ProTip: Riding a Motorcycle in the rain

[gilbercd]

what if your opinion about the micheline tire pilot road 3 for rain?

[halfthrottle]

@gilbercd They look cool, I don't have any experience with them.

[gilbercd]

@halfthrottle thank 

[gilbercd]

@halfthrottle gracias

grate videos

[gilbercd]

I planing to do the trip from las Vegas to Panama but Im not ready

[DeadP00LTSW]

PRO tip avoid riding in rain all times possible, but some times it can't be avoided , Rain happens

[mAdAsZaC]

ROAD SURFING, nah yeah i love riding in the rain (ex diirtbiker)

[tractorkingc]

Big Bright Yellow Rubber Dishwashing Gloves!

Keeps your hands dry!

[KeithCindyPanama]

Have you noticed a diffrence in how your body funcitons with the diet there in Panama? I ask this cause this guy and his girl are living in Panama and they have noticed a change since they left the diet in the US.

[halfthrottle]

@KeithCindyPanama No I haven't noticed any difference.

[skeefoopanama]

@KeithCindyPanama What kind of change?Id like to know.

[madjak30]

Another tip to add for rain riding...smooth inputs...throttle or brakes, and leave extra room for emergency stuff...I know you mentioned that but leaving enough space is one of the biggest problems...too many tailgate...just remember your tires won't have the same grip as in the dry, so ride accordingly...

Later.

[GOTTshua]

@joeles69 RainX.

[joeles69]

i still cant figure out how to remove the water from the visor while riding..i have tried a few methods but to no avail.

[martyman5000]

I'm most careful the first 20 min of rain (oil comes out of the road) after that I make sure I don't run in the middle of the road were a car might drop oil and also I stay back 10 feet from the stop lights or stop signs were oil drops from cars.

[2008superduke]

Hate riding in the rain.... But if you got to do it an endro is great

[coloricanking]

If you go to a store that sell sports equipment you might fight the anti fog spray/gel for goggles. It's a bit expensive(between 5 to 10 bucks for a 1.5 oz of spray or gel) but a light coat on the inside of my visor lasts for quite a while. Especially since the stuff is designed to resist chlorine in the water you might rinse your goggles out with

[MotorcycleGuy2000]

RainX on the outside of the visor works really well. In colder weather anti fog spray is pretty much essential on the inside of the visor.

[SCRC401]

Up here in the Northern States we put dish-washing-liquid on our face shields (real light coating, then let it dry like wax) and polish it off. It's about the best anti-fogger there is.

[MyYogiB]

Some car try to splash pedestrians and bikers both motorcycles and bicycles. There brakes also get wet from driving through water. Watch for car coming up behind you at stops. Good vid and tips! Makes me think.

[dahveed284]

Who better to give rain advice than a guy living in panama? If you didn't ride in the rain in Panama, you'd never ride.

[neppy503]

I would rather ride my bike in (bone chilling) cold weather, rather than a heavy rain.

I really appreciate your videos! Wish some day we could ride together.

[halfthrottle]

@neppy503 Well keep track of me, twitter is probably the best way. Never know where I'll end up next.

[welshray1]

I found that just breathing thru your nose when riding in the rain reduces fogging

[halfthrottle]

@welshray1 Yeah I do the same, but when I'm out making a vlog like this you can't avoid things fogging up.

[TerrorDBN]

Tire grip in the rain is a much larger factor than wet brakes. Awareness of reduced traction in wet riding conditions is the #1 issue. Braking/Acceleration/Maneuveri­ng all require traction. Be SMOOTH in the rain. No hard or abrupt braking/acceleration/maneuveri­ng unless absolutely necessary in the wet!!

[bakker46]

The tip of HearGear on the dish soap is a good one my friend , you try and see :-)

[H0tkebab]

Since you're riding slow, what do you do if you have a tailgater behind you in the rain?

[halfthrottle]

@H0tkebab Pull over and let them pass.

[Trinith]

2 other things. You should back off on the corners a bit as the painted stripes are VERY slick and you're down a fair bit of traction just because it's wet. Also, if you ride near the middle of the road (not an option in your case due to traffic) you can greatly reduce the chances of hydroplaning. Being nearest the crown of the road is best.

