Stuck in the rain

Last night on my way home I ran into a thunderstorm. I ended up stopping under 4 bridges at various times before I finally made it home. My question is what do you guys usually do when you get caught up in a hard rain if you can't find a bridge?

My next investment will be a full faced helmet and rain gear! I know that won't solve the whole problem, but it sure would help!

 

A full face helmet and rain suit will help but if the rain is so bad that road conditions make for unsafe driving then you really have no choice but to find a safe place to pull over and wait out the weather.

I've taken cover under bridges on occassion to put on my rainsuit too. Your other option is to keep riding and get soaked which is not fun.

 

Coin-Op car washes, gas station "awnings" and of course bridges.

I wear a full face helmet, my jacket and boots are waterproof, so all I need is someplace to stop and pop on the rain pants.

 

Theres only been a couple of times when the rain is so bad and the lightning splits the sky that I've had to pull over. Once a bridge was handy, another time I had no choice but to pull to the side of the road and wait it out in my gear with no cover at all.

 

as I say about this lovely PNWet locale... if we didn't ride in the rain we wouldn't ride at all.

Full face. Rain-x your lens. If fogging is STILL really bad pop it open one click.
I just pack a cheapo set of slickers that goes over my standard leathers. I have some kickass textiles too but never seem to wear them. Riding safely in rain takes practice and caution. It really has to be pouring buckets for me to seek shelter (usually due to visibility)
"you ride a motorcycle ALL the time? what do you do when it rains"
"I get wet. There's a hot shower waiting for me at home"

 

once your wet, your wet, might as well keep going, just watch out for any paint or stickers on the road they get like ice.
after your wet a rain suit just keeps you wet

 

I'm going to invest in a full faced helmet. That rain, no matter how small feels like hail hitting you in the face!

 

Another thing to look out for is anything metal on the road ... they get slick as ice when wet. This would include manhole covers, railroad tracks, etc.

Some gloves have cloth on the knuckles that you can use to clear the beaded up rain when driving slowly.

When traveling, I look at the cars coming toward me ... if they have their wipers on, I pull over and put on my rain suit, then just keep truckin'.

 

It's only water. I carry rain gear with me. I always ware a full face helmet. I find if I can get going about 45-55 I can turn my head and the wind will wipe my face shield clean....

 

But I might melt! Getting wet wasn't really the problem. Those drops smacking me in the face was.

Another question for you guys, are the cheap rain suits similar in quality to the expensive ones?

 

I got a set of frogg toggs at wal-mart for about 50.00 they work great! Fit over my regular riding gear easily enough as well.

Full face helmet will stop that rain from smacking you in the face. Honestly, while yes they can be hotter in the summer those little half helmets seem to me like a band-aide on a gaping chest wound. They really aren't going to do much for you if you go down maybe keep your brain in your skull but all in all you're likely to loose your face, break your jaw, and teeth. For me it is full face all the time. Besides I can't imagine getting hit in the face with a big bug. They seem to slam in to my face shield all the time...

 

I check the forecast before I take the bike anywhere, if it's over 50% chance, I take the truck lol

 

I use my bike rain or shine I even keep spair gear at work if get caught in a sudden down poor. I have a open face helmit with a full shield if its raining hard I have a bandit style face neck rapp that takes the sting out of driving in the rain. It takes up so little space that its allways on the bike with my over boots.
I do have a rain suit for heavy down poors.

Here is the way I see it, if you dont drive in the rain from time to time you are not road ready when you get caught in a sudden storm. :!:
Thears nothing wrong with avoiding the rain Im just saying to practice at low speeds in the wet, if you do get caught in a storm you are a safer driver for the practice.

 

I am extra careful to stay out of the rain or snow!!!
My Camry gets about 40mpg on the flat and running, so why ride my buke that only get 48mpg?
I do like to get my knees in the breeze, but it's strictly recreational fo me.
So what I'm saying here is, if it's recreational, it's gotta be fun!!!!
Rain and snow, isn't fun!!

 

I bought a $20, bright yellow rain suit from the Army Surplus, it keeps me plenty dry if I get stuck in the rain. I try to watch the weather and pack the rain suit if its over %20 or so. 3/4 helmet with face shield keeps it from stinging. I'll stop to throw the suit on, if I have it, otherwise I keep truckin' until it gets so bad I can't see. Then...bridges, gas stations, car washes all make good stops to wait it out.

 

Its not the rain that is the problem....

Its the wind that tries to rip you off the bike.

It is monsoon season here in AZ. These winds can be like hurricanes.

 

Amen Brutha! She do get wet here on the west side of Washington state. I ride year round except on ice and snow. Which fortunately rarely accounts for more than 5-7 days TOTAL in a year!

The best piece of gear that i have for riding in winter rain is a set of handlebar muffs made for quads and sold for less than $20 by Cabelas. Easy on/off. 5 minutes or less. I keep them on the bike at all times and wikll use them in the spring and fall if the rain is heavy. Absolutely 100% weatherproof! Period!

If you can keep your hands warm 90% of the battle has been won. Turtle fur brand neck thingeys and maybe a balaclava will round you out nicely.

Loren

 

I don't mind the rain and do the Rain-X and turn my head and everything is clear - but the foggin inside the helmet is a different story. I had one day where it was 8O HEAVY condensation inside the full faced helmet - even with it cracked open - What is the fix for that?

 

I pretty much carry my rain suit all the time. One day last week I had to go to physical therapy and it was really sunny and hot with not a cloud in the sky. I jumped on my bike and took off. Going up the expressway on the way back I look up and it was pitch black ahead. It started pouring, cars and trucks were sitting on the side of the road with their flashers on. Not a bridge in sight for another 8 miles. I was already soaked to the bone so I kept going. I left my full face helmet at home with my rain suit and was wearing my 3/4 face with no shield. Rain burning my face something awful. That was the worst storm I have ever been caught in on a bike.
By the time I got to a bridge it had quit raining so I kept going. The first thing to get wet was the water running down my legs and filling my boots with water (literally). I don't care how pretty it is outside, from now on I will take my rain suit. You should have seen the people sitting on the side of the road looking at me as I passed.