REMEMBER everyone, it's also the most slippery within the 1st 30 minutes of when it starts raining, so be extra cautious if you're riding within that time period. HIT SUBSCRIBE! :) MotoJitsu.com
The artwork is on point. "Brain before Skill, Technic before Technology." I like it short and succinct. Was trying to explain the same things last week when it was pouring and the few spots that it looked like snow. I like my Textile gear, same all year round, -0 to 40+ºc, just add and remove the insert/layer seeing what I need.
Can't agree more about the tire pressure. You check yours every week. I check it every time before i ride. Because of the small tires it doesn't take much but a small change in temp to make a huge impact on pressure. If you just take your finger and press the needle for a split second to release air it could change up to 2-3psi. I low sided from low front pressure and have a permanent scar on my knee. Now i have the ultimate respect for proper pressures before EVERY ride. Thanks! Nice video!
I learned that yesterday. I was leaving to bring a video game I borrowed to my nephew about 10 mins away and it started raining while I was getting my bike out, and I thought "oh well, good practice. I'm just taking an easy ride through neighborhoods. I'll manage and ride safe." I got halfway out of my neighborhood and the roads started glistening and I could see the oil and scuk creating nasty rainbows across the roads and as I slowed down, an asshole behind me got uncomfortably close and was being aggressive, so I just pulled of and turned around and went home. Not risking it. About 2hrs later after the rain stopped, the roads were still soaked but clean and clear. I had no issues whatsoever and I learned a valuable lesson. If I wasn't paying attention, or if it was darker and I didn't notice the faint shimmering I probably would've crashed. I'm doing the smart thing and learning as much as I can since it's rainy season and I still wanna ride, but I'd like to do so safely! So thanks for these videos! You were a great resource for me when I was learning on my sisters bike, and ever since I've had my own bike I still come back at least once a week to rewatch your videos. I took my dog out the other night for a ride to practice in a parking lot with your video playing on my bars to listen, pause, ride, play... repeat. You've been so helpful. Thank you. Thank you.
after 5 years of riding almost every day rainny or sunny, i fall last year breaking for a red light under heavy rain. number 1 reason you talk about here, distraction. I didn't bring my rain gear that day and I was too cold, focused mostly on going home fast... focusing on going fast under heavy rain? GG. I saw the green light and gave it more speed, turned red a little before i got there, break and fall. 2 broken shoulders and a damaged helmet. If I wasn't so focused on geting out of the rain... like i wasnt under rain 3000 times before... i would have seen the many cars on the other lane waiting for their green, meaning my green was about to go red. Stay safe and always pay attention. Thank you for your content, it's helping me get back on the bike
Eddie; your videos, presentation and explanation is real, and digestable. You're a great teacher, engaging, and there's a logical flow to your lesson and explanation. Credit is due to you. I've learned so much from your videos, and will continue to follow them. Can't thank you enough mate as we say in Australia.
"Brain before skill, technique before technology" yeah man! I love all of it. I leave a crack open tiny bit all the time when I drive lower than 60km/h to keep the flow of air and non-foggy vision, and any speed higher than that usually helps to prevent the fogging (no crack open), unless it's super cold and wet, then it works from ~70-80km/h. I love the tip about pressing breaks to "blink", you've been talking about this in couple of videos, gonna start doing that more often to make a habit. I do my best to keep myself visible. Thank you! You da best.
If it has been sunny or Dry for a Long Period of Time avoid the first 10 minutes Just pull over and Chill the first 10 minutes debree and Oil will get to the surface after those 10 minutes the rain will wash away the Oil and gunk So just chill a bit and you will be good to Go
Yes! Also, the rubber of the tyres (the tyres wear) is spread all over the street and that rubber with water is like soap. So, wait for it to wash out. I agree with the 10 min if it's heavy rain, but if not... wait a little longer I don't know really but be aware of that situation ;)
Thank you very much Eddie. What I learned from Ryan F9 as riding in the rain tip is to stay away from the white strips (strips to separe lanes from eachother). When you are on throthle it seems like there is not a difference if it's asphalt or white strip, but when on brakes or in a turn you can easily feel that there is much less traction between ground and the tire. Another thing I pay attention is to stay away from cars just because spraying water issues. Spraying water from cars' tires is not like just a water but there is also some dirt in it, so it easily stick to the visor and it's not be removed neither by wind nor by hand very easily. Hope these informations helps some fellow riders. Thanks again.
Thanks again for your advice! Two things I do in addition: 1. I check my chain more often, because the lubricant gets "washed" away quicker. 2. I don't put a cover over the bike after riding, I want to let it dry first, then put a cover on. Sidenote: I was a little overcautious in the rain until I practiced emergency stops in the wet. That helped me a lot! But that's commonplace: good practice is always good. Greetings from Germany. Dan
Great video Eddie! I have noticed that I have to reduce my downshifting and use more brake in the rain. When I first started riding, I downshifted from 3rd to 2nd as I was approaching a turn, and the whole bike slid and kicked to the side. I recovered it, and learned a lesson. Also, I absolutely avoid manhole covers and painted road surfaces, especially when turning. 2018 Indian Chieftain Darkhorse.
I would recommend adding a buff or something similar. The buffs act as another layer around neck, ears, and head to keep warmth in. A piece of gear I always carry with me. Great video and thanks for sharing
You are spot on with your recommendations. I do alot of long distance rain riding and I found that it's also helpful to be able to do basic chain maintenance on the fly so I carry a small bottle of chain lube etc. Prolonged heavy rain riding is not kind on chains and wears them up quicker.
I had to watch 8 other videos before finding this one and finally getting what I needed. The ride easy page and you showing me what position to be in was super helpful. Thank you!
Hi. In Nz we have a product called RainX. Wipe it on the visor and the rain just slides off. It’s amazing. You need to get the one for plastic tho. It’s also available on eBay. I definitely agree about getting a pinlock visor insert. Also amazing!! Cool video by the way.
So far you are the only one that takes all those small deatsils to explain that makes all the difference in the world. Not just this video but all of them. Thank you for your time and knowledge !
Just got back on a bike after 10 years of not riding. Made so many rookie mistakes a few weeks ago when I got caught in the rain. Ended up dumping my bike while approaching a stop light. Slid a ways, rolled a few times and really screwed up my shoulder. Wasn't too terrible overall. I'm glad it happened early on, at a low speed and this video really helped me remember some of the basics.
more practice!! More courses :) If you didn't know, I have a MotoJitsu app! Check out my website MotoJitsu.com for the links as well as my books, merch, affiliate links to Revzilla, courses I recommend, etc.
This might be a few years old now, but watching it here in Oz with all the wet weather we are having at the moment - invaluable reminders of everything we need to think about! Cheers and thanks...
Great video, very informative - thank you. A top tip that my instructor taught me was to attach a “squidgy” rubber/plastic strip (like a small version of what you wipe water off windows with) to your glove you can very quickly and easily wipe the water off the front of your visor.
Great advice. High visibility rain gear, watch out for puddles, and ride in the tracks of cars--my favorites. One thing about riding on freeways that's more dangerous in the rain is a poorly maintained freeway. In some US states tractor trailers must keep right by law, and some stretches can be in really bad shape because of it. So if its raining look at the types of vehicles you're sharing the road with. Are you on a major freeway or arterial road with 3+ axle trucks? Look for indicators of the condition of the roadway. If you're staying to the right, you may run the risk of hitting a lot of potholes and damaged roadway which is not visible due to the poor visibility and road condition. Consider your lane choice carefully, or maybe get off the freeway and take a slower route which gets you home safely. (If you're riding in the North East we have parkways, which are like freeways, but don't permit tractor trailers).
