11 de março de 2019

Motorcycle safely ride in the rain

Riding in the rain scares a lot of people, and if there is some reason for it, it is not the big bad wolf lots of riders believe it to be.

All it takes for us to defeat the beast? Preparation!

If you are new to bikes or new to riding in the rain don't be scared, it is far from impossible. However, some things need to be kept in mind.

Rain or bad weather riding needs to be tackled in a completely different way than perfect sunny riding days, and the first step into success is precisely that, making sure we do not forget the weather is far from perfect.

It is not uncommon to see people driving in the rain precisely in the same way they operate in the dry.

No matter how good your tires are, no matter how good of a rider you are, if the conditions are not the same, the way we drive can't be the same.

Case and point? Moto GP times in the rain and the dry are not the same, and if they back down on the throttle and the aggression on the track, why should we be any different on the road?

So how can we stay safe out there?

To improve our safety we should tackle this task from three different angles.

1 - The rider

Knowing that we can't drive the same way we do with dry weather is great, but not enough. We should avoid anything that might distract us, so preparation is vital.

Clothes:

Although it may seem obvious that we need rain gear to drive in the rain, your preparation doesn't end there.

No matter if you are going for a short drive or on a long trip, pack dry clothes.

Gear fails, it just happens, and if it does, your mind will be that much more relaxed if you know you have some dry clothes to change into to.

There is nothing as demoralizing as having a leak on your suit and knowing you will have to stay wet because you put all your chips on the quality of the suit you are wearing.

Dry socks, dry underwear and a dry set of riding gloves all packed in a ziplock is the minimum we advise.

If you can take a full set of extra clothes and shoes, as well as a cheap over suit in case yours leaks, you will be ready for everything!

Make sure you also carry wipes for your visor.

Keeping your visor clean from fogging either by using anti-fog treatments or a pin lock will be essential for your safety and a relaxed ride.

Packing:

Although most hard panniers are somewhat waterproof, they are not 100% free of water leakage.

If you instead go with soft luggage, many are fully waterproof, and many are not.

Make sure you check the tags and remember that waterproof is not the same as water resistant.

Regardless of what kind of luggage you are using, put all your essentials inside zip lock bags.

That extra layer of safety will allow you to ride carefree knowing no water will go where it shouldn't.

The route:

If this tip isn't of much concern for those that are commuting, for those that are riding long distances, it may be a life saver.

Check the weather before departing and make alternative routes.

We always tend to push through and believe the weather will not get worst; however, that belief may lead to disaster.

Our pride will mean nothing when we crash, so keeping ourselves humble and on the safest roads may very well be a life saver.

Know when too much is too much, and either stop for the day or take an alternative route around the weather.

2 - The bike

We all know that no one rides knowing their bikes aren't in top tip shape, however for rain and bad weather, this is even more important.

Use rain tires, and if you are already running a set of those, make sure you have enough thread.

Make sure all your lights are working correctly, especially the brake light and your blinkers.

Keep your brakes fresh and your bike clean of leaks.

During dry days, it's easy to spot leaks, when the bike is wet that is not a reality, so inspecting your bike more strictly than you do during dry weather conditions is mandatory.

3 - The riding environment

Not only does rain produce lower traction, but it also produces other dangers.

Oil puddles or debris, holes, utility hole covers, traffic lines, all of those and others can be completely covered under the water line, so adjust your speed and braking distances accordingly.

Remember that rain makes everyone on the road just that little bit more annoyed, so pay extra attention to the surrounding traffic.

You may be applying all of the "rain riding" best practices, but that does not mean everyone else is.

Do the best you can, protect yourself the best way possible and attack the weather properly equipped for the task. You may find that rain riding can be a gratifying experience.

Check our out infographic on this subject

Motorcycle safely ride in the rain

Motorcycle safely ride in the rain

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