Riding on wet roads, how fast is too fast?

[Versatile337]

I was riding around on the wet roads a little today and I noticed that you can really see how far you leaned over by what part of the tire is wet. I've ridden in full out thunderstorms before so I'm not really new to the rain but I was kinda curious about a few things. I'm sure someone has found the line where things start getting really sketchy. I was wondering on an asphalt road with little to no debris on a low speed 90 degree turn, at what point do you get nervous? At what degree of lean or at what speed? I still have an inch and a half of tire left on both sides that doesn't touch the ground when it rains and I have bt021s which are kinda made for the rain. I'm really conservative obviously but I wanted to become a little more confident in wet conditions so I'd appreciate if you would share.

[MACK]

1

[bluewave18]

Too many variables.

[Versatile337]

Originally Posted by bluewave18

Too many variables.

I tried to make it as specific as possible.

No debris or oil. Standard 90 degree turn
Asphalt. Rained hours ago, no puddles just wet ground.
You know my bike, my tires. What other variables are there?

[triumphant675r]

I always feel like my tires are gonna slip out when the road's wet. I think it's a mind thing with me, I haven't pushed it far enough to feel the limit.

[ddgtomahawk]

Just feel the bike as you ride.

[navigator]

If you have to ask, you need more time in the saddle.

We don't know your ability, smoothness on the brake and throttle, quality of suspension and its settings, brand and type of tire, road temperature, tire temperature, tire pressure, your alcohol level, your awareness level, your reaction time, how much sleep you had last night, when you last got laid, and what mood are you in.

Do a track day in the rain to find your personal answer to this question. That will remove a lot of the variables from the equation.

And finally, if you crash, you can correctly assume you were going too fast for that particular situation.

[Versatile337]

Originally Posted by navigator

If you have to ask, you need more time in the saddle.

We don't know your ability, smoothness on the brake and throttle, quality of suspension and its settings, brand and type of tire, road temperature, tire temperature, tire pressure, your alcohol level, your awareness level, your reaction time, how much sleep you had last night, when you last got laid, and what mood are you in.

Do a track day in the rain to find your personal answer to this question. That will remove a lot of the variables from the equation.

ok, don't know how to rank my ability or smoothness
Stock suspension dialed in by Motorcycles Unlimited
Bridgestone BT021 (mentioned in first post)
temperature 65 degrees
tire temp - cold. started at 72 degrees
No alcohol
Extremely aware
My reaction time is .36 seconds when I'm focused
I slept 9 hours last night
I got laid over a week ago
and I'm in a good mood

[bluewave18]

150 then. If you eat , you know it's too fast.

[Hail]

I have read that under ideal conditions, like you mentioned in the OP, you still have 80% or so of the traction you do when it is dry. Just like a car, slow down a bit when it rains. Most of us already don't ride at 100% of what it is capable of.

The only time I worry on wet roads is when I get on concrete that has pebbles or seashells protruding. That is like driving on ice. There are a few back roads like this in the Galleria are like behind Micro Center.

[BLiP]

Ive done stoppies once or twice in the rain and a few whoolies but ask me how many times I crapped myself becuase I locked the front wheel up while doing a panic stop in the rain there are so many different varibles its not worth it to even try to see what the limit is on wet roads just ride to enjoy and take it slow!

[Grimace]

Originally Posted by ddgtomahawk

Just feel the bike as you ride.

this

[Squoddybody]

Originally Posted by Grimace

this

+1

It's a FEELING not an exact science.

Sometimes I feel as though I can go much faster than traffic, and sometimes I FEEL as though I cannot.

[Grimace]

I've also found that that FEEL is a lot easier to pick up on the Pirelli's I have now than the stock tires I used to have. Don't know about other brands though.

[drksollomb]

I rode all year round rain,cold, windy days, just get used to ur bike and ride to ur comfort skills if ur nervouse about rain don't ride in it

[triumphant675r]

Originally Posted by Grimace

I've also found that that FEEL is a lot easier to pick up on the Pirelli's I have now than the stock tires I used to have. Don't know about other brands though.

I have the rossos and I can really feel it, It could be why I'm so cautious/paranoid be cause I can feel eeeverything. Fine with me, keeps me in check.

[sunday_rider]

If road conditions are good , no debris, oil, gravel and the turns are like CR long sweepers, i can say that you can still go pretty fast safely if you are smooth, i usually go about 10-15 miles slower than when pavement is dry running on my pirelli's corsa 3s!

[Grimace]

Originally Posted by sunday_rider

If road conditions are good , no debris, oil, gravel and the turns are like CR long sweepers, i can say that you can still go pretty fast safely if you are smooth, i usually go about 10-15 miles slower than when pavement is dry running on my pirelli's corsa 3s!

good tires

[crazivi3tdude]

A. Fck it, stay home
B. Super fast straights, then walk the corners
Trial and error have huge consequence when refer to bikes, simply you cannot afford it!

[Guitar Man]

I go slower so I will not find the limits. I worry more about other people on the road and how experienced they are in the rain. I was caught in a torrential down pour a few months back and everyone on the highway dropped anchor. I elected to ride the shoulder because I thought it was safer. I'm sure they thought "That dudes crazy as !"