washington is wet. who'd have thought?

Insan3guy · October 3rd, 2013, 01:35 AM

putting along around town in my summer jacket in the pouring rain. completely soaked, freezing to death... and a car turns out a good 15ft in front of me. I had plenty of stopping distance, but I grabbed at the front brake anyway. lo and behold, the front wheel stopped moving. the bike, however, didn't. fell over on the right side (pretty low speed, like 5-6mph).
luckily, I'm a steadfast believer in atgatt, so the armor in my pants and jacket kept me from getting any bruises when hitting the pavement like a sack of bricks.
First thought was to hit the killswitch and get out from under the bike. first one was easy, second turned out to be harder due to the fact that the peg caught my boot lace (the one time I don't tuck my laces in...)
somebody in the car behind me helped me to get the bike back upright, and I moved out of the road and off to the side.

right-hand side clutch cover has a scrape. turn signal's completely smashed, but a new one is around ten bucks. other than that, it's completely fine. incredibly lucky.
also, I'm fine. got a scratch on my hip from the jacket. I've had worse rugburns, though. no bruises or soreness that I can feel.

Not very often that you get a learning experience like this without real repercussions. don't grab the brakes... and don't wear non-rainproof gear in the rain.

bleh.

subxero · October 3rd, 2013, 05:46 AM

tough break, sounds like it could have happened to anyone. I ride in the rain a fair amount and just make sure everything is uber slow and steady. Nothing abrupt and you are generally fine.

As far as rain gear, don't own it, might be nice, dunno ignorance is bliss

Sounds like the bike and you faired ok so ride on good sir

csmith12 · October 3rd, 2013, 06:07 AM

Gear FTW!

Insan3guy · October 3rd, 2013, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subxero

tough break, sounds like it could have happened to anyone. I ride in the rain a fair amount and just make sure everything is uber slow and steady. Nothing abrupt and you are generally fine.

As far as rain gear, don't own it, might be nice, dunno ignorance is bliss

Sounds like the bike and you faired ok so ride on good sir

Yeah, I have a great leather jacket. nice and thick in the elbows and shoulders but still soft. ridden through some pretty gnarly rainstorms with it and not gotten a single drop inside. Problem is that it's green and my bike is red

that's why I wear my textile jacket most of the time. color coordination is my downfall I guess, lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

Gear FTW!

subxero · October 3rd, 2013, 06:49 AM

2 weeks ago I got caught in a bad thunderstorm, with pretty heavy rain fall.
I had rs-taichi gmx motion jacket on, (leather, fully perforated) I got soaked, but the thing that amused me the most was that when I would slow down and come to stops the water slosh forward and would spill out of the sleeves of my jacket like dumping a water bottle

Insan3guy · October 3rd, 2013, 06:55 AM

same here, kind of. My boots are oil/waterproof ($30 walmart boots yeah baby) so they're completely dry even in the wet. Problem is... my pants aren't. so when I stand up all of the water soaks down into the inside of the boots and before I know it I'm sloshing around in two buckets of water.

Motofool · October 3rd, 2013, 07:15 AM

Sorry to read about your accident, Patrick.

Your choice of boots is poor, due to the reason explained and the little ankle protection.

You didn't have to fall.
If you have time, check our Riding Skills section and look for braking techniques and riding in the rain.

crazymadbastard · October 3rd, 2013, 07:47 AM

First thing I do when I get on the bike each time is practice panic stops using both brakes. Whenever I see a wet spot I try to panic stop on purpose.

Glad you are ok.

akima · October 3rd, 2013, 10:20 AM

@Insan3guy: good closing advice!

Glad you were ok.

ATGATT FTW!

Insan3guy · October 3rd, 2013, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motofool

Sorry to read about your accident, Patrick.

Your choice of boots is poor, due to the reason explained and the little ankle protection.

You didn't have to fall.
If you have time, check our Riding Skills section and look for braking techniques and riding in the rain.

looking back, I know exactly what I did wrong, why it happened, and how to prevent it in the future. It was a 1 second lapse in attention... it's funny how something like that can get you in so much trouble.

rasta · October 3rd, 2013, 01:55 PM

Good call on the gear, though

. It's one thing to not wear gear during the summer; but methinks it's extremely foolish not to wear gear when roads are wet!

Mocha Man · October 3rd, 2013, 04:38 PM

As a fellow Washingtonian myself, I can vouch for the fact that yes, it is wet here. I live in the dead center of a desert (yes, there are deserts on the east side of Washington for those who don't know) and we have been getting poured on the last couple weeks.

Sorry for your wreck though. I'm glad to see it will be cheap to fix! Heal up and hop on again! I'd say to wait for it to stop raining but I don't think you'd be taking your bike out much if you did that

250rr · October 4th, 2013, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insan3guy

putting along around town in my summer jacket in the pouring rain. completely soaked, freezing to death

It's been shown that being cold slows our reaction times down. Get that rain gear and and keep your reaction times down! (Or,is that up??).

