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One of the worst scenarios for a motorcyclist is getting caught up in
a rainstorm. Not only does it make your ride slower, but it makes it
tougher to confidently handle and steer your bike. Add in the fact
that the rain may be hitting you in the face and/or the face of your
helmet, making it harder to see clearly, and you've got yourself one
tough afternoon of riding ahead of you.
The best solution in this situation is to pull over and let the
weather pass. If this is not a viable option, here are some tips and
preventative measures you'll need to take care of to safely continue
your ride.
First, recognize the gravity of riding in the rain. The National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that about 13% of all
fatal accidents and 25% of all accidents occur on wet pavements
(these statistics combine all types of motor vehicles on the road).
Furthermore, the number one cause of wet pavement accidents is
hydroplaning, which occurs when water causes your tires to lose
contact with the pavement and instead you are riding on a layer of
water between the tires and the road, which means you lose control.
According to the NTSB and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Advisory (NHTSA), hydroplaning is a result of riding too fast on a
wet road.
The only way to avoid this is to slow down in wet weather. Riding
at speeds of less than 35 mph allows your tires to siphon off and
channel the water away from your tire's tread and allows them to make
proper contact with the road. The faster you drive, the harder it is
for your tires to dissipate the volume of water.
An important factor is also making sure you have the proper
tires, especially if you live in a rainy zone. Tires are specifically
designed for certain road conditions. Some are designed for high
speeds on dry roads while others are built with all-weather
conditions in mind. A good wet-weather tire will have deeper sipes or
grooves that channels the water away from the center of the tread
towards the outside to avoid hydroplaning. According to the NTSB,
tread grooves should be at least 1/16 of an inch deep in order to be
considered safe for wet weather traveling. Make sure to check your
bike's tread depth often.
Keep in mind that, if the depth of the water on the road is
deeper than the depth of the treads, hydroplaning can still occur.
This is a common problem on some roads that build up pools of water
or puddles that may be hard to see. A good rule of thumb to remember
when riding on wet roads is to ride as close as possible to the
center of the road. Roads are built with a higher center to aid in
water drainage, making it safer than riding near the edge of the
road. When riding in groups always allow at least double spacing
between bikes or more if conditions warrant.
Note also that, while hydroplaning is more likely to occur with
half an inch or more of water on the road, it can still happen just
from the moisture from dew or fog on the road, even on a smooth
surface. Also be cognizant of drizzling rain conditions that can
raise oil spills on the road. This can cause a slick surface
yielding a somewhat similar condition as hydroplaning.
The most common reactions for a rider on a motorcycle that's
hydroplaning is to hit the brakes. But this is the wrong reaction,
and will only make matters worse. Instead, remain as calm as possible
and slowly let off the throttle. Following this procedure will more
often than not increase your tire-to-road contact while decreasing
the chances of an accident. But like driving a car, if your bike
begins to skid or turn while hydroplaning, you need to remember to
counter-steer your bike in the same direction as the skid.
All of these simple yet evasive maneuvers can keep you on the
alert and avoid the nightmare of getting into a hydroplaning
situation. If proper procedures are learned and steps taken to avoid
these scenarios, you and your Harley will be better off. Always be
aware of the conditions and look ahead. It may just allow you the
time to react to an upcoming situation in a controlled manner. Be
safe be prepared.
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The Harley-Davidson Traveling Museum made it's stop at WRHD on
Friday. The trailer is quite a sight with all new displays. Over a
1000 visited the free display. Maybe next year we can have it on a
nice sunny weekend!
Try shopping on-line with Western Reserve H-D and take advantage of
two November promotions. First, our Men's and Women's shirts are all
marked down 10%. Plus, if you spend $75 you get a free gift!
This V ROD will turn some heads - dressed out in H-D's new '03
special paint! Come see it in person while it lasts. Contact our
sales team for details, Rob, Bob Josh or email them at