I`m riding for about 2 months now, (when i was 16 i rode a 50ccbike because you you can`t get a car license until your 18 here). I probably would have crashed twice already, but luckily i found your channel. Now i have a grasp of what to do and what to avoid. I`m getting safer and faster every day, partly because of your videos. Thank you, have a nice live!
Nice tips. I live Thailand and it rains a lot. Most people crash right after the rain starts. The roads are slipperier than DS right after it stars so wait a bit before riding. People always make the mistake of wearing ponchos, or other loose fitting rain gear that flaps in the wind and blocks their mirrors. You need to be more cautious of who's behind you in the rain. A lot of other drivers don't know you're supposed to put on your lights so you can't see them.
Great Tips!! I bought a cheapy Coleman pvc 2 piece rain suit on Amazon for about 30 bucks. It lasted through the winter but will definitely be upgrading as some of the pieces are starting to come apart. It did keep me dry and was fairly easy to put on over my gear. I started putting my jacket into the rain coat first before putting on cause it kept getting hung up especially when i was wearing a backpack. would say it lasted through about 10-15 trips in the rain. **Side note that cheap pvc melts on contact to your pipes :/
Last fall I rode to Deals Gap from Indiana on a gz1000. On the way home it started raining, we pulled over put our wet gear on and rode home at speed limit. You have to trust your tires and do exactly what motojitzu said. I don't mind rain it can be exciting.
What a useful information you provide Eddie! Well, I’m a beginner and my inexperience put me into an unexpected and stressful riding-in-the-rain situation a week ago. I was riding back home when it started raining. Of course I wasn’t carrying any waterproof garment so I ended up soaked all over. The rain was heavy so I couldn’t see a sh*t through my fogged visor. The worst part came when I was leaving the last toll booth. I set the first gear, release the clutch and give a little throttle and suddenly the bike starts wobbling like crazy! I didn’t realize how damped with oil the surface underneath was! I can’t honestly say how I managed to keep the bike upright but I did so I carried on, frightened as hell. I eventually got home safe but the whole experience léave me thinking about how to be prepared for future similar events.
This should be a must watch for all riders no matter what their experience level. The slow hands part is of particular importance. Thanks for your sage advice.
Hi I'm a 58 years old Portuguese lad living in England and I recently bought a Scooter, a trike Piaggio mp3 500cc. I've got full motorcycle license (many years ago and I'm sure you know how it was before), I do not have any experience whatsoever. Its a 3 wheeled scooter but it drives like a 2 wheel. I'm learning a lot with your videos. Thanks very much.
New rider, recently turned on to your great channel. I watched your chicken strips video earlier today. And then later I went for my first ride in the rain. While I was riding, I thought, "lean your body, not the bike" took it easy, and with a little leaning, I could easily keep the bike nice and upright on turns, and made it home safe! Then I got home and was thinking, was that the right thing to do in the rain? Checked your channel and found this wealth of more info. Thanks for all the great content to help people stay safe!
I just want to thank you for all the videos you’ve made ❤️ I’ve watched and then under my husbands instructions and yours I practiced and practiced some more . I took my BRC last week and got my license. I have had my first rides on public roads and it is rather amazing. My husband has my back and offers advice before and after our round the block ride. Thank You again you are an excellent instructor ❤️❤️ btw I’m 64 years young
On point! In our country it's rainy season and this video is very helpful. I open the shield a bit when raining to avoid fogging and I thought I'm the only one doing this. Thank you Fast Eddie, you're the man! Ride safe! ✌
MotoJitsu, I just discovered you through some research on my new bike's suspension. You, my friend, keep it simple and effective. Keep it up. I am a new fan!
Stumbled upon your channel and have been thoroughly enjoying your teaching style and quality of content. Solid. One tip I always use is to have a damp microfiber cloth between my legs or in my tank bag for a quick wipe when the rain changes to mist or vehicle spray kicks up. Keeps my vision at its best and removes crud without scratching my visor. Also a good coating of Plexus makes a great diff. in the rain on the visor.
Good tips Greg. I personally wear 1. Klim Forecast Split Finger Gloves (go over top my gauntlet highly protective AGV Sport gloves and don't let any rain/water in, and not to mention are super grippy and have a rain squeegee on the left index finger) 2. Scott Ergonomic Pro Jacket (Hi Vis Yellow) love this jacket, well designed, lots of straps to prevent rain from getting in, and it even has a crotch strap to keep everything in place and not blowing around, folds up nice, and packs small like most good rain gear. 3. Revit Acid H2O Rain pants (Hi Vis Yellow), looks kinda funny with the double hi vis, but visibility is key right? and keeps you dry. 4. Sidi Vertigo Boots stay nice and dry, especially with a nice layer of Mink Oil. Highly recommended for leather, especially getting caught in light rain. I also have a pinlock shield with clear visor, which helps with fog like you mentioned but water still ends up getting in my helmet and gets wet even with all the vents closed. Any recommendations in keeping your helmet/head dry?
Florida its always gonna rain on you. Gladly i implement these things already but definitely sound advice for anyone. Indian bobber and a rc51 in the fleet currently. Great work as always sir.
Make sure to have the right tires to get caught in the rain with. I also have a whole rain outfit top to bottom that works really nice that's not all one brand. Some people say riding in the rain is bad but I dont think so but night rain riding there is really little to visibility. Sweet vid!!!
@@MotoJitsu yes right tires.... I have dunlop roadsmart 2 tires which provide me with better traction in the rain than say the q3's which dont propel water away from the tire's as much. I have tested this theory and they do work better but its also depends on traction levels with different roads and conditions like a little rain or alot.
Some have more tread than others but I've rode Q3's in the rain on a track and they did fine. It mostly comes down to rider technique vs anything else.
One of the few times I dropped a bike, cross country trip, rain and new pavement do not mix. Felt like I rode onto an ice skating rink. Didn't go well. Be safe out there, great video.
I swear you’re following me!!! I just got home from work driving in the rain. Some of the stuff is common sense but you hit on a few points that bring me back down to reality when it comes to riding. Thanks again. Btw, I have a school that just re did the asphalt so I have a nice smooth clean surface to practice on with my new MT-09.
MotoJitsu quick question, getting my practice kit but what do you suggest frame sliders or crash cage? Wanna keep my bike safe but definitely wanna practice
Great tips as always. I can think of one more, but very important. If there was no rain for a longer period of time, some small dirt, grit and other stuff can accumulate on the road. At the very beginning when it starts to rain (especially light rain) those particles mixed with water becomes EXTREMELY slippery. Many instructors/books that I know suggestss to stop and wait until the surface ot the road is properly washed out. Same problem we have in Poland after winter season. Salt and grit used to maintain roads during snowfalls usualy stays there for quite some time. If it's about gear, for me for short trips and commuting good jacket and trousers with water proff inside layer is enough to enjoy riding in the rain :) Seems more comfortable and easier to use than another layer on top (pockets acces etc.) Waitinng for another video!
Most of the headlight and auxiliary lamps light nowadays is white or a blueish white, as it works better on dry conditions, make one of the auxiliaries an amber light and on rain and/or fog, you'll see the road much better.
ok FYI: Have you heard about my other RUclips channel? It's a podcast where I interview interesting people...it's called MyIgnorance. Check it out :) ruclips.net/channel/UCVJeRk29mNO-YRuvOJ73klQ
I would also recommend more distance from the vehicles in front of you because they lift the water from the road (like thick aerosol) that lowers your vision even more. It's like riding in a cloud. Thank you for another great video.
I salute to you my friend for all the life saving tips that you are giving to us for free, yet Stupid people have milions of views just by doing stupid things, you basically save our motorcyclists asses on daily basis and still have fairly low view count which amazes me, you should have milions of views!
