Tag Archives: riding in the rain

Motorcycle safety tips for new riders

Motorcycle Safety Tips

There are lots of advantage in riding a motorcycle. Motorcycles are fun and fuel efficient. But  they’re also way more dangerous than a car.

According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, motorcyclists are 30 times more likely to die in a  motorcycle crash than people in a car.

How to avoid this? The key to optimizing your odds is to be prepared and avoid risks.

Here are some more tips to help you  stay safe while riding your bikes:

1. Don’t buy more bike than you can handle.

2. Invest in anti-lock brakes.

3. Hone your skills.  The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers riding courses that will teach the basic riding practices, as well as advanced techniques.

4. Use your head. Riders without a helmet are 40 percent more likely to suffer a fatal head injury in a crash.

5. Wear the right gear. Use leather or reinforced jacket, gloves, full pants and over-the-ankle footwear, even in summer. You also need to buy eye protection or a motorcycle rain suit during the rainy season.

6. Be defensive. You need to be extra alert.

7. Avoid bad weather. If you need to ride in the rain wear a one-piece motorcycle rain suit or two-piece rain suits.

8. Watch for road hazards. Bumps and potholes can pose serious danger when riding a bike.

9. Be ready to roll.  Before you ride,check the chain, belt or shaft and the brakes. And inspect the tires for wear and make sure they’re set at the proper pressure.

To read the original article, please CLICK HERE.

Running the Red Light in Nebraska to Become Legal?

Autoevolution reported last week that a truly controversial law was proposed by Nebraska state Senator Paul Schumacher. The law states that motorcycle riders are to be allowed to run the red light after waiting two or more minutes and in case no other vehicle is around.

This law project claim that in the case of traffic light coordinated by sensors, most of the two-wheeled vehicles fail to trigger these sensors the way cars or trucks do. Riders are forced to wait 5 minutes or more for nothing. Motorcyclists sometimes have to wait in inclement weather (rain, cold, wind) and this bill would really help easing their riding.

Similar exceptional traffic regulations are to be encountered in Missouri, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Idaho, Arkansas, Tennessee and Minnesota, but the opinions are strong on both the supporters’ and the opponents’ sides.

To read the original article, click here.

 

 

Riding in the Rain – Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine

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Tips for Riding a Motorcycle in the Rain

In the December 2012 issue of “Motorcycle Cruiser” Magazine, Mark Zimmerman writes a great article with some solid tips for riding a motorcycle in the rain.

Mark’s take on riding in the rain is pretty fairly balanced, with a look back on youth and “invincibility” making riding in the rain less frightening and a look to today with more caution and care, but certainly no fear of riding in the rain.

Some of the funny comments from the article:

While I’d never suggest that riding in the rain is as pleasant as riding in the sunshine, I can tell you that it’s not particularly bad, at least not unless you’re riding through a real frog strangler, and under certain conditions, like when it’s 110 in the shade and you hit a cooling shower, it can be downright pleasant.

I’ve been caught in the rain on every motorcycle I’ve ever owned many more times than you can count, and I’ve yet to see one melt, or even suffer irreparable damage.

But he’s also got his good advice hidden in a few “tricks”:

Most importantly you need good rain gear. Riding in the rain takes some concentration, and that’s tough to come by when you’re wet and cold.

[Good rain gear . . .] provides an acceptable level of protection against road rash should the unfortunate occur, which is something that can’t be said for you average plastic rain suit.

During the first few minutes of rain, all the debris and gunk floats to the surface, making the pavement as slippery as a greased hog, so you have to tone it down some in the beginning, and be particularly cautious about riding in the middle of the lane, where all those leaky cars and trucks have been depositing their oil. It’ll take at least a half an hour of steady rain to wash it away, so treat the throttle with caution, especially if the roads have been dry for a while.

. . . adding a few extra pounds of air to the tire will help prevent aquaplaning, which occurs when the tire rides on top of the water, rather than push it aside. Increasing the tire pressure by 3-5 pounds narrows the tire’s foot print, and helps the tire’s rain sipes squeegee the water out from under the contact patch, enhancing traction.

This article is a great little read about riding in the rain.

Click Here to Go to Source and read the original article
Author: Mark Zimmerman

11 ‘must know’ tips for riding a motorcycle in the rain

Tips for Riding a Motorcycle in the Rain

Even if you try to dodge rainy days, most likely at some point in the rainy season, you won’t be able to avoid riding through the rain.

Chances are, you are more likely get into an accident when out riding through foul weather. There are many reasons why riding in the rain is dangerous both to your health and personal safety.

