How fast do you ride in the rain?

tankyuong · Subject: How fast do you ride in the rain? Fri Oct 30, 2009 5:17 pm

60 is the max for me.

u p tom · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Fri Oct 30, 2009 5:41 pm

i usually ride about 45-55, rain or shine. on the expressway (I-75) i ride 62-70 as required but back to 55 or less in the rain. my givi windshield for some reason does not shed water. i am 67 yrs old with 63000 miles on my scoot have never slipped or slid even thru puddles but sometimes can't see through the water on the shield. no accidents or known close calls so far.

dspevack · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:10 pm

"Rain" is a general term that can be used for anything from light drizzle to zero visibilty downpour.
I think how fast I ride depends on volume of rain, road surface, and if I can get a clear car track to ride in.
There is no one set speed.

Dan

_________________
Reality is irrelevant. Its perception that counts.
Control people's perceptions, and you control their reality.

wingnprayer · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:33 pm

zero.. if I can help it, but I'm a biking wuss

_________________
Grace - thank God I don't get what I deserve, but instead get what I don't.

The Scootist · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:18 pm

Dan:
I would have to say that I pretty much use the same criteria as you to decide how fast to ride - rain or shine. In a "cats and dogs" scenario I will pull off the road under an overpass, but if it is a light drizzle, on good road, with no curves and light traffic I might go 75 to 80. It seems like the faster speeds keep the droplets off me better...

_________________
2007 Silverwing - "Growler" - with 17,000 miles and counting; Givi windshield, Givi top case with back rest, K&N air filter in a drilled air box, Leo Vince Exhaust, J Costa variator, HyperPro Springs, and Oxford heated grips. All I need now is a power commander, and a nitrous kit with a blower...

Or maybe a Kawasaki Concours 1400 with ABS...

or an ST1300...

Let's ride...

MikeO · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:25 pm

Visibility is the key for me although I do slow down by a few MPH.

It may be of interest that the French motorway speed limits are 130kph in dry conditions and 110 in the wet.

_________________
Mike - Riding on the right - riding for pleasure!

'09 Silverwing 600 - 'The Winged Express' - Delta Blue, ABS, Heated Grips, Laminar Lip, Utopia rider's backrest, Givi pillion backrest & E52 Topbox, Cortech Super Mini Tank Bag as a tunnel-bag, Starcom Digital Comms System.

www.x9ownersclub.co.uk - for all Maxi-Riders who want to RIDE!

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Edmund Burke

Waspie · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:47 pm

It's actually a very dificult question to answer easily I think.

There are so many variables with the rain, direction, visability, wind strength, condition of the road, (diesel, smooth or rough surface). Blah blah blah.

My political answer is;- as fast as conditions allow!!!! Be that 10 MPH or 100 MPH!!!!

However!! Saying all that I think a few of you are aware of my cautiousness with the Wing in the wet right now. Either my confidence or the tyres I am undecided as yet.

_________________
Doug

2009 Silverwing in 'Silver' what else! (3600 miles)
Heated grips - feel the heat!!!! - and a pillion backrest for Mrs Waspie to fall asleep against! (Don't ask).

DickO · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:10 pm

I posted a "report" of my first ever ride in the rain on this forum (Safety Section - "Do you scoot in the rain" - tankyoung) some time ago. Long story short, we (PGR/ALR group of four) went
thru relentless wind, max downpours, lightning and thunder for about
150 miles(down and half the way back). Most of the trip was made in
the 60/65+ range. Questionable? Maybe.
But what did I know? I was the inexperienced newbie of the group.

_________________
Ride Safe Friends

DickO
2005 Black -- ABS -- Givi Windshield -- Bestem T-Box 929 w/brake lite
Wig Wag brake lites -- 2x 3" Spoiler mounted LED brake/running lites
Wrist Rest -- American Legion Riders -- Kansas Patriot Guard

**jdeereanton** · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:53 pm

Waspie wrote:

It's actually a very dificult question to answer easily I think.

There are so many variables with the rain, direction, visability, wind strength, condition of the road, (diesel, smooth or rough surface). Blah blah blah.

My political answer is;- as fast as conditions allow!!!! Be that 10 MPH or 100 MPH!!!!

However!! Saying all that I think a few of you are aware of my cautiousness with the Wing in the wet right now. Either my confidence or the tyres I am undecided as yet.

