You’ve almost likely encountered rain on one of your rides if you’ve been riding for a long time. Rain may strike at any time, especially in the winter and spring, whether you’re on a cross-country adventure or just a short Sunday ride. Is riding a motorcycle in the rain possible? Without a question, yes. Rather than striving to avoid it, arm yourself with these tips and be ready to ride your motorcycle in the rain, whether it is anticipated or unexpected.
Contents
How to Ride a Motorcycle in the Rain
1. Examine Your Motorcycle
To prepared for the rain, there are a few things to look at before you leave on your ride.
Tires:
Your tires must able to conduct water, which implies tread is require. Check your tires for even wear and make sure they’re at the proper pressure for your motorcycle. In water, a tire that is under or over-inflated behaves differently than when it is dry.
Brakes:
Your brake pads should have adequate braking substance to stop as needed in wet circumstances. If your motorcycle has an anti-lock brake system, make sure it is service regularly and in good working order. Learn how to recognize brake pad wear and tear in this video.
Oil and brake fluid:
Make sure your motorbike is free of leaks, including oil and brake fluid. An oil leak may not constitute a substantial concern to public safety under dry conditions. When oil and water mix, however, slippery, hazardous conditions emerge, perhaps causing your journey to end prematurely.
2. Use the Appropriate Riding Equipment
Before you go on your excursion, make sure you have the right riding gear and clothing to keep you safe from the weather. The two types of water-resistant clothing are waterproof and water-resistant. Waterproof clothes and gear will not let water in except in the most severe of circumstances, such as submersion in water. When repeatedly struck with water, water-resistant gear will shed water from the surface, but after a certain length of time, it will allow water penetration. When searching for new riding gear for more difficult riding conditions, pay attention to the type of water protection the gear is designed to provide.
- Water-resistant/waterproof clothing, such as jackets, pants, and/or one-piece suits, are required when riding in the rain. Overlapping seams that don’t align are the key to good water protection in riding apparel. Zippers should covered totally by a flap (or two), with the flap’s edge not coinciding with the zipper. Cuffs on the jacket should long enough to cover your riding gloves and include a cinching device, such as a hook-and-loop component, that can tightened around the cuff of the glove. Wet clothes and skin become cold, delaying your reaction time to events around you; consequently, being comfortable and dry is vital to maintaining your attention.
- Waterproof riding boots and gloves are ideal for keeping water out of your boots and gloves when riding. To prevent water from getting in, each one must be tight against your body. They should able to tucked into a jacket or rain suit with ease.
- If your motorcycle has a tank bag or you want to go with a small backpack or saddlebag, bring extra dry clothes.
- A full-faced helmet will give the finest water protection when it comes to helmets. Bring a pair of goggles to replace your usual eye protection if you’re riding with a 12 or 34-face helmet. For an added layer of protection on your face, wear a balaclava with a protective outer layer (e.g. Gore-Tex) that will shed water and restrict wind from getting to your skin. Straps that wrap under your arms should included to keep the balaclava tucked into your jacket and prevent it from riding up and revealing a seam that might let water in.
- Plastic bags come in helpful when you need to keep your belongings dry during a rainstorm.
3. Prepare Before You Ride Motorcycle in the Rain
Aside from wearing the proper riding attire for cold or wet weather, there are a few other considerations to make while planning your journey.
Create a route map:
Plan an alternate route or a rest station where you may take shelter for a short time or until the weather improves if the rain turns into a downpour and becomes unsafe to ride in. In a matter of seconds, slow rainstorms may turn into gully washers. Mark your favourite meals, rest stops, or other attractions on your GPS or paper map so you can reach there fast if needed.
Fogging Prevention Treatments:
Fogging is an issue when there is a lot of rain or wet weather. It occurs when there is a temperature and humidity difference on opposite sides of an object. As a result, your goggles, helmet visor, and even your windshield may fog up during a rainstorm. Before departing, use an anti-fogging solution to wipe off the surfaces. While wearing your helmet, keep your visor open for ventilation and to prevent fogging. Pull over until the situation improves if you find yourself in a circumstance where fogging is inevitable.
4. Beware of Wet Riding Conditions
Wet roads may put any motorbike rider in a precarious predicament. Even though they appear to be immaculate, wet roads usually retain oils and other slippery residues on the surface. Be mindful of the threats that heavy rain might bring on the road in order to arrive at your destination safely.
Problems With Traction
Rain causes oils to be released, resulting in slippery, wet patches that reduce tire traction. The most dangerous time to bike is immediately following a heavy downpour, when the oils have been elevated to the road’s surface and have not yet been washed away. If it’s possible, this is the time to take a break. Wait for the storm to pass or until the rain has thoroughly wiped the road surface clean of oils and other particles before getting back on your bike. Once the rain has ended, ride following the vehicle’s tire tracks, since they have already pushed some of the water away, allowing you to gain better grip.
Hydroplaning
A considerable amount of water might cause you to hydroplane, regardless of how good or new your tire tread is. Hydroplaning happens when a layer of water prevents direct contact between the tires and the road. Avoid painted lines, manhole covers, tar snakes, rainbow-hued puddles, and metal bridges to avoid hydroplaning, since they all contribute to poor tire traction. While riding, slow down as much as possible, squeeze your clutch, and coast through the puddle. Maintain your speed and avoid making abrupt shifts in higher-speed situations, since this will reduce your motorcycle’s traction. Take into consideration the type of tires you have on your motorcycle.
The visibility has dwindled.
There are innumerable barriers on the surface, but the ones you can’t see in the distance are sometimes the most hardest to conquer. Visibility on the road and on the roadside is a key issue. Always wear luminous and/or brightly colored high visibility clothing when bicycling in the rain. In poor weather or in the dark, they might be the differentiating feature that keeps you visible to other vehicles while their wipers beat over the windscreen.
Between Brakes Distance
In wet weather, braking opportunities are reduced compared to dry riding conditions. Braking distance should increased on a wet road, and cornering should be gradual and steady. It’s critical to ride as steeply as possible so that your tires have the best contact patch and can transport the most water through the treads. While braking, use a lighter touch on the front brakes. To compensate for the front brake’s lesser use, more stopping distance should be provided.
Lightning
If the rain is followed by lightning, pull over to the side of the road as soon as possible. Even if lightning only strikes tall objects, the electricity must still travel somewhere on the planet. If everything, including yourself, is wet, your tires won’t totally shield you from electricity traveling through the ground. Don’t put your life in jeopardy.
Last Thoughts
You may occasionally plan ahead and avoid bicycling in the rain or when the weather is wet. You should or may expect severe weather if you’re going on a lengthy bike. With basic preparation, such as a change of riding attire and technique, danger may avoided, and you can arrive dry and energized after a terrific ride. I wish you well and safe travels!
