I ain't doing it!
2 years ago my buddy and I got caught In a horrible rain storm! It was so bad I couldn't see anything! We were going 40 on a 100 zone.. no more rain for me.
My first ride after getting my license was on wet roads. I now know what it feels like to have your rear tire geeeently stepping out when applying the throttle. I got out fine without crashing, but it was a bit scary.
I keep a rain top and bottom in my bike's rear bag. Stays with it. Im in one of those places where you can't trust the weather guy. I commute everyday... storm or not.
been riding for 4 months now (including MSF course) and So far i've been in drizzles but never actual rain, and TBH I hope that streak continues for a while because the idea of riding in the rain with my limited experience as a rider, kinda scares me. like getting passed by a simi-truck going 80 in a 60 zone.
great video, summed it up real nice. For Europe of course, we have the cobblestones in the old city centers, that are near impossible to ride in the wet.
Once upon a time I didnt care about weather or temperature, now im too lazy to detail the bike after a rain ride. Fun in the sun, not pain in the rain.
I first got licensed at the start of a wet winter. You couldn't keep me off the bike. Those old Dunlop bias plies with their deep wide grooves worked well in the rain. But that was a long time ago, when dinosaurs were still a road hazard. These days, I'll take the luxury of a heated cage over the bike if it's raining anywhere within 1000 miles of me.
For about 6 months I had the distinct displeasure of riding 60 mi round trip to work everyday from fall until spring in Colorado. It is not a fond memory. We could start in rain and within 20 minutes in sub-freezing conditions and have to knock ice off of ourselves. Last few years I've been very lucky that I haven't had to put up with the rain. Which is lucky because I have not found a rain suit that works for me. Unless I cut it apart and completely remake it to fit.
Input is almost everything from my experience in the english winter. I ride 1995 CBR600Fsport, it had poor brakes and tires(i just got my license and the bike), but i went out nevertheless and i had good experience. However, i enjoyed my bike a lot more and felt a lot safer once i got it properly maintained. Always maintain your bike and always wear your gear 🤘
I ride in rain, hail, high winds, even snow, freezing rains, cold 25°. I feel it makes me a better rider by doing so. Don't really think to much about doing it.
Win our GIVEAWAY motorcycles by becoming a member @ www.yammienoob.co/ and get 10X entries to win my GSX-8R for a limited time!
Yes you can, but grip? Yeah, but if you lose it you can slide hard. I ride 10 to 12 hrs a day in Britain as a courier. The best tires are round meaty sports bike tires, if you slip a bit you have more patch contact tire run off to catch the tire again and stop the slide.
When will riders in Florida be eligible to win any of the giveaways?
It's not rain that's hard on a bike, it's UV.
Only in the USA?
hey papa yam, i was wondering, does the Motorcycle Give away also include people outside of the USA?>
if someone wins from europe, does the bike get shipped over seas? how does this work
this video dropped around an hour after my first time biking in the rain - buddy of mine said it's my baptism lol.
legs soaked, felt like I was sitting in a puddle of water, got water in my jeans under my thighs.
got home soaking wet, doing well.
I always look forward to getting home so I can change into my warm dry clothes.
grilled cheese and tomato soup
Wtf you doin' here
we did my msf course in the rain lol, never feared rain since then
The moment the water rolls into your taint you know you're 100% soaked
Practiced rain, night, and rain at night extensively in my first couple months. You're right; once you're soaked, you just accept it and keep riding. Seeing through rain at night is insane and not something I'll intentionally do now that I have the experience.
Yeah. That was my only gripe, not being able to see clearly. Glad I was just running an errand. Lol
Night riding is dangerous. You can’t see hazards on the road.
Stuff that's rather slick when wet:
Paint stripes
Metal grating (drain lids, sewer covers, slatted bridges)
Metal rails (as in RR crossings)
Wooden surfaces (as in RR crossings)
Tar snakes
Patches of pavement where the pavers messed up the mixture and made essentially "black ice" out of tar spots.
And good word on the "sport-touring" type tires. These tires heat up much quicker to operating grip temperature than "sports" tires, especially in cold temperatures (air and road surface).
And clay on the road, typically at the entrance/exit to building sites.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 True that.
