5 Tips For Riding a Motorcycle in the Rain

Does the thought of riding in the rain make you make alternative plans? Riding your motorcycle in the rain can be safe, provided you’ve got the right skill set and the right gear.

Now, you may be wondering what exactly should be expected when riding on wet roads or in the rain, and what changes to your riding routine should you make as you ride. That’s good, so here are 5 tips for riding a motorcycle in the rain that will help to keep you safe on the roads.

Choose the proper gear

Having good waterproof apparel, such as a one-piece or two-piece rain suit, gloves, and boots can keep you warm and dry in a heavy storm. This type of apparel is the first step to enjoying a day spent in the rain. Wearing high-vis apparel may not be the most stylish of all apparel, but in conditions of reduced visibility, it does increase the chance that other drivers will see you well in advance. That is definitely something to keep in mind as you shop for waterproof riding gear. Waterproof gear also tends to add warmth on its own, but if more rain is in the immediate forecast, you may want to consider bringing multiple thinner layers of clothing that you can wear if you become colder.

For some reason, there are riders who often overlook an important piece of the gear – the helmet – which can be puzzling. The helmet should be equipped with an anti-fog visor, a breath guard, or perhaps a visor with an electric defrost function. These functions become very useful in the rainy season. If you have a choice, leave the tinted shield at home or bring along a clear shield as a spare. The last thing you need on a dark, rainy day is a darkened view of the wet road. If possible, it would be wise to keep your visor down and closed at all times. Once rain or moisture gets inside the visor, it will be very difficult to defog completely.

Despite, whatever combination of riding gear you decide on, ensure that it doesn’t interfere with your riding or distract you. Keep in mind that you can’t work the controls with stiff fingers and thick, warm pair of gloves may be too bulky to work the controls either. Some riders may want to wear a neck warmer since may be warm, but it may limit you from turning your head enough to check your blind spot correctly. Although it may take some time, you should be able to find a good balance between comfort and practicality for the conditions you expect to ride in.

You may want to keep a change of clothes ready at work if you are commuting in the rainy weather just in case you don’t arrive dry.

Ride smart and smooth

The familiar word you’ve most likely heard during your riding career when riding in the rain is “smooth”. When the roads are wet, every action you do on your motorcycle needs to be smooth. From using the throttle adjustments to braking to cornering. Today’s motorcycles often include a rain mode that is designed to cut power and can smooth out the throttle mapping. It also has the ability to increase ABS and traction control.

Although you may be riding a motorcycle equipped with modern rider aids, you should roll on and off the throttle gently while you use your lean angle sparingly. Do your best to keep your motorcycle as upright as possible as it will reduce the chances of it sliding out from underneath you if you hit a slippery spot on the road. In the rain, it would be wise to increase your following distance and use your engine to help you slow down and brake smoothly instead of abruptly grabbing at the lever.

Be careful at intersections

Intersections can be dangerous areas at any time when you’re on a motorcycle, but the rain seems to make things worse. They’re a collection of risks, such as slippery oil spots where cars have stopped and idled, painted lines that can become extremely slippery when wet, and then there are the drivers who may not be paying as much attention as you as they should.

Similar to intersections, roundabouts can become tricky and slippery, but not just at the entrances and exits. Riding throughout the circle can also pose a risk of becoming slippery. Always approach slowly in the rain to avoid having to brake quickly, remain smooth, and limit your lean so you can come out the other side safely.

Keep watch for surprises

When the roads are wet, situations that seem to be harmless on dry roads can turn into nasty surprises. The wet roads and rain seem to hide certain things that riders should watch for. This includes manhole covers, strips of pavement sealers, painted pavement lines, and fallen leaves, which can act similar to black ice when they’re wet.

If and when you come across any of these conditions which reduce your traction, first check if there is a line that you could easily move around them. If that is not possible, avoid braking or accelerating hard. Instead, roll over them smoothly without making any abrupt changes.

If you do have to change your line or turn over a slippery section, keep your hands relaxed on the handlebars, and don’t lean the motorcycle any more than you really need to.

Having standing water on the road is another potential hazard for riders and is especially dangerous on the highway where speeds may stop you from slowing down in time to avoid the possibility of hydroplaning. Water will pool at low sections of the road, which on highways is often the left-most lane where the concrete barrier will prevent it from draining off the traveled portion. It would be wise to avoid using that lane very often and pay attention to vehicles ahead of you for water spraying from them.

Use a dry line to ride in

This may be an obvious statement, but it is also a good reminder since many riders are found riding in an area of the lane that is quite wet, even though another area is dry. We know that dry pavement offers better traction, so ensure you put yourself in the driest section of the lane as you can.

As you practice these riding tips, you will find that rain riding can actually make you a safer and more confident rider. Each ride will seem to vary, but just because the dark clouds move in, it doesn’t mean you can’t ride your motorcycle almost every day.