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Mark Hinchliffe·
Tips/trainingRiding/safety tips
··19 Comments·2 min read

Five reasons to go riding in the rain

Five reasons to go riding in the rain Ducati GT1000 waterproof wet

You rarely need reasons to go for a ride, but for some people it is almost impossible to get them on their bike when the rain is pelting down.

Sadly, they are missing out on a lot of fun and a great learning experience.

I used to be in the fair-weather-rider category until I paid for a non-refund training course. On the day, it poured!

It ended up being immense fun and turned around my riding skills.

I’ve since done two more riding courses in the rain by accident as well as a lot of riding in the rain by accident and on purpose, including motorcycle launches!

I set off in the pouring rain on my Ducati GT1000 to give a set of Dunlop Sportmax Alpha 14 tyres a test on wet roads. Click here for my review of the tyres.

Five reasons to go riding in the rain Ducati GT1000 waterproof wetRiding in the rain is most enjoyable when you are suitably prepared with gear.

I selected a Veldt helmet which has excellent ventilation and anti-fog visor for great visibility, a Draggin Hydro suit, Harley-Davidson Admiral gauntlet weatherproof gloves and Stylmartin Legend RS boots.

Five reasons to go riding in the rain Ducati GT1000 waterproof wet rain
Veldt, Draggin, Harley and Stylmartin gear (Photo thanks to Keith Collett)

Consequently, I stayed dry, comfortable and had great visibility.

Armed with wet-weather riding tips from former World Supersport champion Chris Vermeulen, I headed up the treacherous Mt Glorious!

Five reasons to ride in the rain

  1. Street cred: Let the sugar babies stay at home playing their MotoGP computer games. Get out in the rain and post on social media about it for plenty of street cred.
  2. Road to yourself: Slow-driving tourists, other riders and police tend to stay away when it’s raining, so you have the road all to yourself.
    Five reasons to go riding in the rain Ducati GT1000 waterproof wet
    Lonely roads
  3. No queues: if you stop at your favourite cafe for coffee or lunch, there is no queue, the wait for a coffee is shorter and the quality of your flat white is better because the staff are not in a hurry.
  4. Forced education: Slippery conditions force you to slow down, ride smoothly and concentrate more, which is like forced training. It makes you a better rider in the dry.Five reasons to go riding in the rain Ducati GT1000 waterproof wet
  5. Heightened senses: One of the things we love about riding is the exposure to the elements; the temperature and the smells. In the wet, it is a far more visceral feeling which makes it a lot more fun.

Wet issues

There is one major problem with wet-weather riding; your bike will need a good clean when you’re finished, especially that chrome! And don’t forget to clean and lubricate your chain.

Check out our top 10 tips for cleaning your motorbike.

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Mark Hinchliffe
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19 Comments

  1. 1 Don`t have to stop to pee
    2 Don`t have to stop for a drink of water
    3 No bugs
    4 Less chance of cops on the road
    5 No line up for coffee

  2. When i got my first big bike Harley FXDB it rained for 2 weeks.. I rode to work, I went on mountain rides, I rode to get dinner, I rode everywhere I could in the wet.. first time riding a bike bigger than a 600.

    I had a lot of close calls and quickly learnt that it wasn’t cornering or grip that were issues, it was putting my foot down at a stop which could be risky. Great lesson to learn before I got too confident.

    As for cleaning.. lets just say after about 6 months of riding throughout winter and weather my spoked wheels had more corrosion on them than my uncles 1972 MG with spokes…

  4. Jan 2013 it was a Saturday and I had booked a refresher lesson as I hadn’t been on a bike for many years was I still on a restricted licence.

    The weather leading up to that Saturday wasn’t great been raining etc. I rang the school and said is the lesson still on if it’s raining, the instructors response was we ride rain hail or shine.

    We’ll that Saturday was the long weekend of Australia day and you guessed it, it absolutely threw it down almost cyclonic like nothing unusual for the Gold Coast.

    I was drenched from head to toe, but survived the ride and went on to get my full licence in the next month. The instructor did say if you can ride in those conditions we had that Saturday you can ride in anything.

    Fast forward to now and I’ve owned 3 bikes and have done over 85000kms in all sorts of weather.

    I revel riding in the rain and enjoy the skills it helps you develop and totally agree with the 5 points mentioned

    1. So Tim when you are away on a 2 week trip do you hide inside from the weather and trailer your bike home!

      You’ll never become proficient at anything if your afraid to reach beyond your comfort zone.

        1. Tim, agreed a healthy fear is a good thing no doubt. But riding in the rain isn’t as scary as what you might beleive try it sometime you might be surprised.

        2. So I’m assuming that you don’t do any long distance motorcycling then. You know how it goes it starts off sunshine but invariably on a 2 week trip your bound to get some rain.

          Just recently got back from a Kangaroo Island ride from the Gold Coast and had 40-50km winds with rain with sone suuny days, best trip ever.

          1. I have many miserable miles under my belt from rides in rain, gale force winds, snow and into the double negatives, not to mention avoiding dimwits in tanks trying to end my life. Lets face it I ride for pleasure, cause I like it. I don’t enjoy riding in crap so if given the choice I don’t do it. I have long since given up the need to prove anything to myself or others. If you like it …go for it, I don’t and won’t.
            So I stand by my comments, if its shitty I take the car, if I did otherwise I’d be an idiot.

  7. I live and work in thailand, and I HAVE to ride in th rain, not infrequently. I can say that nearly all Thais with any money at all are snugly in their cars during wet weather.
    In Asia, life in general is far more fastpaced and dangerous, overall….than it is in th USA….and so, Asians see riding in rain as a mark of insanity, not a badge of merit.
    I grew up in VT, USA, hav driven cars and trucks for over 30 yrs, and I dearly miss th option of 4 wheels in wet weather.
    That said, I do agree that wet riding IS good training.

  8. Alf says,
    I agree with all of the above!
    It’s shit when you’re wet through but getting home alive after the odd little slip and slide on the wet roads is a good feeling. It’s the good , the bad and the ugly , but that’s why I ride. Cheers

  9. I did a round trip commute from the Central Coast to Sydney every week day for 9 years. Old road to the Toll way (F3) then, before they ruined it.Had all the gear, and when it poured, water managed to get in somewhere.
    And really shit in Winter. Been riding since 1968, and if it looks like rain. Forget it

  10. Great article, I am the first to confess I take the Ute to work if it’s raining.
    However if I have a overnight ride planned, rain changes nothing, some of most memorable rally’s have rained the entire time

  11. In the days when I couldn’t afford decent gear of any description – boots, gloves, jackets – the best thing about the rain was the hot shower at the end. Now i can afford decent gear and love rain in summer but could do without getting cold, and wet, in winter. For the first time in my life i weakened and bought heated grips last year. That’s the limit.
    Also should mention that after no rain for any length of time, that initial bit of fresh rain deserves respect.

  13. I have found that a fine looking ride becomes “epic” with the addition of rain. Weather can certainly boost any adventure. I foresee to reading your next one.

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