Also stuff that's slick when it's not raining:
Sand
Leaves
Grass clippings
Gravel
Dirt/manure (from farm equipment)
Tar snakes on a very hot day
And people want to put a bunch of distraction devices on their handlebars? Haha
@@exothermal.sprocket I can tell you all about gravel from first hand experience, one that I don't care to repeat.
My bars have an ignition switch, cut out switch, indicator switch, hi/low switch,
horn, clutch and brake levers mirrors and a throttle attached.
Maybe I'm not the sharpest guy in the room, but that's about all I can manage at one time.
@@davidbrayshaw3529 Hahaha
I remember rolling on new rubber around a rather moderate highway bend at rather average speed, and the front wheel side-stepping about 8-10 inches on a stinking tar snake. Yeah that'll engage the adrenaline gland.
I came to the video to find how to tackle exactly this. I'm relatively new to riding and even when dry I avoid manholes and painted areas while turning. My commute to work includes passing through tram tracks and when it's raining or has rained I'm terrified of them. I had a near oopsie once (and I was conscious already)
When I was young, I rode my motorcycle to school rain, snow or shine. These days, I ride to enjoy the ride, not fight the elements. I’ll stick with dry road conditions as much as possible.
Same.
Exactly. If I'm not comfortable, it's not fun. Riding should always be fun. I'll ride in the rain if I have to but that's as far as it goes.
My one and only crash was in the rain when I wasnt even in a corner so Ill stay in the sun thank you very much
Just get better tires
lol
Skill issue
Me too, wasn't going over 20 mph and the back slid out
@@dcorbin5779 It's just like another activity - all you need to do is trust the rubber 🤷🏻♂️
"You can't become more wet than totally soaked." 🤔😂🤣
Au contraire.
What you can get though is increasingly cold which isn’t conducive to safe riding.
I don't use the thumb wiper to clear my visor. At decent speed, turning my head to the left for a second and right for a second will blow off the water.
My exact wiper technique lol. Just did a painful 475km on my Gsxr600 on the Alaska Highway, ofcourse I chose the day it was raining 98 percent of the ride distances, first 25 minutes was awesome 😅.
wtf I thought I was the only one who did this, I am not alone lol
Only works with nice visors/helmets
I've had it work with a 20 year old 3qrter helmet and a new full helmet it's all the same.
@@dustingunter7609 Jesus christ you had me thinking you were driving 475km an hour for a second there
Literally rode home in a down pour on my Streetfighter V2 after a track day meeting. Up here in the Canadian Rockies it can rain (or snow) any given time. You have more grip than you think - but like Yam says, the rain has no tolerance for your bad decisions and gixer tendencies. It’s rain, respect it and it won’t kill you.
One other comment here … if you’re not confident in the rain on your bike, maybe your bike isn’t the right bike. My dual sport ES700 is a demon in the rain and snow and the SFV2 takes some serious attention (it always thinks it’s on track). How is your confidence on dry? If it’s lacking, there’s a sign to build your basic handling skills.
I’ve been riding 49 years and never crashed on road … should I even say that out loud? But off road, many times. That’s where skills are really learned and tuned. Food for thought youngsters! Haha
Much appreciated !
All weather. Rain. Ice. Snow.
Honestly though I like heavy, cold rain the least. Heated gear is phenomenal even down to -25C, but once you get wet you're not going to be warm. Got hypothermia once in a trip riding in 9C - not even near freezing - because it was pouring rain.
That’s the kind of rain we get in my city in Australia. I’ve got some old joint injuries that legitimately ache bad after 15 minutes in that weather
I think it’s the chill factor
@@johnnytower6169 Unlucky........
Ex despatch rider for thirty one years and broke both wrists, both ankles, my foot, shoulder, split carpal tunnel clean open all in separate accidents.
Also dislocated my thumbs so often that I can't push in a thumb tack without taking great care.
That being said, I'm now 70 years old and not a twinge from any of them.
