I've only ridden in heavy rain once...and I didn't have any choice. I was up in the Shenandoah and had to get home. On I-81, I rode at speed, but I kept a chamois rag under my leg, and wiped the windscreen fairly often, as needed. I also kept my visor in the up position, and wore yellow glasses. I wiped them when I needed to also. On the way down the mountain, I rode quite slowly (no faster than 30-35). Had I been on a regular bike, I wouldn't have gone out of second gear. Also, I didn't lean the scoot unless I absolutely had to. Since the road was filled with reverse curves, I had to a couple of times, but it seemed to work better to just slow down and stay straight up.

This is not something I recommend!!! It was quite scary, but both my husband and I survived without any mishaps.

I like sunshine a lot more!

Here in SouthEast Texas you never can be sure what kind of weather you'll run into, so when you leave out the suns shining then before you know it the sky opens up and your caught in the middle of it, so I never leave home without my rain suit. As far as how fast I go it depends on the conditions and whether or not I have a death wish at the time:) For the most part I take it slow and easy.

There are a lot of factors that will affect my speed. How heavy it is raining, how good my tires are, road quality, traffic conditions, etc... etc..... I'm sure you guys do the same. I rode on I-26 from Spartanburg, S.C. to Asheville N.C. in some pretty interesting conditions which included stiff winds going up Saluda Grade and rain. I probably kept it between 55-60 for the most part to keep up with the slower traffic. On curvy roads, I am very cautious and go way slower to make sure I have plenty of traction reserve in case I hit leaves, gravel, slick fluid, lines, or anything else that could cause the bike to break traction. I will usually pull to the side in inclement weather on 2 lane roads for cars riding up on me as I don't like to push things. However, in the dry........ it is usually the other way around

I still consider myself a novice rider after one season. (Albeit a season with 4000+ miles.) I was pleasantly surprised to find that rain does NOT equal instant death. But I have no idea what the limits are, and I have no interest in exploring them. I assume that anything except dry pavement is equal to glare ice and ride accordingly.

My last ride of the season ended with 30 miles of heavy rain combined with sleet, in the dark, and virtually blind.

I read about a homemade Weather Gauge intended to determine the suitability of the weather for recreational flying. It was invented by a retired airline pilot and Cessna owner:

1. Materials: A sheet of sky blue construction paper, scissors, some string, Scotch tape and a feather.

2. Cut a round hole in the center of the paper about 2" in diameter.

3. Attach a six-inch length of string to one end of the paper using the tape, and attach the feather to the other end of the string.

4. To use the instrument, take it outdoors and hold it up toward the sky at about a 45 degree angle above your eyes, with the feather dangling downward toward the ground.

5. If the color of the hole matches the color of the paper, and the feather hangs straight down, go flying. Otherwise, find something else to do.

This simple instrument can add years to a pilot's life, and I suspect it can do the same for a motorcycle rider.

Ronjr009 it sounds like you are an experienced rider. I try to stay with the flow of the traffic but back off if I feel at all unsafe. When on a road trip it is a little daunting to wake up with it raining and have to pack up in the rain. I have ridden all day in rain and made it out alive but did not enjoy it. I have to give credit to my 04 Swing because I have hever had electrical problems of any kind even in days of rain. When I am making modifications to my bikes I take special care in sealing all new connections. If at all possible when it is expected to rain most of the day I sleep late and quit early. I never go anywhere anytime without a rain suit and it has paid off.