I live in Oregon so this is very relevant to me. I'm planning to take the MSF braking and turning course next year, and I'm actually going to try to schedule it early when it's wet out.
Excellent video! It so happened I got caught in a heavy rain last year when I was riding and that was the only day I did not care to check weather and put on my brand new Triumph leather jacket and went for a long ride way far away out of town..on my way back, it started to rain and I took a break at a gas station and resumed back when rain seemed to stop, but, again it began to pour heavily and I just rode in the rain. I had to turn-on the hazardous light and leave it on while it was heavily raining, the traffic began to slow down bumper-2-bumper and I drove very carefully back home. 1 hour in rain on and off. total 3 hour trip. Traffic was horrible and mainly on intersections and at one place the traffic-lights were out adding to more challenges. I rode very carefully, very cautiously, very alert and safely made it back home. I had watched Fast Eddie's various videos before and in one video he mentions to use the hazardous lights for safety and I remembered that including many other tips that helped me.
Thank you for the tips! I always get nervous when I need to hit the road with my bike in the rain (I'll go to work with it everyday), I feel like my tires are going to slip... 😅
Good tips, not so sure about doing the body lean thing. If you're putting the same sideways force on the tyres as with leaning it makes little difference, except dual compound tyres have the grippier rubber away from the tyre centre. I would normally just slow down more to take a corner and make the turn sharper. Another counterintuitive technique is to relax more in the rain, which is hard when it's cold with poor visibility and gusts of wind. The bike will keep tyre grip if the rider doesn't have the bars in a death-grip. Finally, road marking paint and service covers always become slippery in the rain. If the bike starts to fishtail under acceleration, gently ease off the throttle until it straightens out, no sudden moves. Keep a higher gear than usual to damp out torque variations to the rear wheel. Best is to pull into a petrol station and drink bad coffee until the worst of the weather or traffic blows over.
@@MotoJitsu the issue is that the tyre breaks contact under side forces in a turn. The centrifugal force is the same regardless of the bank of the bike. The force can be lowered by lowering speed.
Just watched a few of your videos and subscribed. Very clear explanations. As a relatively new rider, I’m always trying to improve and can definitely put these tips to good use. Plus, it does seem to rain a lot in the UK!
they make products to put on your visor to mitigate or help with rain run off, and fogging. good ole rain x, on the outside, will help rain bead off, and there's various anti-fog sprays for the interior side of the visor, although a pinlock visor is a great first step
Thanks to you, I've learned that I just have to approve myself, that I'm sitting good, feeling my foot on the pegs and my ass on the seat. Feeling my body in confidence and then continoue to feel good while slowly doing step by step in whatever I try to do, is it turning with a straight body not trying achieving anything special but learn what I'm doing right now, leaning insight the bike or pushing the bike. I've learned that feeling confident and safe on the bike, while leaning smooth and easy is more important than trying to leaning inside, even if it might be better if you're good at it. I thought I 'm always good in the traffic, but not the corners. Now since I turn in corners with self awareness, feeling my body, I learn much of me and my bike.
Hey Greg, Thanks for the awesome tips. Could you please a video on riding off road as well? The place I live we do have to commute off road at few times.
Thank you for the awesome vid & explanations... have been deliberatly riding in the rain for the experience....kinda freaky at the start...just keeping calm and focussed .... and new tips you have shared are gold :) High Five from NZ
May I suggest waterproof boots? Nothing worse than a squishy shoe for obvious reasons, but mostly because you lose "feel" in your feet. Tough to shift and brake smoothly when you get delayed, or distorted sensory feedback. Got caught recently in a fast moving Florida storm. Everything on me was soaked except my feet wearing (relatively inexpensive) TourMasters.
Being mostly long distance riders, we have ridden (not intentionally) in many rain storms...this is excellent sound advice. And most important...If you it about to rain, just don't ride, if possible, wait it out.
Always carry a gallon ziploc bag if you don't always carry rain gear. Great callouts on watching the road and DO NOT rely on ABS although it helps. Watching the contour of the road and reading it properly can save you from certain disaster.
Great video, I live in Florida, rains a lot in the summer. I try to avoid when possible being on a bike when the roads are wet. The only thing I would add(don't think you mentioned it, but its possible) is that I like to stay in a lower gear. This way just backing off the throttle will slow bike quite a bit, without any braking power. Thank you Fast Eddie.
NOT being combative, love ya brother. I just instinctively feel much safer letting the rpm's of the engine slow me down. I copied and pasted this from an article I found. Please feel free to comment... Ron Haslam once told me his trick for wet racing was to counter intuitively by using a lower gear to keep revs higher. Higher revs equals more power, which may sound like a recipe for a slide, but more power also equals less throttle applied for a given amount of acceleration. Because of that, the rear tire is less prone to dramatically spinning up should traction be lost, allowing you to more easily correct the situation. The rules to remember: High gear, low revs, big throttle and a big slide. Low gear, high revs, little throttle and a little slide.
@@doug2993 1st, this is by a professional racer talking about wet racing...there's no gravel, animals, painted lines, 2 way traffic ect. 2nd...just do as you wish...I just don't recommend it, I've rode in the rain many, many times and would always rather go up a gear than down.
@MotoJitsu Fair enough brother, I've been riding street bikes for 30 years. So my throttle control is pretty good. Next time I'm out in the rain, I will consider and apply what you are saying. Thank you for the responses. Stay safe out there!
If i could give my fellow riders some advice when riding in the rain it would be this: find a nice safe environment and perform an EMERGENCY BREAK a couple times. This will give you an idea of how much grip your bike has when wet and also lets you know how strong/weak the brakes are. Now shut up and practice.
I check my tire pressure once or twice a week .. 34 psi in the front .. 40 psi in the back .. I just hate riding in the rain .. the Z900 is not ment for riding in the rain .. it sprays water way up your back and the entire bike just gets dirty .. I always wash the bike after getting caught in the rain :D
Good content and well presented as usual. Can you please make a vid on parking your motorcycle, especially on a hill tips, tricks etc. Also a vid on downshift rev matching. Love your work! Always look forward to viewing your content.
Splendid Advice (as always!) Short Summary of my Rain Experiences (had …. some… yeah, i'm german…:-P) If it starts to hail, watch out for a safe Place to stop and wait. Even just midsized hail (about 1-2cm diam.), really hurts at 50 - 60 mph! Also: after a couple of minutes of hail you're riding on "wet semi-ice" (-ish), so let's not even talk about predictable traction here. If it's really pouring down (and your're lucky wearing a waterproof layer inside your Garment (which i do), don't put your arms down, while still wearing your gloves waiting. The Rainwater will then run inside your Gloves (if you're sensibly wearing your glove tops over the sleeves of your jacket). Had a fun time riding with gore-tex glooves wet from the inside for hours.:-P While waiting for the worst part of the rain to pass, leave your helmet on and closed, or just slightly cracked open, otherwise the inside of your faceshield gets wet from reflected raindrops of your helmet outer shell. as recommended: a pinlock visor helps a lot in any case! Cheers, S.
On the topic of abs, coming on hard on the brakes with abs increases braking distance (you don't want that in an emergency). Like you said , proper braking technique does the job, abs is an assistant to, not substitute for !
