Ran into steady rain commuting home on Thursday.  My Concours is an 09 so it does not have traction control but I do have ABS.  This is the third bike I have owned but my experience in the rain has been limited.  I was on the highway in the HOV lane and kept my speed to about 60-65.  I have PR3 tires and they seem very good in the rain.

Do you guys typically just keep on riding when you hit rain or pull under a bridge and wait it out? 

Thanks.

Lightening, high winds and hail get me off the road during a storm. Rain alone does not.

Lightening, high winds and hail get me off the road during a storm. Rain alone does not.

+1
On the Autobahn I keep under 110 when it rains, unless it's hard, then I keep it under 80. Two-way roads it's at the posted speed limit.

I hate riding in the rain, and will try to plan around it.  But if it does rain, I typically just drive through it.  With new PR4's, I don't think any amount of rain would have me pull over (unless the roads were flooded out or something).  But if I had low tread, I would abort.  And very high cross winds combined with rain- that might have me seek shelter.

Now, if there is ANY chance of ice, there is no way I would get on a bike.  Period.

The only time I pull up in the rain is when its raining so hard the cars around me have trouble seeing me with all the spray. I was pushing through a heavy shower, and the car in front of me disapeared in the rain. It couldn't have been more than 50 yards in front. After seeing that, I checked behind me and pulled to the shoulder. I didn't want to risk it. But rain on its own doesn't stop me, even if I forgot my rain gear.

I only panic when tornadoes are coming my way, otherwise I ride in the rain.  I don't ride in the rain in the dark.  I try not to ride in the dark regardless of the weather conditions.

seems every long distance ride I'm on, especially with momma as a passenger, has us drinking from the fire hose for hours non-stop.
Many times we have spent 8 hours, in torrential downpours, covering 500 miles or more.

If you know it is a storm that you will not see ending, keep going, and use 4 way flashers... riding on thru the storm beats sitting idle, and having the storm over you for hours.

NEVER pull off under a bridge, on a highway to wait out a storm, instead exit the freeway and get off in a parking lot, or other safe place.
People have a habit of pulling off under bridges, and quickly approach without looking, I have seen a few crashes where car drivers simply ran over a group of bikes under a bridge by not paying attention when they were trying to occupy that sacred area.

keep pushing on, just use caution, you will likely ride out of the storm at some point. Hopefully not into another one of more intensity....been there.....many times...

I keep on driving, my speed determined a lot by visability. I drove through WY last year through a crap load of rain and snow (the kind that melts as soon as it hit ground), drove about 70mph.
Had pr3's and the bike drove incredibly well. I also have abs/tc but they never were activated.

Do you guys typically just keep on riding when you hit rain or pull under a bridge and wait it out? 

One might have to wait a week where I live...lol.

I've ridden in the rain for days on end, and did it before I had good waterproof motorcycle gear too. There are no words to describe how awful it is to wake up in a hotel room somewhere, put all your soggy wet riding gear back on, and look outside and see that it's still pouring rain...lol. Been there done that...lol.

Run good rain tires and buy good riding gear, and it's easier to deal with.

Now, riding in the dark, that's another issue....too many critters creeping around the roads around here.

I also find that stopping on an interstate (under a bridge or otherwise) is suicidal.  Never ever stop on an interstate for any reason unless you happen to break down and have no other choice.

I ride in the rain if I have too and sometimes there's no choice. Last week my wife and I were out for a ride and ran into a downpour, without rain gear. We were soaked to the skin within a minute. We just toughed it out till after the rain stopped and then we road till we were dry again, mostly.   

It's all part of the adventure that is motorcycling.   

I like riding in the rain... means the bike gets washed. 

Good comments, thank you!

What REAL MEN , when I grow up I want to be just like you

The mad pow-ah of KiPass allows my C14 to conquer monsoon storms with 80 MPH winds, 2 ft of water in the road, and no shelter ion any direction. Some times I even have to time take a pic of the impending doom before it hits, put my rain gear on, and the camera gear up.

And, because of KiPass I only change bearings everything 85,000 miles that routinely go through desert dust and water storms.  And not because they need changing, but because KiPass FOB pow-ah is badder than Chuck himself

I knew the day would eventually come when I would get caught in the rain and it happened in the twisties in Arkansas during a camping trip.  I stopped and put my rain gear on and continued being far from camp.  I finally realized that the bike was not going to slip out from under me in the turns I really enjoyed a nice steady rain.  Was cool to wave at the other riders I passed as they sought refuge under canopies.  On that same trip I was on my way back home and rode part of I-40 and encountered a deluge.  I got close enough to an 18 wheeler that all I could see was a dark shadow of the rig and could ride far enough behind him to be safe.   I enjoyed it.  Few wet spots and was not far from giving up and seeking shelter when I hit the end of the rain.  I think we were running about 50-55 mph.

Couple years later a friend and I are heading home from the Texas hill country.  We are in a light mist all day long and in the upper 40s.  We think we have it beat as we get within an hour of home when it starts hammering us.  Both of us are in rain gear with me leading when I give up as I start passing semi's that have pulled over waiting it out.  I pass a convenience store and hit the brakes as the ABS takes me right past it and my friend pulls into it.  We sit there for an hour waiting for it to pass but its all coming from where we need to go.  It does lighten up enough for us to get back on the road and make it home.

It all depends on the roads, weather, traffic, outlook and most of all, mindset.  Sometimes you want that challenge and sometimes your brain tells you to wait it out.  No rush.  I will ride all day in the rain if I encounter it on the road but hate leaving the house in the rain.

I knew the day would eventually come when I would get caught in the rain and it happened in the twisties in Arkansas during a camping trip.  I stopped and put my rain gear on and continued being far from camp.  I finally realized that the bike was not going to slip out from under me in the turns I really enjoyed a nice steady rain.  Was cool to wave at the other riders I passed as they sought refuge under canopies.  On that same trip I was on my way back home and rode part of I-40 and encountered a deluge.  I got close enough to an 18 wheeler that all I could see was a dark shadow of the rig and could ride far enough behind him to be safe.   I enjoyed it.  Few wet spots and was not far from giving up and seeking shelter when I hit the end of the rain.  I think we were running about 50-55 mph.

Couple years later a friend and I are heading home from the Texas hill country.  We are in a light mist all day long and in the upper 40s.  We think we have it beat as we get within an hour of home when it starts hammering us.  Both of us are in rain gear with me leading when I give up as I start passing semi's that have pulled over waiting it out.  I pass a convenience store and hit the brakes as the ABS takes me right past it and my friend pulls into it.  We sit there for an hour waiting for it to pass but its all coming from where we need to go.  It does lighten up enough for us to get back on the road and make it home.

It all depends on the roads, weather, traffic, outlook and most of all, mindset.  Sometimes you want that challenge and sometimes your brain tells you to wait it out.  No rush.  I will ride all day in the rain if I encounter it on the road but hate leaving the house in the rain.

+1 couldn't agree more!  Nice post

+1
On the Autobahn I keep under 110 when it rains, ...

Sure you do

Sure you do

shhhhhh! they don't know... 

If I'm already on the road and it starts raining, I ride no problem. If I wake up in the morning for work and its raining, I wimp out and take the truck. I'm lazy and don't want to take the time to put on the rain gear.