Has anyone experience a "DEATH WOBBLE" in the rain?

[Wippi01]

Definitely a helpful thread! To be honest: I wouldn't have thought of disengaging the cruise control in rain ☔... Now I surely will!!!

[Bob Denman]

Here's what they look like from a "sort of", safe distance...

[ARtraveler]

Thanks for the video Bob. Glad we have three wheels. That would be a bit beyond my comfort level.

[Bob Denman]

If you think that the CHPS Harley was bad; those old H-2s were WAAAAYYYYY... worse!

After I added a couple of hundred pounds worth of lights and chrome to it; my GoldWing would "blur the bars" at the worst possible times as well...
(It's actually a steering head shake...)

[bluestratos]

I hit a new stretch of asphalt coming out of Oregan traveling north with trailer in tow. Without warning she broke loose and started sliding sideways as the trailer tried to pass me on the left. I did not hit the brakes and I steer into it but nothing worked. It then swung left the back right as I was bleeding speed off but I never had good control until I shot across 3 lanes and wound up on the gravely shoulder. I reduced speed to 50 after that but it happened again, not quite as dramatic. At 40 it was better but she would spin the back wheel occasionally. It was in a light rain early on a Sunday morning so no traffic or the results would have been different.

I have also had my big touring bike start to head shake lock to lock at very high speed (not going to mention the actual speed, lol) while driving on a dry freeway. The bars were snapping back an forth so violently I thought they would break my arms. All i could do was to let the speed bleed off until the banging stopped. Luckily I did not panic but the guy in the Camero next to me witnessed the event and when I pulled over he pulled up behind and said he never seen anything like that before and he also road touring bikes. He said it sounded like some one was firing a 50 cal machine gun next to him. Ahhhh those were the good old days, lol.

[Rogue Hawk]

If anything, I assume a spyder would be more prone to hydroplaning than a two wheel bike because the there is more rubber on the road. But of course, if a two wheeler does hydroplane, the results are far more disastrous than on a spyder.

[glasspyder]

Breaking the rear end loose is a weakness.... I think I've been riding wrong all this time.
V

[Yazz]

The fat rear tire on the Spyder makes it more prone to hydroplaning, your front tires too, depending on the depth of water.

Know first hand on a two-wheelie you can recover from a 'death wobble' aka 'tank slapper. The front wheel will wobble for a variety or reasons.

With all the drama with the front wheel gone crazy, slow down, gain control, pull the seat out of your pucker factor and move on.

[AeroPilot]

Thank you all for your input! I am currently on the road riding my Spyder F3-S visiting both friends and family... especially my grandkids! I traded in my 2008 Spyder GS for the F3-S and was concerned because my GS was awesome in the rain, however it did not have cruise control. I have experienced hydroplaning before in a car but my Spyder incident left me thinking that there might be something wrong with my bike... but it does make sense what you folks are telling me! I love my new Spyder F3-S but in the rain I sure do miss my GS!

Just got our 15 RT-S and love the power and torque from the 1330 engine. I haven't tried the F3 yet 'cause I'm afraid it might be catching
I do like and overuse my cruise on the RT (and other vehicles) and I'm afraid a hot-rod F3 might be a little too much GO and not enough WHOA for me.

[vided]

The fat rear tire on the Spyder makes it more prone to hydroplaning, your front tires too, depending on the depth of water.

Know first hand on a two-wheelie you can recover from a 'death wobble' aka 'tank slapper. The front wheel will wobble for a variety or reasons.

With all the drama with the front wheel gone crazy, slow down, gain control, pull the seat out of your pucker factor and move on.

i'll be back, got to go change my draws

[Bob Denman]

Those stubby little bars don't give you much leverage in those situations.
At least with the set of "Longhorns", that come on the Goldwings; it's a fair fight!

[jwood4242]

The fat rear tire on the Spyder makes it more prone to hydroplaning, your front tires too, depending on the depth of water.

Know first hand on a two-wheelie you can recover from a 'death wobble' aka 'tank slapper. The front wheel will wobble for a variety or reasons.

With all the drama with the front wheel gone crazy, slow down, gain control, pull the seat out of your pucker factor and move on.

Made me panic and I'm sitting in my easy chair How do you recover from something like that? I would freeze for sure!

[Yazz]

Those stubby little bars don't give you much leverage in those situations.
At least with the set of "Longhorns", that come on the Goldwings; it's a fair fight!

Had a set of "Chubby Apes" on when it happened. Not something you want experience often.

[hawkiii]

Holy cow! That will put a spot on the front seat! That video was quite a ride.