@@MotoJitsu Ok Sir, my recommended is full of your videos and you are the person i trust. I am getting a bike soon and am still learning therefore i ask some dumb doubts sometimes and am happy that you have always answered all my doubts. Thanks again.😇
Two days ago I had worked about 13 hours and right when I got back to my shop and put the truck away it started raining, and I had a good 30 minutes of riding home to do. I did have full leathers so I was warm and not wet but I couldn’t really see anything through my goggles, they were just getting super wet. So I pulled off to the gas station a block from my shop and put my goggles up and tried to ride like that. Worst mistake! rain drops no matter how small feel like someone is shooting an automatic air soft gun at your eyes. Hahahaha. I instantly pulled over and put the goggles back on and just kept wiping the water away every 10 seconds. I did wait at the gas station for a good 20 minutes so the ground wouldn’t be as slippery but my back tire did slide pretty bad one time when I was coming up to a red light. Need new tires bad. But I’ve been watching RUclips videos about riding in the rain since, to try to find a way to fix the visibility problem in the rain. Still haven’t found anything besides this video saying to turn your head. Anyone have any solutions for this?
Another good reason for increasing your separation distance: spray from the vehicles in front is worse than the actual rain. It's dirty, so it screws up your visor (even wiping the water off can leave nasty dirty smears). It's also made of finer droplets, so it soaks through / into your gear quicker than rain. From large vehicles, the height of the spray can be as high as your 'bike, so it hides you from whoever's behind you as well if you're riding in it.
I can't stress this enough but, *utilize engine braking* . When you're riding in the rain, you can't really just stop quickly by pulling the brakes fast because you'll just lock up the wheels, so there will be more stopping distance anyway. Using engine braking along with a bit of the normal brakes is the best technique to slow down effectively. Also, *avoid panic situations and panic braking*. Just take the proper measures to not put yourself through such a place. In the rain, the risk is significantly larger when there's some panic stop or panic braking involved. *You wanna look further down the road* than you normally do during non-rainy days. Stay safe everyone.
I agree about riding in the car tyre tracks but this is where the potholes filled with water are, if the rain is heavy I find riding ctr of lane the lessor evil
Nice tips, but honestly, i dont like using any raining's gears. I felt not comfortable. But of course i rode slowly and double focus while riding in the rain. Thanks for the tips mate!😊😊🤝
From my year round riding, I always keep shield smooth/clean and apply solution that promotes better water beading. That makes water dissipate quicker from shield. IMHO.
@@MotoJitsu Many in the market. I use Rain-X 620036 for plastic but please consult your helmet manufacture. I have pinlock and this Rain X guarantees good beading during rain.
Hi Eddie, I dont know if you have done this already, maybe you can post a link here if you have. but is it possible you can do a video on showing us noobs how to master the figure 8 with all the right skills we need to have. i am currently trying to get my license and my teacher doesnt teach. he just gives us the bike and lets us burn fuel. the problem with this is we end up learning the skill with bad habbits and ultimately, this takes us in to worse habbits without a solid foundation on how to position the body, lean the bike and control it with the right form. you are no doubt the only person i truly admire when it comes to bike skills. im sure there are others on youtube but i found you and have been followng you for a month now. Actually, i just failed my test yesterday. my teacher kept saying that the figure 8 was larger at the test centre, but actually, it was noticeable smaller in length and larger in width. and whilst i thought i had the figure 8 down, i realised that i actually did not. because despite the figure 8 being smaller in length, if i had the proper skills, it should not have mattered. so this was a wake up call for me that i have not learned this skill properly. i dont blame my teacher, i realise in need more practice. but i would rather practice it the correct way and not continue what im doing because i think im doing it wrong. I realise that it is a simple skill but it has massive implications and learnign it right can only be a good thing. Please can you dedicate a video on this In any event, thank you so much for all your videos !!!
Hi Eddie, i wanted to update you that i took my test again today. I spent the last 2 weeks exercising your advice in the playlist you created for slow speed drills and it helped me very very much. I passed my test !! i have clearly a lot more to learn and you have certainly inspired me to go about practicing as often as possible. I realise that if not for you, and the likes of Dan Dan the Fireman and MC Rider, there are many of us that would not pay mind to such things as wearing the right gear and practicing beyond the lessons we are required to take in order to pass the test. Thank you very much. God bless !
REMEMBER everyone, it's also the most slippery within the 1st 30 minutes of when it starts raining, so be extra cautious if you're riding within that time period. HIT SUBSCRIBE! :) MotoJitsu.com
The artwork is on point.
"Brain before Skill, Technic before Technology." I like it short and succinct.
Was trying to explain the same things last week when it was pouring and the few spots that it looked like snow.
I like my Textile gear, same all year round, -0 to 40+ºc, just add and remove the insert/layer seeing what I need.
Can't agree more about the tire pressure. You check yours every week. I check it every time before i ride. Because of the small tires it doesn't take much but a small change in temp to make a huge impact on pressure. If you just take your finger and press the needle for a split second to release air it could change up to 2-3psi. I low sided from low front pressure and have a permanent scar on my knee. Now i have the ultimate respect for proper pressures before EVERY ride. Thanks! Nice video!
I learned that yesterday.
I was leaving to bring a video game I borrowed to my nephew about 10 mins away and it started raining while I was getting my bike out, and I thought "oh well, good practice. I'm just taking an easy ride through neighborhoods. I'll manage and ride safe." I got halfway out of my neighborhood and the roads started glistening and I could see the oil and scuk creating nasty rainbows across the roads and as I slowed down, an asshole behind me got uncomfortably close and was being aggressive, so I just pulled of and turned around and went home. Not risking it.
About 2hrs later after the rain stopped, the roads were still soaked but clean and clear. I had no issues whatsoever and I learned a valuable lesson. If I wasn't paying attention, or if it was darker and I didn't notice the faint shimmering I probably would've crashed.
I'm doing the smart thing and learning as much as I can since it's rainy season and I still wanna ride, but I'd like to do so safely!
So thanks for these videos! You were a great resource for me when I was learning on my sisters bike, and ever since I've had my own bike I still come back at least once a week to rewatch your videos.
I took my dog out the other night for a ride to practice in a parking lot with your video playing on my bars to listen, pause, ride, play... repeat.
You've been so helpful.
Thank you. Thank you.
I got this scuba mask defogger on the Zon for $9. Works very well
after 5 years of riding almost every day rainny or sunny, i fall last year breaking for a red light under heavy rain.
number 1 reason you talk about here, distraction. I didn't bring my rain gear that day and I was too cold, focused mostly on going home fast... focusing on going fast under heavy rain? GG. I saw the green light and gave it more speed, turned red a little before i got there, break and fall. 2 broken shoulders and a damaged helmet.
If I wasn't so focused on geting out of the rain... like i wasnt under rain 3000 times before... i would have seen the many cars on the other lane waiting for their green, meaning my green was about to go red. Stay safe and always pay attention.
Thank you for your content, it's helping me get back on the bike
you're welcome!!
Eddie; your videos, presentation and explanation is real, and digestable. You're a great teacher, engaging, and there's a logical flow to your lesson and explanation. Credit is due to you. I've learned so much from your videos, and will continue to follow them. Can't thank you enough mate as we say in Australia.
Thank you!!
I couldn’t agree more @Paul O’Connor
what a mad dog! I agree this guy is a legend, still new to it all but I’ve taken so much in, in such a short amount of time
"Brain before skill, technique before technology" yeah man! I love all of it. I leave a crack open tiny bit all the time when I drive lower than 60km/h to keep the flow of air and non-foggy vision, and any speed higher than that usually helps to prevent the fogging (no crack open), unless it's super cold and wet, then it works from ~70-80km/h. I love the tip about pressing breaks to "blink", you've been talking about this in couple of videos, gonna start doing that more often to make a habit. I do my best to keep myself visible. Thank you! You da best.
yes!!
If it has been sunny or Dry for a Long Period of Time avoid the first 10 minutes
Just pull over and Chill
the first 10 minutes debree and Oil will get to the surface
after those 10 minutes the rain will wash away the Oil and gunk
So just chill a bit and you will be good to Go
:) Smart!
