For some, heading out on a motorcycle ride is therapeutic and allows them to embark on a journey with beautiful skies and perfect weather. Sadly, those adventures can get interrupted by changing weather conditions and rain. Riding in the rain isn’t ideal, but it happens to the best of us.
Knowing how to ride your motorcycle in the rain will allow you to arrive at your destination safely. Riding in the rain can initially seem intimidating and scary, but with the right skills and preparation, nothing can rain on your parade! In order to prevent future incidents, read our four tips for riding your motorcycle in the rain. These will ensure you’re ready for riding in unideal conditions.
Be Prepared With the Right Gear
As a motorcycle owner, it’s always best to be ready for various scenarios, including inclement weather. Owning waterproof apparel, such as boots, gloves, and rain suits, will help keep you warm and dry while it rains. High-vis clothing is essential for other vehicles to see you in inclement weather. Your helmet should have an anti-fog visor, defrost function, and even a breath guard to ensure you can see while riding.
Ride Smart and Smooth
You imagined yourself zipping through traffic, riding freely, when you purchased your bike. However, when it rains, you want to ride smart and smooth. When it’s wet outside, you should be extra cautious and ride smoothly. It’ll help if you also lengthened your following distance so that you have enough space in case you have to emergency brake or swerve around something.
Your body’s position is also essential when riding while it rains. Use your body to keep the bike upright and increase traction.
Watch Out for Potential Hazards
When wet on the road, you can run into potential hazards, such as slick railroad tracks, concrete surfaces, potholes, puddles, or fallen tree limbs. If you can, the best option is to ride around them, especially puddles. Even if a puddle looks small, it could be covering a deep pothole. Focus on staying on a clear path and understand that riding a motorcycle versus driving a car in the rain are entirely different experiences.
Avoid Riding Right After It Rains
If you can, try to avoid riding immediately after it begins raining. The roads are slick and full of brake fluid, oil, and dirt that was present before it rained. It’s always a best practice to wait and allow the rainfall to wash the grime off the road before riding again. Allow the storm to lighten up or stop entirely and dry up before hitting the road. And even when you get on the road again, ride slowly.
When you own a motorcycle, you want to ensure that you practice universal safety rules to prevent incidents. These four tips for riding your bike in the rain will help save you from a potential accident. You can also get your bike and its gear insured with Saferoad Insurance to have extra protection while riding in the rain. We offer low-cost motorcycle insurance in California. Contact us today for a quote and high-quality insurance protection for your motorcycle and gear.