Thought I share this with those of you in CA and anyone else that can split lanes (legally or otherwise in other states). The following statement is in no way a endorsement for any said reader to violate their respective state, local, and/or county motorcycle traffic law(s). Nor is it a suggestion or encouragement to exceed the riding capability and/or skills of the intented audience. This poster, its affiliates, agents, and repliers, shall not be liable, financially or otherwise, for any actions, intended coarse of actions, in the proceeding topic thread/subject matter to be discussed.
Okay, now that the legalnese is out of the way. I recently found a way to ALMOST outrun the rain while riding my busa. Can say this would work with any other bike (since the busa was built from a aerodynamic design), or for any other rider (I'm about 140 lb, 5' 8" or 9" on the boney side), but it worked twice for me.
On my last couple of wet weather rider from my GF's place in San Diego back to my place near Pasadena (approx 120 mile each way), I found that if some ways to stay pretty dry, even during a moderate to moderate heavy downpour (where cagers have to have their wipers on high). I'll break it down:
* Body positioning: This is the first and most vital. Tuck in as much as you can where your helmet is nearly resting on the tank, or if you're taller right behind the windshield above the triple tree.
* Visor: "sticky" rain drops on your visor is one of the worst. Tucking in as mentioned above will eliminate 85% of the rain from getting on your visor in the first place. For that acculmulated 15%, you can occasionally raise your head up just enough so your visor is level with where to windshield ends to have the wind blast away those pesty rain droplets from your visor.
* Need wind: Tucking as much as possible is only 50% of the remedy. You would need to get a strong wind to flow so you can take advantage of your body position and the busa's excellant aerodynamic design. Keeping a minimun 75 mph hour wind will blow most of the rain droplets from the busa OVER your tucked in body instead of letting the rain drops hit your body vertically from above.
* Need Speed for Wind: This is going to be the tricky part, it will require skills, concentration, confidence in yourself and you busa. Riding on wet roads is scary enough as it is, but couple that with dense traffic condition where cages just naturally slow down, and sometimes to a stop because it's raining can be the ultimate nerve racker. In CA, where it's legal to split lanes, do it... at 70 - 75 mph, even when the cages are moving around 20 - 30 mph. I found that in order for me to keep the rain droplets from hitting me vertically, I would have to keep a high enough speed to keep the wind blowing the rain OVER my busa and my body. Heavier the raing the faster I have to keep the speed up, even during the lane splitting... sometimes to about 90 mph.
* Cops: Yes, there is the threat of that. But under those conditions of dense traffic, where especially there is a congestion, the chances of being pulled over is less likely. The cop will have to CATCH UP to you first, and that's pretty hard when their cages are stuck in the congestion with everyone else. I don't recall seeing any biker cops out in the rain, I think they head back to the station and call it the day.
Twice I rode in the rain, once mild to moderate, and the second time moderate to moderately heavy. Both times I had my usual Alpinestar leather jacket and leather pants on. Both times, I got home with my jacket just barely damp to the touch, my pants were nearly dry.
Okay, now that the legalnese is out of the way. I recently found a way to ALMOST outrun the rain while riding my busa. Can say this would work with any other bike (since the busa was built from a aerodynamic design), or for any other rider (I'm about 140 lb, 5' 8" or 9" on the boney side), but it worked twice for me.
On my last couple of wet weather rider from my GF's place in San Diego back to my place near Pasadena (approx 120 mile each way), I found that if some ways to stay pretty dry, even during a moderate to moderate heavy downpour (where cagers have to have their wipers on high). I'll break it down:
* Body positioning: This is the first and most vital. Tuck in as much as you can where your helmet is nearly resting on the tank, or if you're taller right behind the windshield above the triple tree.
* Visor: "sticky" rain drops on your visor is one of the worst. Tucking in as mentioned above will eliminate 85% of the rain from getting on your visor in the first place. For that acculmulated 15%, you can occasionally raise your head up just enough so your visor is level with where to windshield ends to have the wind blast away those pesty rain droplets from your visor.
* Need wind: Tucking as much as possible is only 50% of the remedy. You would need to get a strong wind to flow so you can take advantage of your body position and the busa's excellant aerodynamic design. Keeping a minimun 75 mph hour wind will blow most of the rain droplets from the busa OVER your tucked in body instead of letting the rain drops hit your body vertically from above.
* Need Speed for Wind: This is going to be the tricky part, it will require skills, concentration, confidence in yourself and you busa. Riding on wet roads is scary enough as it is, but couple that with dense traffic condition where cages just naturally slow down, and sometimes to a stop because it's raining can be the ultimate nerve racker. In CA, where it's legal to split lanes, do it... at 70 - 75 mph, even when the cages are moving around 20 - 30 mph. I found that in order for me to keep the rain droplets from hitting me vertically, I would have to keep a high enough speed to keep the wind blowing the rain OVER my busa and my body. Heavier the raing the faster I have to keep the speed up, even during the lane splitting... sometimes to about 90 mph.
* Cops: Yes, there is the threat of that. But under those conditions of dense traffic, where especially there is a congestion, the chances of being pulled over is less likely. The cop will have to CATCH UP to you first, and that's pretty hard when their cages are stuck in the congestion with everyone else. I don't recall seeing any biker cops out in the rain, I think they head back to the station and call it the day.
Twice I rode in the rain, once mild to moderate, and the second time moderate to moderately heavy. Both times I had my usual Alpinestar leather jacket and leather pants on. Both times, I got home with my jacket just barely damp to the touch, my pants were nearly dry.
