Tips For Riding A Motorcycle In The Rain

[Guardian]

In all the years that I have been riding a motorcycle, I can honestly not remember one biker who loves riding in the rain. Personally, I think that is a mistake... Rain is nothing but water, and as long as... 

a) It’s not raining very hard
b) Falling horizontally (in other words a strong wind)
c) You wear the proper clothing...

Then the ride will be fine. There are a lot of things to take into account when riding a motorcycle in the rain, but one of the most important ones is that you have to dress appropriately. Having your normal jacket and trousers might not be enough. If there’s a light drizzle, it probably will not be a problem, but when there’s consistent rain, water (usually cold) will seep through your clothes onto your body, and that is not fun!

Getting wet, or at least humid, when riding is distracting and very uncomfortable. It’s also when you will get a cold, or worse. So whatever you do, make sure the clothing (jacket,trousers and/or boot covers) you use during a rain ride is rain proof.

This is the most important tip for riding in the rain, all other tips are more or less common sense. The clothing doesn’t need to be a diver’s suit you use for deep sea diving, but it needs to keep the water away... .

Below are tips to follow while riding during MONSOON...

1. Wear proper rain gear, which needs to be able to breath but still not allow water to creep in. Make sure your helmet covers your face, since heavy rain may hurt you.
2. Make sure your tires are correct for riding in the rain, in other words, do not go out riding in the rain with slick tires.
3. Watch the road. What used to be kind-of slippery would be is now very slippery. Manholes are super dangerous, avoid them.
4. Watch out for puddles. Yes, it can be fun riding through one, but since the water hides the surface you just don’t know what you are riding into...
5. When rain first starts after many days of dry weather, it’s the most dangerous since there’s a lot of oil and dirt on the road. Wait an hour or two for the rain to wash away the oil/dirt as the road surfaces are at their slipperiest.
6. If it’s just drizzle, then the road will remain slippery.
7. Make sure to avoid riding over any metal (like manhole covers etc...) as wet metal is slippery. You need to take your bike as straight as possible on metals (in case of no option).
8. When you need to brake, apply more rear brake than normal. If your apply front more... the wheel starts sliding and there is a possibility of a slide & fall. 
9. Do not brake strongly; If possible brake gently. If you need to urgently apply your brakes, pump them so that it slows the bike and then the bike can be bought to a full stop.
10. Give yourself more space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Braking distances are much longer in the rain.
11. Relax when riding. Getting all cramped and bunched up is not good. First of all you will get tired real quickly and it is dangerous. Relaxed riding is much better.
12. Be visible. Rain makes it difficult for other vehicles to see you. If you have high visibility clothing, now it is the time to put them on.
13. An obvious advice is... reduce your speed ! 
14. When lightning starts up, stop riding. Head for cover (don’t stop below a tree) for obvious reasons.

Thought to share these with the brotherhood...