One reason is that, riding through the rain lessens your visibility and, as a result, you can’t either see other vehicles or road hazards, road signs or, most critically, other drivers can’t see you. Second, you are exposed to the element and your body will suffer from the cold wind and rain without proper motorcycle rain gear.

To stay safe throughout a storm, here are 11 tips on how to ride a motorcycle in the rain:

1. Before going out for a ride, check your headlights, tail lights and brake lights. Flip your signals to see if it’s all operating properly.

2.  Wear protective rain gear. Always bring with you your motorcycle rain gear which will include waterproof jackets, pants, gloves, boots and goggles. This gear will mean so much for your personal safety and comfort.

3. Wear clear lenses. Choose spectacles, face shield or any eye wear that will help you see clearly in the rain.

4. Ride slowly. Keep in mind that in rainy days your tires get less friction or traction from the road causing your bike to slide. Check your tires. Old tires will lessen your traction.

5. Maintain a secure distance between you and the next vehicle. Since the road is wet, braking will be troublesome. You’ll bump or crash to the next vehicle if you don’t give enough space to maneuver your bike.

6. Keep within the middle of the lane. This is one of the best ways to let other drivers notice you.

7. Drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.  Their tires will help clear water from the road.

8. Don’t forget to turn your head light on. This may assist you see the road clearly and at the same time, let other vehicles see you. Keep in mind that in gloomy or foggy atmospheric condition visibility is incredibly vital.

9.  Don’t drive over potholes, man-hole covers, and painted stripes on the road.  These can all be slippery and dangerous road hazards.

10. Stay alert and follow the road signs.

11.  Wear bright color garments. This may increase your visibility.

Take your personal safety seriously especially when riding in the rain. Follow all the ideas given above because riding in the rain is one of the most difficult riding conditions.

Tips and Suggestions When Riding in the Rain

How to Ride in the Rain?

Image source: bikerscafeblog.com

Many riders don’t want to go riding during rainy seasons or just fear riding in the rain in general. Being wet is not the best idea for some riders. But what if you just have places you want to go?

Some of us consider getting wet a fun and exciting experience.

For some, it seems like no amount of rain can stop them.  Rain is not a barrier for them to go out. Do you want to be just like them?

What should you consider when planning to ride a motorcycle in the rain. First, since the roads are wet, it can be more dangerous or more tricky to ride. It’s hard to control your bike on a slippery and wet road. Second, there is a threat to your health. How much rain and cold can you take before you totally get sick? If you don’t have a healthy and fit body, being exposed to the elements might turn out bad for you.

So what can you do if you want to be an active (or at least unafraid) motorcyclist in the rain?

Listed below are some tips that can help you ride safely in the rain.

Tips that will help you became more prepared in riding your bike on the rain:

  1. Dress Properly. During a rainy day, wear a waterproof suit.  A motorcycle rain suit can keep you dry, warm and comfortable all the time. A waterproof rain suit is one of the most important pieces of gear and you shouldn’t take if for granted. If possible, do not leave the house without bringing your motorcycle rain suit. Remember that you will never know when and where you will get caught by the rain.
  2. Wear glasses or goggles. It will be hard to see clearly during a rainy day therefore choose an eye wear that will protect your eyes against the wind, rain and insects but at the same time will help you see the road clearly.
  3. Check your motorcycle. Do not leave the house without inspecting your bike. Check of the brakes are functioning well, check your head and tail lights, your tires and see if all controls are functioning.
  4. Always make yourself more visible to others. As rain pour down the road became dark as the fog comes out. It is important that you have warning lights and brighter suits order to become visible to every driver on the road.
  5. Watch your speed and your distance. Ride slowly. You need to control your speed during a rainy day because the road is slippery and your tires have less traction on the surface of the road.
  6. Watch all the corners. If you plan to turn in the corner stay alert. In this you can see if there is another vehicle crossing and you don’t want to crash on them.

Always remember that rainy season is one of the dangerous seasons to ride a motorcycle. But it is not a barrier for you to enjoy a good ride. Just be prepared always and keep yourself protected.

 

Choosing The Right Gear for Rainy Season

The Right Gear for Rainy Season

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Riders need to be comfortable on their bikes particularly on long journeys. Nobody expects you to endure getting soaked and cold to bones once you still have miles to go on a rainy day. Throughout the raining season, it’s best for riders to own the proper gear to keep them heat and dry. There are motorcycle riding gear that will stop the cold and keep you dry when riding in the rain. You need to bring proper riding gear on your saddlebags.

There are different types of riding gear for rainy season.  If you’re looking for a reliable rain gear, the following tips will sure enough help:

1. Obtain motorbike rain gear that suits your budget. Motorcycle rain gear is available in different sizes, colors, brands, materials and value. You can obtain low cost gear however you can’t make certain of its quality and for how long it can last.  Choose you gear wisely. Stick to your budget but make sure you choose good quality products.

