My last blade i sold in October 2011, i used the blade to commute to and from work 5 days a week for 6 months - part from when it snowed.. I then got on to my brothers RC8 in May 2012 and dropped it on the second day - he was not happy...! The next day i went out and bought another blade RR5.. I found i had lost my confidence possibly due to me not riding for so many months...Is this possible? It took near 5 journeys to work (over 2 weeks) before i regained my confidence, specially with going round bends...I found that riding in the rain helped as i slowly pushed the bike more and more..and when it was dry i could go allot further.. SO is riding in the rain good for you?
Depends how you look at it. Some will say yes it increases your understanding on grip levels and braking, but only if your confident to explore what's possible safely and your happy to be out there. I don't think it's safe to explore anything in the wet on the roads however, too many unknowns. If you don't enjoy riding in the rain and just want to get home asap then no your thoughts aren't about grip/brakes etc it's about being cold, miserable and uncomfortable and probably nervy as well.
I Dislike riding in the rain, it's my hobbie and I get enjoyment from riding but not when wet or cold. I will ride int he rain and cold if touring or have to. But if it's a evening or weekend blast I would rather not. As for riding in the rain increasing your confidence I am unsure. I went out with a mate last year and it was damp in south wales. He does lots of track riding but mostly in the dry and he said I left him for dead in the damp conditions. Unsure why as we both knew the road well. I don't have worry's when riding in the wet but have come off twice when it was wet. 1 a SMIDY'S and the other diesel on the road but not helped with the wet.
I agree with Remal. It's my hobby, nothing more. The prospect of riding in the wet to improve my skills is valid, no doubt, but so is putting your hand in a blender to snatch a strawberry out of of it. Great for your hand eye coordination training until you get it wrong.
I guess if its a hobby then its fair not to ride in the rain..it would not make sence.. I use my bike to commute to and from work usually 5 days a week as it takes me 20mins on the bike and over an hour in the car.. as i have to ride its usually in all types of weather, unless its freezing or pouring down with rain..cant say i enjoy riding in the rain..but i am allot happier when its not raining..
Never bothered me if it rained. Just a bastard that the bike gets shittened up. Riding in all weathers is bound to improve your riding skills, but so is riding regularly, wet or dry. S'pose i'm a bit of a twot cos I used to like riding in the wet on the 600's....only way to get the rear hoop spinning.
This is the second thread about wet riding today and as I mentioned before. I hate it and never go out even it just looks like it might rain, I have been caught out in the past on my previous blade and not sure it did anything for my confidence but may have improved my dentists retirement fund with all the teeth grinding.
I'd rather not ride when it's wet, but got used to it as use the bikes all year round. Does it improve your riding, not sure as riding in the wet is completly different to riding in the dry, perhaps you learn to respect the changing road conditions more and the power of the bikes.
Doesn't bother me...got caught the other week..300 miles non stop rain at 80 odd mph on the motorway and a roads. Rain makes you smoother, no doubt. I don't mind if it's warm and wet D) I hate it when it's cold and wet D ) . Bloody lethal if it's been warm and dry for ages, then suddenly it's a downpour.. Very Slippy. I ride all year round, and the only thing I'll never ride in, is ice.
I rode for 4 years on my previous bike (Honda CBF600N) and i think it does improve your overall riding ability, although i would agree with an above post that just riding all year round (wet or dry) is more important for overall skill retention. I remember well when March/April came in one particular year because i noticed a number of newer riders on my way to work and how clumsy and often dangerous they were, it was like watching Bambi when on the Ice ! I guess its down to what you use the bike for, if its a hobbie then i guess you will not force yourself out in crap weather. But i do think it improves your riding.
Yes is my thought. 2 years ago i did a Ron Haslam training day, and it rained continually. Initial disappointment short lived, did wonders for confidence in the wet. I am now much more aware of risks. Was puzzled last weekend, lost the back wheel twice on sharp left hand bends. Good road surface, no wet, oil etc. Turns out these were the 1st sharp left hand bends after filling up with fuel. Picked up diesel from around fuel pump on left side of tyre whilst on side stand.
Unless you're absolutely certain you'll never ride in rain, then you will definitely gain from getting out there when it's wet. Riding in the rain is quite liberating, I think. As long as you keep dry it's quite fun, particularly avoiding the heavily-painted white lines on corners! To me, it's only the same learning curve as when you first learn to ride a sportsbike - you start off steady and as you gain a bit of confidence you lean over a little bit more, have a bit more trust in the tyres and so on. It's a cycle and eventually you'll know (roughly) what the limits of grip are and it'll become second nature. It's just the same in the wet. Unless you have track-based tyres on you'll be surprised how much grip modern compounds have in the wet.
The only thing riding in the rain does is get you wet. If you're out and it rains you just have to deal with it, fact of life!
Hi mate, it isn't the rain but the cleaning. You bike is so clean that the rain daren't fall on your bike, and if a rain drop has the audacity to land on your bike, to will simply fall off due to the sheer volume of polish and wax on it.
