Hail Storm

[DIGGER]

Got in a golf ball size hailstorm last week or so in a pickup truck.    Did major damage to the truck.   My question is if you are on your Valkyrie and get caught out in the open what should you do?    I asked this on the Texas Vrcc and someone said to lay across the bike to protect it.....haha.     really, what would you do if there is no place to get under when it starts?

[Valker]

Got in a golf ball size hailstorm last week or so in a pickup truck.    Did major damage to the truck.   My question is if you are on your Valkyrie and get caught out in the open what should you do?    I asked this on the Texas Vrcc and someone said to lay across the bike to protect it.....haha.     really, what would you do if there is no place to get under when it starts?

Happened to me several times. I just stop if there's no place to get under. The stones won't get through my helmet.

[gordonv]

Happen after Mt Rushmore when at InZane 2015 at Spearfish, on the way back. Started to hail (not that large) and just continued riding as fast as we could to get out from under it, and we did.

Scrapped a fist full of hail and made a snow ball, and threw it at my ridding buddy. 

[Westernbiker]

If the hail is really big and clobbering you, shut the bike off and maybe lay the bike down on the crash bar and get under as best as you can?

[hubcapsc]

Once, while on a trip to Boston with a co-worker, a big hail storm came
over Greenville SC. Our (his :-) ) car was in the extended parking lot at
the airport (GSP). When we got back, every car in the lot that was there
when the storm came was covered in dents, it was really something to
see.

I've never heard of bigger-than-quarter-sized hail around here. Out west
in the wide open spaces I think hail can be really big. I would think the big
stuff would be seriously dangerous to a motorcyclist.. ?

-Mike

[cookiedough]

bring a tarp or cycle cover along if possible and get underneath it with the cycle (probably sitting on cycle seat lifting cover up some with helmet/hands as well to help protect it as best as you can lift cover up some to get it from touching much of the cycle

If no cover or shelter anywhere to get under,  pretty much toast put helmet on and hope for the best not much you can do.

[fudgie]

I carry a half cover in my saddle bag. Laid a sweatshirt over my fairing and covered it with my cover.

[Gryphon Rider]

Motorcycle jackets don't put armour on the part of your forearm that is exposed to hail when riding.  I know from experience that quarter-sized hail HURTS on the forearms, even when wearing a leather jacket and a rain suit.

The problem with laying the bike over onto the engine guard to give you shelter is that laying the bike over gently requires good traction under your feet and a good grip on the handlebar and rear fender rail, and focus on your technique to prevent injuring yourself.  That's not gonna happen in the midst of a brutal hailstorm.  Pull over, get off your bike and far enough away from the road that a driver facing terrible visibility conditions won't stray off the road and hit you.  Then position yourself so your helmet and jacket armour take the brunt of the hail.  There is often lightning with hail, so keep that in mind when choosing where to wait it out.

[Jess from VA]

Apparently you can buy a Kevlar reinforced "combat" umbrella, for a lot of money.  

French president Sarkozy apparently used one against his citizens' thrown objects.  
https://metro.co.uk/2011/03/31/nicolas-sarkozy-uses-armour-plated-umbrella-647785/
https://www.core77.com/posts/24315/Battling-the-Elements-Umbrella-Innovation-Part-2

I always thought it was the British who were big on umbrellas.

When I get into bad precip (Interstate),  I lean far forward using only my right throttle hand on the bars, and rest my chin on my left fist with elbow on the tank, positioning my eyes just barely over (and right behind) the fairing/shield slipstream.  When the helmet visor and/or glasses get too fouled, I flex up into the wind to blow it off, then get back down again.  Then I power through whatever the precip gives me, looking for something to park under.  Or just putting the miles in on the freeway.  If I just sit back comfortably, I am blinded in no time (and a lot wetter).  

Never seen much hail, and none golf ball size.

My back road over to the local Geo Washington Parkway (nice local ride) takes me right next to a big golf driving range.  And if there's a big crowd of guys smacking off the Ts, I always get down low behind the shield for incoming slices.  Stuff happens, and I have way too much money in my dental work as it is.  

[Davemn]

I like my bike more than my big head. So I would lean forward and cover my tank and hope for the best.
We had a hail storm here on Wednesday. My town got hammered. Baseball size hail. Lots of broken windows.

[gregk]

Been in pee size hail once 1/4 m to an over pass, other time on a hill no cover no where to go except down the road I suppose 3/4- 1m. No helmets. Face got a little bloody but not to bad.
A guy once said he had to lay under his bike and his tank got dented.