2. Be specific. Make certain of what you would like. Before you visit the closest store, make certain you have gear in mind. Decide which to buy, a one piece motorcycle rain suit or a two piece suit?  If you already know what to buy, you don’t have to waste time browsing aimlessly.

3. Get the proper size. Finding the proper motorcycle rain gear is less complicated if you recognize the dimensions that you simply need. Choose a motorcycle rain suit that fits your body but doesn’t limit your movement. The legs of your pants ought to be large enough to permit you to wear it even along with your boots on. Your jackets should not permit rain or wetness seep through your garments and high collars in order that it will reach the base of your helmet.

4. Choose motorcycle rain gear that has enough reflective materials. You need to be visible even throughout gloomy or rainy conditions. Bright colored suits and gear will keep you safe when riding in the rain.

5. Opt for motorcycle rain gear that gives the best protection from the rain and the cold. Some rain suits claimed to be waterproof but actually some are not. Check if the motorbike rain gear you‘re about to purchase was made up of Gore-Tex material or not.

The guidelines to find the proper motorcycle rain gear revolve around safety, comfort and protection.

How to Keep Dry When Riding a Motorcycle in the Rain?

Stay Dry Riding Your Motorcycle in the Rain

The reason why you bought a motorcycle is to enjoy a motorcycle ride as often as you want. Before purchasing your first bike, you probably had plans for touring, carving The Dragon, saving some money on your daily work commute, or maybe the Round The World Trip of a lifetime.  If you want to fully enjoy your bike, you’re going to ride it all the time and on all kinds of weather. With the help of motorcycle rain suits and riding gear, you can enjoy a ride – rain or shine.

Since weather is unpredictable, you don’t want to get wet or frozen when rain unexpectedly appears. There is motorcycle gear that will help keep you dry and warm as you travel. Here is some of what you need to bring or wear on a trip in order to stay dry when riding a motorcycle in the rain:

  1. Rain Suit—Rain suits come in two types. The most popular is the two piece motorcycle suit that consists of a pair of pants and jacket.  The other option is the one piece suit. Either will keep your body dry despite the rain and will protect you from the cold weather. Wearing a motorcycle rain suit will make your trip more comfortable.
  2. Helmet—wearing your helmet keeps your head protected from the sun, dusts, wind, insects, rocks, and elements of bad weather.  If you prefer to wear an open face helmet, make sure to wear eye glasses to protect your face and eyes from the wind, dusts, and insects while you’re riding your motorcycle.
  3. Layer your clothes—wearing a layer of clothing underneath your motorcycle rain suit will keep your body warm. Make sure you start wearing a moisture cloth, and then add some extra on your second layer. But it depends on how cold the weather is forecast.  You can always pack some extra clothes layers.
  4. Non-slip Gloves—wearing this kind of gloves will keep your hands protected and help you maintain control of the bike. Gloves with waterproof lining will keep your hands warm. The colder the weather, the faster your hands get cold. Make sure to stop in longer rides to check your hands in order to prevent your fingers from getting too cold.  Cold hands=less control and more risk while riding.
  5. Waterproof Boots—Aside from wearing a rain suit, you will be much comfortable and protected when you wear your waterproof boots. Your boots will not only keep you feet dry and warm but this will keep your feet safe from mud, oil, and heat from the engine.

In all your motorcycle adventure, it is best to have the correct gear in order to be prepared for the sudden change of the weather and to make your trips successful.

Good Things to Consider When Planning a Motorcycle Road Trip

Planning A Motorcycle Road Trip?

Are you planning for a long road trip? How do you prepare for it? Did you book your accommodations already? Have you mapped out all the spots you want to visit? What are the things you’ve packed? Cell phone, map, snacks, tent (or hotel money), flashlight, trash bags, extra clothes. . .

Planning plays a major role in the success of your motorcycle trip. If you are going for a long road trip, it is very possible to meet unexpected events along the way.

Of course you are ready for rain; right?  What if it suddenly rains? Do you have your motorcycle rain suit?

Really, you can’t expect rain to give way to your plans. In fact, it is something that most motorcycle riders dread –  the dark clouds ahead; the sudden drop in temperature. You know that despite the good weather forecast, you should prepare for rain. Actually, you should prepare for a bad day; anything can happen on the road.

What type of motorcycle gear?

When choosing a motorcycle rain suit, remember to consider safety over fashion. In other words, your motorcycle rain gear will not only keep you dry and warm but safe also. Riding in the rain presents a lot more problems. Aside from getting wet and feeling miserable, you have less traction from the road and less visibility. All of these will challenge your riding skills as well as your safety.

