My bike is black and is a pain to keep clean after riding in the rain,plus it's more dangerous, also rain gear.

Living in England, not riding in the rain is not an option.

One word for not riding in the rain - Wimp!!!!!!

So the bike needs cleaning!

So you get wet!

I really don't understand.

Each to his own but I thought all-weather riding is one of the main reasons for riding a maxi.
In ice and snow, possibly not, but keepng off it because it's raining is very 'Henry the Green Engine'!

My first X9 was named 'Nautilus' after an early excursion in a tropical downpour which left roads flooded.
In one place the water was so deep it came over the running-boards. I'm sure a Silverwing would have coped just as well.

My wife and I ride - rain or shine. If we are on vacation we may make a rain day a short day, but we will ride in the rain.

The matter of keeping the bike clean to me is a matter of style over substance. I'm not too concerned with style in my life or with a clean shiny bike.

We've ridden the Cherohala Skyway and a 120 mile section of the Blue ridge Parkway in the rain. At that elevation the fog rolls in with the rain and that makes it a little bit risky. Gives us great stories though.

You know what happens when you ride in the rain? You get wet. The gear is helpful and the safety issue is no greater than any other time.

I guess I better man up then.

Shore do! In fact I'd prefer to ride my SW in the rain than my GW because if I foul up and go down it won't be as bad on the much lighter and smaller SW. I much prefer to ride the SW on gravel and dirt than riding the big bike on those surfaces.

Rain can be very pleasing on a steamy hot August day as we had while riding a part of ole rt 66 a couple of weeks ago. Dick

Maybe it's luck or maybe just coincidence but I've not had to ride in the rain in the 15 or so months I've had this SWing. True, I haven't ridden it a lot (mostly on PGR/ALR missions) but the worst I've seen is a few sprinkles one day shortly after receiving it and a cool, foggy, misty morning not too long ago. Even the weather has been it's abnormal self here in northeast Kansas with rain levels being about 8" over for the year so far. So I'll just keep my fingers crossed.

The only time I ever thought about the rain was a welcome home mission for a reserve unit to Manhattan, KS, and I tracked a rather vicious line of thunderstorms headed for the rendezvous area. I thought not being a completely experienced rider, I didn't want to get in the middle of one of those things. Plus, my rain gear isn't what I'd consider up to par so I kept my nose to the TV and computer. And as it turned out the storm took a different direction and saved the day for me. Still the actual thought of "having" to ride in the rain doesn't really bother me. If it happens, I'll handle it then(and keep on going, I guess).

I live in Florida and rain gear stays with me. Rode with rain and water about a foot deep last Friday and was surprised how good the SW handled.

After a week of riding in the rain, some very heavy showers too I have become more familiar with the riding characteristics of the Wing in wet conditions.

My one concern was the amount of diesel that rose to the road surface. That was an experience. The wing I feel is a tad less sure footed in the wet than my previous Burgman, especially when turning at roundabouts. (I must add the wet riding was done in the dark so visibility wasn't the best.)

However, I know now what I can and can't do in wet windy weather with the Wing. So knowledge base expanded.

I must say I am really pleased with Mr Gore Tex's product, whilst getting soaked externally I was bone dry beneath.

I've never claimed myself to be a "FAIR WEATHER RIDER".
I don't have any option now that I sold my car, but even before, I still rode my old scoot to work and where ever else I needed to go.
It's all good if you can keep moving so the rain goes around you, it's only when you stop or you get stuck behind that annoying little car that doesn't seem to realize it's ok to sit on the speed limit, that you start getting wet.
I've found that my S'Wing gives much more protection against the weather than my old scoot. Being wider, and even the standard windscreen is a lot taller than what I had before.
The first mod' I made was to fit a GIVI touring screen. It's 4 inches taller and a bit wider than the standard screen and offers much better protection against the rain.
I like to think that maxi-scooter riders have a few more brains than some, so just take care and "KEEP IT SAFE"

My Swing is my daily commuter rain or shine, hot or cold. The only thing that will cause me to park it is snow and ice. There was ice on the roads this morning when I left for work, so I had to drive in, but now the sun is out and the roads are dry and I am thinking I could have ridden if I was extra careful...

