Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: smooth operator on July 24, 2005, 08:19:13 PM
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Took the bike to a friends house this morning(going to redo his brick pavers) and it started to rain. A little rain does'nt bother me,and on the way back home I decided to take a detour down a desent strech of highway. I still had over a hr befor AMA racing started on speed tv so I took even a longer detour and hit some of my favorite rts. I was wishing I had my leather pants on, I was only wearing the jacket. But I kept a pretty desent pace anyhow. Using a little more body,getting off the bike abit, and just practicing being smooth in my movments and throttle hand. I actully did slide abit a couple times,but nothing drastic or alarming. I had a blast! I ran a couple of turns in a higher gear than normal(if pushing a little) and came out of the turns with alittle less rpm. Not exactly seeing how fast I could go. but how fast I could smoothly go through the turns. I thought this would make a intresting topic, how other riders take to wet roads. Dos and do'nts and then maybe a rain gear topic in the gear section. (Iwas soaked by the time I got home)
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I haven't had but just a couple of short rides in the rain. I love the wet weather for riding quads....the B12 on pavement?...I'm still learning. I try to do the same as you described; stay smooth in my transition into and out of corners, and I try to stay out of the middle of the lane where oil tends to hang out. The thing I discovered that can take the fun out of a wet weather ride is the painted stripes at intersectons(crosswalks) in a turn...more than once I had the back end want to out run the front.....whoa!!!
I just chalk it up to lack of practice, and plan to get out there just as often as I am now even in wet weather. It won't looks as pretty when it's wet, but I can clean it up, and I don't have to worry about water spots.. :banana: :banana:
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I do not want to sound like your mother but you should not play in the rain. I've ridden in the rain many, many times ~ hardly ever by choice.
As previously stated the grease in the middle and the first bit of rain brings oils, fluids and other nasties up over the water for a bit - before they get washed (more or less) away. Painted stripes, as you have already realized, get slippery when wet, as do manhole covers, steel grates and the like.
When you lean a motorcycle a force vector of more than 1G presents itself to the road on a contact patch of rubber that is small to begin with and even smaller as you lean. Centrifical force is trying to right the bike while countersteering or a lazy lean is opposing that force. It all comes together where the rubber meets the road as the cliche' goes.
Anything between the tire and the road that reduces grip reduces the ability of this all to stay together. If you are at the outer edges of the envelope which, by the way, is difficult if not impossible to quantify when rain is introduced, you can lose it with so much as a wet leaf, a coffee lid, the guts of a dead animal, a painted stripe, etcetra. In other words, It can go form seemingly just fine to AF-ed Up in an instant.
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In the right situation, and conditions....riding in the rain can be 'enlightening'.
I like to practice 'panic stops' on empty, deserted wet roads.
Talk about pucker factor! There's nothing as exciting as feeling the rear end squirming under your arse!
I know stuff may go wrong, but if the road is empty.....at least nobody will plow over top of me as I sit on the pavement, thinking about what a dumbarse I am....
On twisty roads, I can't help myself....and slowly increase the speed at which I hit the curves, even if it's wet.
Moderation is really the key, here, and you really have to remember that you're not going to brake as quickly if stuff goes wrong.
(Car pulls out...debris in the road...etc.)
I don't attempt a lock up.....or anything drastic, just a gentle progression in braking effort until total chaos is in sight. :roll:
My goal is to be able to control the bike in all situations....and know how and when to not get in over my head.
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I generally try to avoid riding in the rain. I had one absolute break-loose, almost low-side experience pushing boundries in the rain. Since then, I've been pretty timid when forced to ride in the rain.
We did have some pretty wet roads with light showers on Friday at the Rally. I had bought some really nice rain gear - Tour Master, I think. It was great. I wore it over my 1-piece leathers. I did push that day a little and noticed some controlled sliding of both wheels.
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Anyone else catch Sunday's motogp in Donington? Now that's some rain-riding for ya! I was amazed Rossi didn't dump it, considering how hard he was pushing. Also, it was fun to watch Hopkins work his way up, and nice to see he stuck it out and finished. Easy points if you could keep the bike running! Go Suzuki :wink:
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I don't mind riding tin the rain for short distances, I have a cheap rain jacket and pants from Walmart work fine. I was wondering how people keep their face shields clear, does rain off work? That's the only part I don't like about the rain.
I was watching the race yesterday--that's just nuts. I couldn't believe the way Rossi just pulled away after the problems he was having staying upright. The man is amazing.
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I was wondering how people keep their face shields clear, does rain off work? That's the only part I don't like about the rain.
If you get caught in the rain and have to keep going I found a techninque that keeps the water off my faceshield to a degree. I turn my head back and forth and let the wind blow the water off of one half of the shield while looking ahead out of the forward facing section of the visor. You have to keep turning your head back and forth and it isn't the safest but if you had to do it, it will get you to shelter.
I also obviously don't know how to cut and paste on here to reply to a part of another post. :duh:
Bill
'05 B12S
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I also obviously don't know how to cut and paste on here to reply to a part of another post. :duh:
Bill
'05 B12S
just click the "quote" button in the upper right of a post. did I get this one first? :wink:
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just click the "quote" button in the upper right of a post. did I get this one first?
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:congrats: You win the cigar Jason. Thanks for the lesson.