October 3rd, 2013, 01:35 AM	#1
Insan3guy ninjette.org member Name: Patrick Location: Coronado, CA Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2015 zx6r Posts: 176	washington is wet. who'd have thought? putting along around town in my summer jacket in the pouring rain. completely soaked, freezing to death... and a car turns out a good 15ft in front of me. I had plenty of stopping distance, but I grabbed at the front brake anyway. lo and behold, the front wheel stopped moving. the bike, however, didn't. fell over on the right side (pretty low speed, like 5-6mph). luckily, I'm a steadfast believer in atgatt, so the armor in my pants and jacket kept me from getting any bruises when hitting the pavement like a sack of bricks. First thought was to hit the killswitch and get out from under the bike. first one was easy, second turned out to be harder due to the fact that the peg caught my boot lace (the one time I don't tuck my laces in...) somebody in the car behind me helped me to get the bike back upright, and I moved out of the road and off to the side. right-hand side clutch cover has a scrape. turn signal's completely smashed, but a new one is around ten bucks. other than that, it's completely fine. incredibly lucky. also, I'm fine. got a scratch on my hip from the jacket. I've had worse rugburns, though. no bruises or soreness that I can feel. Not very often that you get a learning experience like this without real repercussions. don't grab the brakes... and don't wear non-rainproof gear in the rain. bleh.

October 3rd, 2013, 05:46 AM	#2
subxero dirty boy Name: Joe Location: Johnstown, PA Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): I don't even know anymore?? Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '14	tough break, sounds like it could have happened to anyone. I ride in the rain a fair amount and just make sure everything is uber slow and steady. Nothing abrupt and you are generally fine. As far as rain gear, don't own it, might be nice, dunno ignorance is bliss Sounds like the bike and you faired ok so ride on good sir __________________________________________________ I love the smell of burning pre-mix in the morning I don't think I'm a lot dumber than you thought that I think that I thought I was once.

October 3rd, 2013, 06:07 AM	#3
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Gear FTW! __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

October 3rd, 2013, 06:49 AM	#5
subxero dirty boy Name: Joe Location: Johnstown, PA Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): I don't even know anymore?? Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '14	2 weeks ago I got caught in a bad thunderstorm, with pretty heavy rain fall. I had rs-taichi gmx motion jacket on, (leather, fully perforated) I got soaked, but the thing that amused me the most was that when I would slow down and come to stops the water slosh forward and would spill out of the sleeves of my jacket like dumping a water bottle __________________________________________________ I love the smell of burning pre-mix in the morning I don't think I'm a lot dumber than you thought that I think that I thought I was once.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

October 3rd, 2013, 07:15 AM	#7
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	Sorry to read about your accident, Patrick. Your choice of boots is poor, due to the reason explained and the little ankle protection. You didn't have to fall. If you have time, check our Riding Skills section and look for braking techniques and riding in the rain. __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

October 3rd, 2013, 06:55 AM	#6
Insan3guy ninjette.org member Name: Patrick Location: Coronado, CA Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2015 zx6r Posts: 176	same here, kind of. My boots are oil/waterproof ($30 walmart boots yeah baby) so they're completely dry even in the wet. Problem is... my pants aren't. so when I stand up all of the water soaks down into the inside of the boots and before I know it I'm sloshing around in two buckets of water.

October 3rd, 2013, 07:47 AM	#8
crazymadbastard I'm crazy,your excuse is? Name: Winston Location: Connecticut Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): 250 2007 ninja Posts: A lot.	First thing I do when I get on the bike each time is practice panic stops using both brakes. Whenever I see a wet spot I try to panic stop on purpose. Glad you are ok. __________________________________________________ My Cafe Racer Build My intro post
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

October 3rd, 2013, 10:20 AM	#9
akima Nooblet Name: Akima Location: England Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '13	@Insan3guy: good closing advice! Glad you were ok. ATGATT FTW!

October 3rd, 2013, 01:55 PM	#11
rasta Your face Name: Wes Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2014 Honda CBR650f Posts: A lot.	Good call on the gear, though . It's one thing to not wear gear during the summer; but methinks it's extremely foolish not to wear gear when roads are wet!

October 3rd, 2013, 04:38 PM	#12
Mocha Man Blue Shell magnet Name: Nolan Location: Northwest Washington Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1997 Ninja 250 Posts: 816	As a fellow Washingtonian myself, I can vouch for the fact that yes, it is wet here. I live in the dead center of a desert (yes, there are deserts on the east side of Washington for those who don't know) and we have been getting poured on the last couple weeks. Sorry for your wreck though. I'm glad to see it will be cheap to fix! Heal up and hop on again! I'd say to wait for it to stop raining but I don't think you'd be taking your bike out much if you did that

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