| Author | Message | ||
     Mattl |
Well, I experienced my first ride in the rain today. My poor bike was stuck outside in the rain all day while I was in the comfort of my office. I felt very bad for it. Then had to ride 30 miles home in the rain. These southern folk are serious about their rain/thunder storms. Anyway, was wondering if there is anything I should do to it to help it dry out. Should I crack open anything to let water drain, put a fan on it, towel down anything? Also, anyone have the Buell rain suit? Thinking about ordering it. It's gotta be better than the 10 year old ski pants I wore today, that obviously is no longer water proof. And anyone have any hints for getting water to flow off the helmet visor? RainX? Thanks for any advice! MattL | ||
| Buellfirebolt31 |
i just look left then look right, all the drops get blown off the sides of the helmet- | ||
| Jimduncan69 |
i have a cheap set of rain gear cost about $15 works great! i had to ride about 150 miles in the rain and stayed nice and dry. as far as your bike just let it dry and wash it up. it will be pretty nasty. but it will all wash off. | ||
| Aldaytona |
It rains all the time (usually) here in Florida and over the years I've found that the faster you go, the quicker it dries, bike and visor. "Rainsuits, we don't need no stinkin' rainsuits"  | ||
| Homing_turtle |
Just lube the chain.... Wait, nevermind  She'll be fine, water is not gonna hurt your bike one bike. | ||
| Ulywife |
Matt - several people have had good things to say about the Buell rain suits. Daves had some in stock not long ago. When Carlos' First Gear ripped, he purchased a new HD rain suit. He then rode from Charlotte (4 hours from home) in the rain. There was not one dry spot on him. The other rain suit that people have had good things to say is the Frogtoggs. Good luck! NC rainstorms are rough. Now we have Ernesto coming right over us in the east. | ||
| Buelltoys |
I use Fieldsheer pants and jacket. Both are waterproof enough to get me through a 45 min ride unless it is a complete down poor where you can not see. I ride the ULY all the time in the rain and it loves it. Bags and under seat are water proof so nothing ever gets wet. If I rode only when it was sunny and no chance of rain in Alabama I would never ride. | ||
| Starter |
I got a cheap R-Jays suit from a bike shop for peanuts and it worn with a pair of Sidi boots is dry as toast. Even came with mits for overlaying leather gloves. It's all sealed and internally taped seams with firm elastic bands. Worst part is squeezing in. | ||
| Xbeau12s |
I ride my 04XB12S in the rain all the time. Nothing bad has ever happened. I just keep the speed reasonable, rain-X on the visor is good, and I'm happy. I just wash it when it's dirty which riding on any road (especially interstate) will make the bike very dirty with road grime. They made it well knowing that it would be in the rain. | ||
| Bake |
Glad leisure suits, nuthin says class like garbage bags! | ||
| Captainxb |
" . . . nuthin says class like garbage bags!" Do you use the heavy duty orange ones with the draw-string top?  RainX is great. I use it all year 'round, helps the bugs to slide off too! | ||
| Pwnzor |
I've hear the Buell rain suit is good from more than one person on separate occasions. | ||
| Brineusaf |
I have an "emergency rainsuit" that I carry with me, here in Germany it rains almost every day... but I've never brought myself to putting it on... it's solid yellow. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Good topic I gave up, many years ago in fact, trying to stay dry. I just get wet and once you're totally soaked it's all good. Cell phones came along so I now carry a high quality ZipLock sandwich bag, or 3, in every one of my riding jackets. If it looks like rain I place the phone in the baggie, zip it up, and go. Smart? Nope, but it works for me. G2 | ||
| Ulywife |
G2 - great minds think alike!! Good point about the ziplock baggies for cell phones. After the ride from Charlotte, Carlos' phone was done for. Good thing we were at the end of our contract. He started carrying ziplock bags for his phone after that! | ||
| Cruisin |
TourMaster gear is usually pretty good, I have a pair of the pants. different material for the butt and inside of the calves for heat protection or seat grip. Rain rider suits are pretty good if you can find them, they're out of Canada and fairly cheap ($40, I think, for jacket and pants). One of my wife's co-workers was disgusted with us when she learned we ride in the rain. Her comment was "I respect my bike too much to ride it in the rain, they're not meant to do that..." Um, I hate to tell you lady, they are. Personally I think it's disrespectful to not ride your bike! | ||
| Jlnance |
I own a rain suite, but I almost never wear it anymore. I have a textile riding jacket and pants, and also some riding boots. They are all water resistant, and unlike a rain suite offer crash protection. If it's hot outside, I often wear mesh gear, which of course is not water resistant. But if it's hot outside, I don't mind getting wet. It actually feels good. | ||
| Mattl |
Thanks for the feedback guys! I ordered a Buell rain suite from Daves, so just gotta' wait for that now. I don't mind getting wet, on the way home anyway. But getting to work, it's not too professional to show up soaked to the bone. I normally wear riding gear and change once I get to work, but even my backpack soaked through yesterday and got my clothes and work shoes all wet. I'll probably try to find some cheapy suit to get me through till the Buell one arrives. Gotta ride to work tomorrow with Ernesto on top of us. Fun! Glad to hear the bikes are fine with water. Can't wait to wear these Dunlops down so I get some of the Pirellis the CityX comes with. I hear they are better in water? Thanks again! | ||
| Poondogger |
Mattl, I ride in the rain quite a bit here in Alabama. I've found a couple times especially in those super downpours my primary somehow got water in it. Check that fluid for a milky appearance occasionally. I don't know what's going on but when I ride in that heavy rain the bike shifts like butter. Then after it dries out it's back to it's old clunky self. | ||
| Cruisin |
It's not uncommon for water to collect on the clutch cable and sneak into the adjustment boot in front of the engine. Try some electrical tape around the top of the rubber boot to reduce that. Maybe enough water is getting in to alter the viscosity of the primary fluid? Getting the bike up to temp will help burn off some of that water out of the primary, but short rides in rain or cold weather (condensation) doesn't do it and it may build up. | ||
| Bumblebee |
Rainsuit... DriRider. $40.00 works great. Won't win you a centerfold in 'Rainrider Monthly' but works great.  | ||
| Darthane |
I have the Buell rain suit (it's about 5 years old now) and have nothing but praise for it. I've been caught in several good downpours in it and never gotten wet. | ||
| Bigj |
It rained here 4 or 5 months ago  | ||
| Starter |
To the guys using Rain-X....What sort of helmets you wearing and are they OEM visors? Stupid store over here told me that stuff was the devil on visors cause it makes them go cloudy and I been too scared to try it. | ||
| Xb9ser |
glad rain suit. these guys had a two hour ride back to pigon forge. from a ride at dragon back in july.   |
