Riding in the Wet. Advice.

[vulcan72]

i'd like to second krisg's thanks, i found that thread very usefull.

i met up with two of the blokes that passed their tests the same week as me just before christmas, they have both bought fazers, and not ridden them since because the weather has been wet, and from talking to them have no intention untill the summer.

[krisg]

Vulcan. I know what you mean. My boss at work was suprised to see me on my bike last week.

I told him he should have boght a bike he could use year round. LOL..
CBR600F is not the sort of bike that sticks in the wet.lol.

[icenian]

Sound advice, I'll just add one point.

If you enter a corner and then think "oh no I'm going too fast to make it round", do not close the throttle. And definitely don't grab the brakes (but I dare say you knew that already).

The reason for this is seems to be that many riders underestimate the speed at which a bend may be taken (and panic because they think they're going too fast even though actually they're fine). The almost irresistible instinct is to shut the throttle if you find yourself in that situation, but this just shifts the weight off the back wheel and onto the front which makes crashing more likely. A rider who resists panic and keeps the throttle slightly open can ride round a bend where they'd have crashed if they'd tried to slow down.

It's hard to know how to tell someone not to panic! But if you can, be calm and look at the exit of the bend -- remember you'll instinctively steer the bike where you're looking -- and just keep a steady throttle hand.

Note that keeping the throttle open doesn't guarantee you'll make it round a bend, but if you really are travelling too fast to make it around like that, you're way way too fast to make it if you close the throttle.

BTW the above advice applies only to situation where you are concerned that your speed is too great for the bike to grip the road as you turn. Also bear in mind that bends often restrict view, so if the bike can make a turn at 50mph whilst gripping but you can only see 75ft of clear road ahead, you need to ride at a speed where you can stop within 75ft. Clearly as you're are going way below the making corner speed of the bike, you can shut the throttle and brake, which you'll have to if there's something in the road 76ft away.

What follows from this is that it's essential to avoid entering a bend too fast! Don't worry if you go into a bend very slow, if at the point you turn in to the bend you realise everything is fine, you can accelerate right through the bend -- and you'll likely find (if it matters to you) that you actually exit the bend faster that if you'd entered it quicker and then been dithering about worrying if you could open the throttle or not.

Keith Code is excellent and very readable (though a tad longwinded) on bike control. It's aimed mostly at racers but the bike control techniques are very relevant on the road. Twist of the Wrist II is worth getting: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Twist-Wrist-...ef=pd_bbs_sr_1

Keith Code is only about bike control though, with is essential to know on the road, but not sufficient. Motorcycle Roadcraft is great for learning how to stay safe on real roads, though the latest edition has added politically correct psychobabble cr*p, you can get through that to actual useful advice. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-R...43X/ref=sr_1_1

[Mudwiz]

Thanks guys great advise form all of you.
Its just if it rains on Sunday. LOL.

I'm obviously going down with a group so I can watch their Road possitions, Speed etc and take it from there. Obviously i will be riding at my comfort level. But seeing others ride can teach so much.

Cheers.

In that case the best advice I can give is "Don't look at me".

I've had front wheel slides on the M25.

.

[Dilbert]

Thanks guys great advise form all of you.
Its just if it rains on Sunday. LOL.

I'm obviously going down with a group so I can watch their Road possitions, Speed etc and take it from there. Obviously i will be riding at my comfort level. But seeing others ride can teach so much.

Cheers.

Lots of good advice here, but you're right, riding with a few people you know and trust is a much easier and quicker way to learn, just pick your company carefully and don't be tempted to race or rush to keep up, take it easy to start with and relax

p.s. in his usual flipant way Mudwiz has a point (well hidden though) try and get some pratice in off road, lots of racer types do this as it helps refine your control and makes you worry less about those little slides.

[krisg]

In that case the best advice I can give is "Don't look at me".

I've had front wheel slides on the M25.

.

Your suposed to wash the mud of first. LOL.

[sproggy]

You need heat in your tyres to create grip - if you back off the throttle too much you lose heat = lose grip, which instinctively makes you go slower - viscious circle.

WHAT??? That is probably the worst and most dangerous advice I have ever seen on any forum. Road tyres DO NOT require heat in them to grip in the wet - the rubber compound is designed to do that at ambient temperatures.

Ride smoothly at a speed you're comfortable with and forget rubbish (sorry to be blunt, but it it rubbish) like this.

[icenian]

You need heat in your tyres to create grip - if you back off the throttle too much you lose heat = lose grip, which instinctively makes you go slower - viscious circle.

WHAT??? That is probably the worst and most dangerous advice I have ever seen on any forum. Road tyres DO NOT require heat in them to grip in the wet - the rubber compound is designed to do that at ambient temperatures.

You mean road tyres offer identical grip at anything between -15 and +40 Celcius?

And there's no need to take it easy when you first set off on a really cold day on stone cold tyres?

[krisg]

Dilbert.
Did some practice of road last week. Dropped the bike.LOL....

[sproggy]

You mean road tyres offer identical grip at anything between -15 and +40 Celcius?

Why would you think I mean that?

The question was about wet roads and my post was regarding the same conditions. Roads won't be normally wet at -15 (if you'd be riding at all), neither will they be wet at +40 in this country. Of course road tyres will behave differently across a 55 degree range but that's not what's being discussed here is it?

What I said was that road tyres do not need heat in them to grip in the wet. Specifically I was rubbishing the dangerous suggestion that it's necessary to avoid 'backing off the throttle' in an attempt to keep heat in the tyres in those conditions. This is basically telling people to ride as hard as they can in the wet which is extremely bad advice for someone who has stated they've got no rain experience.

And there's no need to take it easy when you first set off on a really cold day on stone cold tyres?

I would suggest that you read my post and the rest of the thread. Cold roads aren't the issue - wet roads are. I state again, road tyres do not need heat in them to grip IN THE WET. On wet roads (and I mean wet, not damp, not just cold) and dual purpose tyres the water will take heat out of the tyres far quicker than anyone's riding could put it back in. You shouldn't have to take it any more easy in the wet when you start off than half an hour into your ride because the tyres won't be at a significantly different temperature.

If you're talking about cold, dry roads then that's completely different and not what this thread was about.