Rain! Another Reason to Love A Spyder

[BikerDoc]

Tonight I was on my Spyder just over 100 miles from home when the skies opened, the lightning and thunder roared, and winds blew fiercely.. On my two wheeler I would still be a 100 miles away from home.. On my spyder I slapped on my rain gear and headed out arriving safely at home two hours later. I was amazed at the stability and handling in these conditions. Also I love my tall windshield (I know many do not) .. It gave me added protection and shelter.

 

[crtravelnmore]

:agree: The tall shield comes in handy on windy and rainy days. Now if I could just get a wiper blade on it.:roflblack:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

:agree:

 

[pathfinderjoe]

rain and more rain

Stability on wet roads was one of the primary reasons I bought my spyder in the first place. When you live in western Oregon if you don't ride in the rain you will only ride in the summer - if we have one.

 

[groundeffect]

:thumbup: I ryde in all conditions here also. My 2010 RS SM5 being my only source of transportation by choice, I have my rain gear with me all the time. I love the splash pans and side panels, they do a great job keeping the water from the roads off us.

As for stability and traction and stability in the rain, :agree:. I also decrease my speed in that kind of weather, regardless, but there definite advantages to the Y factor. Loving it!


Thanks for sharing, glad you are home safe and sound!
Dean

 

[Rando]

Didn't you read the manual? No riding in the rain! :roflblack:

 

[MouthPiece]

Doc, I couldn't agree with you more. I don't know if you were here in Central, Flarda, last February and March when we had the winds and rains, but those months were my "testing grounds" for my spyder. At that time we were having winds upwards to 65 mph and some rains.

I purposefully took my spyder out to ride in those conditions to give me a learning curve of just what this machine would do. The wind presented me a problem more than the rain. I was very comfortable riding my spyder in the rain. I, along with my wife, felt very secure.
The wind was something else. However, I've made some modifications since then, that I'm sure will help in the wind situations.

You hit the nail on the head though with the message you have sent in this thread.

Chris PE # 0004

 

[Bob Denman]

I've been caught out in some less than stellar conditions up here, and found that the fairing does a great job of shoveling the rain around you! :2thumbs:

 

[NancysToy]

One of the main reasons I fell in love with the Spyder concept was its comfort and ability to be ridden in poor weather conditions. The RS does a pretty good job of weather protection...with a larger, aftermarket windshield. The weather protection on the RT is just plain outstanding! If there was no wet backlash, it would be almost perfect.

Even more comforting is the stability. There is nothing as treacherous on a motorcycle as wet leaves. Riding in the rain in the Fall has always provided a pucker factor...until the Spyder came along. One trip down a strange, twisty road, covered with leaves, riding in the rain, will convince anyone of the advantages. There is no sense in arriving at your destination with white knuckles, out of breath from having held it so much along the way. The Spyder makes for a much more relaxed ride in the rain..and a relaxed rider is a safer rider.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: :2thumbs: :clap: hyea:

 

[Lamonster]

:agree: The tall shield comes in handy on windy and rainy days. Now if I could just get a wiper blade on it.:roflblack:

http://www.peerclear.com

 

[Bob Denman]

I admire that Gold-Winger's stubborness! Did that bike also have picks mounted in his snow tires?? :roflblack:

 

[chris56]

Tonight I was on my Spyder just over 100 miles from home when the skies opened, the lightning and thunder roared, and winds blew fiercely.. On my two wheeler I would still be a 100 miles away from home.. On my spyder I slapped on my rain gear and headed out arriving safely at home two hours later. I was amazed at the stability and handling in these conditions. Also I love my tall windshield (I know many do not) .. It gave me added protection and shelter.

if you are "on tour" here in austria/italy you always have to calculate with rain - the spyder is perfect for that (much easier/faster to drive than each bike) the problem i had with the tall shield in the rain - couldn`t see enough - specially in the night with a full-face helmet - with my cutted version i look "over" the shield and just clean my visor with my wiper-gloves (BMW).. had the same problem with my old goldwing..

 

[Brevet05]

Really hard to beat the RT in the rain. Like Chris, and Lamont (on a different thread) have mentioned, the shield can be one layer of plastic too many on a rainy day for good visibility, but it's otherwise a superb machine in the rain. I got caught in the tail end of Hurricane Ivan heading north out of Texas this summer and rode in the wind and rain for a day and a half. My primary concession was giving up the cruise control, although I also slowed down. No issues at all with the handling, just reduced visibility.
hyea:

 

[wukka]

Really hard to beat the RT in the rain. Like Chris, and Lamont (on a different thread) have mentioned, the shield can be one layer of plastic too many on a rainy day for good visibility, but it's otherwise a superb machine in the rain. I got caught in the tail end of Hurricane Ivan heading north out of Texas this summer and rode in the wind and rain for a day and a half. My primary concession was giving up the cruise control, although I also slowed down. No issues at all with the handling, just reduced visibility.
hyea:

One coat of RAINCOAT visor and windshield treatment (two coats, even better!) is all it takes. Visibility is exponentially improved, even in the heavy downpoars.

More info at:
http://www.motosolutions.com/raincoat.html

No, I don't work for this company OR get a commission...I just use the product regularly because here in the Pacific Northwest it is a NECESSITY.

 

[Bob Denman]

:2thumbs: Great tip! Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[YPILOT]

Thanks for the link. I checked them out and placed an order. Dennis

One coat of RAINCOAT visor and windshield treatment (two coats, even better!) is all it takes. Visibility is exponentially improved, even in the heavy downpoars.

More info at:
http://www.motosolutions.com/raincoat.html

No, I don't work for this company OR get a commission...I just use the product regularly because here in the Pacific Northwest it is a NECESSITY.

 

[jenmom22]

What's the coldest, rainest you've ever ridden?

How bad is it before you don't ryde?

It's going to be cold in the morning, and I really want to ryde to work on Fridays, but I will admit to being very much a wimp when it's cold.

It's 70 out there right now but the winds are high, and it's supposed to get a lot colder by morning. I have to go out of town tomorrow night, so ryding over the weekend is not possible.


Just wondering. I have a feeling when I step outside tomorrow (6:30'sh), I'll be bundled up and just head for the car.

 

[LDFIREWORKS]

thanks for the site link :clap::2thumbs:

 

[BajaRon]

:agree: The tall shield comes in handy on windy and rainy days. Now if I could just get a wiper blade on it.:roflblack:

http://www.eglidegoodies.com/id217.html