@@fabianmckenna8197 lol doing ok for 70 then
you needed some wool clothing! even when wet wool retains heat
I commute into London year round. Goretex is not breathable when it's wet; I use water resistant gear with rain shells over the jacket, trousers and gloves. I've ridden through monsoon levels of rain without getting wet. The other advantage is that the rain shells DRASTICALLY cut the wind chill, especially on the hands. The big risk is not the wet, it's the cold! I run sport touring tyres and have had the rear go sideways on gentle throttle when changing lanes or exiting roundabouts even when it wasn't raining. Be careful when your tyres are cold. I use ceramic coating designed for car paint on my visor. It works really well and should last longer than something like rainx.
Do you have the name of product you use for visor ? 🏴
Yes! This is actually a huge misconception that I know as an all year rider also! What goretex and alike don’t say out loud, is that at any one time the stuff only either breathable or waterproof. Never both at the same time. Because the pores of the clothing do let through air and do not allow in water, however if water is sitting on top of the tiny pores in the fabric, because you’ve gotten and are getting rained on, they are effectively sealed, thus it’s not breathable anymore until the fabric is dry again. So while goretex is truly breathable and waterproof - it’s only one thing at a time. Just wanted to add this for anyone interested.
Always good to follow in the tire track of a vehicle in front of you. The water has already been pushed away and there is much better contact. This is good to follow in a car as well!
the biggest thing i learned riding in the rain is to be aware of shit like dirt that returns to mud around driveways and stuff. almost made me eat shit in a parking lot.
That fine sand sediment sloop gets me even barefoot, fell on my face yesterday!
Paint stripes can be dodgy…
There's a famous 1962 Honda rider manual warning that has six safety warnings. One of them is :
Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. Press the brake foot as you roll around the corners, and save the collapse and tie up.
This was from a WW1 British article that was so censored, it came out as pigeon English. It is not from Honda, nor is it from 1962. It is hilarious though, and I’m more than glad to tell other people that it’s an “ingrish” version of Japanese motorcycle safety rules.
Rain riding aint too bad.
That's what she said
@@VIKINGzTH Ba Dun Dun TSSST!
The scariest part of riding in rain is when you have to ride over road markings mid turn. Only time I ever lost traction in rain was when I was mid-turn and my back tire slipped going over a white crosswalk line cuz I leaned too far, that gave me a pretty good scare, at least I kept the bike up
@@codym5352 Man hole covers near a stop light.
it kinda hurts , but other then that it aint bad
oil comes up out of tarnac for first half hour of rain. if you're someplace like California, that can be 6 months worth of oil, turning the riad into a skid pad.
As someone who uses my bike for commuting 10+ months out of the year, the deciding factor for whether or not it is "too rainy" is visibility not traction. It's usually not the road but things on top of the road (oil, tar snakes, pavement lines, ect.) that present the greatest risk for slipping on wet pavement, but you can't avoid what you can't see. So long as my visor is clear enough, I can approach the rain much the same as in a car. Control your speed, increase your following/stopping distance, slow down more before corners, and ride on!
Old grey beard here that happens to own a dual sport amongst several bikes...
Rain is easy, snow isn't bad, but ice sucks! No wonder I live in Southern Arizona!
The most dangerous when it starts to rain, and the dust gets slippy. If its washed away after enough rain ,the road is pretty grippy 🙂
It felt good to get my knee down in full wet conditions. It always blew me away that pros could do it. I wasnt doing it every corner, but it did happen during the race and it made me smile.
Watch some old videos of Freddie Spencer riding in the rain past his haydays. He kicked everyone's ass.
Took the MSF course 2 weeks ago, bought my new royal enfield from the dealership, immediately started commuting to work. (I rode dirt bikes as a kid)
6 out of the 8 days I drove to work I had to worry about rain.
bonus tips: carry a pair of WOOL socks in your backpack to replace once you get to your destination.
the scram 411 scrambler tires work really well in the rain.
make sure you have a scarf to block rain from going into your full face helmet.
