Riding in the rain is a big part of life for people around the country who don’t live in a desert but still want to get the most hours of riding out of their bike per year as possible. But riding in the rain also presents hazards that take some experience and knowledge to know how to deal with. The diminished traction and visibility will affect your own riding experience as well as the abilities of every motorist on the road.
Below, we’ve gathered the best tips we have for riding in the rain. In addition to these tips, you’ll want to make sure that you stay alert and vigilant whenever you ride in the rain. If you’re still in the market for the right bike, stop by Bright PowerSports. We’re located in Lincoln Park, Michigan, and we proudly serve the Detroit, Michigan area.
Rain makes it hard for your bike to maintain traction and control, but it also causes problems for riders trying to focus on the road. The first line of defense for motorcycle riders is the riding gear they wear. One of the best pieces of riding gear you can invest in if you’re planning on riding in the rain with any regularity is a one piece, full-body riding suit. This will give you complete protection from the rain and allow you to keep your core temperature up with much less work.
Having some quality insulated and shielded gloves is arguably even more important. Cold hands make controlling a motorcycle very difficult, so it’s worth investing extra money in a product that will keep your hands warm and dry. Finally, make sure you pick up a neck gaiter or some other protection for your neck. Cold air and water can easily find their way down your collar, which is quite uncomfortable.
Wet roads are pretty much guaranteed to offer much less traction than dry roads because the water reduces road friction, but some areas will always be significantly more slippery than others. Areas, where water is pooling on the road, can present a risk of hydroplaning. Keep an eye on the inside of banked turns as water can easily pool in these areas. When roads wear down, they often develop two grooves where car tires travel the most. These grooves can fill up with water and cause traction problems, so try riding the center line instead.
In the fall, leaves that fall on the road can become extremely slippery, especially as they start to decompose. Try to avoid streets with heavy leaf litter. And when you have to drive over fallen leaves, treat it basically as if you’re riding on snow by slowing down and avoiding making turns.
The metal plates used in road construction can also become extremely slippery. If you come across one, avoid accelerating or braking when you’re on it, as these can cause your back wheel to break loose and leave you fishtailing.
Staying visible to other motorists is extremely important for anyone riding in the rain. Rain can obscure people’s ability to see you, and water that gets kicked up off the road can be even worse. Make sure to invest in a high visibility jacket or some other similar piece of equipment. At the very minimum buy a cheap, packable mesh high visibility vest and turn your lights on.
With decreased traction, riding at normal speeds becomes risky. To increase your safety, drop your speed and give yourself more time to perform any maneuver. Double your follow distance when you’re on the highway, too. If you experience a fishtail, ease off the acceleration or rear brakes (depending on what caused the back wheel to slide out). If you let both wheels ride free, the bike should correct itself and continue to travel in the same direction.
Stop by Bright PowerSports if you have any more questions about riding in the rain or if you need some new riding gear. Our team of motorcycle riding experts works out of our Lincoln Park, Michigan location and proudly serves the Detroit area.
