Scary Moment

[srwilli]

After a year of riding the Spyder, I finally got caught in a thunderstorm.. Wet, yes soaked, but that is not the story... In the right lane, doing around 35 when I ran into a large deep puddle. Water causes front to pull right, also think they hydroplaned.. Did what was natural, steered into the slide and got off the throttle. This taught me that wen riding in the rain, be darn careful of puddles..... Anyone have any suggestions, especially when on highways? San Antonio has horrible drainage problems, and water seems to puddle or just plain run down the roads...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[DrewNJ]

No real good suggestions except the obvious.....slow down and take it easy. Get off the highway if you can.
The spyder handles ok in the pouring rain compared to 2 wheels, but it isn't anywhere near as good in the rain as a car. Acceleration from a stop and deep water are downright ridiculous.
Just take it easy, take your time and ride smart. Also, be glad you were on 3 wheels and not 2!

 

[BikerDoc]

It must not rain much out there if you went a year without getting caught in a thunderstorm.. That happens to me at least once a week. I couple times the nanny has cut my speed when I was hydroplaning and didn't know it but for the most part I experience very little problem and at slower speed I often churn right on down the highway when cars are pulling over - that's my experience with a 2010 and 2012 RTS/Limited but with the 2013 I was riding as a loaner I would pull over immediately and simply get wet.....Its steering is much much looser and problematic for tough condition driving ie. wind or rain.

 

[StanProff]

No real good suggestions except the obvious.....slow down and take it easy. Get off the highway if you can.
The spyder handles ok in the pouring rain compared to 2 wheels, but it isn't anywhere near as good in the rain as a car. Acceleration from a stop and deep water are downright ridiculous.
Just take it easy, take your time and ride smart. Also, be glad you were on 3 wheels and not 2!

:thumbup: I agree. Yep, you can hydroplane. I've had it happen to me but only when hitting a suprise puddle or something. The nanny reacts quick to help you keep control though. I have hit water at times and gave thanks that I wasn't on two wheels. (over 40 years of 2 wheel experience). I know what they do in water and the spyder is 10 to 1 better.

 

[ARtraveler]

Hydroplaning can and will happen with the :spyder2: if you drive through any standing water. I had it happen to me twice on the highway at speed.

There is a warning in the owners manual about hydroplaning. It is a very scarry thing when it happens. Both times the nanny saved the situation.

If you have to drive through pouring rain or worse, avoid those puddles if you can.

 

[Bob Denman]

Everybody else has got you covered...
Slow down, and be alert for the conditons that are gonna make your butt grab the seat with both cheeks! :shocked:

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Also, make sure your tires have plenty of tread.

 

[Bob Ledford]

Rain in SAT TX

Boy you are so right about when it rains in San Antonio it rains. When I was active duty Army being in the Medical Corp we were TDY there a lot of times. But we brought the rain with us every time. One time we were being quartered off post at a motel on the side of a hill and the low part of the hill filled up in a flash flood situation. It was wild to watch!

 

[srwilli]

Bob If you brought the rain every time you came to SA, please come visit. We are in a 3 year drought.. Need all the help we can get for rain


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[txroadrunner]

Bob If you brought the rain every time you came to SA, please come visit. We are in a 3 year drought.. Need all the help we can get for rain


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I live east of 281/46 and it rained enough just before lunch today to almost settle the dust! :yes:

 

[Chupaca]

There you go...!!

all good suggestions. The roads here drain well and not much rain so the few times we have been caught in a down pour we just had to slow down and watch the semi's...:thumbup:

 

[daltmeyer]

I like the spyder in some rain, however downpours are a different matter.

The first week of July I went down to ride the Dragon, Devils Triangle, Cherahala, and then over to the Rattler, Snake, and Diamondback ... I rode them all in the rain and the last couple in constant downpours. Flash flooding was almost everywhere I went all the sudden where at first it was just following me.

My machine handled ALL these roads like a dream. Im especially proud of it getting through the last few, where I really had NO BUSINESS going, especially alone in this crazy weather... It was all fun and games to me until my waterproof boots were full of water because I forgot to put my liner in my mesh overpants and the rain ran down my legs right into my boots. ARGH! The right gear dont do anything for you if you dont put it on at the proper time!

Anyway, back on topic. Halfway through the Diamondback I bailed out and took a turn toward the interstate 81 and try to head home and outrun or get through this storm system. No luck! It was a rainforest type flood coming down the whole way just about.

I hydroplaned 3 times. My nanny said nothing. My machine handled it well. Each time got my full attention. haha. You will definately know it when it happens! Be smart, be lucky, and your Spyder will get you home.

My nanny dont mess with me so far and thats fine with me. Maybe the previous owner figured out how to turn it off?

 

[MouthPiece]

Make sure you have toilet paper with you. :yikes:

Chris

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

HYDRO-PLANING

This is compounded with the Spyder ....not only do we have large footprint tires ......we also have relatively little weight per square inch of footprint unlike a car....so the Spyder tends to float easier........JMHO....Mike :thumbup:

 

[NancysToy]

This is compounded with the Spyder ....not only do we have large footprint tires ......we also have relatively little weight per square inch of footprint unlike a car....so the Spyder tends to float easier........JMHO....Mike :thumbup:

So it's like riding a bobber? ...oh, not that kind of bobber. :roflblack:

 

[MikeinGA]

This is compounded with the Spyder ....not only do we have large footprint tires ......we also have relatively little weight per square inch of footprint unlike a car....so the Spyder tends to float easier........JMHO....Mike :thumbup:

MIKE
You mean the VSS doesn't work for that, it should have a rain gauge and put you in limp mode. :roflblack:

Mike

 

[Bob Denman]

So it's like riding a bobber? ...oh, not that kind of bobber. :roflblack:

This one...
, and not... :thumbup: