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.
I'm a relatively new C14 owner so I've not had the opportunity to ride it in the rain yet. But it's only a matter of time I'm sure. I don't like to ride in the rain but sometimes it's unavoidable.
I did ride my 2005 Goldwing from Gatlinburg, TN to just north of Cincinnati (about 300 miles) in the rain a couple of years ago. Obviously my biggest concern was traction so I intentionally tried to ensure all my maneuvers were are smooth as possible. Going slowly on I-75 is not really an option, you either go with the flow or you die! So it was 75 - 85 mph all the way. I had a cheapo rainsuit on and that kept me pretty dry except for my ankles and my neck. Most of the water up top came from the top of the windscreen as beads of water rolled up to the lip and then were blown into my faceshield.
Overall it wasn't as bad as I expected. The Goldwing doesn't have ABS or traction control but was steady all the time in spite of what was, at time, a VERY heavy downpour. If there had been lightning, I would have pulled off and found cover.
BTW - I don't think the pull under a bridge for cover is a good idea. Get off the highway, getting run over by a big-rig is a sure way to mess up a trip!