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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | It's been said that there are two kinds of riders, those who have laid it down, and those who will lay it down. Not being a member of the first group, and not wanting to be a member if the latter, I was wondering if anyone had any advice for wet weather riding specific to the Vision. It's got to be the most comfortable ride I've ever experienced. I test rode one 2 years ago, and never quit thinking about how nice it would be to get one. So, I finally got mine about 2 months ago, have logged about 2k miles, and have been using it mainly to commute. Last night I left my cage at my business for advertising purposes, and this am I woke up to rain. Rode the Vision in, and it did well, however when going over a manhole cover, I noticed the rear end got a little squirrley while my lean angle mustn't have been over 15 degrees and I was only doing 25-30 mph. It was no big deal really, just a little uncomfortable, and I know from experience that when you're out of control, it's too late to get a plan. I usually plan to avoid the rain at all costs, but find I would rather have the skills to negotiate it comfortably. Any advice anyone? Baadawg 08 Vision Blacked Out |
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Cruiser
Posts: 85
| Seems like last year all we did was ride in the rain. The bike will handle it well but naturally there are things to watch out for. Stay off painted surfaces like center lines. Watch out for slippery rail road crossings, crossing ties are full of creosote and get real slippery when wet as does the pavement on either side of them. Man hole covers (as you already know) are a slick smooth surface in the rain. Quite often a well worn highway gets a bit slicker when it first starts to rain, not sure if it's the stones worn smooth or just oil from all the traffic so slow down until the water has a good chance to realy soak things. Heavy rain that is sitting on the pavement will cause you to hydro plane and that gets spooky, if it happens to you don't panic or make quick movements just hold it steady and gradually slow to a safe speed that will allow your tires to displace the water as they rotate over the surface. There is nothing wrong with riding in the rain as long as you ride according to the conditions. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | Nepper - 2010-04-20 5:04 PM
Seems like last year all we did was ride in the rain. The bike will handle it well but naturally there are things to watch out for. Stay off painted surfaces like center lines. Watch out for slippery rail road crossings, crossing ties are full of creosote and get real slippery when wet as does the pavement on either side of them. Man hole covers (as you already know) are a slick smooth surface in the rain. Quite often a well worn highway gets a bit slicker when it first starts to rain, not sure if it's the stones worn smooth or just oil from all the traffic so slow down until the water has a good chance to realy soak things. Heavy rain that is sitting on the pavement will cause you to hydro plane and that gets spooky, if it happens to you don't panic or make quick movements just hold it steady and gradually slow to a safe speed that will allow your tires to displace the water as they rotate over the surface. There is nothing wrong with riding in the rain as long as you ride according to the conditions.
+1
I find the Vision to be a surefooted beast but after sunset the rain tends to make visability a problem |
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Cruiser
Posts: 101
Cold Lake Alberta Canada | Solid advice guys.
+11 |
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Tourer
Posts: 301
Buffalo Grove,Ill | I always avoid the center of the lanes in the rain. that is where the oil off the cars and trucks falls so its real slick. Just try and ride the left or right part of the lane. |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Thanks for taking the time to respond, guys. Never thought about the creosote soaked RR ties, or the age of the pavement being a factor. The traction afforded by differing types of pavement will vary, and I'm not asking for specifics on speed and lean angles, but I'm left wondering how much can I lean? The last thing I want to do is find out how much I cannot lean, a little after I've done it. The only way I know to learn this is by trial and error. Is it best to keep the bike as upright as possible to put the least lateral force on the tires to reduce slippage?
Baadawg |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| You just ride like normal. I hear all kinds of advice being tossed round about riding in the rain, but the truth is there isn't any reason to ride any differently than you would on dry roads, although you will likely slow down slightly so as to be able to see your way but otherwise there are no special habits.