Yes! Also, the rubber of the tyres (the tyres wear) is spread all over the street and that rubber with water is like soap. So, wait for it to wash out. I agree with the 10 min if it's heavy rain, but if not... wait a little longer I don't know really but be aware of that situation ;)
Or use a little bit of blue tak to keep the visor cracked up a bit so it doesn't fog up...
I will add to avoid lines or sings painted on the road, traction is always less on those, specially on cebras. Great video thanks
Yes!
That is so true the lines are slippery. Watch out for vertical cracks in road too.
Very true!
also watch out for road weld repairs those they filled the cracks up with tar
Thank you very much Eddie. What I learned from Ryan F9 as riding in the rain tip is to stay away from the white strips (strips to separe lanes from eachother). When you are on throthle it seems like there is not a difference if it's asphalt or white strip, but when on brakes or in a turn you can easily feel that there is much less traction between ground and the tire.
Another thing I pay attention is to stay away from cars just because spraying water issues. Spraying water from cars' tires is not like just a water but there is also some dirt in it, so it easily stick to the visor and it's not be removed neither by wind nor by hand very easily.
Hope these informations helps some fellow riders.
Thanks again.
Yes, anything painted is slippery :)
Thanks again for your advice! Two things I do in addition: 1. I check my chain more often, because the lubricant gets "washed" away quicker. 2. I don't put a cover over the bike after riding, I want to let it dry first, then put a cover on. Sidenote: I was a little overcautious in the rain until I practiced emergency stops in the wet. That helped me a lot! But that's commonplace: good practice is always good. Greetings from Germany. Dan
Yes! Thanks
Great video Eddie! I have noticed that I have to reduce my downshifting and use more brake in the rain. When I first started riding, I downshifted from 3rd to 2nd as I was approaching a turn, and the whole bike slid and kicked to the side. I recovered it, and learned a lesson.
Also, I absolutely avoid manhole covers and painted road surfaces, especially when turning.
2018 Indian Chieftain Darkhorse.
Thanks! Yes, fast downshifting could surely do that...everything needs to be very slow motion with your hands...sweet bike!
I would recommend adding a buff or something similar. The buffs act as another layer around neck, ears, and head to keep warmth in. A piece of gear I always carry with me.
Great video and thanks for sharing
Thanks
You are spot on with your recommendations. I do alot of long distance rain riding and I found that it's also helpful to be able to do basic chain maintenance on the fly so I carry a small bottle of chain lube etc. Prolonged heavy rain riding is not kind on chains and wears them up quicker.
Thanks!
I'm a relatively new rider, find your tips fantastic, well explained and easy to understand. Thankyou 😊
thanks Michelle
Needed this class now, rained little while ago. I have to ride home now. Appreciate you, Stay positive, Stay safe
Thanks, you too!
I had to watch 8 other videos before finding this one and finally getting what I needed. The ride easy page and you showing me what position to be in was super helpful. Thank you!
Hi. In Nz we have a product called RainX. Wipe it on the visor and the rain just slides off. It’s amazing. You need to get the one for plastic tho. It’s also available on eBay. I definitely agree about getting a pinlock visor insert. Also amazing!!
Cool video by the way.
Thanks!
So far you are the only one that takes all those small deatsils to explain that makes all the difference in the world. Not just this video but all of them. Thank you for your time and knowledge !
Thanks!!!
Just got back on a bike after 10 years of not riding. Made so many rookie mistakes a few weeks ago when I got caught in the rain. Ended up dumping my bike while approaching a stop light. Slid a ways, rolled a few times and really screwed up my shoulder. Wasn't too terrible overall. I'm glad it happened early on, at a low speed and this video really helped me remember some of the basics.
more practice!! More courses :)
If you didn't know, I have a MotoJitsu app! Check out my website MotoJitsu.com for the links as well as my books, merch, affiliate links to Revzilla, courses I recommend, etc.
@@MotoJitsu for sure. Downloaded your app. Thanks man.
This might be a few years old now, but watching it here in Oz with all the wet weather we are having at the moment - invaluable reminders of everything we need to think about! Cheers and thanks...
Great video, very informative - thank you.
A top tip that my instructor taught me was to attach a “squidgy” rubber/plastic strip (like a small version of what you wipe water off windows with) to your glove you can very quickly and easily wipe the water off the front of your visor.
Great advice. High visibility rain gear, watch out for puddles, and ride in the tracks of cars--my favorites. One thing about riding on freeways that's more dangerous in the rain is a poorly maintained freeway. In some US states tractor trailers must keep right by law, and some stretches can be in really bad shape because of it. So if its raining look at the types of vehicles you're sharing the road with. Are you on a major freeway or arterial road with 3+ axle trucks? Look for indicators of the condition of the roadway. If you're staying to the right, you may run the risk of hitting a lot of potholes and damaged roadway which is not visible due to the poor visibility and road condition. Consider your lane choice carefully, or maybe get off the freeway and take a slower route which gets you home safely. (If you're riding in the North East we have parkways, which are like freeways, but don't permit tractor trailers).
I`m riding for about 2 months now, (when i was 16 i rode a 50ccbike because you you can`t get a car license until your 18 here). I probably would have crashed twice already, but luckily i found your channel. Now i have a grasp of what to do and what to avoid. I`m getting safer and faster every day, partly because of your videos. Thank you, have a nice live!
Awesome!!
Nice tips. I live Thailand and it rains a lot. Most people crash right after the rain starts. The roads are slipperier than DS right after it stars so wait a bit before riding. People always make the mistake of wearing ponchos, or other loose fitting rain gear that flaps in the wind and blocks their mirrors. You need to be more cautious of who's behind you in the rain. A lot of other drivers don't know you're supposed to put on your lights so you can't see them.
Great video with sound advice. Thank you, keep em comin' buddy !!!
Thanks!
Great Tips!! I bought a cheapy Coleman pvc 2 piece rain suit on Amazon for about 30 bucks. It lasted through the winter but will definitely be upgrading as some of the pieces are starting to come apart. It did keep me dry and was fairly easy to put on over my gear. I started putting my jacket into the rain coat first before putting on cause it kept getting hung up especially when i was wearing a backpack. would say it lasted through about 10-15 trips in the rain. **Side note that cheap pvc melts on contact to your pipes :/
Ahhhh ok...yes!
Last fall I rode to Deals Gap from Indiana on a gz1000.
On the way home it started raining, we pulled over put our wet gear on and rode home at speed limit. You have to trust your tires and do exactly what motojitzu said. I don't mind rain it can be exciting.
Great tip on staying dry. Almost everyone forgets about it when talking about riding in the rain. But it makes such a difference.
Thanks!
Your hair is coming along nicely Eddie. Looks great man.
Thanks :)
Thanks. Been riding for 44 yrs but a refresher course helps older brains remember the basic.
:)
What a useful information you provide Eddie! Well, I’m a beginner and my inexperience put me into an unexpected and stressful riding-in-the-rain situation a week ago. I was riding back home when it started raining. Of course I wasn’t carrying any waterproof garment so I ended up soaked all over. The rain was heavy so I couldn’t see a sh*t through my fogged visor. The worst part came when I was leaving the last toll booth. I set the first gear, release the clutch and give a little throttle and suddenly the bike starts wobbling like crazy! I didn’t realize how damped with oil the surface underneath was! I can’t honestly say how I managed to keep the bike upright but I did so I carried on, frightened as hell. I eventually got home safe but the whole experience léave me thinking about how to be prepared for future similar events.
Thanks!
Kauai is where I live with a spot on earth. Beautiful but wet. Love your stuff. Thanks bro aloha and Mahalo.
