Rain and Other Weather Questions

[earwig]

Do you have a source for this info? Speaking from experience, I have noticed much less traction on clean wet pavement than on dry pavement... So I would love to see your source... Also, how can you have any traction when wet pavement can cause you to Hydroplane?

I also wonder what happens in the first 1/2 hour of a rain when the water mixes with gravel and oils on the road etc... I believe it is common knowledge that traction is very much worse in these conditions; the MSF instructors actually tell you to park you bike the first 1/2 hour of a rain...

You have about 80% as much traction on clean wet pavement as the same spot when it's dry. If you're having problems with sliding tires with 80% traction, perhaps it's time to look at your techniques.

[runsilent]

Get some rain tires, sport touring radials are great in the wet, and some of the new sport touring bias plies are almost as good. We don't slow down much at all for rain except when it's so hard you can't see your nose.

Gotta watch those wet painted lines in the city and those tar snakes can be as slippery wet as they are hot. And take it easy a short while till new rain washes the slick off.

[Sev]

Do you have a source for this info? Speaking from experience, I have noticed much less traction on clean wet pavement than on dry pavement... So I would love to see your source... Also, how can you have any traction when wet pavement can cause you to Hydroplane?

I also wonder what happens in the first 1/2 hour of a rain when the water mixes with gravel and oils on the road etc... I believe it is common knowledge that traction is very much worse in these conditions; the MSF instructors actually tell you to park you bike the first 1/2 hour of a rain...

You have about 80% as much traction on clean wet pavement as the same spot when it's dry. If you're having problems with sliding tires with 80% traction, perhaps it's time to look at your techniques.

Well, I'm going to go with the fact that 2 of my MSF instructors race for Kawasaki, and said pretty much exactly what Skier said, you still have the vast majority of your surface traction in the rain. In fact the class before mine (previous weekend) it poured, and I mean POURED and they were out there doing emergency braking, swerves, figure-8's everything.

The year I got my first bike we had several torrential downpours. One, which I chose to ride through, had water coming down so fast and hard that it was sheeting off the road and highway at a depth of about 2 inches. This does not mean that we got 2 inches of rain, it means that the water flowing off the entire surface of the highway was 2 inches deep. I made it home fine, you just need to slow down what you're doing, I went under the speed limit, and did my best not to lean the bike. Brake smoothly etc etc etc.

The first ride (getting it home) I took on my Savage was in the rain, it wasn't super heavy, but there was always a good amount of water on the road.

My first ride on the Honda 599 it had just rained and the roads were all wet.

Remember that the release compounds used on tires while they are being made significantly reduce traction until the tires are worn in a little to get rid of these left over chemicals. Which means that the new tires on my new bikes are slippery to say the least. But I still managed to make it home without any problems despite slippery tires, and wet conditions.


Riding in the rain is not an issue, so long as you are careful with the clutch, and smooth on the throttle and brakes. My old MSF instructor used to say SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH to emphasize the fact.

[biker_rach]

Riding in the rain is not fun I always end up soaked to the bone...

And yea, the coefficient of friiction on wet asphalt is about .8 and it is about .9 on dry pavement. SO, Yes you do still have most of the traction... BUT yes you could quite justifiably say that it is slipperier (is that a word? lol) on wet surface.

Of course the amount of tread you have helps too. Tread doesnt change the coeffiecient of friction, but it increases the normal force on the road (more force = more traction)

You can access the numbers on a bunch of sites, just google for a chart of coefficients and check it out! : )
Cheers All

[earwig]

I understand that completly clean pavement isn't slippery, but there are many other problems that rain causes... mixing with the chemicals and gravel on the roads, making the paint strips and pot holes very slippery, making it less safe because of the cars on the road etc... There is also the problem with visibility, i dont know of any helmets or goggles that have windshield wipers on them. There is reason why you are taught when you learn how to drive to double the distance between yourself and other cars.

[biker_rach]

I understand that completly clean pavement isn't slippery, but there are many other problems that rain causes... mixing with the chemicals and gravel on the roads, making the paint strips and pot holes very slippery, making it less safe because of the cars on the road etc... There is also the problem with visibility, i dont know of any helmets or goggles that have windshield wipers on them. There is reason why you are taught when you learn how to drive to double the distance between yourself and other cars.

