Motorcycles in the rain

“Motorcycles are for good weather,” some say. Nevertheless, many people refuse to accept this saying and they continue to see all the advantages of motorcycles and scooters in spite of the rain and bad weather.

We will talk specifically about the conditions that motorcycle riders encounter when it rains and we will provide some tips on how to avoid being forced to leave your motorcycle in the garage.

Before we get on our motorcycle or scooter, we must think about the gear we put on; it must be suitable for the rain. Obviously, our clothes must be waterproof and it is advisable to tuck our jacket into our gloves and keep our pants on the outside our boots. Thus, we prevent water from reaching our bodies.

How to drive a motorcycle safely in the rain?

If the pavement is wet, motorcyclists must take some extra precautions in the way they drive their motorcycles or scooters.

The first thing we must do is reduce our speed. Driving on a dry surface is not the same as driving on a wet surface. Braking distance increases, so we must take that into account and adapt our speed to these conditions.

Additionally, when the braking distance increases, we also need to increase our safe distance from the vehicles in front of us.

Avoid hydroplaning, an effect that occurs when there is a lot of standing water or when a slippery film is created when the first drops of rain mix with the grime on the ground. In these cases, the wheels can slip and the driver can lose full control of the vehicle.

Tires in good condition. One way to avoid hydroplaning is to have your tires in good condition, ensuring optimal traction. Moreover, you should install tires that are suitable for mixed conditions, since smooth or sports tires offer ineffective traction in the rain.

Avoid slippery areas. We are referring to the feared areas of the road where there is paint, a surface that becomes slippery when wet. Sometimes it is inevitable to have to drive over them (crosswalks, lane changes, markers), so try to keep the motorcycle upright and avoid accelerating or braking.

Smooth acceleration and braking. Generally, driving should be smoother when there is water, in terms of acceleration and braking. Keep in mind that when it is dry out, we tend to brake more on the front wheel. However, when it is wet out, it is best to even out the distribution.