- This topic has 9 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 9 months ago by yugen852.
Riding in the RAIN
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July 23, 2009 at 3:37 am #3188SafetyFirstParticipant
I took off on the Ninja 250 at about 10 PM. It’d been raining on and off all day, but it was just misting when I started out. What a great time to get some practice on the not-so-crowded city roads at night, made even less crowded by everyone staying in because of the dreary night.
Along the way, the rain picks up. No problem, I figured. Better to get used to it now, then when I’m on a trip on the interstate going a long distance.
The worst problem I had was no being able to see. I’d wipe off the windscreen of my Scorpion EXO-700 helmet, only to find that there was water inside the windscreen.
I found flipping it up a little ways helped see clearer. Then my glasses started fogging up. And then my heavy breathing from the situation made it worse. Between my glasses and my windscreen and the darkness, I was riding nearly blind.
Eventually, I decided I’m turning around and going home, after riding around on the interstate, country roads and city streets in the rain.
Eventually, I got so unable to see, I needed to get off the road. I found a right side-street to turn off on. Unfortunately, it was just outside of where the city street lights end. Slow down.. get close.. wait.. where is the street… where am I supposed to turn to… shit.. did I pass it? Brakes lock… shit… release the front quick and abort because I already passed it and just got jerked around like it’s nobody’s business. I swear I honestly was this close to thinking I was in deep #@#t.
Find a side-street to make a left on this time, from the left hand center turnlane and take my merry old time coming to a very slow stop. Turn around, and get back into the city lights to get home. That was too close for comfort.
So not only did I ride in the dark, and in the pouring rain, but I managed to deal with it for an hour. I’d call that a good ride.
My gear is now drip-drying in the bathtub.
I know a lot of guys pride themselves on riding everyday, no matter the weather. I learned tonight that it’s not for me. If I get caught in a rain storm, I’m going to suck down a slurpie at the first gas station I can find and hope it clears soon.
July 23, 2009 at 5:32 am #20883zeppelinfromledParticipantYeah, I rode in a misting/raining situation a little while back. I’ve got to say, I didn’t enjoy it very much. I take my car now when it’s raining. I want to learn to deal with it at some point for the purpose that you mentioned – a road trip. I don’t want to rely on a week of nice weather if I want to go on a long trip.
I need to figure out a way to keep my visor clear, and then I think I’ve got it. I tried some Rain-X, but I didn’t have much luck with that. I plan on giving it another go not too long from now.
July 23, 2009 at 7:55 am #20884eonParticipantRiding in light mist/rain is actually worse from a visibility point of view than heavy rain. Going faster can help the water to bead off your visor. RainX helped me a lot but I stopped using as I was worried it was clouding up my visor (don’t think I had the plastic specific one). Plenty of other stuff out there to try.
I try to avoid wiping my visor as that just seems to smear the water across and makes things worse. Turning your head from side to side can help clear it. I’ve never had a real problem with fogging on my EXO-400 but it did seem to get worse over time. I guess whatever they treat it with wears off eventually.
It sounds like you had the worst situation to ride in. Night, no street lights, misting rain, glasses and a fogging visor. In that situation I would get home as soon as I could. It’s not always going to be as bad as that. No matter what you do though, riding in rain is rarely much fun.
July 23, 2009 at 10:44 am #20885MunchParticipantI am one of those guys that rides in everything unless it’s frozen. First tip… Rain-x or my favorite Aqua Pel. Then get an anti fog chemical, either from a bike store like cycle gear or from a place that sells diving equipment. Lastly no I don’t wipe my visor when I have my full face on. Turning your head from side to side (with the rain-x applied) will allow the wind to just push it off the visor without the smearing effect. Make sure though your eyes are still on the road, otherwise, unless you have previously forced yourself not to follow your eyes (which I spent a considerable time aiming to do so I could look at the scenery I was passing without worry of lane changing) you will risk going where you don’t want to be.
If not of that helps you and you get caught, and still uncomfortable..nothing wrong with stopping under a bridge or nearest corner store. These days especially with all the bells and whistles “phones” come with.
Oh and yea… braking is definitely more sensitive.July 23, 2009 at 3:27 pm #20886briderdtParticipantGo to Cycle Gear and spend $2 on a finger squeegee. Slips over your gloved finger and acts like a windshield wiper. Add the Rain-X, and you’re good to go even in the misty rain.
July 23, 2009 at 9:35 pm #20889SafetyFirstParticipantI went to text someone after I got home, only to find my cell phone appeared to be dead. It was in my mesh jacket pocket, and probably got drenched.
I took the battery off and let it dry overnight. It works again!
I think I need to take along some ziplock baggies in my tail bag to put my phone in so it doesn’t happen again if I get stuck in the rain.
July 24, 2009 at 2:01 am #20895RabParticipantI commute all year by motorcycle and initially went through the same miserable (and dangerous) experiences you have.
Here’s what I’ve ended up with through trial and error and I no longer have any problems seeing in rainy weather (and I wear glasses).
For the Rain:
1. Regular Rain-X (nothing special) on the outside of the visor. You only need a few drops of Rain-X on a cloth, so a small bottle lasts for ages even with frequent use. I clean the outside of the visor with Plexus (or the anti-fog/cleaner I carry with me) and re-apply Rain-X after every ride in the wet (once the visor’s dried of course). Use a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the visor.
2. Accessory finger wiper (squeegee) on my gloved left hand index finger to remove dirty water splashes or fine misty rain that won’t bead-up and run off; J.C. Whitney has some. Wiping occasionally doesn’t seem to stop the Rain-X working.
3. Keep the visor closed (provided you have what’s below).For the Fogging:
1. A Pinlock visor and visor insert (a miraculous product which eliminates fogging 100%).
2. Anti-fog spray on my glasses; re-applied every couple of days as necessary.That’s it. It works!
I use an inexpensive HJC CL-15 full-face helmet (Snell & DoT approved) for which there is a pinlock equipped visor available. HJC approve Rain-X for use on their helmet visors.
Avoid noseless balaclavas and helmet “breath boxes” as unless they are a perfect fit, they will funnel your breath up onto your glasses, misting them up.
July 25, 2009 at 1:19 am #20924JtownJJAParticipantI was just reading all the comments above last night about riding in the rain, and then I woke up this morning ready to ride to work. We’ve had rain, or threats of rain all week, and I was anxious to get out on the GS500F since we finally had a sunny day ahead, not to mention it was Friday. Unfortunately, we had a thick, heavy fog this morning. I got less than a mile down the road and my visor was fogging up real quick, on the inside and outside. I tried opening all the vents, but that didn’t help. Then I opened up the visor, hoping that would take care of it, then my glasses started fogging up. The fog was so thick, it was like a light rain hitting the outside of my glasses. What a disappointment. I ended up turning around and going back home to drive the cage in to work. If only it were about an hour or so later. If only I had been prepared. If only that fog had waited to come along on Saturday. Any additional tips for foggy mornings? Despite the sunny outlook for the day, I noticed there were not as many bikes on the road as I would have thought there would be. The fog must have ruined a lot of other peoples mornings as well.
July 25, 2009 at 1:41 am #20928MunchParticipanthmmm other then above… if in a fix and nothing for options you can go old school farmer on it and use a cut potato to rub the oil on your lenses….. warning flies will find you later when you’ve stopped long enough.
This is just me and not recommended for anyone else… but in fog that likes to stay attached to my goggles/visor/ glasses…. I just take em of, flip it up or whatever til I ride out to a clearer section…usually the main highway for me… I am surrounded by swamps. Not the best in terms of safety ….but hey its me , and if I can find a way to ride…I will do so.July 25, 2009 at 3:23 am #20933yugen852ParticipantI have heard the same thing, but instead of a potato, a cut onion. Thinking about it, it would be good for a cage, but with a helmet, you’d be crying all the way to your destination
yugen852
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