I fully endorse this answer, except for the last paragraph I don't seem to have the same cautiousness and I rarely spell tires that way. Otherwise good on ya bloke! (Hope I didn't offend anyone by accident What a Face

)

_________________
Dale
Huntsville, AL

2 x 2005 - Hers & His
Boots, socks, underwear, pants, t-shirt, jacket, gloves, & helmet.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jdeereanton

Excell · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:08 pm

Depending on how hard it is raining I usually do the speed limit .How ever I don't use the cruise when it is raining so I keep creeping up over it .

Waspie · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:05 pm

jdeereanton wrote:

I fully endorse this answer, except for the last paragraph I don't seem to have the same cautiousness and I rarely spell tires that way. Otherwise good on ya bloke! (Hope I didn't offend anyone by accident

)

Dale I maintain my right to spell 'tyre' in the English way as thats what I am.

Not offended either.

Must add I exceeded my previous caution best in the rain this morning, although roundabouts still prove to be more dificult on the Wing. I will get there, early days yet a mere 1300 miles clocked up on the Wing to date.

_________________
Doug

2009 Silverwing in 'Silver' what else! (3600 miles)
Heated grips - feel the heat!!!! - and a pillion backrest for Mrs Waspie to fall asleep against! (Don't ask).

MikeO · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:19 pm

Speaking of which......when moving off in a hurry from traffic-lights on the Brugge ring-road this evening, I managed to spin the rear wheel very dramatically.
More by luck than anything else I stayed shiny side up but it didn't 'arf give me a surprise and quickening of the heart rate!
My pillion noticed the slewing from side to side but didn't think anything of it.
Says a lot for my riding style!

_________________
Mike - Riding on the right - riding for pleasure!

'09 Silverwing 600 - 'The Winged Express' - Delta Blue, ABS, Heated Grips, Laminar Lip, Utopia rider's backrest, Givi pillion backrest & E52 Topbox, Cortech Super Mini Tank Bag as a tunnel-bag, Starcom Digital Comms System.

www.x9ownersclub.co.uk - for all Maxi-Riders who want to RIDE!

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
Edmund Burke

Waspie · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:59 pm

Mike you may have touched on my problem.

It could be that there is a lot more torque going though the Wing than my previous Burgman, (400), and I may just not have adapted to the additional power. (It's the start of a theory!!!)

_________________
Doug

2009 Silverwing in 'Silver' what else! (3600 miles)
Heated grips - feel the heat!!!! - and a pillion backrest for Mrs Waspie to fall asleep against! (Don't ask).

honda_silver · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:08 am

Waspie wrote:

There are so many variables with the rain, direction, visability, wind
strength, condition of the road, (diesel, smooth or rough surface)

I agree with your your variables plus I have some more ... straight/curves/turns, lane contours/wheel ruts collecting water, drainage ability, road slickness (from oil residue accumulation), clouds (if I heading towards potentially worse rain), distance of cars behind me, 18-wheelers tracks spewing large mist clouds ... even internal "word-of-knowledge" forcing me to slow down even though there was nothing I could identify.

MikeO wrote:

when moving off in a hurry from traffic-lights on the Brugge ring-road this evening, I managed to spin the rear wheel very dramatically.

Besides the speed of travel ... my riding style completely changes.

If with all of my cautions, I have still had additional surprises that I learn from each and every time.

For example:

- I was on the interstate with a very very light swerve right and then left. I had no problem, but on the fourth or fifth time the front wheel felt like it slipped out a little.

- I have was in a slower speed turn and the front tire must of hit a rock cause the front wheel slipped enough to surprise me.

- I had no problem with front tire (OEM Bridgestone) when it was straight, but I was counter steering with no leaning for a very minimal rising turn ... there was water sheeting down the road ... all I can conclude is the non-center of the tire does not channel the water as well as the straight up center tire.

So be prepared for "learning experiences" when driving in the rain ... besides speed.

_________________
Bill - Georgetown TX 07 Silver Wing ABS

Clearview w/vent, Givi E96/TB19/E52 with Admore Lighting, Alaskan Leather, Wrist Rests, 3M Solas tape, K&N air, Hyperpro spring, Grip Puppies, Airhawk, Utopia backrest, Stebel, Apexcone HIDs, StingerZ LEDs (w/Backoff WigWag), Knight Rider Sequential LED, NGK Iridium, Power Commander III, Manic Salamander, Saeng mirrors, Garmin Zumo 660, Dark-Side Sumitomo Tire

**DennisB** · Subject: Re: How fast do you ride in the rain? Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:05 pm

We occasionally have rain/mud here in Oklahoma and wind, hail the size of walnuts, and tornado's blow thru mostly in the spring. If I'm out on the highway and it starts to do any of the aforementioned weather events, I will pull off the road and get under some cover....any cover and wait it out.

DennisB