Bill
'05 B12S
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Yes I did see it! (Moto GP) That was the perfict race to watch after riding in the rain. After Rossi started struggling a bit, he just made up his mind and showed everyone who was king. Roberts seems to do good in the wet too.
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I don`t mind riding in the rain at all I agree with pete some times its cool. Besides it funny to see the expressions on other poeples faces when I pull up next to them at a red light in a mid july rain.
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I love the rain and rain tires , smooth and easy lean off more but keep the bike up more too, be prepared to pick it up if it slides sorta push the bike up while still hanging off! this is a old pic of my wera national # 2 winning vintage fz 600 at gingerman Michigan
(http://img303.imageshack.us/img303/5091/1986fz600raingingerman5zz.th.jpg) (http://img303.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1986fz600raingingerman5zz.jpg)
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Rain x and fog x are the secret to wet weather riding vision!
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I agree with Pete here. You'll never get comfortable riding in the rain or know just how far you can push the bike when you need to unless you practice actually riding in the rain. If you ride much at all, sooner or later you will get caught in the rain and it will be good to have developed some wet weather riding skills. And yes, with the right gear, it can be fun riding in the rain. Although, cleanup can sure be a chore.
I was wondering how people keep their face shields clear
As long as your faceshield is reasonbly clean and your not getting muddy water flung at you, it's not usually an issue. Fog can be a problem though. I thought I heard or read something about Rain X possibly being harmfull to some visors. Anybody have any information about this? I think I read something on a bottle of Rain X about it not being recommended for either acrylic or lexan. (I can't remember wich one.)[/i]
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Used to be strictly a sunny-day rider. Was terrified the day I got caught in a freak thunderstorm. Made it home safely with smooth riding, gentle braking, and longer following distances (it was during rush hour) and realized the rain wasn't so bad.
Now I commute rain or shine (SF winters, and recently Seattle). I won't claim to enjoy riding in the rain, but I enjoy riding!
Rob
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. Fog can be a problem though. I thought I heard or read something about Rain X possibly being harmfull to some visors. Anybody have any information about this? I think I read something on a bottle of Rain X about it not being recommended for either acrylic or lexan. (I can't remember wich one.)[/i]
Thats what works for me, and ive always used it and many racer do to! doesnt seem to hurt my 500.00 agv or the one before that and the shield is a anti fog agv to but still needs fog x when it rains!
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:shock: ZOOKE anti-fog wax :banana: :banana: This $h!t RULES http://www.zooke.com/shop/detail.php?id=12
It work wounders on anything BUT SHOE face shields :duh: found that out after I spent 30 min trying to make it work on my brand new RF-1000. Zooke rep told me Shoe called them to work on it. Something about the plastic formula used to harded prevents a good anti-fog coating. Probably why Shoe put a shield pop up lever to vent the shield. :crybaby:
I do use it for all my glasses though What the good in having a clear shield if you cann't see past your nose. Dispite it's Shoe shortcoming I still hype it!
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So I live in Olympia, WA and I ride to Redmond, WA (75 miles each way) 5 days a week on my B12. Rain or Shine I take the bike for lots of great reasons like carpool lanes and gas milage among others. I ride in the rain every day that it does, which here is very often. I have total agreement with many of the technical aspects mentioned before.
Without having anything new to add to the tech tips from the other Banditos, I will say the things I think are most important.
BEWARE OF METAL. Any metal in the road, including going into parking garages. If your tires are wet metal will throw you most unmercifully. Be especially careful of Railroad crossings and bridge grates.
Slow and smooth through turns, gingerly even. I don't push it in the wet as I have learned my lessons.
One thing I didn't see mentioned here, from my experience, cars do not see you as readily. They are wrapped up in their cacoons and not thinking bikes are even out there. Careful.
As for rain gear it depends what you are doing as far as milage and speeds. If you only occasionaly ride in the wet stuff, plastic is probably fine. If you are going to be riding regardless, investing in some quality made for motorcycling gear is worth the money.
Hope this helps.
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RainX rules.
Riding in the rain is the best, learning you can do.
Smooth movement and actions, are the secrets, of good fast dry weather riding. To cut a very long story short, a few years back I hurt my back real bad. The muscles where torn, from middle back down to my butt. The Doc taped me back together so at least I could sit up, and was told to stay on my back and only do small amounts of gentle movements. And he would see me in 5 days for some rehab. Well after 2 days on my back, im going like stir crazy. So off to the bike, gear up and hit the road, 2 days and a night in pouring rain. Got back and headed off to see the Doc, and walked in with hardly a limp,( considering when he taped me up I needed a walking frame and 2 friends to help me). The doc couldn't believe what he was seeing, and asked what the hell id done. When I told him he went off his nut :duh: I'd done everything he told me not to do, especially riding the bike. But when I explained gentle smooth movement in the wet, he kinda saw what I was getting at. See riding is not only good for the mind it can be good for the old bod too :motorsmile: Did I mention the pain removing the tape from my back, bastard doc, got a wicked sense of humour, would be fine if one didnt have as much hair on ones back as one has on thier head. What would one expect from a sick BMW riding quack :stickpoke:
The one thing I do hate about riding in the rain, it makes my bike all dirty :boohoo: :boohoo: