Riding tips for wet riding

[moodguru]

Hello all...

Looking for some advice on wet weather riding.

I've been riding my PCX 125 daily for some time now and have been feeling quite confident riding in most weather conditions. I did however recently have a incident where the rear wheel slid out from beneath me during a slow speed manoeuvre (pulling out from an A road to a B road from a stationary position) and I ended up in the verge on the side of the road. The road condition was very poor at the time as the rain was torrential and there could well have been oil on the road as this was a busy junction.

The incident has however affected my confidence in wet weather conditions and has also got me questioning some slow speed cornering techniques. I was taught that during slow speed manoeuvres a little rear brake along with leaning my body in the opposite direction to the bike often helps to corner in tight areas at slow speeds. This technique has served me well so far but I'm wondering if using this technique in the wet is bad practice, in particular using the rear brake and/or counter leaning my body.

I've read that the stock tyres used on the PCX aren't the greatest in the wet and as soon as I can reasonably change them I'll replace them with the city grips, but I'd still appreciate any tips from more experienced riders for slow manoeuvres on wet roads.

Nice one in advance…

[honkerman]

When it rains, especially at a new fall, Oil on the road surface gets supplanted by water, which it then floats upon. This makes the road more slick. Other fun things like leaves add to the excitement of when roads.

The best recomendations are; take your time, don't overcompensate, make small adjustments, wear good rain gear so you don't feel uncomfortable.

See the following conversation: http://www.hondapcx.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4943

[moodguru]

Thanks Paul, all sounds sensible good advice!

[dkazzed]

Be smooth on the brakes. If you go hard on the front brakes (which transfers the weight to the front of the bike) then go hard on the rear brakes, the rear wheels could easily lock up as they no longer have as much weight on them and skid. I have gone down twice before as a result of locking up my rear brakes, both at slow speeds. I don't know how the combined braking system in the PCX changes things here.

When you get some good wet weather, get yourself in a nice empty parking lot and practice front brake only braking. Progressively get harder and harder (but smooth) on the front brakes until you find that traction threshold. Let go of the brakes when you find you've exceeded that threshold and start to skid, then practice braking right up to that threshold. Once you're use to that threshold point, slowly and smoothly introduce rear brakes.

I would do this everytime it rains after an extended dry period, and also anytime you get a new bike.

Also, what Honkerman said. Oily water is down there with loose gravel and snow in terms of available traction. This is more of an issue if you try to stop or turn in it. After about 15 minutes of steady rain, the oil is typically carried away to the drains.

[gn2]

Lead with the rear brake in slippery conditions, always use both brake levers.
Absolutely do not use front only in the wet, it is completely the wrong thing to do.
A locked rear wheel is far easier to recover from than a locked front.
Ride to the road conditions, anticipate well in advance, ideally aim to not have to use the brakes at all.
And get a scooter with ABS.

[honkerman]

Lead with the rear brake in slippery conditions, always use both brake levers.
Absolutely do not use front only in the wet, it is completely the wrong thing to do.
A locked rear wheel is far easier to recover from than a locked front.
Ride to the road conditions, anticipate well in advance, ideally aim to not have to use the brakes at all.
And get a scooter with ABS.

Personally, I tend to drive my car when it rains if I can. I've ridden in the rain enough to know what it's like, but I'd much rather be in a cage in the rain.

[waspmike]

Ride slow, don't do anything suddenly. (think tightrope walking)
If possible wait, don't ride at all.
This assume commuting 'cos no one would ride in the rain for fun? So learn the route and avoid manhole covers, white lines etc. places with lower grip. Do not ride in the centre of the lane where all the oil drips from other vehicles.
GN2 will be right as he lives in Scotland
He'll start a thread soon asking for tips for riding when the sun is shining.

[gn2]

This assume commuting 'cos no one would ride in the rain for fun?

I do.
But rain doesn't happen all that often here in NE Scotland, about the same annual rainfall as Morocco.

