Wet Roads and Riding

[MITCH]

Hey got a question for you Valk riders that get more wet weather than we do out hear in West Texas. I was riding today and went through a few showers and it seams to me that my I/S was pushing out with the front tire in the turns. I’m running a Avon Venom. Any thoughts? 

[John U.]

I can only say what you already know: the traction available depends on the road surface, what kind and how worn/smooth. Asphalt roads are always more slippery when it first starts raining, before the oil from vehicles and the asphalt itself washes off. Stay off of the middle where oil builds up, and out of the tire tracks if they are wallowed out because they can hold enough depth of water to hydroplane.
I always let up some in the rain. I figure I might not have much more than half the dry road traction depending on the above conditions.
Here in the mid Atlantic region we just had a pretty wet spring and summer. For a while I got rained on every time I took a ride. A little rain is OK, but I don't enjoy riding in downpours.

[MITCH]

I had a riding buddy tell me that the Dunlop Elite had better wet ride handling. I’m running 38psi in the front tire 42 in the rear, and the tread is good. The rear is a Metzler it seamed fine just the front. Again though we don’t get the wet weather here, so I don’t have the wet road experience. I think we average 22” of rain a year makes for dry riding. We have a lot of wind here so I know more about that type of riding.

[Steve K (IA)]

I've had one set of Avons on my I/S and had a very scary incident in the rain.  I was coming to a stop under an overpass to put rain gear on and both tires slipped.  I almost rear ended the bike in front of me.  That was enough for me to try something else.  I have had E3's ever since those Avons wore out and have much more confidence in  those tires in the rain.  Just put my second set on a few weeks ago.   

[R J]

3 things ya want to watch out for.

1.  When it 1st starts to rain, back off till the oil is flushed off the roads.

2.  Watch Toll Booths anytime, stay out of the center and make damn  sure ya know where you are stepping when you come to a stop to pay up.  I try to get my left leg on the curb of the booth, the right one on the floorboard.   DO NOT gas it too hard when ya take off or ya might find ur butt on the ground.

3.  Watch grated Bridges in da rain.   That thin steel standing on edge can get slick.       Best thing to do in any weather condition on these type bridges, relax your grip and let the front wheel float.    Ya get a death grip on the bars and you just might end up with your nose stuck in a little square box on the bridge floor......   I've ridden many of these bridges with no problem.

[dipstick]

Ive run Hellbender at a Very "brisk" pace with a set of Avons in the pouring rain as well as the Dragon with no issues. It was not my usual dry road pace but I was running pretty hard for the conditions and never had an issue. My bike is a tourerized standard. I now run the "dark side" and love the Goodyear in the rain as well as a new Avon Cobra front.

[Black Dog]

I'll secont the E3's and what Steve K said...

Just got back, last evening, from a 990 mile weekend ride through WI, up and over the MI UP, and had rain for almost the whole trip.  Hard rain 

After the CBR, on Steve's advice, I needed a new rear tire, and got an E3.  Only had time to put maybe 75 miles on it before the trip to MI, but was very impressed with the whole package...  Traction, being very good, in pouring rain.  One thing to watch for besides the road oil, and tool booth swill puddles, are 'Tar Snakes'...  I got squirlly, while leaned in to a long gental sweeper, when my front tire hit a large mass of tar, used to repair a part of the road.  Lasted a moment, at best, but puckered me up, and slowed me down, for a few miles after.

Black Dog

[Jay]

Stay off of the paint lines too.  They are slick anyway, and much more so when wet.

[BonS]

Manhole covers.

[Gore]

I've been riding with the Avons for years and like them however, this years new tires seems a little more squirrley than usual, so maybe this is something and not my imagination or the mold release hasn't entirely worn off. I wonder about the grooves in the tires yet when I compare the look to E3's they look almost identical.

[Mikey]

My Avons alwys handled kinda goofy... Switched to a Metz up front, fixed the problem.

[SANDMAN5]

I had a riding buddy tell me that the Dunlop Elite had better wet ride handling. I’m running 38psi in the front tire 42 in the rear, and the tread is good. The rear is a Metzler it seamed fine just the front

It must be the difference in the roads or the type of pavement or something.
I had an E3 up front for a while, scared me silly even on dry roads! Maybe I
just got a bad one, but with all the other bad experiences with Dunflops it's
enough to keep me from trying another one. I'm on my first Avon front, seems
to be OK but not exceptional. I'll probably go back to a Metz front next time.
Goodyear Triple Tread rear.

[Daniel Meyer]

Instability in wet conditions can also be a sign of bad head bearings...