CONFESSIONS OF A VETERAN ROOKIE: Fred Rau is one of my favorite motorcycle writers and I enjoy reading whatever he has to say every month. Over the decades, his words have been all over the moto mags so you have likely read him, as well. In and old issue of Motorcycle Consumer News (March 2009), Read more about “Rookie Mistakes” for Touring Riders[…]
THE BEST PART ABOUT RIDING IN THE RAIN: Having ridden through every imaginable type of rain condition all over North America, I consider the best part about rain riding to be that period for about an hour after the rain stops, when everything is wet and clean. Sort of like Mother Nature getting out of the shower, reinvigorated to take on life.
Of course, that perspective can be influenced by other factors, including the temperature, and how windy it might be, but there is something uniquely refreshing about riding through rain and continuing to ride after the rain stops….
Motorcycle riding in the rain isn’t for everyone. Some riders are so concerned about avoiding rain, that they may avoid riding if there exists even a remote possibility of rain in the forecast.
And of course, they would also miss many fine riding opportunities, regardless of whether it rained or not.
Others ride every day, in good or bad weather. (Heck, some riders even brave the snow! Which is another subject altogether).
If you are a rider who ventures out of town for overnight excursions or longer, you need to be prepared for rain.
And if you are a rider who commutes to work, regardless of rain, you will absolutely encounter wet weather – and at times, LOTS of it.
In brief, whether you are on a cross-country tour, or heading to work on Monday morning – if it’s raining – the main things that you need to accomplish are staying warm and dry while riding with a higher level of safety awareness.
Let’s take a look at our options for staying dry during wet-weather motorcycle riding, from head to toe…. […]
There are times when I really do wish I were an invisible rider: particularly during those instants of startled realization that my speedometer is indicating the wrong enjoyment factor at the wrong time – at least relative to some long-gone road engineer or lawmaker who determined the speed limit. However, regardless of how invisible we Read more about The Invisible Motorcyclist to the Rescue![…]
There are lots of different motorcycles. And at the rate manufacturers keep developing bikes for more and more and narrower niches, it won’t be too long before you’ll need to hire a consultant just to figure out whether you are best suited on a cruiser, dual-purpose, sport bike, tourer, sport tourer, standard, dirt bike, super Read more about Motorcycle Survival in 3 Seconds[…]
Do you have more riding gloves than might make sense to a casual observer? If you are a season rider, you’ve probably got a few pairs to select from, when you crank over your bike’s motor. Some gloves are easy to justify: Motorcycle gloves for hot weather. Riding gloves for cool weather. Different gloves for Read more about Motorcycle Riding Gloves: How Many Are Too Many?[…]
Whether you describe “Hot Weather†as 80 degrees or 110 degrees, if you are riding for several hours in heated temperatures, the main thing to prevent is also the most obvious: DEHYDRATION. Dehydration is excessive loss of water from the body. Motorcyclists should not think too lightly of this malady. Dehydration can lead to a Read more about Hot Weather Survival Tactics for Motorcyclists[…]
I love desert riding. Except, of course, in the summer. What I learned over the past 4 days and 1200 miles (California Coast and Sonoran Desert loop) is that it will be a while before a motorbike and I do that in the summer again! Does 117 degrees mean “Hot” to you, too? Unless you Read more about Motorcycle Riding In 117 Degrees[…]
Are the heads of American motorcycle riders more, or less hardy, than those piloting English and Australian motorbikes? Your guess is as good as mine! But here is what a British and Australian review found: “Motorcyclists are at high risk in traffic crashes, particularly for head injury. A review of studies concluded that helmets reduce Read more about Motorcycle Heads Across the Atlantic & Pacific[…]
Fred Rau was hanging out at the Friction Zone (magazine) booth at the IMS show last month in Long Beach, CA. I yapped with him for a short spell about his motorcycle writing. I’ve been enjoying his articles for many years in Motorcycle Consumer News (MCN), where Fred served as the Editor, and later, Senior Read more about Fred Rau: Loooong-Time Moto Journalist[…]
Beware! If you are here to celebrate the religion of motorcycle tires and their infinite nuances, which are most appreciated by the high priests of motorcycle high-performance, you are in the wrong place. And if you are seeking insights into the dark side of the motorcycle tire religion, those whom swear to the efficacy of Read more about Motorcycle Tires vs. Car Tires[…]
What’s the simplest thing you and I can do, as part of our motorcycle riding, to increase our enjoyment AND safety? Its simplicity belies its value. Take a break. Get off the bike and rest. Taking a break after riding for a while helps us to become more alert when we get back in the Read more about This Simplest Component of More Effective Motorcycle Riding[…]
Riding can be great fun on one end of an emotional spectrum and perhaps too relaxing on the other end of the same spectrum. And in between, a whole lot of different emotions can be experienced, as well. Regardless of whether we are riding in the city, or on a deserted country road, constant alertness Read more about Ride Alertly[…]
“Check your bike before each ride” and “Wear all your safety equipment” are two practical pieces of advice in a public service announcement (see below) that features US Secretary of Transportation, Mary E. Peters (served 2006 to 2009 under President George W. Bush), who is also a motorcycle rider. While she was Secretary of Transportation Read more about Motorcycle Video: U.S. Secretary of Transportation on Motorcycle Safety[…]
Answer: If you never crash — you don’t need a helmet. Alas, if only life were that simple. Riders around the world have ideas, pro and con, about wearing protective helmets. There is a certain physical and emotional sensation — like no other — that is engendered when not wearing a helmet while riding a Read more about Question: Do You Need a Helmet?[…]