A scarf is a good idea regardless of weather, unless it's super hot/humid. I've only been riding a year and just discovered the scarf thing around winter when I watching another vid. Come spring, I picked up a scarf on clearance and it makes a world of difference on those cool mornings, even when it doesn't feel very cold. I had a night in April where we got hit with a cold snap and sleet. It wasn't in the weather report, so I didn't have my full face helmet, but I had my scarf and I was able to pull it up just enough to cover my mouth so it didn't feel like I was being pelted with little rocks :D
Your videos seem to have perfect timing for me, I finally got another bike after not having one for years, and finally got my actual license and all of them line up with new questions or refreshers that i need
I did my rider course in the rain 😅 2 days getting drenched. Good times
Me too! Almost 4 years ago now at Schaeffer's Harley Davidson in Pennsylvania. My bike had a check engine light and it rained all test day haha trial by soggy
@Tom-tq5oq straight in the deep end 🤣 my instructor advised us to take it easy for a while. Don't ride in heavy rain, peak hour traffic or night time. Used my bike as my daily. First day after the license, pouring rain, heavy traffic, early night
Michelin Road 6 with 6000k HIDs. Your bike will feel amazing in the heat, cold, rain ect
The most dangerous part is when it just started to rain. The oil and dust float on top of the water, the mud from the road also begins to loosen. Id prefer to ride in the rain if the roads have been soaked for 10-15 minutes as the water and roads are now cleaner.
I just commented the same, will delete it now. Respect, bro.
I ride in rain so much i consider myself semi aquatic. Just keep your head, keep your brakes warm and keep your eyes open.
When its heavy rain and the headlight start reflecting back on me. Its time for me to stop riding
Rode from Houston to Austin and it began monsooning on me and my buddy about a quarter a way through. It’s a very tense ride, but don’t panic and don’t make any sudden directional changes, maintain a slower than normal speed and you should be okay..
Coming into the rainy season here in Thailand, I've had my bike parked for most rainstorms. Those monsoon rains are no joke. This video came at a perfect time.
Back in 2017 I bought an Indian Springfield. One of the things that ended up as a recall on those big Indians was a breather pipe for the charcoal canister. When riding in rain it would sometimes feed water into the fuel system and cause motor problems. One of the forum members was telling of his experience when it started happening on his bike and before it was a known problem. The Indian workshop guy listened to the problem and said, "Normal people don't ride in the rain."
Did this yesterday. Just like you said, just keep riding and accept you're wet. I looked forward to toweling off when I got home. Also I saw two other bikers riding on the same highway. One rode sans helmet- Ouch. The rain can feel like little needles hitting you when you're at speed, lol
Real ones ride in snow
🗿
Living in Charlotte, even riding in the dry is sketchy!
I was fortunate enough that my safety course had some rain at the same time. I was able to experience riding in the rain for the first time, as a beginner, and it is remarkable how well your bike will handle in wet conditions. Definitely gave me extra confidence, not only for riding in the rain, but extra confidence in that I can trust the bike will maintain traction while cornering, especially in dry conditions.
The thing that catches you out in the rain are the things that can suddenly reduce grip like painted lines, metal covers and worst of all, diesel spills. Following the tire tracks of cars can help because they act to scrub the road clean after rain.
In my very first riding season, I got a lot of unwanted practice for riding in the rain, we got suprised so many times by sudden rain that year. But it helped, I know how my bikes perform in the rain, and on my second bike I installed Michelin Road 6 Tires, best tires I used in the wet until now.
34yrs + in the saddle, 25 or so of which was through the very best of what the British weather could throw at me, I don’t do winter weather anymore.
Hallelujah, I have see’d the light !!! 😂
My first bike had a overused rear tire, replaced it with a new Michelin Road 4, thing was a dream in the rain. Literally could ride the same as the dry(obviously at full to half tread), and gave me full confidence in the tire. I remember slipping once at speed during a downpour, and it corrected itself in under a second, just ride like normal. A lot of research goes into tires!
Flashing back to the battle between Rossi and Stoner in the rain. Epic.
My truck was in the shop for a week so I was riding my Drz400 with knobbies across town to work in the rain. Everything you said is true, take your time and always think about traction and you'll be ok. A garbage bag cut at the bottom and side completely covers my bike, poke a hole on each side for your break levers and tuck it in the seat and your bike stays dry.
I started on asphalt, so I did not have the awareness of traction control that dirt riders already have. I learned traction control in the rain. It definitely boils down to chilling out and being impatient. I have written countless miles in the rain. As I have gotten older, I try to time my rides to avoid rain, but it's really only rain at night that keeps me off the road, and that applies to driving cars as well.