So learn the route and avoid manhole covers, white lines etc. places with lower grip. Do not ride in the centre of the lane where all the oil drips from other vehicles.

And pay particular attention at stop lines, give-ways, junctions, roundabouts, bus stops and the like where large vehicles brake to a stop or turn sharply.

GN2 will be right as he lives in Scotland

Correct, but there's other reasons why I'm right too.

He'll start a thread soon asking for tips for riding when the sun is shining.

No need, the sun shines most days here.

[dkazzed]

When's the last time you locked up your front tires? I think the only time I've managed to lock up the front wheels was in snow.

It rains like 200 days a year in Vancouver. I know rain. End of discussion.

[waspmike]

^

If you can see the mountains it is going to rain. If you can't see the mountains it is already raining

What do Surrey girls use for protecting during sex. A bus shelter.

[you you]

Try to enjoy it. If you find out tell me how

[Bash On!]

"The road condition was very poor at the time as the rain was torrential ..."

There's no harm in waiting until weather conditions improve. You don't loose any "points" for choosing not to ride in bad conditions.

Like honkerman, I'll take alternate transportation if conditions are bad. Keep in mind that not only do you have less visibility and traction in rain, you're less visible to other drivers, and they have less traction, too.

[moodguru]

Many thanks for all the good advice... I'll get practicing on a wet car park when I get a moment.

I live in Wales, so it rains a lot here!! so it shouldn't take long to get the opportunity to put in some practice. And I agree with the advice to seek alternative transport where possible. I do have a full car licence but only have limited access to the car so the PCX is my main form of transport for commuting to work. I also want to feel safer when riding in wet conditions as the weather can change pretty rapidly here.

[Seph]

Only tip is go bloody careful. I crashed due to rain/oil 48 hours into owning my PCX.

[sendler2112]

leaning my body in the opposite direction to the bike often helps to corner in tight areas

I would say this is incorrect for going around a corner in the rain. If anything, you will want to shift your torso to the inside of the corner. Like a racer. But not as extreme. This make the bike require less lean angle of it's own which improves grip and retains more margin to recover a slide. I live where it is rainy also and ride rain or shine as long as there is no ice on the road.

[iceman]

leaning my body in the opposite direction to the bike often helps to corner in tight areas

I would say this is incorrect for going around a corner in the rain. If anything, you will want to shift your torso to the inside of the corner. Like a racer. But not as extreme. This make the bike require less lean angle of it's own which improves grip and retains more margin to recover a slide. I live where it is rainy also and ride rain or shine as long as there is no ice on the road.

I thought you were never supposed to lean opposite to the lean of the bike - the bike is trying to be upright all by itself (physics) and there comes a point where you help the bike topple in the direction you are leaning - the wrong one.

[sendler2112]

I thought you were never supposed to lean opposite to the lean of the bike .

They teach an opposite body lean technique for giant dual sport bikes at parking lot speeds of less than 5mph.

[iceman]

I thought you were never supposed to lean opposite to the lean of the bike .

They teach an opposite body lean technique for giant dual sport bikes at parking lot speeds of less than 5mph.

Less than 5mph! (I can free-wheel at speeds like that with no issue, but the bike is upright. I would not expect any 2 wheeled vehicle or push bike to cope too well leaning at low speeds like that).

[sendler2112]

Actually more of a trail riding technique where you are standing on a dual sport bike and forcing it around tight corners by digging your knee into the outside of the tank to lean only the bike.
.
This has bothing to do with normal street riding on a motorcycle where shifting your weight to the inside of the turn when it is slippery gives you more margin for safety.

[honkerman]

Actually more of a trail riding technique where you are standing on a dual sport bike and forcing it around tight corners by digging your knee into the outside of the tank to lean only the bike.
.
This has bothing to do with normal street riding on a motorcycle where shifting your weight to the inside of the turn when it is slippery gives you more margin for safety.

All of this stuff is counter-intuitive at first. Once one has been riding for a while though, it becomes second nature.