How to: Riding in the Rain

[Spidey]

Cuz--for me--I'm much more worried about locking up the front and/or having it slide.  We're all generally such heavy users of the front brake, it's hard to tell how much less traction there is in the rain.  Also, I've found that when it's wet, the traction can vary as you travel in a line (especially in the city where there are paint marking and oil spots).  So what can feel like a safe amount of front brake one moment can lead to lock-up the next.  Besides, making a mistake with the front has generally has more dire consequences than the rear.   

In normal weather, I'll use the front brake (or extra lean) to adjust speed or respond to something sudden.  In rain/wet, I'll drag the rear a bit going into turns or if I need to stand it up in a turn.  One thing I've done to deal with the binary nature of Ducati rear brakes is totally ghetto, but works.  I bleed a little bit of air into the line.  It's hard to get the right amount of air, but once I've got it where I like it, it helps soften the brake application. 

The discussion may be a bit academic, cuz if you shouldn't be riding so aggressively in the rain that you need to brake so hard that you'd lock up something.  But shit happens.

P.S.  Kiyo is a bad ass.   

[El Matador]

Cuz--for me--I'm much more worried about locking up the front and/or having it slide.  We're all generally such heavy users of the front brake, it's hard to tell how much less traction there is in the rain.  Also, I've found that when it's wet, the traction can vary as you travel in a line (especially in the city where there are paint marking and oil spots).  So what can feel like a safe amount of front brake one moment can lead to lock-up the next.  Besides, making a mistake with the front has generally has more dire consequences than the rear.   

In normal weather, I'll use the front brake (or extra lean) to adjust speed or respond to something sudden.  In rain/wet, I'll drag the rear a bit going into turns or if I need to stand it up in a turn.  One thing I've done to deal with the binary nature of Ducati rear brakes is totally ghetto, but works.  I bleed a little bit of air into the line.  It's hard to get the right amount of air, but once I've got it where I like it, it helps soften the brake application. 

The discussion may be a bit academic, cuz if you shouldn't be riding so aggressively in the rain that you need to brake so hard that you'd lock up something.  But shit happens.

P.S.  Kiyo is a bad ass.   

This right here is where it's at then. 

I come from a dirt background, so I'm pretty used to having the front slide a bit on me. Very true about riding in the city and the paint lines, though, those mofos get slippery as all hell as soon as someone as much as spits on them .

[MonsterInDark]

The one problem I've had with the Foggy inserts (despite a lot of re-positioning, cutting & reshaping) is that they direct breath away from the visor ... and onto the glasses I have to wear.

If your vision doesn't need correction or you wear contacts, the Foggy is a splendid solution to visor fogging.

I recently Purchased an HJC Helmet that has the PinLock screen with the antifog lens....and honestly ive put about 500 miles on the helmet in the past week and i actually hit all the weather conditions that you are speaking of (hot,Fridged cold, morning mist, and rain) in the past week or so....and honestly this is the best helmet ive ever owned....the pin lock screen blew me away...i used to use antifog stuff that is known as catcrap by skiers that use it on their googles as to not fog cruising down a mountain....But this pinlock has blown away any expectations ive had....its AMAZING...and it did cost a little extra...but ive ridden in wet conditions with a fogged screen before and let me tell u...its worth the extra money...

[Sause]

Some of my favorite rides were in the wet. Coming home from Ocean City, NJ after seeing a big black cloud building over the ocean. It was like running away from an Evil Force. Even on my little M750 being smooth with your inputs is the #1 thing. I keep a magnetic tank bag with a waterproof cover on my bike at all times. Its too convenient not to and if the rain is close everything goes right in it. I highly recommend one and mines the smallest I could find.

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/catalog/Super-10-Liter-Tank-Bag-p-188_31.html