Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Chat Forum > The HUBB PUB
Thoughts On Riding In The Rain Thoughts On Riding In The Rain
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
The HUBB PUB Chat forum - no useful content required!

BUT the basic rules of polite and civil conduct which everyone agreed to when signing up for the HUBB, will still apply, though moderation will be a LITTLE looser than elsewhere on the HUBB.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Like Tree30Likes

Reply
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 1 Jul 2015
Beatnik Bedouin's Avatar
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Aotearoa
Posts: 15
Like you Brits, riding in New Zealand often means doing so in rainy conditions. While I can't say I enjoy riding in wet weather, if I want to get out on one of my bikes, I'll need to prepare myself for that eventuality.

The worst I've had to deal with here was torrential rain and gale-force winds while crossing the centre of the North Island (a.k.a. the Desert Road) on my Vespa (yes, you read right - it's a 32 year-old, unrestored PX 200E) back in April.

Actually, the scooter handled the conditions better than the rider (it was fully loaded, so the trip was a slow 70-80 kph/45-50 mph in 3rd Gear over that stretch of highway).

I did feel sorry for the poor woman who had to mop up after me at the petrol station cafe I stopped at for a hot drink. Seems the conditions exceeded the design specs of my wet weather gear; even my flip-front Nolan was defeated by the wind and rain.

If nothing else, I now know I should be able to handle riding in monsoon conditions...

A lot of my friends have become 'fine weather riders' in recent years, which means their motorcycles and scooters spend most of their time locked up in the garage.
__________________
"Life is a daring adventure or nothing..." - Helen Keller
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 1 Jul 2015
ornery's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sierra Vista AZ
Posts: 20
Monsoons have started early this year in southern Arizona. Got caught in hail and rain mix on my new Fathers Day present from the wife and kids....VStrom 1000. Had to hit the dealer for rain gear on the way home.
The guys in the shop said I was crazy to ride in the stuff. I asked them who had ever ridden in the UK...end of story.
Oh yeah .....my wife and kids are the flipping BEST! Strom handled great in the deluge!
__________________
Rule#2 "Never go ANYWHERE that YOU are considered a source of FOOD!
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 1 Jul 2015
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,116
Quote:
Originally Posted by ornery View Post
Monsoons have started early this year in southern Arizona. Got caught in hail and rain mix on my new Fathers Day present from the wife and kids....VStrom 1000. Had to hit the dealer for rain gear on the way home.
Congrats on the bike (and the generous family!) but the weather report worries me - I thought southern Arizona was bleached bones dry. Isn't there a song about it or something? (or maybe that was Southern California ).

When I'm there in Sept should I bring my full UK winter survival mode stuff or just stick with T shirt and shorts (decision depends on whether the rain is warm or not I suppose )
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 11 Jul 2015
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post

Don't stop here too long ... at 12,000 ft. in late November ... and snow on the way. Keep Moving! Rain is fine,
Snow? Not so much!
It's nicer there in July…

Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 11 Jul 2015
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Idaho
Posts: 163
Riding in malaysia ,we were able to stay dry by riding at the proper time,but when we returned to the west coast we, got caught in 2-3 hours by riding intermittently,the rain wasnt going to stop anyway so just pressed on. The best of all, was seeing the faces of the help at the resort,me a drowned rat(look like that often anyway),my wife just fine . Those stock chains will rust over night in places if not lubed well.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 11 Jul 2015
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Glenview, ILL.
Posts: 48
Hypothermia
Right there with you brother.
If you need to get somewhere or better still don't have to, then rain is just part of the ride.
My only exception would be when it is cold. The combination of the two factors will sap body heat in no time at all.

So far so good.
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 14 Jul 2015
ornery's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sierra Vista AZ
Posts: 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by backofbeyond View Post
Congrats on the bike (and the generous family!) but the weather report worries me - I thought southern Arizona was bleached bones dry. Isn't there a song about it or something? (or maybe that was Southern California ).

When I'm there in Sept should I bring my full UK winter survival mode stuff or just stick with T shirt and shorts (decision depends on whether the rain is warm or not I suppose )
Sorry for the slow reply.............If you're riding, bring nothing more than 3 season gear. Where we are located, you never need much in insulation...maybe in Jan or Feb.