It used to be if it rained I just headed home. Now for some reason I don't mind riding in some rain, as long as it's not coming down cats and dogs. Now that I have better gear the cold is not a problem either. Maybe this year I will see just how long I can extend the season

My Oh My, how things change so quickly...

especially since my initial post on the previous page. This is a lengthy report that I was hesitant to put on the forum but posted it anyway.

Being a newer rider of some 15 months now, I had 'never' ridden
in the rain before and wasn't sure I'd be able to put up with it.
Anyway, a Patriot Guard mission (some 300 miles round trip) came up and
storms were in the area. I had already agreed to give it a go and this
is an edited report I put in at our American Legion Forum:


The PGR mission to Parsons, Kansas in honor of Army Specialist Cox,
KIA, Afghanistan, was memorable but wet. It was Monday, 21 Sep, and
rain was in the forecast but hadn't started yet; at least when I first
got up at 6:45 a.m. When I did get ready to go the rain finally
started... and heavy too! Waited for it to slack off then, with my
little emergency poncho on, I headed out on my trusty Honda Silver Wing
to meet Ken Nelson, Glitch, and Darrell (other Post 400 ALR riders who
decided to chance it) at a gas stop in Lyndon, KS.
Having
"never" ridden in the rain before, I was apprehensive to say the least.
Between my home in Harveyville and Lyndon(about 25 miles), I got enough
rain to tempt me to turn around and head back. But I figured I'd meet
the guys in Lyndon as predetermined and see if they had decided the
same thing. No way! They showed up right after I did and had hit some
hard showers too. So I gassed up, got rid of my flimsy poncho, put on a
standard raincoat, got placed right behind the ride captain (Glitch)
for safety's sake, and away we went. My main downfall was that I didn't
have rain "pants" on. And yes, I got soaked; at least on the bottom
side. A problem I have since remedied.

The ride down there was
uneventful but we hit some horrendous downpours and nasty lightning for
what seemed forever. Visibility got really limited in spots and the
rain never really quit despite fooling us a couple times when we
thought it was going to let up. When we finally did arrive at the
Parsons truck stop meeting point, it was pretty dry there too. We got
split up into 'large' flag or 'no' and 'small' flag groups as normal
and it was pretty dry at the time. 'Course, about 5 minutes later the
clouds opened up and dumped again. And it rained hard as we watched
other large groups of bikers rolling in.

Finally it was time to
form up and get to the funeral and cemetery areas. Those who had large
flags (which must have been somewhere around a hundred(?)or more of
them) filed out first to head to the funeral. And I must say, when you
consider the reason, and see that many flying flags stretched out down
a main highway into town, you get the real feeling of exactly what
these missions are for. And yes, the Phelps's were at the ceremony as I
understand it. While we had been waiting to leave, someone announced
there were some 375 bikes present (or a figure near that number). And
you know that soldier deserved every bit of it.

I wound up going
with the cemetery group to set up flag lines and the other 3 of our
group went to the ceremony. We got that all set up and started a very
lengthy waiting period with hard rains on and off. Glitch and Ken
showed up later at the cemetery just before the main party was to
arrive and we decided that because of time and darkness constraints
that we'd better get headed home. Which was a good idea since it was
about a 150 mile trip for me and maybe a little more for them. So we
left and headed home. I believe Darrell was staying down there
somewhere to attend a funeral the next day in Arkansas City for a
second Kansas soldier that had been KIA in the same fight as Cox was.

Anyway,
we got headed out; still in a continuous rain by the way, and headed
for a gas stop in Yates Center. Probably the first third or fourth of
the return trip was still in the rain and then tapered off. But... the
wind started picking up just out of Yates Center plus the temperature
started dropping down into the low 50's.

Boy, was I ever glad
to get home. Unbeknown to me, the rain had worked its way up under my
raincoat sleeves thru about halfway of the long sleeves of the shirt I
had on. No wonder I was getting a good chill. I slowly peeled of all
the wet stuff I had on, got redressed in my 'jammies' and took about 2
hours to get warmed up again.

