Rain

[Fastman71]

I was intending on going down to Wildwood NJ on Saturday but got caught in a rain storm just south of Millville....pulled under an overpass, weighed my options and turned around.  Radar showed the rain would stop shortly, but there was more behind it.

So Sunday it was gorgeous here.  I thought I could ride down to DC, participate in Rolling Thunder, then motor over to Lewes DE, catch the ferry to NJ and wind up (finally) in Wildwood. 

Packed up and rolling, I noticed the skies clouding up but didn't think about checking the radar...  I know, you're thinking "Duhhhh!!!"...

Sure enough, it started to rain, first lightly and then got heavier.  I got to the Pennsylvania Avenue exit on the BW Parkway when I decided to turn around and head for home.

My newly purchased Baker Air wings helped me out a lot by shielding me from the rain while providing heat.

I got wet, but the worst problem I had was rain beading up on the windshield.  I know that plexiglass is awfully finicky about what you can use on it, so I was wondering what you use to get rid of water on the windshield.

My Fat Lady ran perfectly through 240 miles of rain tho and we both got home soaked but safe..  And yes, I WILL be checking the weather and radar before heading out for another day trip...

Fast (and a touch soggy) Eddie

[bentwrench]

Some Frog Toggs,rain booties and them funny three finger rain gloves from aerostitch(Riderwarehouse).You can roll along in all but the worst down pours.
I used to used this stuff called rain magic,it's like rainx for plastic.Haven't seen it for sale lately so I been using Mcguires syn. wax on the clearview shield seems to work pretty good.

[Steel cowboy]

RainX now makes a formula for plastic windshields. I don't know how high your windshield goes but mine ends about the tip of my nose, I find that this height, for me, is perfect when riding in rain. But try the new RainX even on your helmet shield or riding glasses too.

[Jess from VA]

My experience in rain is this:

As long as you have decent gear, boots and gloves, and are warm enough and not freezing to death, and avoid riding through deep water at high speed, you can go anywhere..... IF YOU CAN SEE.

Visibility is always my main problem.  I've gone all day in rain, and been mostly OK, but been blind (or nearly so) several times during that ride.  It can be the volume of rain, spray from other vehicles, mud, fog, darkness, wind or a combination.  Fogged or fouled eye protection (windshield, helmet shield and eyeglasses; all or some) is my number one problem.  And I especially need to protect my correction lenses on my face no matter how fogged or fouled the shields are.  My eyes are good enough to drive/ride with no correction in daylight (though that's not what my driver's license says), but I really prefer the help the glasses give me.  And if your eyewear is really fogged or fouled, you might as well be riding with your eyes closed, almost.  This scares me more than almost anything else about riding.  

I also think developing a technique (including body and head position), with your particular windshield, helmet and eyeglasses that minimizes loss of visibility is something worth working on.  What works for me is to lean forward with my helmet visor and eyes just above the top of the shield (and no higher).  Sometimes, I take my left hand off the grip and stick my elbow on the tank and rest my chin on my left fist, and that is the perfect height for me, and helps with leaning in for a long time. Then from time to time, I raise up enough to let the wind blow my helmet shield off.  This is a bit of a sport-bike riding position, but you do what you have to to see down the road.  If I sit back comfortably in a heavy rain, my face shield and eyewear get trashed in no time.

Full face helmets are an entirely different creature from my DOT half with visor, and I can offer no advice on them (like vents and keeping the bottom open just a crack).

There are things you can put on polycarbinate shields and thing you are not supposed to.  Rain X used to be a no no, but there may be some Rain X now that is good for polycarbinate.  Any decent non abrasive wax or even lemon pledge will help with water runoff.  When I wax my bike, I always wax my shield.  And I'll do it prep for any trip too.  

But no matter what, sometimes you have to slow way down or stop to clean things up so you can see again.  I've also had to stop because I've got a case of nerves from riding in heavy rain in traffic half blind for a few hours, and I just need a break.

This is usually about he time some guy at the rest stop walks over from his SUV in pouring rain and says.... nice day for a ride, eh? 

[Oss]

In heavy rain I just lift my head as high as possible and the wind clears off the rain real good from my modular helmet  Kinda like big bird riding down the road lol

Jess remember that ride down to Asheville on the BRP with the rain and fog?  That was actually fun for me as long as I could make out your running light ahead of me  Otherwise it was pretty much CSC
(Cant see crap)

Rain dont bother me, lightning. sandstorms, hail and tornadoes, thats a whole nuther thing isnt it

[Crackerborn]

Scope-Dope on my glasses to prevent fogging, Novus on the windscreen and face shield (if using a helmet) seems to work for me on most occasions. Not so much help in WY last week since the rain was white, wet and heavy.   

[sandy]

I use to use wax. Not a cleaner/wax. Now I use Bike Spirits. It comes in a spray can. Not expensive but works very well.

[Firefighter]

I usually avoid rain if close to home (day Ride) mostly because the bike gets so filthy, spray everywhere, and I clean my bike with rags, the slow way. On a trip sometimes rain happens and I push on. I look through my windscreen and can sit up and see over when I want but have trouble with the water running to the top of the windscreen then straight back on my face. I also seem to get a lot of spray directly on my boots!

I don't like trying to decide when to pull over or should I pull over to change to rain gear. Seems when I do pull to side of the road to get into my rain gear there is never a safe place and the cars pass by at 70 mph. In Texas if you have rain gear on and the sun comes out you start cooking.

[scooperhsd]

I hate riding in the rain - almost as much as I hate being cold while riding. The only thing worse is being COLD and WET. Riding locally to work - i don't ride if the chance of rain is too high (yes , I do carry rain gear just in case I guess wrong). I have ridden in thunderstorms so bad that CARS and TRUCKS were pulling off the road - not fun....

[Rio Wil]

The big secret for me is to not look through the windshield with rain droplets on it. Cut the windshield down to where when sitting straight up, you can see over the top of the windshield and your sight line hits the road about 30-40 yards in front. This way no matter what is on the windshield, you have the clearest view. The windshield is still tall enough to direct the wind over the helmet and not cause buffeting.

[Hook#3287]

I love rain.

What's that song?

"Rain makes corn, corn makes  whiskey ........"

Not overly fond of riding in it though 

[Gryphon Rider]

RainX now makes a formula for plastic windshields. I don't know how high your windshield goes but mine ends about the tip of my nose, I find that this height, for me, is perfect when riding in rain. But try the new RainX even on your helmet shield or riding glasses too.

In Canada, it can be ordered through UAP/NAPA.  I'm going to get some this week.

https://www.napacanada.com/en/p/PRX75016