Touristing...a fleece and a light rain parka or windproof, just in case. Always shorts and fliflops!!!
__________________
Rule#2 "Never go ANYWHERE that YOU are considered a source of FOOD!
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 14 Jul 2015
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,824
Quote:
Originally Posted by backofbeyond View Post
Congrats on the bike (and the generous family!) but the weather report worries me - I thought southern Arizona was bleached bones dry. Isn't there a song about it or something? (or maybe that was Southern California ).

When I'm there in Sept should I bring my full UK winter survival mode stuff or just stick with T shirt and shorts (decision depends on whether the rain is warm or not I suppose )
AZ Summer is super hot but Thunder Showers and Flash Floods happen too. Like 2 inches of rain in an hour. (careful where you camp in the Desert)

But it's mostly brutal hot.

Sept. should still be very hot, short rain events possible. But weather will quickly switch come October/November. It was 27F at 7am when I rode out in late November of last year.

Had to ride slow, then finally pulled in after an hour for breakfast to let things warm up and let me thaw out. I was not prepared for such cold having spent previous month in Mexico. No warm gloves, but put on several layers and turned on heated grips and Gerbing elec. jacket and did fine after that.

Southern AZ is fairly flat with foothills but head North and you'll run into some small mountain ranges. Temp can dip by maybe 30F up high. Even in Summer the Desert gets COLD at night in low areas. So lite 3 season jacket with Mesh/Vents is the right call. No Brit Winter wear required.
Last edited by markharf; 14 Jul 2015 at 17:11. Reason: Staying on-topic
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 14 Jul 2015
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,969
I've deleted a few off-topic posts and modified another. This thread addresses "riding in the rain." Thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 19 Jul 2015
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6
Yesterday I went out locally for a ride (Shenandoah Valley of Virginia) and foolishly left my rain gear behind (no *way* it was going to rain). Of course, you know what happened: I got drenched. No problem, there are much worse thing than a summer rain storm! But as I rode on in dry, warm weather, gradually drying out, and as a new adv rider wanna-be contemplating beginning longer rides soon, I had this thought: with the right, quick dry clothing (e.g. no cotton, thin layers, etc.), might it be okay at times to avoid rain gear if there's no chance of hypothermia? I'm a long-time backpacker and learned that I could hike miles and miles in wicking clothing and at least moderate rain without bothering with rainproof gear and without discomfort. I had the advantage of generating drying heat as I hiked, admittedly, but on a bike I can easily generate 40+ mph of wind.

So what say you who are much more experienced with moto adventuring than I: with the right (non-waterproof) clothing, can you easily weather light to moderate rain without all the extra layers? Can you just let yourself get soaked through and then dry out riding quickly enough to not be miserable (assuming it's not 45F out, of course)?
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 20 Jul 2015
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: goa, India
Posts: 61
That wouldn't work if you want to wear a riding jacket with armor, like I always do.
__________________
Deelip Menezes
www.deelipmenezes.com
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 20 Jul 2015
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Idaho
Posts: 163
unfortunately where the most rain is ,so is the humidity.In Malaysia the shirt(1) that was not cotton did dry throughly,the cotton shirts stayed damp and was to a point unuseble ,in the hot humid climate. I have a very breathable two layer mesh jacket that works great ,(except in the rain)especially after a little session of perspiration at a light, but too cool in the highlands during the morning, so was the only time I added a tee.
These conditions keep the adventure on many otherwise regular rides,building a kit that will meet the needs of all extremes. Beside taking one finger off the front lever.What would be a good rain suit in Asia ,the only ones I saw where suitable for the locals but unbreathable and would turn into a sauna similiar to a wet cotton shirt.?
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 20 Jul 2015
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
You get very dirty in rain on a bike. Spray plus rubber dust from tyres and all the other crud that's otherwise in dust form gets stirred up. This stuff gets the outer layer of any breathable clothing to the point it stops breathing. It also becomes something you won't want to share a hotel room or tent with.


A basic plastic oversuit keeps you clean as much as dry.


Andy
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 23 Jul 2015
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6
Deelip, I don't see how that matters if you have armored mesh, for example.
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 23 Jul 2015
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 6
I'm going to try it.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride saralou Ride Tales 3545 3 Days Ago 17:10
Long Way for a Wave garnaro Ride Tales 59 23 Jan 2020 21:06
Weather data - Latin America Planning Tool SMBoilerworks Route Planning 4 28 May 2015 03:26
Turkey by Moto 2013 EMBEE Ride Tales 3 22 Apr 2014 15:44
Two up riding on Moroccon pistes - thoughts? Edge1982 Morocco 7 13 Aug 2012 13:28

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:26.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top