I don't go out seeking a soaking, but last night I took my wife down from north Hampshire to Chichester to see her mother in hospital. Fine and sunny when we left, but on leaving the heavens had opened and the bike was drenched. As we left town the roads were awash and the viz was dire (lights on wet visor) and I was tense not having had much experience in the wet, let alone at night. She was nervy and I was seeing deisel and water at every corner. On the road from Lavant up to Harting it was standing water and rivers across the road. I kept her spirits raised by suggesting (autocom - great kit) it was a good test for our forthcomming trip to Normandy but I was definately a bit nervous myself. Oh and the GS, it didn't blink, didn't slip and just worked! in fact by the time I got to the A3 and the rain was easing I felt a bit of a twit and began to relax. Sorry it's a bit long winded, but what a bike! Now I wouldn't want anything else in bad weather and, appologies to all you all weather all over the world riders but I felt like I had passed some sort of test on a bike that just shugged it off. The only let down was my hydroscopic Dianese 'waterproof' trousers and wet nuts!
Water babies - Me - Wife & GS1200
- Thread starter Mark8303
- Start date
Dahoum
Registered user
Nice one Mark - it all goes into the 'experience' box for future reference.
Glad you enjoyed it, and glad you both got home safe. I was awake all night with man flu, and could hear the rain lashing down, a bad night for riding for sure.
As for rider skill - use it or lose it, theres no substitute for time spent in the saddle.
Make sure you change those trousers for some proper waterproof ones, then get out more often when it rains.
As for rider skill - use it or lose it, theres no substitute for time spent in the saddle.
Make sure you change those trousers for some proper waterproof ones, then get out more often when it rains.
Adam851
Guest
Couldn't agree more - I've had some longish periods away from the bike and when getting back in the saddle coincides with rain and cold and dark simple lack of practice makes it much harder to realx and ride fluidly. The mind plays funny games in the dark and for me it's a case of practicing riding skills (not that I've got many
) to banish (most of) the negative thoughts that make you grab the bars for grim death. Good on yer for getting out in it - not everyone has the time or motivation to do this as for many it is just a recreation (or should this be religion?!) rather than a necessity to use the bike. Like you said - great practice for Normandy.
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