If you had to ride in the rain and had the choice of the Interstate or regular roads which would you prefer or which one do you think is more safe?

i have driven my bike in the rain on both interstates and backroads. the only thing i can tell you is take it easy. dont take corners too fast. just ride your bike how you would expect to have to ride it in the rain.

That is a tough one for me. The Interstate you are at higher speeds, but less curves..and regular roads you have more curves but slower speeds. I'd probably take my chances with the "regular roads" because you can go slow and pokey without getting run over TOO bad. On the Interstate it is actually unsafe to go too slow because you will get run over if you're not 500% careful. I've only been riding about a year though, so don't take my advice as gospel

Whichever you are more familiar with.
Whichever has less traffic.
Whichever has a better surface.
Lots of variables; you can't say that one is better than another in the absence of context.

The interstate in the rain really sucks especially with all the spray from the other vehicles. I try to avoid the interstate even when dry. Back roads are usually safer. Either way you need to slow down.

When I went to racer school, it poured! At times I could not see the next turn. I hated the wet but glad it happened. It was a really educational experience seeing how much traction I really had. The bad side is that roads are not as clean as a race track. This was on my TLR before the GS.

Quote from: The Hurt Report11. Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents.
12. Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.
16. The median pre-crash speed was 29.8 mph, and the median crash speed was 21.5 mph

You do the math...

But...  It really is about comfort.  I've found that most people go a little crazy in the rain.  Either they want to drive as fast as possible or they want to slam on their brakes all the time.

So...  When it rains, wait a little while after the rain has started to allow for some of the oil to rinse away, go a little slower (especially in corners), and give the morons on the road even MORE room.  And, even when it's not raining be ready to react.

At one point in my life I only owned a bike for 5 years. That meant driving in the rain, snow and sometimes ice to get to work. Two things that are said here, ring very true. Dont ride on roads you dont know. Try to wait a bit so that the oil gets washed off the road. And beyond that, give yourself plenty of space and watch the stop lights. That is where the most oil is going to be sitting. Give yourself more time to stop and more time to get going. In a heavy rain I tend to stay off of the interstate as the wash can sometimes make the rain seem like its coming down harder than it is. Slower roads dont produce as much wash and you have fewer lanes of traffic to deal with. That just means less to watch out for while your already taxed with things to watch out for.

my .02

QuoteWhichever you are more familiar with.
Whichever has less traffic.
Whichever has a better surface.
Lots of variables; you can't say that one is better than another in the absence of context.

I completely agree with Roadstergal but will also throw in my .02:

IMO, the "risk ratio" between a wet highway and wet surface street is essentially the same as a dry highway and dry surface street.  In both cases your speed will be higher on the highway, which calls for a higher degree of awareness, time/space cushion, etc.  And you should take the same precautions in the rain, regardless of what type of road you're riding on.  Beware the painted lines!

I live in Atlanta and get to share the roads with all sorts of "interesting people" (this is not a compliment).  If I didn't have the HOV lane to take advantage of, it would be a far riskier proposition and I would probably stick to surface streets.  As it is, I prefer the time advantage that the highway offers and rarely opt for the surface street route.  FYI, my daily commute is ~ 12 miles highway/2 miles city (each way).

Quote from: secondgen7Beware the painted lines!

I live in Atlanta and get to share the roads with all sorts of "interesting people" (this is not a compliment).  If I didn't have the HOV lane to take advantage of, it would be a far riskier proposition and I would probably stick to surface streets.  As it is, I prefer the time advantage that the highway offers and rarely opt for the surface street route.  FYI, my daily commute is ~ 12 miles highway/2 miles city (each way).

+1

Quote from: secondgen7

QuoteWhichever you are more familiar with.
Whichever has less traffic.
Whichever has a better surface.
Lots of variables; you can't say that one is better than another in the absence of context.

I completely agree with Roadstergal but will also throw in my .02:

... Beware the painted lines! ...

+2.  

And that also goes for the painted words as well.  Stay off anything that isn't asphalt or concrete.  Especially arrows and turn words like O-N-L-Y.  Usually where you brake.  Thread yourself between the letters when wet.  These markers are not the best when dry either.

S-T A-Y O-F-F them if you can possibly can.  

(This public service announcement presented by Roy...)

I ride the same roads, virtually the same speeds, wet or dry, only thing is when wet ride SMOOOOTH, you will get suprisingly alot of traction when wet, you just need to be more aware of the smoothness of your riding and certain things that get slippery when wet (PAINT!).

Quote from: gs500fromnband certain things that get slippery when wet (PAINT!).

And road snakes, and gratings...

I ride at about the same speed in the wet as in the dry, as well; top speed is less of a factor (especially with speed limits in place) as following distances, lean angles, braking distances, and attention in wet vs. dry.  But I rode more slowly when I started riding in the wet; seat time is a Very Good Thing.

One thing that is important in the dry and doubly important in the wet - don't ride close to where you are.  Ride as far away as you can see.  Be looking at the road and the cars far in front of you.  Your peripheral vision will take care of the nearby stuff, and the farther ahead you look, the more time you have to react to trouble.