This should be a must watch for all riders no matter what their experience level. The slow hands part is of particular importance. Thanks for your sage advice.
Well said!
Hi
I'm a 58 years old Portuguese lad living in England and I recently bought a Scooter, a trike Piaggio mp3 500cc. I've got full motorcycle license (many years ago and I'm sure you know how it was before), I do not have any experience whatsoever. Its a 3 wheeled scooter but it drives like a 2 wheel. I'm learning a lot with your videos. Thanks very much.
Thanks!
New rider, recently turned on to your great channel. I watched your chicken strips video earlier today. And then later I went for my first ride in the rain. While I was riding, I thought, "lean your body, not the bike" took it easy, and with a little leaning, I could easily keep the bike nice and upright on turns, and made it home safe!
Then I got home and was thinking, was that the right thing to do in the rain? Checked your channel and found this wealth of more info.
Thanks for all the great content to help people stay safe!
👍🏼👍🏼
I just want to thank you for all the videos you’ve made ❤️ I’ve watched and then under my husbands instructions and yours I practiced and practiced some more . I took my BRC last week and got my license. I have had my first rides on public roads and it is rather amazing. My husband has my back and offers advice before and after our round the block ride. Thank You again you are an excellent instructor ❤️❤️ btw I’m 64 years young
You're welcome!! thank you :)
Thanks! I'll practice on my cornering a rainy day on a wide spot.
:)
MotoJitsu.com for my new app, books, merch, etc.
On point! In our country it's rainy season and this video is very helpful. I open the shield a bit when raining to avoid fogging and I thought I'm the only one doing this. Thank you Fast Eddie, you're the man! Ride safe! ✌
Thanks!
MotoJitsu, I just discovered you through some research on my new bike's suspension. You, my friend, keep it simple and effective. Keep it up. I am a new fan!
Thanks for watching!!
Stumbled upon your channel and have been thoroughly enjoying your teaching style and quality of content. Solid. One tip I always use is to have a damp microfiber cloth between my legs or in my tank bag for a quick wipe when the rain changes to mist or vehicle spray kicks up. Keeps my vision at its best and removes crud without scratching my visor. Also a good coating of Plexus makes a great diff. in the rain on the visor.
Thanks!
Good tips Greg. I personally wear 1. Klim Forecast Split Finger Gloves (go over top my gauntlet highly protective AGV Sport gloves and don't let any rain/water in, and not to mention are super grippy and have a rain squeegee on the left index finger) 2. Scott Ergonomic Pro Jacket (Hi Vis Yellow) love this jacket, well designed, lots of straps to prevent rain from getting in, and it even has a crotch strap to keep everything in place and not blowing around, folds up nice, and packs small like most good rain gear. 3. Revit Acid H2O Rain pants (Hi Vis Yellow), looks kinda funny with the double hi vis, but visibility is key right? and keeps you dry. 4. Sidi Vertigo Boots stay nice and dry, especially with a nice layer of Mink Oil. Highly recommended for leather, especially getting caught in light rain. I also have a pinlock shield with clear visor, which helps with fog like you mentioned but water still ends up getting in my helmet and gets wet even with all the vents closed. Any recommendations in keeping your helmet/head dry?
Thanks! Sometimes your gear has a hood to put on under your helmet..but it's rare.
Florida its always gonna rain on you. Gladly i implement these things already but definitely sound advice for anyone. Indian bobber and a rc51 in the fleet currently. Great work as always sir.
Thanks!
I have found that it helps if you drag your rear brake little bit while changing direction. It makes me happy that the front cannot slide! ☺️
Make sure to have the right tires to get caught in the rain with. I also have a whole rain outfit top to bottom that works really nice that's not all one brand. Some people say riding in the rain is bad but I dont think so but night rain riding there is really little to visibility. Sweet vid!!!
Right tires? As long as they have tread and the pressure is where it’s supposed to be, the tires are right (there are no wrong tires).
@@MotoJitsu yes right tires.... I have dunlop roadsmart 2 tires which provide me with better traction in the rain than say the q3's which dont propel water away from the tire's as much. I have tested this theory and they do work better but its also depends on traction levels with different roads and conditions like a little rain or alot.
Some have more tread than others but I've rode Q3's in the rain on a track and they did fine. It mostly comes down to rider technique vs anything else.
One of the few times I dropped a bike, cross country trip, rain and new pavement do not mix. Felt like I rode onto an ice skating rink. Didn't go well. Be safe out there, great video.
Thanks
Wish I could subscribe more than once dude, your videos are amazing and full of knowledge and wisdom, keep it up!
Thanks!!
Thanks FE! I pair a pinlock face shield treated with Rain X for plastics up here in the rainy Pacific Northwest 😅☔️
thanks! motojitsu.com
Good advise, bro. You keep me grounded, in terms of staying current with my fundamentals. Thanks again from Rancho Cucamonga.
Thanks
I swear you’re following me!!! I just got home from work driving in the rain. Some of the stuff is common sense but you hit on a few points that bring me back down to reality when it comes to riding. Thanks again. Btw, I have a school that just re did the asphalt so I have a nice smooth clean surface to practice on with my new MT-09.
That’s great! Practice time!
MotoJitsu quick question, getting my practice kit but what do you suggest frame sliders or crash cage? Wanna keep my bike safe but definitely wanna practice
Great tips as always. I can think of one more, but very important. If there was no rain for a longer period of time, some small dirt, grit and other stuff can accumulate on the road. At the very beginning when it starts to rain (especially light rain) those particles mixed with water becomes EXTREMELY slippery. Many instructors/books that I know suggestss to stop and wait until the surface ot the road is properly washed out. Same problem we have in Poland after winter season. Salt and grit used to maintain roads during snowfalls usualy stays there for quite some time.
If it's about gear, for me for short trips and commuting good jacket and trousers with water proff inside layer is enough to enjoy riding in the rain :) Seems more comfortable and easier to use than another layer on top (pockets acces etc.)
Waitinng for another video!
Thanks! Yes, the 1st 30 mins or so are very slick.
You sound like an older brother!! Thanks for the tips!! Hate riding in rain but these tips help!! Cheers mate 🍺🍺
:)
I put rainx on my visor and also pinlock. Have no problem in the rain. Great video. Completely agree with the blinking lights catch's the eye .
Sweet!
Most of the headlight and auxiliary lamps light nowadays is white or a blueish white, as it works better on dry conditions, make one of the auxiliaries an amber light and on rain and/or fog, you'll see the road much better.
ok
FYI: Have you heard about my other RUclips channel? It's a podcast where I interview interesting people...it's called MyIgnorance. Check it out :)
ruclips.net/channel/UCVJeRk29mNO-YRuvOJ73klQ
I would also recommend more distance from the vehicles in front of you because they lift the water from the road (like thick aerosol) that lowers your vision even more. It's like riding in a cloud.
Thank you for another great video.
Yes!
I salute to you my friend for all the life saving tips that you are giving to us for free, yet Stupid people have milions of views just by doing stupid things, you basically save our motorcyclists asses on daily basis and still have fairly low view count which amazes me, you should have milions of views!
Thanks! Great video! Straightforward info and no gimmicks. Yes, l subscribed!
Awesome, thank you! SHARE IT
I live in Oregon so this is very relevant to me. I'm planning to take the MSF braking and turning course next year, and I'm actually going to try to schedule it early when it's wet out.
The visor fogging was really an issue!
I wouldn't...you want it to be dry and clear to learn the techniques...then you on your own practice in various conditions.
Fr: philippines
THANK YOU
welcome!!
MotoJitsu.com for my new app, books, merch, etc.
Excellent video! It so happened I got caught in a heavy rain last year when I was riding and that was the only day I did not care to check weather and put on my brand new Triumph leather jacket and went for a long ride way far away out of town..on my way back, it started to rain and I took a break at a gas station and resumed back when rain seemed to stop, but, again it began to pour heavily and I just rode in the rain. I had to turn-on the hazardous light and leave it on while it was heavily raining, the traffic began to slow down bumper-2-bumper and I drove very carefully back home. 1 hour in rain on and off. total 3 hour trip.
Traffic was horrible and mainly on intersections and at one place the traffic-lights were out adding to more challenges. I rode very carefully, very cautiously, very alert and safely made it back home. I had watched Fast Eddie's various videos before and in one video he mentions to use the hazardous lights for safety and I remembered that including many other tips that helped me.
Thanks!
Thank you for the tips! I always get nervous when I need to hit the road with my bike in the rain (I'll go to work with it everyday), I feel like my tires are going to slip... 😅
😊👍🏼
We gets lots of rain in Ireland. You can use latex gloves to keep hands dry and warmer under your motorcycle gloves
👍🏼
Good tips, not so sure about doing the body lean thing. If you're putting the same sideways force on the tyres as with leaning it makes little difference, except dual compound tyres have the grippier rubber away from the tyre centre. I would normally just slow down more to take a corner and make the turn sharper.
Another counterintuitive technique is to relax more in the rain, which is hard when it's cold with poor visibility and gusts of wind. The bike will keep tyre grip if the rider doesn't have the bars in a death-grip. Finally, road marking paint and service covers always become slippery in the rain. If the bike starts to fishtail under acceleration, gently ease off the throttle until it straightens out, no sudden moves. Keep a higher gear than usual to damp out torque variations to the rear wheel.
Best is to pull into a petrol station and drink bad coffee until the worst of the weather or traffic blows over.
Or if you just have a solid compound soft tire...either way, more lean is more risk so obviously if you have less lean, you have less risk :)
@@MotoJitsu the issue is that the tyre breaks contact under side forces in a turn. The centrifugal force is the same regardless of the bank of the bike. The force can be lowered by lowering speed.
Do as you wish.
Awesome video greg, covered all bases with rain riding...look at held over suits in the rain, great gear....ride in paradise Carlin Dunne...
Will do! I just bought Klim Carlsbad jacket & pants too & it’s fully waterproof :)
Just watched a few of your videos and subscribed. Very clear explanations. As a relatively new rider, I’m always trying to improve and can definitely put these tips to good use. Plus, it does seem to rain a lot in the UK!
Thanks!
Thank you sir for the tips.
God bless you always sir.
Excellent tips. Thanks!
👍🏼👍🏼
Geat Tips for riding in the rain. Thanks
No problem 👍
they make products to put on your visor to mitigate or help with rain run off, and fogging. good ole rain x, on the outside, will help rain bead off, and there's various anti-fog sprays for the interior side of the visor, although a pinlock visor is a great first step
Thanks
Thanks for your good lesson as always. Much appreciated.
Stay safe and healthy in these unprecedented trying times.
You're welcome!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom sir.
Very good information!
Thanks for watching!
MotoJitsu.com for my app, books, merch, affiliate links, discounts, courses, etc.
Love listening to you .... just wish everyone had the same sense..... thanks .....Fred in the UK 🇬🇧
Thanks
Thanks to you, I've learned that I just have to approve myself, that I'm sitting good, feeling my foot on the pegs and my ass on the seat. Feeling my body in confidence and then continoue to feel good while slowly doing step by step in whatever I try to do, is it turning with a straight body not trying achieving anything special but learn what I'm doing right now, leaning insight the bike or pushing the bike.
I've learned that feeling confident and safe on the bike, while leaning smooth and easy is more important than trying to leaning inside, even if it might be better if you're good at it.
I thought I 'm always good in the traffic, but not the corners. Now since I turn in corners with self awareness, feeling my body, I learn much of me and my bike.
More courses, more practice :)
Hey Greg,
Thanks for the awesome tips. Could you please a video on riding off road as well?
The place I live we do have to commute off road at few times.
probably not
Thank you for the awesome vid & explanations... have been deliberatly riding in the rain for the experience....kinda freaky at the start...just keeping calm and focussed .... and new tips you have shared are gold :) High Five from NZ
You're welcome!
May I suggest waterproof boots? Nothing worse than a squishy shoe for obvious reasons, but mostly because you lose "feel" in your feet. Tough to shift and brake smoothly when you get delayed, or distorted sensory feedback. Got caught recently in a fast moving Florida storm. Everything on me was soaked except my feet wearing (relatively inexpensive) TourMasters.
I haven't had many but most boots do a good job...but if you find some that are protective and waterproof, great :)
Being mostly long distance riders, we have ridden (not intentionally) in many rain storms...this is excellent sound advice.
And most important...If you it about to rain, just don't ride, if possible, wait it out.
Thanks!
Always carry a gallon ziploc bag if you don't always carry rain gear. Great callouts on watching the road and DO NOT rely on ABS although it helps. Watching the contour of the road and reading it properly can save you from certain disaster.
If you think it may rain, yup, bring rain gear.
Nice one Eddie! I tend to avoid riding if it's raining. Great tips!!! Well done.
Thanks!
Great video, I live in Florida, rains a lot in the summer. I try to avoid when possible being on a bike when the roads are wet. The only thing I would add(don't think you mentioned it, but its possible) is that I like to stay in a lower gear. This way just backing off the throttle will slow bike quite a bit, without any braking power.
Thank you Fast Eddie.
I would advise against that...I would actually recommend a higher gear....less likely to give it too much power and spin out.
NOT being combative, love ya brother. I just instinctively feel much safer letting the rpm's of the engine slow me down. I copied and pasted this from an article I found. Please feel free to comment...
Ron Haslam once told me his trick for wet racing was to counter intuitively by using a lower gear to keep revs higher. Higher revs equals more power, which may sound like a recipe for a slide, but more power also equals less throttle applied for a given amount of acceleration. Because of that, the rear tire is less prone to dramatically spinning up should traction be lost, allowing you to more easily correct the situation. The rules to remember: High gear, low revs, big throttle and a big slide. Low gear, high revs, little throttle and a little slide.
@@doug2993 1st, this is by a professional racer talking about wet racing...there's no gravel, animals, painted lines, 2 way traffic ect. 2nd...just do as you wish...I just don't recommend it, I've rode in the rain many, many times and would always rather go up a gear than down.
@MotoJitsu Fair enough brother, I've been riding street bikes for 30 years. So my throttle control is pretty good. Next time I'm out in the rain, I will consider and apply what you are saying. Thank you for the responses. Stay safe out there!
You're welcome :)
If i could give my fellow riders some advice when riding in the rain it would be this: find a nice safe environment and perform an EMERGENCY BREAK a couple times. This will give you an idea of how much grip your bike has when wet and also lets you know how strong/weak the brakes are. Now shut up and practice.
If you already practiced a whole lot in the dry, multiple times a week for about 20 minutes, you'll be fine in the rain :)
@@MotoJitsu 👌 😀
Great video and Better Tips on riding in the rain. Thanks for sharing brotherman! Cheers!
Thanks Justin!
Very good video. I really dislike riding in the rain, but I hate going by car more xD
I check my tire pressure once or twice a week .. 34 psi in the front .. 40 psi in the back ..
I just hate riding in the rain .. the Z900 is not ment for riding in the rain .. it sprays water way up your back and the entire bike just gets dirty .. I always wash the bike after getting caught in the rain :D
Yes, once a week at least :)
Love your videos from Australia 🇦🇺
Thanks!
