No one likes driving any type of vehicle in the rain, but riding your motorcycle in the rain can be particularly stressful. Rain makes your clothing cold and miserable, which is uncomfortable and distracting from your driving. Additionally, rain reduces visibility and makes driving situations more dangerous by reducing the road’s friction and creating a slippery surface.
While your safety is your top concern, if you have to drive in the rain, you might as well be more comfortable, right? Here at Kool Dri® Rainwear, it’s all in the name—we’re experts at keeping you dry in the rain! Our All-Weather Motorcycle Rain Suit was explicitly designed with motorcyclists like you in mind. The suit is lined with lightweight nylon so that you can stay dry without the added bulk of typical rainsuits.
There are also pockets in the jacket for dry storage and adjustable elastic cuffs for the perfect fit. There are even matching waist pants! Riding in the rain doesn’t have to be terrible if you have one of these rain suits and follow a few of our tips.
1. Choose the Right Rain Gear
Do you know that feeling you get when your socks get wet while you’re walking around in the rain? The sapping cold and the drowning feeling of clinging fabric? Imagine that, but over your entire body with the freezing effect of wind chill — that’s what it feels like if you aren’t wearing proper motorcycle gear while riding your motorcycle in the rain. But you can avoid that discomfort with the appropriate rain gear!
Safety gear like helmets and motorcycle jackets keep you protected and warm, but these aren’t always waterproof. This reason is why the outermost layer of your outfit should be as waterproof as possible.
A full-body suit like the Kool Dri® All-Weather Motorcycle Rain Suit is ideal for keeping every part of your body dry. This rainsuit is lightweight, high-quality, and has elastic around the edges to keep the rain out of your gloves and boots. It is perfect for fitting over your other clothing, making it an ideal rainsuit for riding your motorcycle.
2. Check Your Tires Before You Go Out
Just like driving your car in the snow, you should make sure your tires are in good condition before a drive on wet asphalt. If your tires are smooth and bare, they could lose traction, so we highly suggest avoiding the road altogether in the rain. Having tires with strong tread and a good grip on the pavement will ensure a much safer drive while riding in wet conditions.
3. Try Not to Ride Right as the Rain Starts
Most motorcycle riders likely already know this next tip but try not to ride your motorcycle right at the start of a storm. When the rain first hits the pavement, it mixes with oil and dust, and that moisture makes the roads extra slick. As the rain has fallen for a bit, the road will likely become less slick as the oil is washed away. Give the rain some time to wash away the oil first before hitting the road.
4. Use Caution at Intersections
Oil creates another concerning hazard when it mixes with water and creates oil slicks. If you see any shiny or rainbow-colored surfaces on the street, slow down (but don’t hit your brakes hard) and be more cautious. You’ll especially notice this at intersections or anywhere else where cars tend to sit for periods.
We also advise that you give more braking space at intersections in the rain, just like you would in a car. The reason is the hydroplaning effect the water causes. This safety tip is so you don’t run into a vehicle, run a yellow light, or take a turn too hard. Riding your motorcycle in the rain can be safe as long as you take the proper precautions.
5. Watch for Sealer Pavement
Oil slicks aren’t the only slippery hazard for motorcyclists on the road. Here at Kool Dri® in Lancaster County, we’re pretty used to freshly patched roads and construction (it is Pennsylvania, after all!). But did you know that those fresh patches of tar and sealer on pavement can be extra slippery as well? These smoother patches offer less friction and grip for tires, potentially leading to slips.
When riding your motorcycle in the rain, be aware of these shiny spots in the road. Safely avoid them if you can, but otherwise, keep driving straight and steady, and don’t make any sudden stops or accelerations.
6. Don’t Trust Puddles
It’s likely that if you’re riding a motorcycle in the rain, you’ve already driven a car in the rain as well. With that in mind, most drivers should be aware it’s never safe to drive through a puddle that you can’t see the bottom of.
Unless you are very familiar with the road, every puddle risks an accident. Even if you can see the bottom, you need to be careful of going too fast and hydroplaning. Due to their lighter weight, motorcycles can lose traction easier than cars. Plus, even shallow puddles can hide debris or potholes that can make you lose control. Puddles can be just as serious as riding your motorcycle in the rain!
Even if it’s a small puddle, your bike is much smaller than a car and has less stability. A pothole for a regular vehicle will not treat you the same way when you’re riding your motorcycle. It’s safer just to avoid them altogether whenever possible.
7. Find Your Dry Line
Do you often find the wind is less of a problem when riding behind a car? Have you ever driven behind another vehicle in the rain and watched how the water moves away from the tires on the road? When you’re riding a motorcycle in wet conditions, ‘drifting’ like this can be very useful for keeping your bike stable.
While keeping a safe distance from a car in front of you, you can ride on what is called a “dry line.” Obviously, this line is not completely dry, but these areas that emerge when water is pushed off the road make it easier for your bike to ride in wet conditions.
8. Keep Your Cool
Even if you follow all of these tips, accidents can still happen. If you do find yourself beginning to hydroplane or slip along the road’s surface—stay calm. Like on ice, sudden movements like overcorrecting, braking, or accelerating can worsen the slip. Keep your bike as steady as possible, ease off the throttle, and stay calm until you reach a point where your bike is more controllable.
Riding Your Motorcycle in the Rain Is Easier When You’re Dry!
Remember, these tips are only a few suggestions that we have learned from experience. If you’re not comfortable riding your motorcycle in the rain, find a place to pull over and rest — or don’t go out in the rain at all!
But if you are going out, staying dry will help improve your focus and control, so don’t forget your rain gear from Kool Dri®. Contact us if you have any questions about the product or need more recommendations about our gear!