[halfthrottle]

@bangalorebobbel This was a very relevant insightful comment. Why did you remove it?

[bangalorebobbel]

@halfthrottle haha, I thought nobody notices that ... well, the content was valid, of course, but some while after I had written the comment it suddenly flashed up in my mind that the sound was anyhow unfriendly or arrogant or so ... so I came back and removed it, and since I was tired, I went to bed ... and now I am awakened, but still not enlightened, how to express it in a better way ... ;-)))

[halfthrottle]

@bangalorebobbel When I saw that it was deleted and that it already had 3 thumbs up, I looked up your comment in my email to see what it said. I guess I can see how some might think you were being a jerk. But most people that comment on my videos are cool, I haven't been getting a lot of trolls. So I just assumed you were being sincere with your advice to other riders.

[bangalorebobbel]

@halfthrottle tnx ... ;-)

yes, either I joke, or just tell what I think what should be right ... ;-) It's really important to learn about rain riding in theory as well as practically, since every bike may react different due to different brake materials and drum/disk combinations etc., and things like that fading at the begin, and sudden grip when brake turns dry, has to be practically mastered. But also the traffic situation in total is important - eg the old lady behind U ;-)))

[motonegros]

@halfthrottle  Howdy!

Now you got me curious...

What was bangalorebobbel's comment?

[halfthrottle]

@motonegros It was something about tapping the brakes once in a while doesn't help much because they get wet again so quickly. It also numbs other drivers to see your brake light over and over without stopping, so they start to ignore it.

[jimandnena4]

@Ryan, for the visor, get a bottle of glycerin from the farmacia (ask Lidia, she'll know) and wipe the inside and outside. The glycerin "wets" the water and lets it slide off. You will still get condensation inside the visor, but it will run off instead of fogging. After forty years of almost daily riding, you learn what works in all kinds of conditions. I'm hearing there may not be a dry season there this year so this video is very useful.

jim and nena

fort worth, tx

[TheDamnSpot]

I keep wondering, what is that device that is covering your speedometer? It's killing me, because I have no idea what it is but I'm sure I want one, in fact I'm sure that I NEED one. My KLR is not complete without it.

[RaceDayPhoto]

@TheDamnSpot that is a Trailtech Vapor. Or one of their other digital speedos. I have used them on a few bikes and really like them. On my last bike I used the Trailtech Striker. It has a lot of the same stuff as the Vapor, but instead of a tach, it gives you a charging meter. Which is great when you have a bike like a KLR and use heated gear and grips. Its nice to see how your charging system is before you turn off the bike...

[TheDamnSpot]

@RaceDayPhoto Goccha. Thanks.

[halfthrottle]

@TheDamnSpot It's a Vapor motorcycle computer thingy. Mine doesn't work right, so I'm not that crazy about it, but if you like gadgets it might be a good way to go.

[TheDamnSpot]

@halfthrottle Thanks for the info :)



[RaceDayPhoto]

Sorry I have to say it. I am not one of those hard core AGATT guys. But you should really wear gloves at least. Hand injuries are too common on even the slowest get offs. I may not always wear good riding gear. Many times I am caught riding in shorts and tee shirts around town or on really long hot highway trips(100+). But I always wear some kind of glove. Even on the hottest days.

[halfthrottle]

@RaceDayPhoto The reason I left the gloves at home for this vid is they take like 3 weeks to dry out, and I just didn't want to deal with it.

[RaceDayPhoto]

@halfthrottle I figured. But a disclaimer for the kiddies is always is always good.

[RaceDayPhoto]

Other good rain tips are to stay out of the middle of the lane. This is where oil and other car fluids collect and could be much more slippery. Especially coming up to intersections where cars sit waiting and you do your braking. The part of the road where the tires hit get scrubbed constantly and have much better traction. Think of it like a snow covered road. Ride in the clear tracks.

[RaceDayPhoto]

Surprise! I actually have something to say....Again. Riding in the rain is a great way of learning one of the most important skills needed to be a fast rider. Smoothness. Easy on and easy off on braking and throttle inputs. This will take you far in the rain and at extreme speeds.

