Living in California, I have been blessed with the ability to continue with riding through the foggy season we refer to as "winter."  Unfortunately, I'm not exactly blessed with the ability to afford a car right now.  So, my question to you guys, as I head into my first rainy season on a motorcycle, is how do you keep yourself and objects somewhat dry in rainy weather?

good question..

I am leaving sunny southern california for school up in sacramento..

i need info too.

I am taking my battery charger with me.. but for school I am sure i wont be able to ride like i do here during the winter season.

I'm sure the folks in Wisconsin feel really sorry for you.

If you get some gear, get some good stuff, I hear Frogg Toggs are good. I haven't tried them myself.

I bought some cheap ($20) stuff for my cold and rainy MSF weekend. Within an hour of getting on and off the bike, they were shredding, I had to take them off and tough it out.

Must be nice to ride in the "winter". Being from Michigan, I don't really have that option. On the other hand, you lucky mofo, try looking at Army/Navy surplus stores.  They carry a shaZam! ton of "foul weather" gear that is warm and waterproof/resistant. I have a couple of jackets/pants and one pack that I use to ride in the cooler/damper months in this neck of the woods. Although, I am moving to CA soon, so they might just come in handy there too!! You know, during the "winter"!! Good luck staying dry and warm.

Expect a lot of rain in winter at Sacramento.  I was at Davis (good ol' Davis) for five years, but I still biked (on bicycles) a lot though.  

Have a great time at Sac. while you are there !

Ironic you ask this question today.

I rode into work this morning, the weatherdude said 75% chance of rain all day, but it was only sprinkling at my house.  By the time I got half way there it was monsoon season!  Rain doesn't bother me, and I actually like riding in the wet because you can slide the rear easier.  
Anyway, I have  a Joe Rocket Ballistic jacket and it does a good job of keeping my torso dry (except where I forget to close the vents). But I got soaked from the crotch down...
This has reminded me to get a set of water proof riding pants. I am going to check out newenough.com and see if the matching Ballistic pants look good. I just want to find one or have my wife sew on a velcro patch so I can stick knee pucks on them to freak ppl out at stop lights heheehe.

As for your original question. I wouldn't  buy surplus Army stuff unless you are dirt broke. There is ALOT of very good bad weather riding aparral out there.  You pretty much just have to sift thru it and find something that you like.  I like the above Joe Rocket jacket, but others like other brands.

Amen to the anti-army surplus comment!  Consider the conditions- wind speeds up to 100mph, sitting most of the time, arms extended into the wind.  Only motorcycling (or I guess snowmobiling ) gear is designed to withstand all that.  Artic gear will keep you warm and dry but will limit your movement and flexibility, both of which you need to keep control of the bike.  You CAN put up with pretty much anything if you have to but why do it when there are great alternatives.  Shop around your local guys to see what fits and what you like, then buy from where you get the best price.  Sometimes your local store will try to match net prices in order to keep your business, so don't be afraid to tell them the comparative prices.

For 10 years my only transpertation has been my bike and I used to live in Orlando where you get real rain. I have not seen lightning in 3 years of living out here. So I laugh at the so called CA rainy season.
All I have is a $25 rain suit I ordered from JCWhitney several years ago. It can get kind of hot when you are not moving but it has always kept me completely dry. It can be rolled up when not in use and fit under the seat.
If it is raining real hard I put trash bags over my shoes because wet feet at work sucks.

As an all-season/weather rider, I'm on my second set of a TourMaster 2pc rainsuit (the pants ripped on the previous set, but I still have the top). I use the Rain-Totes pull-over rubber booties, XL to get over the riding boots or hightops. Oh, yeah, and TourMaster gloves, the big ones with the gauntlet half way up the arm, and the chamios stuff on the backs of two of the fingers for squeegieing the faceshield.

Quote from: JohNLAFor 10 years my only transpertation has been my bike and I used to live in Orlando where you get real rain. I have not seen lightning in 3 years of living out here. So I laugh at the so called CA rainy season.

You get earthquakes, wildfires, and riots instead... Not much of a trade if you ask me.  

I like Frogg Toggs.  For anything but a really hard downpour they do the job.  The few design flaws (need a closer-fitting neck-closure, with velcro, also velcro at wrists, ankles, and, better sealed zippers) are offset by how light and packable they are, and a very easy on/off.

Ok Professor,  I've been riding year round here in the central Valley (NAS LEMOORE)  for the last 12 years.  
 
Get yourself a good solid rain suit,  a WARM pair of gloves,  and possible a baclava

Other than that you may want to wear longjohns on the really bad days.  

Riding  a motorcycle when its 30- 40 degrees and 100 % humidity  in the FOG can be VERY VERY COLD.  

Ya might want to change to an amber/yellow headlight for the fog season.

Let's leave the winter talk for another couple of months ok?
With the winter's we get up here, I don't even want to think about it.....even though I just bought a new sled.  :lol:

Let's pray for some more global warming, and some 10 month long summers.....   :nana:

Hey Prof.. why ya worrying about winter gear right now?  

 We still have 3 1/2  to 4 months of Good riding weather.  
It doesnt even start to get bad until the middle to end of november.  atleast that was how it was last year.

So you in fresno, cool  that's only 35 minutes from lemoore.

Quote from: JamesG

Quote from: JohNLAFor 10 years my only transpertation has been my bike and I used to live in Orlando where you get real rain. I have not seen lightning in 3 years of living out here. So I laugh at the so called CA rainy season.

You get earthquakes, wildfires, and riots instead... Not much of a trade if you ask me.  

Earthqaukes = foot massages
Wildfires = it is easier than bush hogging MX trails
Riots = That is the wests version of Mardi Gras(Can't wait to see what happens when Kobi gets off :mrgreen: )

oh yah, I know we've got all kinds of warm weather to come, I was just thinking about when school is going to start and it got me to wondering about riding in the rain.

Yep, Fresno is home.  I used to play soccer in Lemoore nearly every other month, it's a nice town.

Yep,  I work out at the naval base.    Got transplant out here by the navy, and cant quite seem to get outta here!  LOL

i wish that i could have a riding season that long, i only have about a month and a half left. im in ohio