Should I Ride a Scooter or Motorcycle in the Rain?
The soft light that paints the bedroom walls on a rainy morning is like a sleep drug, seducing the weak deeper under blankets and pillows. Only a desire to ride the Vespa tears me from the next of dreams and into the day. Still, looking out the window at the rain I ask myself, “Should I ride in the rain?”.
At best, rain riding on a scooter or motorcycle in the rain means additional work — physically and mentally. For a recently escaped prisoner of sleep a decision to ride in the rain is not easy to make.
While walking the dog I tested the road surface to see how much of the slippery scum that collects during normal road use was still there or if enough rain had fallen to wash it away. Giving the road some test kicks with my riding boots confirmed that the roads were wet but not slimey. So off I went towards town using detours of my own creation. By the time I stopped to look at Mt. Nittany the rain was beginning to clear.
Riding Risk in the Rain
Out in the sticks the bigger issue with rainy roads is the country debris that can find it’s way into a rider’s path; dirt and mud from trucks and tractors, hay, grass and other crop debris that’s fallen onto the road, and my favorite roadway nightmare — liquid manure that’s dripped from a wide range of manure conveyances. All of these things combined with a little rain can present like insidious traps designed solely to introduce rider to pavement.
This morning was a tough call. I wanted to ride but was resisting the extra gear that makes rain riding tolerable. One last check of the weather radar on my smart phone an I decided to take the risk.
Visibility, Traction and Other Issues
Aside from the traction issues related to rain a rider must keep in mind the changes in visibility. If drivers don’t see you in the daylight who knows what they see in the rain. As much as I love to see the weather changing as I ride I turn up the dial on watching the behavior of others on the road. That’s everything from the teenage driver talking on their phone to the squirrels and groundhogs darting across the road.
Riding into State College, Pennsylvania this morning was a small gift brought on by the decision to undertake a rain ride. I may not always be excited by the prospect of a ride when I’m in bed but once I’m on the road, whether rain, or sleet or dark of night, I absolutely love it.
So, what about rain riding? If anyone asks me if they should ride in the rain I’ll have to tell them I have no idea. But ask me if I should ride in the rain, I can only answer, “Hell yes!”.
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Beautiful pictures Steve! Rain riding isn’t a big deal if you do it with care and dress for it. Living in the Pacific Northwest a good deal of my riding is done in wet soppy weather. It’s rewarding when you see the sun break hug tough followed by a rainbow. The only time it gets crazy is when it’s torrential and drivers don’t see you, which happens in the gloom of fall and winter , and then it’s just about making sure you’re conspicuous .
Seeing the rain break and the sun or rainbow reveal itself makes the trouble of gearing up worth it. But lately, I’ve been having more and more trouble taking the steps to prepare for the challenge of rain, cold, etc. Hopefully it will pass!
I guess I don’t even think twice about riding in the rain these days. Between the sidecar and the Roadcrafter, the weather is just what it is.
That unflappable attitude is a requirement for purchase of a Roadcrafter suit isn’t it? They don’t sell them to whining babies like me…
I rode in the rain until I discovered all the terrible things that running water does to lubricants. Burned out wheel bearings, corroded switches and locking steering head bearings to name a few. If I get caught out, fine, but I’m just too busy to re-oil when I have a watertight car to use.
Interesting. I’ve not seen any water issues on the Vespa. It’s been drenched many times during day long rides along with snow and salt and mud. Maybe it doesn’t have all the moving parts that a motorcycle has. Never considered them to be vulnerable like that. Thanks for the heads up.
Hi, Steve
Geeez, I really like all the green in the photos…we don’t get much of that out here, although this year the monsoon is really just what it’s supposed to be and the cactii have all greened up. The second photo really does it for me. Thanks.
Karl U
Karl, everything is surprisingly green her now. The past few summers were hot and dry and the landscape felt brown rather than green. Lots of rain this summer, in fact we just had a couple inches today. Piston and Pints is cancelled! And the sun is out right now. Oh well…
“I’m singing in the rain, i’m singing in the rain…”
The sound of the tires swishing in the wet and the infrequent twitch due to shallow puddles. The splash from vehicles oncoming and the joy of doing something different than what is normal, daily riding. A somewhat damp Junior at home; who would have done his morning business and then maybe wanted to chase a ball or perhaps return to the warmth of the house.
And our Vespa rider wondering how the damp will affect his arthritis….
Neither Junior or I suffer any ill effects from the rain. He would happily be drenched for the chance to chase the ball. And my arthritis doesn’t seen affected by the rain. I consider that a win!
I like rain…..especially when on three wheels, on two wheels I am mindful of the “slick scum” you mentioned. Still, the lighting of a rainy day, it’s quite nice isn’t it?
I detect two messages in you comment Dom; 1)you’re aware of the wonderful glow of the diffused light on a rainy day, 2)I should get a URAL.
I have found that a beautiful ride becomes “epic” with the addition of rain. Weather can certainly add to any adventure. I look forward to reading your next one.
You are absolutely right in the idea of weather transforming a ride to epic status. Not sure if it’s the ride or the photos though…
For me rain riding is a rarity as I live on the Sunshine Coast in the Sunshine State Queensland Australia. It looks quite cool and grey in your recent pictures so I know how good you must feel arriving at your destination to toss off your rain gear and sit near a fire with a hot cappuccino and a few mates. Akin to yachting its not just the ride but also the destination.
Vespa GTS 300
I do love the feel of being challenged by cold or wet weather and coming inside for something hot to drink. I would probably ride for that experience alone.
Hope all is well in Queensland. Just passed up an opportunity to head down that way — a trip to New Zealand, sort of close. Unfortunately, as with all other work related trips, I seldom have time to spare to be gone long.
I believe we saw you taking the photo with Mt. Nittany in the background as we were coming through State College on 322 with our ST1100 (about 9:15am) . We were returning from a nice weekend at Black Moshannon State Park.
We had packed up camp in diminishing rain but pulling the bike into the pavilion to pack it was handy.
We had our rain suits on but found that the rain stopped right about the time we got going. The lingering weather made for some dramatic scenery as well as a heightened level of excitement (tension?) for the ride.
I got a kick out of seeing you and Pennsylvania’s best known Vespa. I tooted and waved as we passed but you were intent in your photography.
When most individuals think about riding their e-scooter in the rain, the first thought that pops into their mind is probably, “Why not just stick a fork in an electrical socket?