It's that time of the year when the skies turn grey, and this means that it will result in slippery roads. Anyone who rides a bike will know that the rain makes things difficult, and this means that your approach to riding should change.
So, what is it that you should or should not do to ensure your safety while riding in the rain? The aim of this article is to summarize my experiences on the bike; to share it with fellow riders.
1. Gear up
Most people think that motorcycle gear is only necessary for people who ride superbikes. The truth is, a sturdy jacket, a snug fitting helmet and a decent pair of gloves will save you a lot of pain when you fall.
This point holds for every time you get onto the bike, not just for riding on wet roads
2. Gauge the conditions
I see a lot of people who start ripping through the streets just after it has drizzled. This is one of the most dangerous things a person can do on a bike, and I'll explain why.
The roads are most dangerous just after a drizzle. This is because the dust on the road doesn't get washed away; in fact, the dust particles absorb the water, and turn into a sludge. The wheel just slide around, and there is no grip at all.
In fact, the roads are easier to ride on after a good downpour. All the dust gets washed away, and this means that the tyres' grip comes into the equation. If the tyres are in good condition, the water gets displaced by the grip, and hence, the bike grips the road. This doesn't mean that the roads are "fly-by ready". There is always a danger of the odd oil slick that you cannot spot.
3. Ride smooth
You will be forgiven for making rough gearshifts on dry roads; you will end up tasting the asphalt if you do the same on a wet road. Wet roads mean that there is lesser grip than usual, and hence every input that you give to the bike has to be smooth.
Smooth riding is a vast topic and probably deserves an article of its own, but there are a few points that I would like to highlight.
a. Always be in the right gear. This point holds for all conditions, but the trick here is to be extra smooth with the shifts. Shifting up is easier, as you can modulate the clutch to effect a smooth change. Shifting down is the tricky part, as a rough downshift will result in sudden torque increase on the rear wheel. This can result in the bike fishtailing if you happen to be at a spot that offers no grip.
b. Maintain a good amount of distance from the vehicle in front of you. You cannot brake suddenly, as you risk losing grip, so judge the braking distance properly, add another 10m to it, and maintain that distance.
I have mentioned these points here as I think they are critical. Tips on smooth riding will be covered in another article.
4. Stay off the white stripes
The white stripes offer zero grip when the roads are wet. It is a layer of paint, and it is so smooth that if you brake when your wheels are on the white stripes, your wheels lock immediately.
Be careful while shifting lanes. Staying off the white stripes is not possible all the time, but if you are forced to ride on the paint, make sure that the bike is heading in a straight line, stay in gear and do not brake until you are off the paint.
5. Service your bike
Respect the bike and the bike will respect you. Ensure that the tyres are in good condition, clean and lubricate your chain regularly, ensure that there is enough oil in the bike.
If you have rear drum brakes, the lever needs to be adjusted regularly for the pedal to deliver the braking force to the wheel smoothly.Ensure that the disc brake pads are not worn out, or else you will risk losing braking force and the pistons might dig in to the rotor; and if that happens, there is only one thing that you can do, which is replacing the rotor.
There is a lot of information about maintaining bikes scattered on the web. All you need to do is google it.
6. Stay away from morons
As soon as you hear a musical horn or a tone deaf moron honking in rhythm, move away, and let him go through. It is a lot of fun to watch them bite the dust.
I hope this helps.
Till next time, happy riding.
So, what is it that you should or should not do to ensure your safety while riding in the rain? The aim of this article is to summarize my experiences on the bike; to share it with fellow riders.
1. Gear up
Most people think that motorcycle gear is only necessary for people who ride superbikes. The truth is, a sturdy jacket, a snug fitting helmet and a decent pair of gloves will save you a lot of pain when you fall.
This point holds for every time you get onto the bike, not just for riding on wet roads
2. Gauge the conditions
I see a lot of people who start ripping through the streets just after it has drizzled. This is one of the most dangerous things a person can do on a bike, and I'll explain why.
The roads are most dangerous just after a drizzle. This is because the dust on the road doesn't get washed away; in fact, the dust particles absorb the water, and turn into a sludge. The wheel just slide around, and there is no grip at all.
In fact, the roads are easier to ride on after a good downpour. All the dust gets washed away, and this means that the tyres' grip comes into the equation. If the tyres are in good condition, the water gets displaced by the grip, and hence, the bike grips the road. This doesn't mean that the roads are "fly-by ready". There is always a danger of the odd oil slick that you cannot spot.
3. Ride smooth
You will be forgiven for making rough gearshifts on dry roads; you will end up tasting the asphalt if you do the same on a wet road. Wet roads mean that there is lesser grip than usual, and hence every input that you give to the bike has to be smooth.
Smooth riding is a vast topic and probably deserves an article of its own, but there are a few points that I would like to highlight.
a. Always be in the right gear. This point holds for all conditions, but the trick here is to be extra smooth with the shifts. Shifting up is easier, as you can modulate the clutch to effect a smooth change. Shifting down is the tricky part, as a rough downshift will result in sudden torque increase on the rear wheel. This can result in the bike fishtailing if you happen to be at a spot that offers no grip.
b. Maintain a good amount of distance from the vehicle in front of you. You cannot brake suddenly, as you risk losing grip, so judge the braking distance properly, add another 10m to it, and maintain that distance.
I have mentioned these points here as I think they are critical. Tips on smooth riding will be covered in another article.
4. Stay off the white stripes
The white stripes offer zero grip when the roads are wet. It is a layer of paint, and it is so smooth that if you brake when your wheels are on the white stripes, your wheels lock immediately.
Be careful while shifting lanes. Staying off the white stripes is not possible all the time, but if you are forced to ride on the paint, make sure that the bike is heading in a straight line, stay in gear and do not brake until you are off the paint.
5. Service your bike
Respect the bike and the bike will respect you. Ensure that the tyres are in good condition, clean and lubricate your chain regularly, ensure that there is enough oil in the bike.
If you have rear drum brakes, the lever needs to be adjusted regularly for the pedal to deliver the braking force to the wheel smoothly.Ensure that the disc brake pads are not worn out, or else you will risk losing braking force and the pistons might dig in to the rotor; and if that happens, there is only one thing that you can do, which is replacing the rotor.
There is a lot of information about maintaining bikes scattered on the web. All you need to do is google it.
6. Stay away from morons
As soon as you hear a musical horn or a tone deaf moron honking in rhythm, move away, and let him go through. It is a lot of fun to watch them bite the dust.
I hope this helps.
Till next time, happy riding.
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