How to ride safely in the rain?

[AZjeff]

It rained here yesterday, first time in months. I was at a stoplight with a new Harley (paper tag) ahead of me sitting in the middle of the lane and the road was just getting wet. Light turned green and he went staying in the middle of the lane the whole time. I was thinking I was told or read years ago when it's wet to ride in one of the tire lanes it's safer especially if it hasn't rained in a while because all the oil drips make the center of the lane slippery until the oil gets washed off. Right or wrong?

 

[Wylie6G72]

I would say middle would be the worst of all evils in the rain, but you either learn the easy way or learn the hard way that you gotta give yourself a lot of stopping distance and keep the bike as vertical as you can in turns.

 

[02SE]

It rained here yesterday, first time in months. I was at a stoplight with a new Harley (paper tag) ahead of me sitting in the middle of the lane and the road was just getting wet. Light turned green and he went staying in the middle of the lane the whole time. I was thinking I was told or read years ago when it's wet to ride in one of the tire lanes it's safer especially if it hasn't rained in a while because all the oil drips make the center of the lane slippery until the oil gets washed off. Right or wrong?

There are several variables. In your scenario, yes, the center of the lane can be more slippery initially when rain starts after a dry spell, due to oil from vehicles. On the other hand the tire tracks can be be slight depressions from the weight of the car and truck tires over the years (more pronounced on asphalt vs concrete), making the potential for hydroplaning higher in the car tire tracks. I got into a torrential downpour last week, and I opted for the less risk of hydroplaning by staying out of the ponding tires tracks of 4-wheeled vehicles.

 

[mrsilv04]

There is nothing "safely" when it comes to a motorcycle.
"Safely" means without risk. Not possible.

The best strategy is to not be on the roads until it has rained enough to rinse them off.

 

[repairman54]

Respect any painted lines. They are always slippery in the rain. I puckered my seat a long time ago on my old '74 Honda 750 learning the easy way.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

Respect any painted lines. They are always slippery in the rain. I puckered my seat a long time ago on my old '74 Honda 750 learning the easy way.

Yes, wet painted lines/crosswalks are very slick. You can feel the difference even if you come to stop and put your feet down on wet painted lines.

 

[Bonz]

There is nothing "safely" when it comes to a motorcycle.
"Safely" means without risk. Not possible.

The best strategy is to not be on the roads until it has rained enough to rinse them off.

Better stay home and keep the car in the garage as well if that's how it goes....

 

[FZ1]

It rained here yesterday, first time in months. I was at a stoplight with a new Harley (paper tag) ahead of me sitting in the middle of the lane and the road was just getting wet. Light turned green and he went staying in the middle of the lane the whole time. I was thinking I was told or read years ago when it's wet to ride in one of the tire lanes it's safer especially if it hasn't rained in a while because all the oil drips make the center of the lane slippery until the oil gets washed off. Right or wrong?

You gotta ride in the middle so as not to "invite" a car to encroach you.

 

[barryh]

One of my pet hates when I was commuting every day on a motorcycle was diesel spills. When it's wet you can see where regular drips of diesel had spread a few molecules thick to form a diffraction pattern. I'd ride on any part of the lane to avoid the diesel spills.

Generally avoid painted lines or metal drain covers in the wet. When I was a 17 year old apprentice I commuted through an industrial park where steel railway lines were embedded into the road surface. they could be lethal and you ideally wanted to cross those at 90 Deg. but it wasn't always possible.

 

[Chris142]

Little of both. The center is slick due to oil. Once it rains it washes into the tire lanes where the water is deeper AND contaminated with oil.

No win no matter where you ride.

 

[mrsilv04]

Better stay home and keep the car in the garage as well if that's how it goes....

And fall down the basement stairs and break an arm?

 

[Bonz]

You gotta ride in the middle so as not to "invite" a car to encroach you.

With respect to rain and the OP's inquiry, it's going to bring the oil and fluids out of the middle road, no bueno unless it's been steady raining for a while. Even on a good day, the middle is still holding the fluids and the regular track of vehicles is the best choice for me, left or right 1/3 of the lane depending on how I want to position myself for my benefit.