For instance how is it that a road is more slippery in the center? If a cage is losing fluids they are spraying out as they fall from the vehicles underside and end up everywhere. You are in far more danger from the rubber scrubbed off the tires where they run down the road. And consider that as the rain falls where do the oils, antifreeze and other fluids wash as they head off the lane? Most experts recommend waiting 3-5 minutes after a rain begins before riding for this very reason.
As far as lean? Well since you don't lean a bike to begin with I find it a rather odd question. When you take a curve you counter steer which in turn pushes the bike over as far as necessary to negotiate the curve. If you are purposely leaning it is a matter of time until you fall off wet or dry. Like I said just ride your bike, look where you want to go and you'll go there. You always have the same amount of rubber on the road, no more or less due to rain.
Just ride your own ride........ |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | I agree with Teach. Just slow down. So, there is not much advice I can give specific for the Vision.
Two things I find tricky for any two wheeled vehicle in the rain:
1. The white stripes at the crosswalks get slick when wet.
2. Iron bridges with steel grate roadbeds feel weird when dry and even more so when wet. |
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | I rode in the rain last Saturday and got a little sideways going over a cattle guard that I wasn't squared up with on a winding back road-no biggie but the wife didn't care much for it-railroad tracks can do the same thing if you don't hit 'em at 90 degrees-I just try to be extra smooooth in all my actions when riding in the rain and I actually really enjoy it and have left in the rain many times to take in the great smells it brings out in the forests-Brian |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | A lot of good points here already. Be sure when you ride in the rain you have the best visablity that you can, so a good helmet and shield is a must. A good rain suit also takes away the physically wet aspect of the ride, have a good suit. Riding for a long time wet, is not fun, plus you loose a lot of body heat, which will alter your ridng judgements. Leave plenty of distance between you and the rest of the world. Ride smooth, that is important, and the bike will take care of you, it is a good one. Oh, and watch out for the "Tar Snakes"  |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | VVTour named my #1 nemesis in the rain - painted lines on the road. Crosswalks are especially bad because they are usually wider stripes and close together. I never put my feet down on them when stopped at an intersection. Be smooth on the throttle when taking off over one and when I am making a turn across one will go a bit wider (less lean) and keep the throttle very steady until past it. I'm still looking for the perfect waterproof gloves. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | My bike hates tar snakes. Wet or hot. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Songfan, the Victory gloves All weather are really waterproof. I have a pair and yet to have the fingers or any other part get wet except for maybe the cuff. I really like them, they are just a little long for me, they might fit you a little better.
Oh, and as for wet weather riding, I stay out of the throttle a little more than usual and usually take a corner a little slower than normal. I have personal experience from going a little hot into a corner in the rain and unable to get it piped down, (probably panicked) the bike laid over, got to the edge of the road and flipped over and sent me on a Superman trip through the air. WHAT A RIDE!
Edited by pollolittle 2010-04-21 8:51 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 38
| Don't forget about tar snakes! They're always fun! Vince. |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Polittle, that's exactly what I'm hoping to avoid. I think one of the questions I was asking in an indirect way was basically how much traction is lost when cornering on wet pavement? When I'm sitting at a stoplight, and my feet are sliding sideways in the oil as I hold my ride upright, it makes me wonder, just what are the limits? In my mind, when countersteering the bike is leaning, force is exerted laterally as well as vertically, and traction keeps the tires from sliding sideways and the bike stays relatively upright, otherwise the tires would slide sideways and the bike would lay all the way down on it's side. Which is what I think you have described. I think I'm a little too old to be a willing participant in purposefully finding out how far is too far and how fast is too fast. The most famous last words ever uttered in the south are "Hold my beer, hey y'all watch this!" |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| baadawg, just ride within your own abilities and that basically means if you feel the need to slow down do so. I've seen and read about far too many riders, riding over their head and going down when it was completely avoidable. However I can assure you that you will not lose any traction that you would not have lost on dry pavement. The biggest mistake I have seen amongst inexperienced riders (those not use to the bike, tires, or a particular riding condition) make is they get uncomfortable with a situation and stiffen up and/or let off the gas when they should be throttling up. GUARANTEED if you go into a curve/corner and let off the throttle you are going immediately off the road or real close to it. The bike will stand up as you let off the gas and there goes your lean/countersteering.