You want to be really efficient?

Choose a rain suit that will double as protective gear. A combo suit can protect your body from unexpected falls or accidents while keeping you warm and dry in tough weather.

Motorcycle rain suits are made from different materials. For protection against abrasion and other injures in case of unexpected fall, choose leather or synthetic rain suits. Although leather is the number one choice of most riders, rain suits made from synthetic materials can protect you just as well.

You are going to find a one piece or two piece rain suit but do not forget to choose one that have extra reinforcement in the knee and hip area. In a one piece rain suit, make sure that it can be connected to your jacket to avoid water from seeping through. Choose a motorcycle rain suit that fits perfectly but does not hinder your movement. The number one problem with riding in the rain is visibility. You must wear bright colored rain suit so that other riders can see you in the rain.

Rain Boots and Gloves

Expect that when the road is wet, your bike may slide and in order to protect the lower part of your body, wear quality motorcycle rain boots too. Good quality rain boots are made from high quality and waterproof material. It must be made from thick and flexible leather also. It should be resistant to water, oil and other petroleum products.

Aside from motorcycle rain boots and suit, you also need to protect your hands thus wearing leather gloves is a good  solution.  These will protect your hands from tearing and will give you extra grip of the controls when riding in the rain.

When choosing a motorcycle rain suit, remember to consider protection over fashion. One more thing, consider safety over fashion. In other words, your motorcycle rain gear will not only keep you dry and warm but safe also. Riding in the rain presents a lot more problems. Aside from getting wet and feeling miserable, you have less traction from the road and less visibility. All of these will challenge your riding skills as well as your safety.

Helmet

Now, the most important part of your body you must protect is your head. Wear a helmet to protect your head from head injuries. Now because it’s raining and it’s important to see the road clearly, you need to have a face shield.  A full-face helmet with face shield is recommended for maximum safety.

When going out for a motorcycle ride, whether it’s a short or long ride, you are advised to wear protective gear. There are lots of motorcycle clothes and gear available in the market today. Take some care and precaution when choosing the kind of gear to purchase.  It’s your own personal insurance on a bad day.

Ride Your Motorcycle Safely in the Rain

Ride Safely in the Rain

A Motorcycle rain suit is a necessity for all motorcycle riders. Even during a bright and sunny day, bringing your motorcycle rain gear is still a must because you can’t really trust the weather to cooperate with your plans. Once you are prepared for riding through a downpour, you can turn this situation into a fun and exciting experience. How?

There are things you need to remember when riding in the rain.

First, you need to stay safe. How? By staying safe means you need to remember that this is not your usual riding condition thus you need to be extra careful. Remember the importance of traction, of being seen by other riders and especially car drivers, and make sure that you can see the road and don’t overdrive your headlights or drive in bad visibility.

Second, you need to dress properly. This means that you need to carry along with you a motorcycle rain suit. A complete set of motorcycle rain gear will consist of a motorcycle rain suit, waterproof boots, pants, jackets, gloves, goggles and boots or boot covers. When it comes to rain suits, you have two choices: one piece and two piece rain suit. Both are very effective in keeping you dry and warm while riding in the rain because both are water resistant and will provide protection against the cold wind and the splashing mist from other vehicles. The only difference between these two is personal comfort and ease of entry.

  1. A one piece motorcycle rain suit is like a jumpsuit made from leather, nylon or polyester. Because it is a one piece suit, getting in and out of it can be a struggle especially if there’s no one to assist you. Often you can wear this suit under or over another jacket.
  2. Two piece motorcycle rain suits are very popular to most motorcycle riders. They consist of a motorcycle jacket and pants thus allowing you to wear the jacket or pants alone when the weather allows it. However, because it’s a two piece suit, water can enter around the waist of the suit, if not properly fit.

In order to avoid this kind of problem you need to choose a suit that fits perfectly to your body. The pants should have an elastic waist so that you can wear it over or above your existing clothes. The legs of the pants must have hook-and-loop closure and zipper to allow you to put on your boots. Aside from that, it is ideal to choose motorcycle rain pants with heat resistant inner lining to keep you warm and dry even if it rains.

Next is the motorcycle jacket which must fit well to your body. Loose jackets can be a problem because the seams will flap against the wind and will let water to seep through to your clothes. Some riders prefer a jacket with a hood especially for prolong exposure in the rain. Your motorcycle jacket can be made from treated leather, hi-tech synthetics like nylon and polyester, or denim (though you should be cautious of assuming anything but nylon or synthetics will be really water proof).

Whether you are a veteran or newbie rider, being aware of the loss of traction, and managing the limited visibility for you and other drivers while wearing a complete motorcycle rain suit will help you ride safely in the rain.