For lane positioning on good days, the left 1/3 puts a rider in the most advantageous position for visibility to on coming traffic.

When riding solo on two lane, I use the left 1/3. Pretty much a standard and established preferred position in riding. As oncoming traffic becomes visible, I'll move over to the right 1/3 to give myself a better view of what is behind oncoming traffic (being aware of other vehicles behind me and taking that into account). This also allows drivers following the oncoming car to see me better and lessen the potential for them pulling out to pass the car in front and I can see them making a bonehead move to pass sooner as well. Then move back to the left 1/3. Left 1/3 is the preferred position for me to see and react to deer, elk, bears, dogs, other drivers turning into the road from the right side, etc.

When riding with two or more, staggered is the choice and stay in my 1/3.

On divided or two or more lanes in one direction, left lane is my choice and it's a continual survey and positioning for what is in front, coming up from behind, anticipating the potential for drivers to do "the sweep" and cross multiple lanes, etc.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

You gotta ride in the middle so as not to "invite" a car to encroach you.

Disagree. Offsetting to the side of your lane improves your visibility to cars. For example, if you're in the middle of your lane following a tall SUV, oncoming traffic that may be waiting to turn left in front of you might not be able to see you behind said SUV. If you ride to the left side of your lane behind the SUV, the oncoming traffic has a better view that you're there.

 

[JimPghPA]

I wiped out my 1980 Honda 750K by crossing, from trying to cross from left to right tire lane. It had not rained for many days, and i was stopped behind a car at a light facing uphill and when the light changed and everyone started moving, I crossed tire lanes. The water from the air-conditioning drip from cars was laying in the thick layer of oil from cars dripping onto the road. My back tire broke loose and spun without traction and also slid sideways some. I got off the throttle but those 4 carb did not close quick. The bike was pointing towards the right of the road where there is a huge stone wall made of huge old rectangular blocks. The back tire caught and the bike launched towards the brick wall. I decided not to stay on so I rooled off to the right. But as I fell the bike leaned towards me. I kicked it with all my might and I separated enough from it so it missed me.

All of that happened very quick. My many yesrs if trail riding had me reacting very quick.

So yes, the center of the road is an oil drip slip hazard.

Modern cars don't drip as much as they did in the 80's. And some bikes now days have enough electronics on them to prevent massive rear wheel spin if traction is lost, and today's bikes may respond to throttle close quicker.

But still, treat the center with caution.

I could have been on ice, and I would have had more traction.

 

[FZ1]

Disagree. Offsetting to the side of your lane improves your visibility to cars. For example, if you're in the middle of your lane following a tall SUV, oncoming traffic that may be waiting to turn left in front of you might not be able to see you behind said SUV. If you ride to the left side of your lane behind the SUV, the oncoming traffic has a better view that you're there.

I can see that opinion. I don't ride in traffic or rain. I'm just an early Sunday morning fun rider.

 

[alarmguy]

It rained here yesterday, first time in months. I was at a stoplight with a new Harley (paper tag) ahead of me sitting in the middle of the lane and the road was just getting wet. Light turned green and he went staying in the middle of the lane the whole time. I was thinking I was told or read years ago when it's wet to ride in one of the tire lanes it's safer especially if it hasn't rained in a while because all the oil drips make the center of the lane slippery until the oil gets washed off. Right or wrong?

You are correct. It can be a challenging sometimes because the side of the lane will be grooved out and hold more water. It really takes some thought to the specific conditions

My wife and I have rode through rain storms that I don’t think anyone reading this post could vaguely imagine the severity of some of the storms we rode through. Just keep going slow and easy and keep reminding yourself of that.
I think my wife counted one time a dozen cars on i26 pulled the side of the road as we passed by.

One time by myself, I got sprayed like a fire hose from a semi tractor trailer and no kidding 2 inches of water in my seat on my crotch.
I just feel it’s more dangerous pulling to the side of the road and I don’t mess around with tires I maintain the bike with fresh treaded tires all the time