Quote from: RedShift

Quote from: secondgen7
... Beware the painted lines! ...

+2.  

+3

My last three "pucker" moments were crossing slick objects in the rain:
-zebra crossing stripes, in a curve (rear tire slid to outside edge of paint)
-lane change across white line (rear end slid around a bit)
-right turn from stop, with 2 manhole covers immediately in-front (rear slid out a bit, caught myself with my foot)

You'd think that I'd have learned my lesson... like maybe the second time?
Nooooo!  It took three.

BTW, one thing I'll say about rain riding, is that surface streets are "wetter" than highway.  On the highway, you can lean forward behind the windscreen or tankbag and hang-out.  It seems to me that I get wet in proportion to the time on the road.  10 minutes at 60mph is much drier than 25 minutes doing 30mph.  Also, on surface streets, everytime I stop, water seems to run down my jacket and I get a wet groin area (a.k.a. "Aerostich crotch").  That never happens on the highway.

when i ride between my appartment and my parents house i regularly cross a set of train tracks that are in the middle of an S type curve. the tracks are boardered by metal sheet type stuff, and have the same metal in between each individual rail.

the speed limit there is 55, in the rain they are very slick.

the first time i crossed them in rain i thought i had straightened up by the time i hit them, but i ended up sending my back tire pretty sideways.

now i use more caution, and a different route if possible.

Make sure your tires are up to the task.  Nothing worse that hydroplaning with a bike.  (Remember that your contact patch is about the size of the palm of your hand, even at 55 MPH.)

If you have 2mm or less tread on either tire, especially in the center, it's time to replace them.

First time in the rain for me today on the way to work.  Had to ride in it for about  3 or 4 miles.  It went from nothing to moderate downpour.  I was about a mile from getting off the highway and on to the city streets.  The only thing that really bothered me is that I knew the oil would be coming to the surface since it had just started to rain.  Went around the clover leaf half the speed as I normally do.  I used the back brake almost entirely, which is the opposite of my normal style.  Figured I rather fish tail than have the front wash out (no pun intended) if I applied too much brake.  It was actually kinda fun.  Didn't really get too wet either.

I guess to answer the original question with my VERY limited wet expeirence is I would have rather stayed on the highway.  It was two lanes each direction divided and light to moderate traffic.

Off to order some rain gear.....

I did about 100 miles in the rain yesterday. Everything from mist to giant drops to stinging little needles. Freeway, city streets, back roads. I did my MSF in the rain. Its been raining pretty much solid since october here in the bay area (okay, thats an exaggeration... but I want my summer!!!). I probably have as many rain miles as I do dry miles.

What I can say is this:

According to my MSF instructor, on a smooth, clean, wet road, you have about 80% of the traction you would have on a smooth, clean, dry road.

Of course, most roads, especially wet ones, arent clean... and around here at least, a smooth road is unheard of.

So, take it easy. Countersteer into things gently, brake early and always upright. A little more rear brake (a LITTLE!) is generally permissible in the wet, as the consequences of a locked rear are much less severe in low traction situations. You dont want to lock it, but better that than washing the front. Just be gentle.

Another thing: be *extra* vigilant for surface hazards. Nothing sucks more than going around a corner in the city and realizing that your chosen line includes a wet manhole cover. Great way to start fishtailing. Same goes for potholes full of water... you cant gauge their depth. Road markings become ice-slippery. Try to stay on intact asphalt.

Lastly, rider comfort needs to be adressed. If you're miserable and cold, you wont be as alert and your reflexes will suffer. I havent really figured out a solution to this (I've been too broke to get a decent set of waterproofs), but there is good rain gear out there. I'd get some (next paycheck I'm getting an alpinestars drystar suit, or something similar.

I prefer riding on the highway myself for the following reasons:

1) don't have to worry about oncoming traffic, side traffic, and intersections

2) more lanes to choose from and traffic tends to be scarce (unless it is rushhour gridlock)

3) at higher speeds the rain washes off your visor alot easier.

4) no traffic intersections to worry about (sometimes it can be tricky to take off smoothly without fishtailing it a bit)


For some strange reason I kinda enjoy riding in the rain. I don't know if it is some kind of thrill or what, but I think it is exhilarating when everyone is doing 45mph on the highway and I zoom on by doing 65mph easy  :nana:  Funny thing is I never felt like I was going to hydroplane the least bit  :dunno: Definitely stay clear of the middle part of the road where the oil collects, no matter where you ride.

ya, its getting hard to ride on any road here w/o getting poured on. living in the south this time of year sucks.

-ash

Quote from: FlashI don't know if it is some kind of thrill or what, but I think it is exhilarating when everyone is doing 45mph on the highway and I zoom on by doing 65mph easy  :nana:  Funny thing is I never felt like I was going to hydroplane the least bit  :dunno:

That was me yesterday, on the way home from my solo ride.  I kept wondering if those drivers with 4 wide tires knew something that I with my 2 narrow ones didn't....  :dunno: