Total Motorcycle Community Forums

So it finally decided to rain since I've been riding. While I haven't ridden in more than a slight drizzle yet, I did find out that wet asphalt scares the beejeebers out of me.

I'm having a real hard time trusting myself to lean, which makes cornering difficult. Rode around the short block at my g/f's a dozen times the other night & finally got 'ok' at making left turns from a stop. Rights were easier for some reason.

Oh well, more practice & time.

Just needed to say something so as not to let the fear fester.

Ya well could be worse. Today was my first real ride. 200 miles. It rained both ways, snowed, and even hailed. I just rode the rear brake through my turns, slowed down a lot more, and thankfully I was with my dad who has been riding for about 25 years. So I could just keep speed with him.

I grew up, and live now, in Louisiana. Although I've lived in CO Springs and therefore know how to drive on snow, I don't think I'd take my bike out if it snowed here again.

Heck, it snowed in Dec & I stayed home even though I drive a big E250 Ford work van. I wasn't worried about me, I was worried about all the other idiots out there.

Wet asphalt offers more traction than you would expect, with the exception of the first bit of rain when the oils haven't been washed off the surface yet. I always find that the worst aspect is the reduced visibility from road grime on your visor, that and the moment when the cold rain starts to seep through the crotch of my riding pants.

ttty2t1j3 wrote:Ya well could be worse. Today was my first real ride. 200 miles. It rained both ways, snowed, and even hailed. I just rode the rear brake through my turns, slowed down a lot more, and thankfully I was with my dad who has been riding for about 25 years. So I could just keep speed with him.

Keeping on your rear brake through the turns is a very dangerous habit to develop. Trail braking at parking lot speeds or in very tight corners is one thing; but riding that rear brake at speed is asking for a get-off. Not only will it warp the rotor and/or glaze the pads for both hydraulic and drum rear brakes, but also when you learn to ride the rear brake like that, you are only one miscalculation away from having to get on it too hard and causing a rear wheel lock-up, and down you go. It's bad for the machine and it's bad for you.

You're a new rider and it's a great time to learn how to corner without riding the rear brake.





And...kudos, I've never ridden in hail! That's nuts! Trial by fire, eh?

coffee_brake wrote:
And...kudos, I've never ridden in hail! That's nuts! Trial by fire, eh?

Wouldn't that be trial by ice?

mgdavis wrote:Wet asphalt offers more traction than you would expect, with the exception of the first bit of rain when the oils haven't been washed off the surface yet. I always find that the worst aspect is the reduced visibility from road grime on your visor, that and the moment when the cold rain starts to seep through the crotch of my riding pants.

On all the years I have been riding, only have had one rain suit that didn't give the "I just peed myself" look. Sadly I only had it for two months and lost when the ER Nurse cut it off of me.......plus it was the only one piece rain suit I found that was easy to get and out of, it zippered up diagonally from the hip to the shoulder.....very nice.

Well it wasn't exactly killing the rear brake all the way through the turns. There was a lot of water in some of the turns i just wanted to keep the water from getting into the brakes and making the slowing difficult. All in all it was a good experience. A lot to take in for the first ride but well worth it.

Water's gonna get into the brakes whether you're on em or not. And if you're using composite brake pads (like most bikes have) then it's perfectly fine. I'd only worry about it if it's really wet and you're using full-race organic pads. And even then it won't affect it to the point you need to stay on 'em. Besides most of the braking comes from the front brakes anyway!

Wrider wrote:Water's gonna get into the brakes whether you're on em or not. And if you're using composite brake pads (like most bikes have) then it's perfectly fine. I'd only worry about it if it's really wet and you're using full-race organic pads. And even then it won't affect it to the point you need to stay on 'em. Besides most of the braking comes from the front brakes anyway!

exactly. I am actually surprised you didnt go down while using that rear brake. I havent ridden while its snowing (though riding through the snow is a chore) but I have ridden in hail. First overpass I found I pulled over lol.