All-in-all it turned out to be
quite an experience for me; one that I'm not so sure I'll jump at quite
so quickly the next time if storms are threatening like that. Having
gone from "never" having ridden in the rain, to spending several hours
enduring heavy downpours and lightning, I believe my indoctrination is
now complete. The next time???? A simple rainstorm might be doable now
that I have a proper rain suit but heavy thunderstorms? I don't know
for sure. Anyway, was glad to do my small part for one of our Army
heroes. <<

So I learned the value of a good full rain suit
plus something to go over the boots too. Oh yes; will be getting some
waterproof gloves also. That's a must-do thing. I was basically warm
because I had on my full armored mesh riding outfit replete with rain
and insulated liners. The hooded rain coat added another "windbreaker"
level too. Along with the full helmet, I had the topside "basically"
covered. I got a little tickled at my 'veteran' riders who, although
in full rain gear, had 3/4 helmets on and received an all-day face
wash. Or at least that's what one of them complained about.

Well,
that's it for my "rain" experience. Can hardly wait till I get to
stand a flag line in the middle of a blizzard as some of my PGR cohorts
have unaffectionately referred to from past experiences.

Oh...
I almost forgot to mention... The SWing performed flawlessly. Hit one
area where a ditch had flowed out over half the road. To late to
swerve so just held steady and the bike cut through about 4 inches of
water with no problem at about 40 MPH. Also, that big Givi windshield
was a blessing. Enough water rolled off (thanks to Plexus?) to help me
keep a view but wasn't perfect. Looking up over the edge would have
been better but didn't "have" to do that.

DickO,

I know that you don't ride for this, but - THANK YOU!

Rain or shine, our troops are out there, it's the least we can do.

Riding in the rain may be really dangerous when the way surface is damaged (I experienced), But riding during hailing is a real challenge! (I experienced too)

Not by choice! Took the safety course and both days it was nothing but rain the whole time, just a couple of short breaks in it. Since then I've rode in rain and snow, won't set out on purpose to do it but if necessary I know I can . But as I said not by choice. We have rain here quite often scattered showers and thunder storms, so if your gonna ride with any frequency you need to carry rain gear with you.
Craig

In Puget Sound, if you don't ride in the rain, you don't ride much. I also prefer it to sunny Fridays in the spring and summer when coneheads are not thinking about driving home and are already mentally at their weekend destination.

Rainy drivers are, in my experience, more alert and less likely to drive recklelssly than cagers on a nice day. Besides, on rainy days, there are usually less of them out there which makes it safer and gives me more road alone

The "Conehead" analogy is great!!!! We have those afflicted with that condition, but not just in Spring, all year long, and in the rain, it is safer to stay at the house.

Ride safe!

And for those of us that don't speaka da American!!!!!!

"Conehead"??????????????????

'Coneheads' comes from some comic skits on Television. They were Space Aliens who misinterpreted everything and always got it wrong.

Google Coneheads and you can get some information.

Thanks Gary, Dan Ackroyd was in a film of the same I believe?

To bring this back to topic - I believe the Coneheads would refer to rain as: "thermatically induced moisture inversion" I loved trick or treating with the coneheads - they gave out consumables and beer, Zappa was at his best on that Saturday Night Live episode.

Rain, shine or snow. Doesn't matter to me. Course you could probably tell that from my username. Look at my signature. That's actually the way I feel. Ice, however is another story. Can't keep her on the wheels on ice. But snow is no problem, if you need to go somewhere and it's snowing. I wouldn't recommend it just for the fun of it. Just dress properly, give yourself enough time, go slow and don't lean in a turn. Course I don't lean on anything other than dry pavement. And for me, it's all the gear, all the time.

I prefer riding in the dry but if I am out and about or on a long club ride out then I do not have a problem and just get on with it in the hope the sun will come out at some stage in the day to dry out my gear whilst riding rather than staying soaking wet for the duration

Ironically I prefer heavier rain / good wet roads rather than showery rain or drizzle / damp roads which are more slippery and dangerous.

I ride in the rain - I have a Gore-Tex ex-navy coat and Gore-Tex ex-army over-trousers, both totally waterproof.
The coat is a great wind-stopper, too.

I avoid going out in the snow on the Silverwing and always stay off the ice.