RIDING IN THE RAIN

[Dirty Doug]

I spent this past Fridey and Saturday driving to Ohio and back. The weather was , for the most part, hard rain through the mountians of Virginia and West Virginina. Don't know if there was some sort of a ralley somewhere but I saw a larger than normal amount of motorcycles on the road both going up and coming back.

What interested me the most was the wide range of riding gear. I saw everything from full Aero suits to T-shirts and jeans. Needless to say I would think the Aero suits are the way to go but was wondering what other riders use. I have two suits that I use. One is a Gortex suit for light rain and the other is a TourMaster rain suit. The TourMaster is the better of the two but both have the leaking in the crotch area problem. ( Talk about leaving yourself open here)

Something else that I noticed was the lack of rear lighting on most stock motorcycles. With a heavy rain and road mist I would be upon a motorcycle without much warning. Most had a single rather small tail light. With the exception of a Goldwing that looked like a traveling light show, very few had additional lighting. I have added Hyper Lites to mine plus have included the turn signals as flashers when the brakes are applied. Any suggestions on additional lighting?

Ride happy and ride safe,

K-Rider

Doug

[arkline]

There are two seasons here in the Pac Northwest. Dry and wet. I saved my nickels and dimes for a long, long time and finally bought an Aerostich Roadcrafter. Although it isn't advertised as raingear, I can attest to the impermeability of the thing. I've ridden in lots'o'rain, lots'o'wind, and miles of snow in that thing and it has always kept me dry. If I were smarter, it would have kept me warm too, but that's another story. It is the best made piece of riding gear I have, bar none. The craftsmanship in its construction is truely A-number-One first class. The pockets are incredibly well thought out, the armor is well placed and very functional, and I opted for a loud color scheme hoping more people will see me. I like it so much, I am buying a Roadcrafter jacket and getting rid of all the rest of my riding jackets. Honestly, outside a set of custom leathers, Aerostich makes the best textile stuff around...

Lighting on the rear of a bike can be enhanced with various electronic devices that turn the turn signals into running lights. Not necessarily legal in most states, but I'll pay the ticket. I've got an older version of the signal minder on the 1150R and it gives me running lights in three intensities. During the darker months, I keep them up on the brightest setting...I imagine that LED bulbs would help too, but they are more directional than incandescent. Lots of replacement items out there but a little expensive.

[BobFV1]

I try not to ride in the rain, but use Frogg Toggs over my BMW riding gear to supplement my Oxtar Gore-Tex boots and my gore-tex gloves, which I also wear surgical gloves beneath.

From a visibility perspective - a white helmet is your friend - I can think of no viable reason to wear anything other than a white helmet, given the enhanced visibility it gives you at the highest point of visibility. I supplement the white helmet with white reflective tape.

The Roadcrafter suits seem to be extremely well made and I have no doubt they would keep you pretty dry. I think the one-piece suits look pretty :ymca:, but YMMV.

[arkline]

"I think the one-piece suits look pretty :ymca: , but YMMV."

Maybe so, maybe so. But I can get my Roadcrafter on in less than thirty seconds and be ready to go while it takes my H-D riding co-worker about fifteen minutes to get those assless pants on...And I can get it off and be ready for work in about the same amount of time. It's like a flight suit...purpose built...

[GPM]

I can think of no viable reason to wear anything other than a white helmet

In which case you should consider swapping that XD for a Schuberth C2. Those things are so big you'll look like Rosie O'Donnell's big white ass on a stick rolling down the road. Now there's conspicuity for ya....

:058:

[JCsman]

Anybody tried those 3M stick on reflectors that paste onto the bags? I've considered them but wonder how well they work in rain and fog. They are virtually invisible in full light, but (at least in the ads) really glow under headlights. Less effective in the rain, I suppose, but if the guy behind has on his lights it might help some.

[JCsman]

you'll look like Rosie O'Donnell's big white ass on a stick rolling down the road.

I dunno. It's hard to believe it's safe to have the guy behind you turning his head and throwing up out the window.

[BobFV1]

"I think the one-piece suits look pretty :ymca: , but YMMV."

Maybe so, maybe so. But I can get my Roadcrafter on in less than thirty seconds and be ready to go while it takes my H-D riding co-worker about fifteen minutes to get those assless pants on...And I can get it off and be ready for work in about the same amount of time. It's like a flight suit...purpose built...

Ron -

Assless chaps are so gay, I don't think gays wear them any more, for fear of being lumped in with Harley riders! :eusa_clap:

[Acacia]

3 years ago I bought a Nelson Reigg 2 piece suit for about $50. It has been absolutely great. No leaks anywhere except some wicking around ones neck. I have done one ride through a tropical storm that lasted for 750 miles (Ashville NC, through to Lafayette LA) - a lot in heavy torrential rain. Another 500 miles in CO this summer. It is medium weight with sealed joints and a lot of reflective striping that all can see. I also use it for layering when on long trips.

Last Saturday coming home from the Ennis drags we hit a massive storm - the 3 HD friends were in trouble and I had to pathfind for them home - open faced helmets and screens they look through are deadly in that kind of weather.

I have cheap rubber over boots- $15 from 'Stitch' (you must 1st put a plastic grocery bag on to get it on and off) Fantastic - they work. Dont waste your money on the wrap round velcro'd ones - they suck and leak.

Then - I cant remember from where (Maybe also 'Stich'), but got a pair of oversize XXXL blue dish washing gloves that you pull over regular gloves with long sleeves.

