Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Who rides in the rain?

So far I have been for the most part a fair weather rider for going to work. I'll hop around town in the rain but my work is about 25 miles one way. Now that gas is $4.36 a gallon and it's been raining for two weeks straight I'm thinking I may get some rain gear. I was wondering if you die hards out there have suggestions on what to get-gear wise. Are there like one piece suits, pants etc that are nice-that members like etc?? Tips for making sure all is ok with my TBA in the wet stuff. And of course just curious how many of you ride in the rain for daily commutes?
Power to the people getting 40 + MPG!!

Alpinestar El Nino. One piece rain suit, best I've ever used. Longest single run using this suit 480 miles in the p*ssing rain, leathers underneath still dry. Can't say much better than that. Not cheap, but worth the money.

I generally won't ride if it's raining in the morning, but my house is only 7 miles from my office. Not worth getting suited up for a rainy ride. If it's clear in the morning but there's a good chance it will rain later, I'm riding. I have Frogg Toggs. They're awesome.

I just use a cheap pair of waterproof over trousers that can roll up small and live in my tool roll.
There is nothing worse than being miles from home and caught in the rain and realising your waterproofs are warm and snug at home

That's what I like about the Frogg Toggs. I started out with a set of Harley raingear and it didn't pack down well at all. The FTs roll up nice and tight.

It's perverse but, as long as it's not cold, i kind of enjoy riding in the rain. Probably wouldn't ride to work or in serious traffic though.

If it's not raining when I am getting ready to go, then I'm riding. I don't mind getting caught in the rain on the way in, but i don't like getting wet on the way out and being wet all day.
Ken

John: there seem to be a bunch of different frogg toggs stuff, do you know which you've got? I would like something that packs down.

I guess I'm either a wimp or a sissy now a days... I just won't ride if it's even a chance of rain... I have 25 miles to work.. On a very nasty highway.. Watching for deer is hard enough in nice weather.... It's OK, if I don't ride to work and it's nice when I get home it's.......... On the bike. V.

Dang it John in all honesty when I started the thread it was more of a commentary in my head than a gear question. But you are spot on with moving it old buddy. Thanks for moving the thread.
I can change when I get to work so even I I was soaked to the gills I could get by for the day. I'll check out the input. I like the idea of a suit I can jump onto like evil kienevil. Man I butchered that spelling huh?

I try not to ride in the rain at all. However, I did get caught at work once on the bike when it started raining a frog strangler. Several trash bags and roll of scotch tape made me a pretty decent rain suit. Stayed relatively dry.

I'm still a little wet behind the ears (no pun intended) to ride in the rain. I've done it, but not by choice. I found my waterproof boots filled up quickly.

Actually the Frogg Toggs I have you can't get anymore, as they don't sell separates. If it's cold I just where my bib pants because I'll have my zero condition Fieldsheer jacket on. If it's hot out I'll take the FT jacket as well. It's bulkier because it has a hood built in to the collar. They also don't make 4XL anymore. I didn't really need them but the 2X was too small and in the end I liked the extra room to fit over bulky leather jackets and chaps.

Post deleted by Hermit

I ussually stay away from rain, BUT.... Have a waterproof Tourmaster jacket, with light-weight pants that barely fit over the chaps. The one reason I don't ride in the rain is that my bike (Woody)will warp........

I just upgraded my Frogg Toggs to the new Road Toads for our cross country trip... made a little roomier to fit over gear and broader tape at the seams. Have not had call to use them yet since all our rain has come with the promise of hail (do not have hail mail) but I road a LOT in the summer rains with my regular frogg toggs and loved them.

Paul and I got caught in West Memphis last year in May and road almost past Little Rock in a cold down pour.
Hope to get some good rain gear soon,my stuff is out dated.

