Riding in the Rain

When the rain season hits, it is time to be prepare before jumping on your motorcycle or other powersport and go riding. Safety is the number one concern. Here at Rallye Motoplex, we want to inform you on how to ride safely when it starts to get wet out. Our professional staff is here to help you understand anything you may not be clear about. Located in Moncton, New Brunswick and proudly serving the areas of Charlottetown, Fredericton, Saint John, and Bathurst, NB, we want you to always have a great time with you are only any powersport vehicle.

Get Equipped

The most obvious step you can take to make riding in the rain safer is to equip yourself with a good set of rain gear. A full set should include a rain jacket, gloves, rain pants, and waterproof boots. Wearing a normal riding jacket under the rain layer, and then one or more thin layers beneath that, will allow you to more easily stay warm, and regulate your temperature. Staying warm and dry will help you keep your focus on the road instead of your discomfort, allowing you to stay alert.

Your helmet is another critical piece of gear that you need to consider. Having an anti fog visor will make sure you get clear visibility when you ride, additionally a helmet with an electric defrost may be a wise investment if you’re riding in the cold and wet often.

No matter what kind of gear you pick make sure that it’s going to enhance your ride and not be a bigger distraction. Having that set of heated pants may seem nice, but a portable power source digging into your hip can be uncomfortable, and while a extra thick pair of gloves may keep your fingers extra warm, you may have trouble manipulating your controls.

Take it Easy

If it’s wet, slow down. You need to approach every turn with extra caution and more mindfulness. Don’t crank down on your throttle suddenly, focus on making slow adjustments to get up to speed. Likewise, when you’re heading into a turn use less lean angle and go easy on the brakes (make sure you’ve slowed down well before you enter a turn).

Use Caution at Intersections

Intersections tend to collect more oil and other fluids from cars, so they can be hazardous for a rider who’s not ready. Rain can make potential slick spots harder to spot because of the glare, so start slowing down well before the light. Don’t try and take off like a shot, because you’ll more than likely fishtail, and don’t try and push through that yellow light, as you’ll have less time to find a safe line if you encounter a slick spot.

Low Traction Obstacles

Construction plates, manhole covers, sealer pavement, and many other roadway obstacles become slick as ice when you apply a thin layer of water. When riding in the rain, look for a line that can take you around these obstacles if possible. If you do have to ride over a manhole cover or another type of especially slick terrain, remain calm, and ride smoothly. Acceleration and braking will just make any traction problems worse, so avoid any sudden or sharp maneuvers and roll over the obstacle.

Ride a Dry Line

If there’s a strip of dry pavement in the middle of your lane, use it! It’s common sense advice, but you’ve probably seen plenty of riders that will pick a line full of rain when there’s nice dry strip of asphalt just six inches to the right.

There are always more ways to be safe out here, but it is important to follow all the laws and rules of safety on the road or highway. At Rallye Motoplex, we strive to inform all our customers on the best way to ride out when conditions are not ideal. If you need a vehicle check-up or service, we are located in Moncton, New Brunswick proudly serving the areas of Charlottetown, Fredericton, Saint John, and Bathurst, NB. Stop by our Powersport dealership and let our professional and friendly staff assist you with any questions or concerns. Remember, when in doubt, always side on the road of caution.