So until you get use to the Visions limits (normally 3 months or longer on ANY bike) go easy and within your comfort zone.
There is a very comprehensive study that I refer to as the three month rule. It shows that the vast majority of major and/or fatal accidents occur within the first 3 months of ownership of a new bike. Number of miles ridden, identical model, or years experience do NOT matter in the study. In other words riders should spend the first 3 months becoming intimately familiar with their new bike and its quirks. Odds of a fatal crash drop by 60% after this 3 month period. I'll find my file on this study and post it.
I avoid the white strips at intersections even on dry roads, lol.... and I think I was the first to report the slide on the bridge expansion joints. I'm wondering if anyone has found a magic front tire pressure for the tar snake issue? The Vision can be very scary on tar snakes on HOT days. |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Thanks Teach, and everyone else who took the time to respond. I'm loving my bike, am presently using it for commuting purposes and hoping to keep the shiny stuff shiny. You've all given me pointers which will help me do that, and I'm appreciative of that. It's great to have a group of folks like you guys who have a common passion and are willing to help others get the most out of motorcycling and it's experiences. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | my rules are usually "normal" riding on the interstates and main roads. on ramps, corners and intersection I will be cautious to a fault. These are the areas that chemicals lurk and find even after a good rain I hit some slicky spots on ramps so I always take it easy there, especially on a drizzle. Also, here in Virginia they use some patching on the back road that is just as slick if not slicker than the painted lines and arrows. The sad part is is they use this on curves and tight ones at that. Fortunetly the first time I hit one of these I was already riding wussy so it only got a little squirrely with me, but now I know.
The main mastery of riding, is riding so make sure that you get in plenty of dry time if you are new. Take a MSF course no matter how long you've been riding, and do some reading. I'm constantly reevaluating the way I ride and after reading that the majority of motorcycle fatalities here in the commonwealth lays the blame to the biker, I'm paying attention all the more. When riding there is a time to hold 'em and there is a time to fold 'em. If you are concerned to a fault in rain riding, don't! If you are not comfortable to riding in the rain and then something happens, panic will set in and what may have been avoided will certainly turn into diaster. The key of riding, for me is to always keep my wits about me regardless of the situation. |
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Tourer
Posts: 550
Tacoma, WA | There are some very different aspects to riding in the rain versus dry roads. Many have been mentioned already, such as the white strips. Those things are fine dry, but wet they are slick as snot. Some not mentioned are Man-hole covers, and any construction steel layed over the road temporarily. While I have ridden extensively in the rain, (A western Washington constant, it seems) Most obsticles are not a problem. Now.....if you find yourself in Las Vegas, things certainly change after a rain. The grease build-up on the roads there is severe, and nothing to trifle with. Next time you go on foot whilt there, look at the asphalt. Only the very tips of the rock stick up out of the grease on the road. Having ridden in long downpour gully-washers at freeway speeds, if your tires are in good shape, hydroplaning should not be an issue. Tar snakes....all bad when wet, or hot, as mentioned above. Just be observant when the road is dry, and you will see things to avoid when wet!------Metalguy |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 741
Central New York | It doesn't take rain or inexperience, just a second of inattention. I lain mine down almost standing still last week. Doing a 3 point turn in a tight parking lot. Had the bar cranked to the stop one way and backed up cranked it to the stop the other way and it just scooted right out from under me. Her I am, standing on 1 foot looking down think "well ain't that just grand! Thank God for tipovers, they do work as advertised. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 247
| watch out on realy hot days whe it first starts to rain. that a real slippery combination. |
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Wet weather riding