I live in the south of England. When I first bought my current bike in 2017, I was committing to riding for work, as I handed back a crappy company car that was fleecing me with the monthly salary sacrifice and car tax benefit every year. Every day was a great day, come rain, shine, ice and snow. In two years, I dropped the bike once into a snowdrift near Chipping Norton. It hurt my pride as a trucker, with rigger boots, had to stop and help me onto my feet and the bike onto it's chewy bits.
Learnt a lot about riding in adverse weather conditions, starting with Oxford waterproofs being shit. Honda OEM heated grips are the shit. Pin lock visor works well until it suddenly doesn't, as materials flex at different temperatures. Found I could enjoy rides at minus 10ºC (I fitted a digital thermometer to the bike as I needed heads-up on the potential for ice on the road), though you had to ride to the conditions. And F! me. The Cotswolds are freezing around the A40, with the blast of icy air as you're the tallest thing out in the open.
Bike... Halfrica Twin. Chewy bits, Battlax T31.
Here in Middle Tennessee we get 120 days of rain per year. Been riding 20 years so it doesn't bother me now too much with gear. The only thing that sucks is when the rain comes in so can the heavy wind gusts.
Yeah same I'm in East TN.
I live in Oregon and ride all year long pretty much every day commuting. Rain rides account for at least 1/3 of my riding. I even ride when it's below freezing if it's dry out, which in the winter here happens more often than you'd think. You just have to slow down, leave room, and keep alert for hazards.
There is rain, and there is rain.. have been through downpours where your boots fill up.. also going through floods might be an adventure but it's pretty hairy and unpleasant as the mucky water gets in your kit. But I think getting caught out in the rain and riding till you dry out does make your leathers mold to your body quite nicely. If they were not made to measure before they might feel more so after.😊
You haven't lived until you ride the Los Angeles Interstate 405 in rush hour in the rain on your bike. I locked the front brake several times and released it enough to get control back. Never crashed and I got slowed down enough not to hit the cars that were almost stopped because of some idiots in their cages. Way to much fun! Oh by the way, I've done similar actions on at least 3 different motorcycles. I passed a guy from work and had the front brake on hard when I went through the gravel on the white line, while coming up on a stop sign. Regained control and still stopped for the stop sign. That was on a Suzuki GT380. Did it a couple of times on my 1969 Honda 750. Did it on the 405 on my Suzuki 650 VSTROM on my way to work.
I don't claim to have any great skill, I could never road race but if I can do it, so can you. Just keep your head and do what you need to do.
Some of my first longer journeys on my motorcycle involved unintentional rain riding and I have been comfortable ever since. Be smooth and be cool... not that you have a choice, you are likely going to get soaked through so embrace it.
id say, the only issue is visibility. Even with car its hard to see, wipers running on max. But with motorcycle you have no windshield wipers.
If you do everything abruptly while riding in the sun, you are basically a virgin in the rain time.
As someone who's been daily driving a motorcycle for a few years, I've only had a single situation where I felt unsafe in the rain...
It was the worst kind of evening twilight and HEAVY clouds in the sky, resulting in it being basically pitch black outside of that my bike's headlights could light up.
Then when adding heavy rain to the visor, and the occational semi-deep water-puddle on the road... I was not in a happy place.
My most vivid memory of that evening was going through one of said puddles and feeling the bike hydraplaning for a split second, sliding in the buttom of the farings, throwing water all the way up to my knees...
So yeah... do a Yammie says, and add some form of nano-coat to your visor... at least you'll be able to see when you're fucked.
Having a rain top layer stashed on my bike got me through life with only a motorcycle back in Atlanta. Weekend chain cleaning and cable inspections helped too.
Year round western Washington rider here. Pin lock visor and hippo hands are a must ❤
I got caught in a heavy thunderstorm on my '09 R6 several years back and besides getting soaked, it was fine. Actually, I think it was a valuable experience and I think all bikers would benefit from riding in the rain at least once. Gives you a different perspective to the sport.
After I got soaked the first time I rode in the rain, I bought rain gear. Now, the only problem I have is having to go slower than normal.