I'll bet that the higher quality rain gear is great, but I've always got along fine with the plain ole cheapo, blue or yellow pant and shirt rain combo's from wally world. The pants usually have an elastic waist, and the shirt usually snaps or elastic cuffs. Pretty much rain proof, I'd say, 96%. And one more thing, while I much prefer a sunny day, one gets used to riding in the rain. And, I'd rather ride my bike in the rain than spend a day at work!

I can't purposely ride in the rain anymore because I live on a mud road. The big problem here is wind, last 2 days we've had winds to 50 MPH with gusts to over 60. On days like this I take the Cummins AWD Dodge and hope that not too many little tin foil cars get blown under my wheels.

I commute rain or shine. But I live close to work so it's not a major issue. I usually just get wet rather than the hassle of getting in and out of rain gear.

FWIW: I prefer 2-piece to 1-piece suits - the latter are trickier to get on and off and I get impatient with them. I'll wear my full face helmet (instead of my open face helmet) if I know it's going to rain. I haven't tried really expensive rain gear but the medium priced stuff doesn't seem very durable - especially with the zips. I keep getting the plastic jammed in the zip.

Having a 65mile one way trip to work, it’s just no fun in the Fort Worth traffic, then to have to change when I get here,,,. I did have a Dry Rider suit. It was pretty nice but got too small (darn didn’t know nylon/plastic could get smaller!!)

I don’t like to start in the rain, but if I have to, I’ll put the Rain suit on. If I get caught in the rain, as long as it’s not cold, I’ll keep going. By the time you stop and change under an overpass, and get going the sun comes back out! Then you’re melting.

I noticed If I carried my suit in my bags I never needed them, but the day I left them on the work bench I was a wet duck!

From the age of 17 until I was 21,I only had motorcycles and only a motorcycle liscense.I rode everyday,rain hail or shine so these days the only time I'll ride in the rain is if I'm caught in it .If it's raining before hand I don't ride.

I agree with Friar John and generally won't ride if it is already raining before my morning commute. That is unless my trouble & strife needs our only car and then my TBA has to brave it in the wet. Actually the wet ride doesn't faze me in the slightest, it's just all the cleaning you have to do to get your pride & joy back into that pristine condition again. I've been lucky down here in the Land of Oz. In 5 months of TBA ownership, I have only been caught out once in all that time on my homeward bound commute where my TBA got and un-welcomed soaking of road grime. Wet weather gear will nearly always leak in the crutch area first, especially in a low slung seat that allows water to collect in your crutch area. I keep a couple of pairs of socks and underwear at work just in case of this but so far I've been lucky not to have to call on it.

I live in the SUNSHINE STATE it never Rains

I was looking at raingear the other day. Cycle Gear.com and their stores have some cheap China made suits NOT worth it Spend a little more money and get a good suit..

P.s. don't foreget about waterproof gloves!

i don't make it a habbit, but will if i need to.
i have water proof gloves, boots and a nice rain suit.

I'm not keen on starting a ride in the rain but I'll put on my one-piece rain suit and keep going. It's an old out-of-date Triumph yellow job that is dry and breathable...that, a full face helmet and synthetic gloves (because leather bleeds dye) and you're good to go. I waterproof my boots with acrylic Resinol from the saddle shop, works pretty good if you keep a fresh coat on.

I have Frogg Toggs and a Triumph 1 piece. Froggies are a cooler, a pain to put on. The Triumph is easy to put on, 2 zippers and you are ready. A pair of <Choker?> slip on rain boots.
They will keep you dry during Hurricane Bonnie, here in Fla. They both do a Great job. Do like the Frogg Toggs better

I ride almost every day. If it's really pouring I'll sometimes wear my fieldsheer suit.. excellent protection, but lots of loose cloth to get caught in the zips. Once it's on I'm totally sealed up. Usually it's just leather jacket and chaps, (and the road king with its full windshield)

I'm cheap, so I was looking on Amazon and some of the reviews said the pants melted on the Frogg Toggs with the heat form the pipes. Not necessarily touching the pipes but just the heat. Any of you guys had that problem?

