[DougInKY]

Today I took my Burgman 650 out in the rain for the first time. I have had the bike for a little over a month and have been avoiding the rain until now as I was getting used to the bike. Today, it was raining off and on and I decided to let it get used to having rain and such as comes with the rain on it. This bike is not going to be a garage queen. Never had one, never expect to have one. My motorcycles do get baths on occasion, usually I let God wash them for me.

I was pleasantly surprised by this bike on wet pavement. The thing sticks to the road pretty well. I didn't get crazy (after all this was my first ride on this bike in the rain) but I didn't do anything special except for my usual habits on wet pavement (read David Hough's books if you are curious about my wet road habits). Yep, this bike is going to cut the mustard for me. Not one surprise from the bike on wet pavement.

Next test. Dirt roads...

 

[Dave_J]

Today I took my Burgman 650 out in the rain for the first time. <<<SNIP>>> Next test. Dirt roads...

Guess no getting that cat back in the bag.

 

[DougInKY]

Yeppers. I have been riding motorcycles for over 50 years. That cat was out of the bag many years ago. I always take it easy on a bike that is new to me when I first start out with it now days. The days of jumping on a new to me bike and taking off riding "like I stole it" are far behind me. Now I just kind of ease up on them. Still ride the daylights out of them, it just takes a little longer to get to that point now.

I know just the dirt road I am going to use to introduce the Burgman to the dirt. It runs through the back of Mammoth Cave National Park. Washboarded and usually rutted. Good one to ride. Runs a little over 3 miles through the deep woods.

Here in my part of Kentucky it seems as if the local counties have taken the mission of paving everything. It is getting harder and harder to find dirt/gravel roads now.

 

[Mike337]

What are the top 3 tips for riding in rain? :?:

 

[Dave_J]

What are the top 3 tips for riding in rain? :?:

My top three:
1) Ride like you are invisible.
2) Wear highly reflective waterproof gear. See tip 1).
3) Ride and corner like you are on a sheet of greased glass. They, the motorcycle tire manufactures, say that you have about 80% of your traction in the rain. That goes down to about 20% if the lane is greased or paint strips like crosswalks and stop lines. All the cage drivers still are in a hurry, and you going slow are in their way. Lay your bike down with a SUV tailgating you is not a good thing, It disrupts their cell phone call.

 

[DougInKY]

Dave has answered this pretty well, I was going to add to it but I think he has all the bases covered. I might have put the SUV on the cell phone higher in the list but then we have to deal with them when riding on dry pavement too. So, he got it down here pretty well...

 

[Noth]

Last summer I got caugt in a absolute downpour deluge and was pleasantly surprised at how my 650 handled.. I was wearing a mesh jacket and got drenched.. but that was no big deal.. I pulled into a bank drive through.. It was labor day so they were closed.. I took everything off , rung it out & went on my way..

 

[Rusty J]

What are the top 3 tips for riding in rain? :?:

#1 Good tires with lots of tread left.

I'll leave the rest for everyone else to fill in, but this is extremely important.

 

[DougInKY]

And today... I didn't make it to the dirt but got to go on a ride with some friends (most of them were on sport bikes). Got on some twisties and surprised myself. The Burgman kept up especially so once I put it in power mode and took it out of drive. Found I could power through the corners without any problems and the bike behaved just like one with a manual transmission. Also found it shifts faster than I can when using a clutch. Also found that I really need to haul on the brakes for hard braking with my wife on the back. Never have ridden spirited before two up. Braking distance and effort really changes with a second person on the bike. Had a ball. Felt like a youngster again.

Now I know the bike will do this, I will go back to riding like a 62 year old man rather than a youth of 20 something. I did surprise a few of my friends though that I can keep up if I want to. And on a scooter at that... Ha!

 

[TwoWheelers]

...And on a scooter at that... Ha!

As you've found out: It's a motorcycle with the gas tank relocated. :thumbup: :cheers:

 

[Chaplain KC]

If you are going to ride a wash board, wear a kidney belt! The suspension in these are stiff. It helps in the twisties though! I ride mine on gravel roads every day and I find that it handles them much better than that old cruiser I used to have. Also, I tell my friends I either ride a giant scooter or a mini touring bike. I'm not quite sure. :lol:

 

[Aladinbama]

What are the top 3 tips for riding in rain? :?:

My top three:
1) Ride like you are invisible.
2) Wear highly reflective waterproof gear. See tip 1).
3) Ride and corner like you are on a sheet of greased glass. They, the motorcycle tire manufactures, say that you have about 80% of your traction in the rain. That goes down to about 20% if the lane is greased or paint strips like crosswalks and stop lines. All the cage drivers still are in a hurry, and you going slow are in their way. Lay your bike down with a SUV tailgating you is not a good thing, It disrupts their cell phone call.

#3 is kind of hard in my commute to work. There are a BUNCH of trucks that use a particular turn. If it's early in the rain you might as well be riding on wet tile. I had the front wheel slide about a foot one day as I was crawling around the corner - that was a Michelin City Grip w/17K on it, it got changed that next weekend.
I actually rode most days to work this spring early summer. I have a set of Frogg Toggs and managed to keep dry. Of course my wife thought I was insane. What can I say? I love to ride!

 

[DougInKY]

If you are going to ride a wash board, wear a kidney belt! The suspension in these are stiff. It helps in the twisties though! I ride mine on gravel roads every day and I find that it handles them much better than that old cruiser I used to have. Also, I tell my friends I either ride a giant scooter or a mini touring bike. I'm not quite sure. :lol:

I wear a kidney belt most of the time when riding. It is actually a Back-A-Line. Helps with my lower back as well. I have worn a kidney belt/lower back brace since I was in my 20's. It only took urinating blood once to get my attention.