I completely agree. Especially with the visibility point. Its hard to see through the windshield and visor and if you open the wisor you get rain shooting into your eyes. I don't like driving in the rain one bit but sometimes you get stuck in it and when I do I'm a putt-putt...

[Skier]

Do you have a source for this info?

David Hough's Proficient Motorcycling book. I can get a page number if you feel so inclined.

Also, how can you have any traction when wet pavement can cause you to Hydroplane?

Wet pavement won't cause you to hydroplane. Standing water makes it possible, high speed makes it likely, low tread levels on tires makes it even more likely.

I also wonder what happens in the first 1/2 hour of a rain when the water mixes with gravel and oils on the road etc... I believe it is common knowledge that traction is very much worse in these conditions; the MSF instructors actually tell you to park you bike the first 1/2 hour of a rain...

The oil, antifreeze and whatnot on the road gets lifted from under the tops of the little "mountains" on the road, assuming we're looking at a high level of magnification. So while they are underneath, your tires don't touch much if any of the stuff, but get it on top and it can act as lubrication between your tires and the friction surface.[/quote]

I understand that completly clean pavement isn't slippery, but there are many other problems that rain causes... mixing with the chemicals and gravel on the roads, making the paint strips and pot holes very slippery, making it less safe because of the cars on the road etc...

These risks can be mitigated by proper route planning on the road. Know where the traction limited surfaces are and make sure you're not inclined to do anything such as emergency braking or swerving on them.

There is also the problem with visibility, i dont know of any helmets or goggles that have windshield wipers on them.

I use Turtle Wax on the outside of my clean visor. Acts like RainX without causing damage to the plastic. Water beads right up and you can see without a problem. Also, since the water is so close to your face it's easier to see through it than water on a car's windshield.

[JustJames]

Riding in the rain??? hummm I know now what I'm missing living in So Cal. LOL

Seriously just get yourself proper gears which alot mention, Rainsuit, Rainboot cover, Waterproof Glove and Full face helmet.

I normally don't ride in very first rain, I don't stay in middle of the lane (most slicky), I always ride on where tire track from car in front of me. Avoid changing lane, leave a lot of space scan closer to your surrounding (mostly water in front of you).

last but not least, please don't test your brake and new tires on very first rain

[bikeguy joe]

I ride all year (unless it's below freezing and there is snow on the road).

I have an 18 dollar rain suit and I wear a cheap pair of "mud boots". I wear long underwear when it's cold, then my jeans, a t-shirt and a fleece. I put on my leather jacket and then the rain suit (raining or not) I stay fairly warm and it's 23 miles to work.

As for the traction issues, I ride like I'm on ice and keep a reasonable distance. No hard acceleration or braking. I ride a VL 800 cruiser and a Vino scooter. No windshield. I rub a bar of Ivory soap on the inside of my shield, then wipe it off with a soft rag. No "steaming up" or fogging.

[safety-boy]

Hi sapo916,

I ride rain or shine. The only day this winter I specifically did not want to ride was when the roads were iced over. I'm a crazy, not insane!

The effects on my bike - it gets dirty. Really dirty!

The effects on me? Well, I have not invested in rain gear. Too disappointed in some gear I have purchased to grab something without looking around. What I do have is okay, but without a proper rainsuit, you are just going to get wet.

So, I pack my stuff in a waterproof camping bag. I take an extra set of clothes (shirt, pants, socks, underwear, and shoes). Once the water finds a way in, it just keeps coming.

Last thing is on riding... Know the roads you ride when they are dry. In North Carolina, we have a lot of red clay, and in Raleigh a lot of construction. One of the roads I can't avoid, I have dubbed "Red Slop Pass" because of the constant renewal of clay - and it is no fun when wet. Also, people in cars... How can I put this nicely? They look through motorcycles when it is dry and sunny... They look through everything when it is raining.

Lengthen your follow distance.
Wet insulated pants are better than wet jeans at 60mph.
Staying as warm as possible is important. Hypothermia on a bike is not something you want.

Best thing about riding all year... You get to sneer at the yuppies who only ride when it is 75 and sunny (sneer behind your helmet... they do still ride, afterall! )

--David