The last time I rode was a week and a half ago, and it has since been sitting under a cover. Yes, I said the s-word, sitting. I can't leave her out there any longer. I need to get her out for a spin.

Problem. It has been raining nonstop, and I don't want to get my baby hosed. And then last night it snowed. Yes, it snowed in portland. And it's been windy as all hell also. On the way to the gym last night I saw that the KLR that's always parked on the street by my house had been blown over.

What I'm saying is that the weather is awful and I may not get her on the road. But I want to start it to give the battry some juice, run fuel through the system, and so on. Is there any point to starting her up and letting her run in her covered area for a bit, or is this all in vain? She wants to run sooooooooo bad.

Dave

  Mine has been in the garage since just after halloween.  I have zero pity for you.

Buy a rainsuit, learn to ride in the rain, it will make you a smoother, faster, better and safer rider.

Quote from: scratch on March 09, 2006, 12:25:32 PM
Buy a rainsuit, learn to ride in the rain, it will make you a smoother, faster, better and safer rider.

I have a rainsuit, I just haven't tried it out. I'm worried about laying my bike down more than getting my body wet though.

I have taken the msf, so I know all about throttle control and smooth braking and clutch ease. I do have a little problem with accelerating quickly though, just because it's fun. That's something I don't want to become a habit though. Hmmmm, maybe I'll go out and practice riding in the rain tonight...assuming of course that there's no snow on the ground.

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on March 09, 2006, 12:59:12 PMI'm worried about laying my bike down more than getting my body wet though.  I have taken the msf, so I know all about throttle control and smooth braking and clutch ease.

Practice, practice, practice.  Take it easy.  Sometimes I still ride like a grandma when it's wet (but that's how you don't crash in the rain).

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on March 09, 2006, 12:59:12 PMI do have a little problem with accelerating quickly though, just because it's fun. That's something I don't want to become a habit though. Hmmmm, maybe I'll go out and practice riding in the rain tonight...assuming of course that there's no snow on the ground.

Yes, yes!!  That's a good way to cure yourself of your "problem"!  Heh heh heh

Snow?!  Heck, I rode up to snow last weekend!  Picked up a mastercylinder sized chunk and rode back down, it almost lasted til the bottom.

Modified after his post on purpose: It's not my fault.

God damnit scratch, now I am thinking about putting off my application to grad school so I can go practice a little wet weather riding. Sheesh.

One worry I have, like I said, is sliding and wrecking the bike. But then again, with a lot of caution and plenty of attention, it seems that my odds of crashing would be no different than on any given day. Just a thought.

And for some reason I like saying that my bike has never been ridden in the rain. But then again, what's the point? For example, a lot of ads for bikes for sale say it has never seen the rain. So? Has it seen a garden hose and some meguiar's? Then what's the point?

Damn you. Tonight I ride. Slowly! And with everything that my experience and the msf has taught me.

Dave

Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on March 09, 2006, 12:59:12 PM

Quote from: scratch on March 09, 2006, 12:25:32 PM
Buy a rainsuit, learn to ride in the rain, it will make you a smoother, faster, better and safer rider.

I have a rainsuit, I just haven't tried it out. I'm worried about laying my bike down more than getting my body wet though.

you will be surprised about how sticky the tires are in wet pavement (not wet metal!)

Yes, avoid manhole covers, painted lines (when turning, or at least minimize the time you're on them, and/or keep more upright (lean your body, not the bike)), and tar snakes.  Actually, always lean your body more than the bike when riding in the rain; and be sure to weigh the outside peg.

The only real difference between washing and riding in the rain is the amount of junk the bike seems to pick up.  When you wash, you're cleaning it of junk.  When you ride in the rain, well...rain is dirty, wet stuff tends to be more clingy, shoot I've found a cigarette butt in the c/s cavity once!

Quote from: Grainbelt on March 09, 2006, 12:18:31 PM
Mine has been in the garage since just after halloween.  I have zero pity for you.

Because it's broken? Or because you hate riding motorcycles and having fun?

Rain is something we all have to deal with eventually, you might as well get the practice

Grainbelt lives in the great, frozen north; I think he'd prefer the rain over the snow he's been dealing with... cabin fever will make you crazy, but as long as he has beer... you DO have beer stockpiled, don't you, Grainbelt?

Beer is a MUST!

Quote from: Grainbelt on March 09, 2006, 12:18:31 PM
Mine has been in the garage since just after halloween.  I have zero pity for you.

+1

You really need to let you bike sit for a couple months at least, BEFORE you have the right to complain about having PMS...

Parked Motorcycle Syndrome.

This is my first winter with a bike, and I've already got it BAAAAAAAAD.

I still don't see how you guys can park for the winter.


...and before anyone says something about snow and ice I rode my TL ALL winter...rain, ice, sleet, snow, racoons, whatever.

I'm happy for you, Mak, but I don't think you live in my neck of the woods.  Unless you have sharp studs in your bike tyres, you'd never make it out of your street after a dump of the white stuff that we get.  Cars just pack it down into a bumpy path.  Salt, black ice, slush.  I care too much for my ride to expose my bike to that stuff.

That said, it's currently raining here.  Temperature may break 50°F today, eliminitaing all that crap I just mentioned.  Will be sunny later today.  If it's dry when the sun comes up, I may just throw a leg over and take the bike to work today.  If not, looks like I'll br riding this weekend.     March 12th is the earliest I've started the season -- may well beat that by a day.  Yippie!!

Its been since December when I last rode.  And it looks like it might be another week untill I am back on the bike.  At least your bike dosent't look like this:



My roommates might be suprised when they get back from Spring Break and see a motorcycle taken apart in the living room.

^Now THIS is a guy who has his priorities in order; motorcycle maintenance BEFORE (or maybe instead of) spring break!

10 days?

10 Days??

10 DAYS???

I can do 10 days standing on my head.

Try living in Wisconsin.

Yep.... mine's been away since last November.  Last night I dug it out from under its cover in the garage.  Taking it in for some service tomorrow.  Now that it's out and I can see it, I want to ride!

we2