Instead of rain x, go to the dollar store and get LA Totally Awesome, use on both sides of the visor and acts as an incredible anti fog and rain repellent on the outside. One bottle is a few bucks for years of use.
another good TIP regarding motorcycle maintenance. is having your clutch cable tuned properly... if you've got no play in your clutch, basically no "slip zone" and its either ALL or nothing. makes it very hard to do slo-speed rain riding.
Whenever you enjoyed Rain while listening to music, one thing that we hate; getting Soaked Up
My front tire hydroplaned at 70 mph riding through a thunderstorm in 1983. Handlebars went full lock to the right & I stomped the road to stay upright until I slid to a stop. The car in front of me turned left just as I slid past. I haven't ridden in rain since. I know tire technology has changed drastically since 1983 but my instincts tell me no go.
My take on for riding in the rain is to trust the tires.
3 things to keep in mind tho
1: Leaves, white lines and manhole covers are slippy even with the best new rain/water tires
2: Avoid excessive lean angle. Most tires don't have any rain grooves near the edge of the tire. If you catch a patch of deeper water and have no where to drain that, it could slip very quickly and uncontrollably
3: Tread depth. That silica rich compound won't save you if you have like 1.6mm of tread left
i started riding in autumn so my first few months riding was predominately rain, I prefer riding in rain than in a hot clear day.
In louisiana/mississippi gulf riding in the rain is part of life. It rained during both days of my msf.
My first riding in the rain experience was on the way to Deals Gap. My buddies and I ran into a down pour, road for 2 hours in the rain, soaked to the bone, but I was surprised at how well my SV 650s handled in the wet. Of course, over years I've ridden in snow on the same bike so yeah, be patient, don't be foolish, think and stay safe out there.
Summer time in Florida the rain can be refreshing. It rains nearly every afternoon in some areas and it will cool you off in 90 + weather.
I have literally ridden through a hurricane before and it was not fun. But when I used to live in Florida I rode a Harley with no front fender. Talk about interesting.
I had Avon Xtreme Rainracer tires on my Kawasaki Concours, and they were excellent. Even in the heaviest rain, you felt like you were riding on rails.
Thank you for this video. Another problem is puddles; water could be hiding a huge, deep hole. Avoid them if you can.
Another good tip for riding in the rain: Ride a bike with amber rear turn signals so you can turn on your hazards and gain vastly increased rear visibility. Works great when you're in heavy traffic that picks up the water and suspends it in the air like thick fog. (Although I hear those newfangled LEDs work pretty well, too, even when red. Still haven't figured out why those who design vehicle and vehicles codes haven't figured out that the percentage of people who are colorblind for red might impact their decisions for safety requirements regarding vehicle indicator lamp colors.)
Red light wavelength doesn't go as far through fog.
I commute in SouthWales UK. Here we have much more than a fair share of rain.. My Suzuki 1050 deals with the conditions, especially with modern riding aids, just fine and experience counts, learn to embrace all conditions and adjust your style. I wear Oxford touring gear and British Army Goretex waterproofs..
I support everything put out in this video it's good information for new riders and a helpful review for experienced riders. Riding a motorcycle on a clean wet road you can brake harder than you might think. You can also corner faster than you might think. What you should never do in the rain is brake and turn at the same time.
like 80% of my rides here in central EU are in my "rain gear."
Because it doesn't stop just water but also, wait for it, wind and (hence) cold thus hugely widening temperature range I'm ok to ride in. I literally ride in that gear every day to work, 10 months a year, it might be near 0 in the morning, foggy and raining and a sunny afternoon later that day, and I am comfortable on both occasions.
My most often used rain gear is
- my Held jacket with baked in GoreTex layer (because it was discounted, has some hi viz stripes but not over the top, works like a charm, it has vents for hot weather and when it's really hot, I use different jacket),
- Decathlon sailing overpants over my Rev'it riding jeans (cheap, durable and take almost no space in my bag)
- my tall Dainese waterproof boots (there's just no substitute to tall boots as your feet ultimately get all the water from heavens, your body, the road, your wheels, other vehicles... so wet down there...)
and British Army surplus Gore Tex mittens (called "DPM MVP" best value for money piece of gear EVER) over my regular perforated leather motorcycle gloves. These mittens also cover huge chunk of my forearm. Combined with heated grips, really don't need anything else. Alright I can't use just two fingers for levers but seriously, I don't care for that when it rains at all. Also british camo can be a downside, YMMV, I'm fine with that.
I also have heavier and lighter options in my closet:
- goretex overpants (for serious, looong and soaked rides or really stormy days. But day to day, my sailing overpants are easier to live with)
- Oxford rain jacket (for hot summer days when I wear my mesh jacket, I throw this into my bag. Becomes handy when I stay somewhere until late and now it's cold and it will keep me nice and cozy.)
- some more boots, ventilated ones when I'm like "ok, so I might get soaked, who cares..." and even more boots because I'm a boot junkie.
Point of this looooong post: keep it light and variable, find what works for you, think out of the box, it can save you a ton of cash and actually work better, especially if and when you commute!! Also, thanks Papa Yam, love your channel!
I actually really enjoy riding in the rain, especially at night. Everything gets reduced to looking like a vector-graphics video game, and it, 'tightens up' all the throttle, braking, and steering skills required, challenges me to be the best, smoothest rider I can be. The only time I ever lost traction was accelerating in a turn, when my rear wheel ran over a manhole cover -- another thing that gets really slick when wet. The rear wheel just slid a few inches, then regained grip once it was on pavement again. Really predictable, since I was being smooth and controlled on the throttle.
First night I got my bike on the road it was a torrential downpour and me and my bro rode to the gym and back. I squeezed probably a gallon of water out of my pants when I got home, I was so scared! Riding that gs1100 scrambler that felt like an absolute monster with dim headlights through whipping wind and rain. Bad idea, but I made it! Rode in the rain again this evening, a couple months later.
Good video as always, good advice. When I was learning I deliberately stayed out and waited for a rain storm so I could ride home in the wet. It hosed down when I did my unrestricted test and the instructor praised my wet riding. Apparently some folks almost stop. However I am largely a dry day rider. If there are storm clouds on horizon I head for the cage. However it is important to be confident,. You will get caught out one day...
I have rode in the rain many times. I never had an issue with tire grip, but shoe grip is a different story. Shoe choice can make a huge difference when you have to put a foot down.
Actually there is always enough grip in the rain, if you ride at normal speed. Never had any problems in the rain.
The vision from a drivers perspective and from inside a car is different. So keep in mind that a car driver might not see you. (loud pipes may save lifes?! hear hear...)
Okay, a new bike with all the technical advantages help a lot with Traction Control, Anti This and That, Cornering ABS etc.
Back when I got my license in the early 90s I had no ABS. Later with ABS I was just so much more relaxed so when we got a bike for my wife, that was the one thing I wanted to have for her.
Safe riding everyone!
First time I rode on a highway, about my third time riding at all, it started off kinda cloudy, but by the time I got out to where I was going it was pouring. Now I wear waterproof boots when I ride. Also my rear tire was pretty bald because because I just picked up my first bike and hadn’t had a chance to change them.
Bro knows the homies fell asleep watching youtube and the algorithm brought us to him. I was already awake. but now I definitely am. 🤣
So funny I fell asleep while watching this last night and was awakened by the ending
I like riding all weather as the challenge improves my riding skills.
Another piece of gear to have? A scarf. It might not be waterproof, but bunched up around your neck if you're caught without some kind of protection will at least save you from getting water down your jacket. I had one when we had a sudden cold snap in April and it was sleeting out, I didn't have my full face helmet with me (the weather said cloudy that night), but the scarf was nice to not only protect my neck from the cold, it also worked as a deflector to cover my mouth from the little stinging pellets. It also works well in light rain, but if it's a total downpour, it might not be as good.
When I was 18 my motorcycle was my only mode of transportation so I had my share of rain riding and that was on 80's tire technology. In fact I hit some pretty hard rain the 1st week and that made me start wearing full face helmets for the rest of my riding life until I stop. The rain felt like needles sticking me in the face. You're not going to knee drag unless you have some rain slicks but, you still have pretty good traction in the rain once all the oils have washed off the road. You can usually see that on the first rains of the season. I have never owned a bike with rider aids and never had issues in the rain.