Good content and well presented as usual.
Can you please make a vid on parking your motorcycle, especially on a hill tips, tricks etc.
Also a vid on downshift rev matching. Love your work! Always look forward to viewing your content.
Thanks...I have videos on all those topics you just mentioned.
Splendid Advice (as always!)
Short Summary of my Rain Experiences (had …. some… yeah, i'm german…:-P)
If it starts to hail, watch out for a safe Place to stop and wait. Even just midsized hail (about 1-2cm diam.), really hurts at 50 - 60 mph!
Also: after a couple of minutes of hail you're riding on "wet semi-ice" (-ish), so let's not even talk about predictable traction here.
If it's really pouring down (and your're lucky wearing a waterproof layer inside your Garment (which i do), don't put your arms down,
while still wearing your gloves waiting. The Rainwater will then run inside your Gloves (if you're sensibly wearing your glove tops over the sleeves of your jacket).
Had a fun time riding with gore-tex glooves wet from the inside for hours.:-P
While waiting for the worst part of the rain to pass, leave your helmet on and closed, or just slightly cracked open, otherwise the inside of your faceshield gets wet from reflected raindrops of your helmet outer shell. as recommended: a pinlock visor helps a lot in any case!
Cheers,
S.
Thanks for the comment!
On the topic of abs, coming on hard on the brakes with abs increases braking distance (you don't want that in an emergency). Like you said , proper braking technique does the job, abs is an assistant to, not substitute for !
Only if it's engaging.
It does, when off road especially & it's left on, when braking you can feel it bite & release multiple times, also makes a clicking sound
Thank you for another informative video.
Btw I have my phone on half volume and the sound is perfect 👍🙂
Thanks!
Got the notification 6 mins ago.
Published on 17 July 2019.
I come to the comments- 1 month ago.🤔🤔
Thanks for all the videos btw.
I upload my videos early to those who support me on Patreon.
@@MotoJitsu Ok Sir, my recommended is full of your videos and you are the person i trust. I am getting a bike soon and am still learning therefore i ask some dumb doubts sometimes and am happy that you have always answered all my doubts.
Thanks again.😇
You're welcome :)
Legend mate. Very useful tute
😊👍🏼
Two days ago I had worked about 13 hours and right when I got back to my shop and put the truck away it started raining, and I had a good 30 minutes of riding home to do. I did have full leathers so I was warm and not wet but I couldn’t really see anything through my goggles, they were just getting super wet. So I pulled off to the gas station a block from my shop and put my goggles up and tried to ride like that. Worst mistake! rain drops no matter how small feel like someone is shooting an automatic air soft gun at your eyes. Hahahaha. I instantly pulled over and put the goggles back on and just kept wiping the water away every 10 seconds. I did wait at the gas station for a good 20 minutes so the ground wouldn’t be as slippery but my back tire did slide pretty bad one time when I was coming up to a red light. Need new tires bad. But I’ve been watching RUclips videos about riding in the rain since, to try to find a way to fix the visibility problem in the rain. Still haven’t found anything besides this video saying to turn your head. Anyone have any solutions for this?
Wearing googles instead of a helmet with a face shield is a guarantee handful
@@MotoJitsu yeah I realized that and switched to my full face the next day. It’s much better. Thanks man
Another good reason for increasing your separation distance: spray from the vehicles in front is worse than the actual rain. It's dirty, so it screws up your visor (even wiping the water off can leave nasty dirty smears). It's also made of finer droplets, so it soaks through / into your gear quicker than rain. From large vehicles, the height of the spray can be as high as your 'bike, so it hides you from whoever's behind you as well if you're riding in it.
Great point!
I had to sell my car so I replaced it with a bike. Only been riding for two months now, so thanks for all the advice. You are a great teacher no joke.
Thanks! More courses, more practice. If there aren't any courses around, pick up my book to give you drills to do on your own, motojitsu.com
@@MotoJitsu I'll have to do that, I couldn't find a course around here.
Live in the states? Put in your zip code here.www.msf-usa.org/students.aspx#brc-brc and look for the MSF BRC2, ARC, and Circuit RiderCourse.
I can't stress this enough but, *utilize engine braking* .
When you're riding in the rain, you can't really just stop quickly by pulling the brakes fast because you'll just lock up the wheels, so there will be more stopping distance anyway.
Using engine braking along with a bit of the normal brakes is the best technique to slow down effectively.
Also, *avoid panic situations and panic braking*. Just take the proper measures to not put yourself through such a place. In the rain, the risk is significantly larger when there's some panic stop or panic braking involved. *You wanna look further down the road* than you normally do during non-rainy days.
Stay safe everyone.
Thanks for the video, This is the video I was looking for...
You're welcome! Share with others :)
I agree about riding in the car tyre tracks but this is where the potholes filled with water are, if the rain is heavy I find riding ctr of lane the lessor evil
Question, for tight low speed maneuvers in the rain, do you still keep your body position to the opposite side of the turn?
Nice tips, but honestly, i dont like using any raining's gears. I felt not comfortable. But of course i rode slowly and double focus while riding in the rain. Thanks for the tips mate!😊😊🤝
I just bought Klim Carlsbad jacket & pants...it’s fully waterproof :) now more “extra” rain gear!
Thanks for a great video! Love your concise explanations. Super helpful.
Glad it was helpful! Please Check out & Subscribe to my other RUclips channel!!! ruclips.net/channel/UCVJeRk29mNO-YRuvOJ73klQ?view_as=subscriber
From my year round riding, I always keep shield smooth/clean and apply solution that promotes better water beading. That makes water dissipate quicker from shield. IMHO.
What solution?
@@MotoJitsu Many in the market. I use Rain-X 620036 for plastic but please consult your helmet manufacture. I have pinlock and this Rain X guarantees good beading during rain.
Thanks
@@MotoJitsuThank you Sensei!
Hi Eddie,
I dont know if you have done this already, maybe you can post a link here if you have. but is it possible you can do a video on showing us noobs how to master the figure 8 with all the right skills we need to have.
i am currently trying to get my license and my teacher doesnt teach. he just gives us the bike and lets us burn fuel. the problem with this is we end up learning the skill with bad habbits and ultimately, this takes us in to worse habbits without a solid foundation on how to position the body, lean the bike and control it with the right form.
you are no doubt the only person i truly admire when it comes to bike skills. im sure there are others on youtube but i found you and have been followng you for a month now. Actually, i just failed my test yesterday. my teacher kept saying that the figure 8 was larger at the test centre, but actually, it was noticeable smaller in length and larger in width. and whilst i thought i had the figure 8 down, i realised that i actually did not. because despite the figure 8 being smaller in length, if i had the proper skills, it should not have mattered. so this was a wake up call for me that i have not learned this skill properly. i dont blame my teacher, i realise in need more practice. but i would rather practice it the correct way and not continue what im doing because i think im doing it wrong.
I realise that it is a simple skill but it has massive implications and learnign it right can only be a good thing. Please can you dedicate a video on this
In any event, thank you so much for all your videos !!!
I have an entire playlist all about mastering low speed drills.
@@MotoJitsu i found the playlist and have been watching and learning. now i need to shut up and practice !
thank you so very much !
Hi Eddie,
i wanted to update you that i took my test again today. I spent the last 2 weeks exercising your advice in the playlist you created for slow speed drills and it helped me very very much.
I passed my test !!
i have clearly a lot more to learn and you have certainly inspired me to go about practicing as often as possible.
I realise that if not for you, and the likes of Dan Dan the Fireman and MC Rider, there are many of us that would not pay mind to such things as wearing the right gear and practicing beyond the lessons we are required to take in order to pass the test.
Thank you very much.
God bless !