[NWAdventureRider]

I live in Washington State so riding in the rain is something I do more than ride in the sun. After-all, Washington is the only place in North America with a rain forest.

[HearGear]

I have a solution for u if u dont wanna get a foggy visor, clean the visor with dish sopa only, and clean it two times and u can talk as much as u want.. :D this works very well.. try and see :D

[halfthrottle]

@HearGear Thanks I'll give it a try. Very humid here so fogging up is always a problem.

[HearGear]

@halfthrottle: Yes give it a try, its a great and cheap solution for u :D

[caesareor]

I wouldn't say that the disk brakes lose so much braking power in the wet. Even if they do, there is still enough to block the wheels due to the reduces grip of the tires. This would be the real danger IMO. Best thing is to pay extra for a bike with ABS.

Also I would say: be careful with the throttle when exiting the corners. Unless you ride a bike with traction control use just "halfthrottle". :P

[halfthrottle]

@caesareor I see what ya did there.

[thaylinsgate]

@halfthrottle Nice! It's -22 degrees -26 with the windchill. My 03 KLR650 is tucked away in the garage waiting for spring.

[angelocardoc]

I'm thinking of getting an enduro bike.

What would you recommend?

99% of my riding is on paved roads, but I do want the option of going on a trail.

What would you get if you were buying a new (used) bike?

[halfthrottle]

@angelocardoc If most of your riding will be on road then go for a V-Strom. Or a 1200GS if you have the money.

[angelocardoc]

@halfthrottle I like the V-Strom 650 too but, is it really something you can take off road?

Just because that's how they're marketing it, doesn't mean that the bike is a good off roader. I'm surprised that you didn't recommend the KLR.

[halfthrottle]

@angelocardoc Search for a playlist of mine called "BMW R1200GS vs. Suzuki 650 V-Strom" A buddy and I did a lot of riding one summer and got some cool videos out of it. I would recommend the KLR, but you said most of your riding is pavement. And if that's the case you will enjoy the V-Strom a lot more.

[NWAdventureRider]

@angelocardoc I second the V-Strom. Lots of aftermarket support and they make it in a 650 or 1000cc. That is actually going to be my next bike.

[angelocardoc]

@NWAdventureRider I like the V-Strom 650 too but, is it really something you can take off road?

Just because that's how they're marketing it, doesn't mean that the bike is a good off roader.

[NWAdventureRider]

@angelocardoc I don't know that I would call it a trail bike but for logging roads and mild "off road" situations it will work fine. Do a search here on Youtube and you will find many videos.

[RESET1776]

I have mixed feelings on bad weather riding. Then again I'm an odd ball on things like this. I tell ppl who are new @ riding they should spend more time out in bad weather. I say this because if they can become comfortable with their control & reactions in those conditions then they should be able to handle near anything in perfect conditions. PS, rain-X is a gift from God on your visor as well as camera lens & mirrors. Another great vid & looking forward to the next one.

[halfthrottle]

@RESET1776 It's good to have practice in all riding conditions. I'll try and pick up some rain x for the camera. There always seems to be a drop of water right in the middle of the screen on this vid and it was driving me nuts.

[thaylinsgate]

@halfthrottle Ok, have a great day, I'm going to go shovel my driveway up here in Canada :)

[halfthrottle]

@thaylinsgate 84 degrees in Panama today.

[thaylinsgate]

@halfthrottle, Thanks for the reply, was it on the bike when you got it, or did you install it afterwards?

[halfthrottle]

@thaylinsgate It was already installed, so who knows what happened to it before I bought.

[67kneil]

great tips

[thaylinsgate]

Thanks, for another great pro tip. Can you talk about your Vapor Speedometer please! I'm thinking of getting one , and would like your opinion on them.

[halfthrottle]

@thaylinsgate Mine doesn't work. It tells me the speed, but the odometer doesn't work. And the back light seems to have a mind of it's own, so riding in the dark I have no idea what's going on. So I guess from my experience, my opinion of them is low.