Weather (see what I did there) you plan to or not, at some point during your motorcycle riding career, you’re going to get caught out in the rain. I commute 50 miles each way on most days, which means dealing with rain on a regular basis. Below are 5 tips to help out if/when you get caught out.

1. Leave more space than normal

I hope this tip is pretty self evident. When the road is wet, your motorcycle has less traction which makes braking lengths longer. Leave yourself plenty of space to enable you more time to slow down, stop, or make evasive manoeuvres.

2. Ride slower than normal

As above, regardless of your riding ability, you cannot control a motorcycle in wet conditions, the same way you can in dry conditions. Physics comes into play here. The faster you’re riding, the longer it will take you to stop, or slow down. Add some wet tarmac to the equation, and your stopping time grows exponentially. By riding slower than normal, you are giving yourself a better chance of slowing down, stopping or making evasive manoeuvres.

3. Good Waterproof gear

Good waterproof gear is an essential part of any riders kit bag. It’s obvious purpose is to keep you dry, but it keeps you happy too. There is nothing worse than showing up somewhere with soggy pants, and puddles in your boots. I purchased a one piece and some boot covers from Hein Gericke last year. They fold up nicely, and are stored in a tail bag I strap on to my bike when the forecast calls for it. Although the kit looks ridiculous, they keep my dry, and happy. When buying waterproof gear, look for taped seams, which keep the water from seeping through the stitching.

4. Turn your head to the side, to clear your visor

This tip is specific to riders who wear full face helmets, but is a great tip none the less. Within the first month of starting to ride motorcycles, I got caught out in the rain. It was a miserable experience. The rain bunched up on my visor, leaving it very difficult to see. After scouring the internet for solutions to my problem, which included water repellent, and gloves with a small squeegee attached, I came across this tip. When travelling at speed in the rain, turn your head to have the wind act as a squeegee and wipe the water off your visor. Although it may look strange to other road users, this tip is really effective. Try it. * Disclaimer – I will not be held responsible for riders not watching where they are going. Use this tip only when safe to do so.

5. Wipe down and spray

When I return home from a wet ride, the first thing I want to do is get out of my wet gear, and complain to my wife about the weather, but it’s really important to take care of your bike. Give your bike a quick wipe down with an old towel, and be sure to spray some WD-40 in the essential spots, to keep it from rusting. Taking care of your bike doesn’t take that much effort, if you do it consistently. It keeps your bike in good condition, and keeps the resale value high.
There you have it. 5 tips for riding a motorcycle in the rain. If you have any comments, be sure to leave them below.