Reflective tape - got some at Wallymart - the HD guys this WE were complaining that they were brighter than my tailight - on my bags - Socalrob also 'complained' about them at the Hill country ride in May.

They may not all be color co-ordinated an certainly do not have name recognition, but at least I have been through some of the worst weather, after long distances, and arrived home dry and warm.

[socalrob]

Brian,

I think you confused "complimented" with "complained":rofl: . I did like the additional visibility stuff you have on your bike, sorry if I gave the wrong impression. I may have mentioned reading in Advrider about a rider getting harassed by the LEO for having too much reflective white stuff facing rearward.

I have that system case reflective tape that looks black in the day but turns white at night on my system cases. Problem is I run without my system cases most of the time. Also, I suspect that the Walmart stuff that looks red, white, or yellow during the day is more reflective than the stealth stuff that looks black during the day. Not sure though as I don't ride behind my own bike.

I do have a white helmet with white reflective stickers that the wife has told me is very visible.

[JCsman]

"I think the one-piece suits look pretty :ymca: , but YMMV."

Maybe so, maybe so. But I can get my Roadcrafter on in less than thirty seconds and be ready to go while it takes my H-D riding co-worker about fifteen minutes to get those assless pants on...And I can get it off and be ready for work in about the same amount of time. It's like a flight suit...purpose built...


For some guys (:ymca: ) the assless pants are pupose built too.

[Bones]

I used a Tourmaster Elite two piece rain suit for several thousand miles of riding in the rain, until the pants started to leak. Up in these parts, you ride in the rain sometimes, or you don't ride. You may start in fine weather, but often it changes.

The leak was due to a tiny, tiny hole at the crotch. But if you have that and ride for a couple of hours, your boys will have taken a swim.

I then got a new two piece suit made by Tecknic and it is really nice (as rain suits go). If it is really raining hard, I use the three fingered Aerostitch over gloves and they work very well. I like them because they fit over my armored gloves.

I have a one piece Roadcrafter and the thing is just fantastic. I actually like the fact that you look ridiculous in the thing.....then again, I like the looks of a GS, so maybe that is why. I have noticed that nobody I have seen riding with a Roadcrafter is anything other than a serious rider. They are so well designed and made.

I also use the black reflective tape, having put some strips on my black Arai helmet.

White helmets are for pussies.




Sorry, I couldn't resist.



Jeff

[arkline]

"For some guys ( :ymca: ) the assless pants are pupose built too." Too freeking funny...I'm glad I wasn't near the coffee cup when I read that...

"I actually like the fact that you look ridiculous in the thing.....then again, I like the looks of a GS, so maybe that is why."

Hmmmm, I'll have to cogitate on that one. I do like some of the more homely bikes out there and the GS is definitely homely.

[Acacia]

Rob,

I am pulling your chain and having some fun with a dry sense of humor and word play! I took your 'complaint' back then - in the context of our discussion as you really meant it. As far as the HD guys - they said they were too bright to follow for a long time close up behind me. In the torrential rain we went through - they could hardly see my tailight, but could follow the reflector tape.

If one gets reflective tape - look for the DOT markings on the tape.

[BobFV1]

If one gets reflective tape - look for the DOT markings on the tape.

I use the SOLAS (Marine "Safety of Life at Sea") tape - holds up well - available on EBAY, West Marine, and a number of motorcycle places as well.

[fganger]

"I use the SOLAS (Marine "Safety of Life at Sea") tape - holds up well - available on EBAY, West Marine, and a number of motorcycle places as well."

It's been over 40 years since I've owned a Hardly, so I need to ask this of our local expert on the breed. Err . . . Bob . . . hmm . . . just how well do they stick to your "assless pants?" :pot:

Frank


I'm sorry, Dave, Dean and Allan made me do it, and Bones helped.:rofl:



That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :jkam:



Oh - Bonnie. This? Oh its nothing, nothing at all. NO! I'm not trying to "stir the pot." What kind of a man do you think you married? :dance:

[DJ Down Under]

Be very careful out there when riding in the rain...check this out...this is how dangerous it is..wow!..it's a goodie.. http://www.gotwheelies.com/RainRideWeb.wmv

DJ

[bmwdave52]

Makes you wonder how they managed to live long enough to acquire those skills.

[BobFV1]

Chase car had a badly cracked windshield - that's dangerous!

[Bones]

Well........


1. Light beer is for pussies.


2. Countersteering is for pussies.


3. Does this mean that I am overly cautious about about use of brakes and riding on paint stripes both in dry and wet weather?


4. Documentation that testosterone, when administered to those with a Y chromosome under the age of 30, will result in poisoning of the cerebral cortex.


5. Further proof that anything that can be done, will be done.

6. Further proof that anything and everything done, no matter how ridiculous, will end up being captured on video.

7. Further proof that anything that IS done will end up posted on the internet.

8. Further proof that skill and judgement are not necessarily linked.


9. Evidence that Darwin's theory does not suggest that it is exercised until some modicum of time passes, first.

10. Proof that stupid things done can also be done under even more dangerous conditions.

:mully: :mully: :mully: :mully: :mully: :mully: :mully: :mully: :mully: :mully:



Jeff

[Acacia]

Bones,

Got rain on the brain?

[BobFV1]

Bones,

Got rain on the brain?

Maybe a little dew on the lilly?