Riding in the Rain

[Malber]

It's rotated on the main page of S-T.net, but I wonder how many members agree. I ride in the rain as much as I have to, but I never really enjoy it.

[tomek]

I actually like to ride in the rain ,at least when the temps are decent.That is what separates boys from  man.It does not take much skill  to go fast in the dry but rain riding is where all experten training and talent comes into play.

Not to mention police radar does not work well,plus when was the last time you saw speed trap during a thunderstorm.?
 
Rain riding is fun,you can get the bike to fishtail very easily ,scares the living hell from the cagers behind you  ,did I mention that bike gets washed "free"?

[Daytona-dan]

I don't jump up and down to ride in the rain, but with the proper gear its not that bad. I did days of it on this past trip where I was touring for a month. And the funny thing is the most amount of rain occurred in the desert southwest. That was just wrong...

[gforce]

On this forum, true.

On a sport-, or DS-, or cruiser-forum, not necessarily.

Maybe we should add that, if you don't have ABS, you shouldn't ride in the rain!  

[livewellandfree]

Only had to ride in the rain twice this year, but with a 45 mile commute, I have often had to put the rain suit on coming home.  Riding the Gap last fall, the last day was in the rain and I ended up giving my suit to a gal on a gixxer who had taken her leathers off that day for textile.  It was 50 degrees when we hit fog on the skyway and she had the shakes when we stopped.  When I hydroplaned this spring, hitting a wall of rain, it took a couple minutes before butt cheeks let go of the Corbin. (The Diablo's tracked perfectly though)

Bottom line for me is if it's going to rain all day, I'll take the Mini; if there is a chance of enjoying the back roads on the ride home, I'll ride; if there is sure to be lightning and/or heavy rain, Mini again; if it's raining and less than 50 degrees, those heated seats in the Cooper sure feel great.

[bizarro]

Like chicken strips and HP/Torque figures whether someone rides in the rain or not has nothing to do with with whether they 'ride'.

I live in Seattle. I ride in the rain. I know at least one other Seattleite who does not ride in the rain unless caught in it. I don't think any less of him.

The only exception to this is Larry.

[et]

Motorcyclists who don't ride in the rain are posers; just like owners of Hummers that that don't go offroading.  

[BobW]

I enjoy the rain and routinely ride in it. I do not enjoy severe weather, big difference IMHO. In my area mountains, riders routinely catch pop up storms on otherwise perfectly clear days. I guess for most people they should at least learn to be prepared (gear and safe operation) for inclement weather or only use their bikes for neighborhood/local rides. I could care less, but for a "Sport Touring"  site/context, I would lean towards riding in the rain is a prerequisite to this type of motorcycling (touring specifically).

I'm not sure why this type of poll becomes manly chicken strip Dino syn oil stock pipes cruisers vs UJM knock off no balls squid arguments. I don't think the question would make me think more or less of anyone. Ride what you like in a way that gives you many happy miles.

Dano, good to see you over here!

[kendenton]

I don't really mind the rain, so long as it's not combined with night.  That's some bad mojo for me.  

[bluepoof]

I don't jump up and down to ride in the rain, but with the proper gear its not that bad.

Yeah that.  I have to commute in the rain this winter since I'm car-less now, and I can't say I'm looking forward to that....but on trips, what can you do?

[DredheadV2.0]

I like riding in big thunderstorms as long as I've got my rainsuit.  It's an amazing thing to behold, with lightning flashing all around.

I'm good with wind, rain or cold, but only one at a time.  It used to be two at a time but my tolerance has gone down.

[Windblown]

I ride in the rain but it's more a matter of being "caught" in the rain. The only exception is occasionally I'll head out for a quick trip during a summer rain storm, the break from the heat is welcome then.

I figure if a rider can figure out how to ride and never get wet while riding the more power to them.

[DredheadV2.0]

I figure if a rider can figure out how to ride and never get wet while riding the more power to them.

Move to Arizona, I guess.

[denydog]

I don't get it.  If you don't ride in the rain you don't ride.  If you're commuting, you're not riding.  If you ride two up, you're not sport touring.  If you don't ride a sport bike you're not sport touring.  If you don't ride X number of miles per day, you're not sport touring.  Motorcyclist or rider?

Who's coming up with all these rules and definitions?  More importantly, why?  

BTW- I don't like getting my bikes dirty by riding in the rain.  I guess that makes me a motorcycling version of Felix Unger.  

[R.Markus]

I don't like getting my bikes dirty by riding in the rain.

That's how I get my bikes clean.  

[Yuma]

Quote from: Windblown on Today at 08:36:51 pm

I figure if a rider can figure out how to ride and never get wet while riding the more power to them.
Posted by: DredheadV2.0
"Move to Arizona, I guess."

True     in parts, like the Southwest.
I had to ride to the mountains of San Diego to ride in more then 10 drops in the last three years.  
It was raining in Julian Saturday and one could count the bikes there.....
(Normally the streets are lined with bikes.. )
So I was among the few hearty souls who ride in the rain,,,,that day.

Yuma

[ZED]

I can envision a place where it doesn't rain.  Theoretically if a person rode there, this statement would be false.  

I've ridden in a lot of rain.  It sucks, but if you're going to live here you ride in any weather that you can.  If you don't then you may as well not own a bike here.

Fortunatly the riding weather is usually better on the long trips.  Watch the sky, turn at right angles to the path of the clouds.  Worked great in our August and September trip.

[RickC1957]

Riding in the rain is part of....riding There is no escaping it I don't mind the rain, but the last 5 or so years has been a little much. I have watched Vivid disappear in a "wall of white" and I mean vanish from sight, thats how sudden and intense the rain fell. I have watched a car do a complete 360 between Jammin and I this was after riding 15 hours in a steady downpour, then it decided to really rain Watched Kaos968 get hit by rain driven by a 60 mph crosswinds, saw him and his bike pushed into on coming traffic...Jammin, Kaos and I huddle in the woman's restroom escaping the rain Had to take the F__king interstate home because every other road out of Winona was closed due to severe flooding. I'm replacing the dash on the ST3, because it fried out from all the riding in the rain I have done.....can it stop raining on me

[Malber]

The first day on the range in my MSF basic rider course was a full downpour all day. Now, rain in New Hampshire is not unheard of, but it's unusual to rain all day. They recommended rain gear if we had it. I didn't have any so I wore my Columbia ski jacket shell over my leather jacket and wore jeans. Big mistake. The Columbia jacket ended up not being waterproof and my jacket took weeks to dry out. Had to go to the Concord Goodwill to buy $5 jeans just to get some dry clothes. Ended up being near hypothermic and took an hour in the classroom shivering just to warm up. Was a good shock treatment way to learn clutch control in the rain  

Yeah, I've gotten adaquate rain gear since.

[rockwells]

I don't care for it, but I'm not afraid of it, either.