I live in Oregon, so yep, I ride in the rain. Even if it's sunny when I leave.
Seriously, I have Triumph rain pants, and a Cycle Gear Clearance rack Rain Jacket that works very well. After my trip to Anacortes this last year, I will be purchasing some boot covers and waterproof gloves in the next couple of weeks. Just in case.


John Q - What is this cleaning of your bike you were mentioning? I am unfamiliar with the term. I think Keith did it to my bike once.

Had no choice in the tropics. Hardest thing was the heat. Tropical downpoars are pretty impressive on a bike. Should tell you the story of the rain filled goggles! I now use these wax cotton zip in half pants they are great and I alternate between my oilskin coat and a Dri Rider coat with wax cotton over gloves

Well, I suppose that THIS might be the lone thing that Harley-Davidson motorcycles have over our Triumphs, John.

Ya see, while our header pipes flow out on both sides of our bikes and thus doubling the chance of that happening, Harleys have theirs sittin' ONLY on the right side, BUT they ALSO have that "nice" big ol' air-cleaner sittin' there TOO and keepin' your right knee out there in the breeze AND far far away from those rainsuit melting header pipes!!!

(...wasn't that nice of The Motor Company to think of that?!)

I have found the best way to deal with rain is to strip naked, and put your clothes in the saddle bags so they don't get wet. Then jump out there and ride. If you take a small spray bottle of liquid soap with you. You can get a high pressure shower while your out. Yea it hurts a bit but life is pain.

Which one of these are you Chad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-yzKvkysWg&feature=related

I have the one-piece Triumph Chevron suit, and it seals up pretty well. Does not breath well in warmer temps, though. Highly visible/reflectivity though, and that's a plus.

Had I to do that purchase over again, I would do the two-piece Chevron suit, as there are times I want to put the pants on if rain is light or threatening, then I can put on the top later if necessary. Road splash will get pants and boots wet even though you can stay dry up top sometimes.

Besides, putting on the rain pants would be easier than putting on the one-piece. I've waited until wet or nearly wet to stop and put the one-piece on before....

For those with the resources, that $800.00+ Roadcrafter is waterproof, too.

Dang. Lot's of thoughts already expressed.

Rain? Let's talk wardrobes predicated with a ten mile commute which is forgiving of bad choices.

one piece chevron suit. Old trumpet green one. Yeah it leaks in the crotch but have found that thrusting your hips forward once or twice keeps the puddle at a minimum. This suit is always in the port saddlebag.

Rain gear wardrobe
Chaps, leather rocker jacket with the buckle cut off (dern tank scratchers), and a red textile trumpet jacket with rain overcoat.

Chaps are used in conjunction with either jacket because the road spray will soak the front pants legs up close to the bottom of your knee. This combo is used when the rain is fleeting and the roads are wet. The red jacket is sweet for riding in these conditions sans the chaps too. One ride's fully flexed, keeping the buttock cheeks off the saddle and take (divert) the brunt of the light rain using the overcoat. The rocker jacket is nice for light mistings solo as it will provide some water proofing for the cellphone and such.

Winter days: the rain suit at the first hint of rain. Roads already wet but the rain has stopped? Well I'm already wearing the unmentioned Montana jacket fka the New York jacket with chaps so water repellency is present.

Comments?

Nice to only have a ten mile commute. Nice to have saddle bags. Nice to have winters only in name not temperatures. Ride in the rain? As Kojok says, "Yeah baby". Riding in the wet has its own esoteric joys. Windscreens change the whole dynamic for wet riding. Yet they also change the nature of the phrase "In the Wind" once spoken of to me in rural GA riding home from the '08 AR rally. Dear old Lady had the wisdom of ages.

Macon Georgia
The Big House
The 31st of February
Morning Dew

Been using Frogg Toggs for years-never melted 'em. And a Rocket 3 gets mighty hot on the right side-no issue at all.