Heavy rain’s not a problem, that’s just a clothing issue. But when the rain stops and the dirty water from the road surface flicks up onto the visor!! That’s a real problem. I used to ride behind trucks to get enough water to let me wipe the visor. My longest trip in the rain 600 miles continuous riding. 🤪
My MSF endoresemwnt level course was in the pouring rain. I was surprised at how much grip I had during the tight maneuvers.
In Canada, I rode 235 miles in cold rain, then sleet, snow, more rain, the sunshine, again more rain. I used Yokohama rubber and they worked great! Just reduce speed when you feel slight hydroplaning, still riding around 50mph, even around corners. Our highways were mostly 2 lanes in those days. Had Dunlop on my 750 Honda, worst rubber ever. Too hard and stiff. Rode a few different bikes in my 43 year run, worse was a BMW shaft drive, tended to lean severely when applying power, nicest was the Honda Shadow, shaft drive, different design that eliminated the side sway. Unfortunately, motor wasn’t the best.
Rain gets easier each time. I was in it 3 hours strait a few weeks ago. The storms we've been having in texas with all the wind and hail are a no go. I don't mind riding through the rain if it has an end, I just don't like all day rain.
Got caught out in heavy rain after just breaking in my 2023 RC390. Went like heck to beat it home but it caught me 20 miles out. I was pleasantly surprised at the performance of the cornering traction controll and ABS W/ the Continental Road Attack tires. Not one sketchy moment.
I have hundreds of hours riding in Oregon, Washington rain....................There are a lot of Great Tips in this video........There are times when I employ my vast riding experience when I look outside and say fuggit, I ain't doing it!
2 years ago my buddy and I got caught In a horrible rain storm! It was so bad I couldn't see anything! We were going 40 on a 100 zone.. no more rain for me.
My first ride after getting my license was on wet roads.
I now know what it feels like to have your rear tire geeeently stepping out when applying the throttle.
I got out fine without crashing, but it was a bit scary.
I keep a rain top and bottom in my bike's rear bag. Stays with it. Im in one of those places where you can't trust the weather guy. I commute everyday... storm or not.
been riding for 4 months now (including MSF course) and So far i've been in drizzles but never actual rain, and TBH I hope that streak continues for a while because the idea of riding in the rain with my limited experience as a rider, kinda scares me. like getting passed by a simi-truck going 80 in a 60 zone.
Rode to and from engineering school every night . Rode in rain for years .
My first track day was under a downpour. Hitting a max of 120mph and scared as hell, definitely learned to be smooth on the throttle.
Great advice. I’m in the UK so spend more time that I’d like on wet roads and everything you’ve said is bang on. Great video.
great video, summed it up real nice. For Europe of course, we have the cobblestones in the old city centers, that are near impossible to ride in the wet.
Once upon a time I didnt care about weather or temperature, now im too lazy to detail the bike after a rain ride. Fun in the sun, not pain in the rain.
I first got licensed at the start of a wet winter. You couldn't keep me off the bike. Those old Dunlop bias plies with their deep wide grooves worked well in the rain. But that was a long time ago, when dinosaurs were still a road hazard. These days, I'll take the luxury of a heated cage over the bike if it's raining anywhere within 1000 miles of me.
For about 6 months I had the distinct displeasure of riding 60 mi round trip to work everyday from fall until spring in Colorado. It is not a fond memory. We could start in rain and within 20 minutes in sub-freezing conditions and have to knock ice off of ourselves. Last few years I've been very lucky that I haven't had to put up with the rain. Which is lucky because I have not found a rain suit that works for me. Unless I cut it apart and completely remake it to fit.
Input is almost everything from my experience in the english winter. I ride 1995 CBR600Fsport, it had poor brakes and tires(i just got my license and the bike), but i went out nevertheless and i had good experience. However, i enjoyed my bike a lot more and felt a lot safer once i got it properly maintained. Always maintain your bike and always wear your gear 🤘
I ride in rain, hail, high winds, even snow, freezing rains, cold 25°. I feel it makes me a better rider by doing so. Don't really think to much about doing it.
The issue isn’t rain, it’s poor street drainage. When it’s raining so hard there is standing water on the road, that’s when it gets sketchy.