Wear the Right Gear

Whether it’s raining or not, if you are motorcycle riding on wet roads, you are going to get wet. The cars in front of you, passing in the other direction, and your own front wheel will throw a lot of water at you. You need to be warm and maintain a good grip to control your bike safely. If you come up on a wet road, stop and put on your rain gear, including a good pair of gloves and some eye protection.

Use deliberate and smooth motions

Don’t try to brake too fast or accelerate too quickly. Anticipating threats is one of the number one rules for riding under any conditions but is especially important when motorcycle riding on wet roads. Be prepared to brake early or steer away from a threat without any sudden motions. Use engine braking where possible to slow down, especially in curves.

Avoid extra hazards

Most typical hazards you encounter are easy to miss or ride over, such as railroad tracks, potholes, and manhole covers. When motorcycle riding on wet roads, these carry an extra threat. Railroad tracks, manhole covers and painted stripes become much slicker. Potholes full of water are difficult to gauge. Oil spills turn into major hazards. Just use the old rule of look where you want to go, and you should be fine steering away from these problems.

Find a safe track

Speaking of looking where you want to go, find a safe path and stick to it. The track left by the wheels of the car or truck in front of you will be slightly drier. Get in and stay in that track as much as possible when motorcycle riding on wet roads. But don’t put yourself in a position where the spray from the leading vehicle lessens your visibility.

Focus on one thing at a time

Frequently when you are riding, you do two things at a time. Accelerate into a curve, downshift into a turn or similar actions. When motorcycle riding on wet roads, you need to not only slow down your bike, but slow down your actions. Focus on doing one thing at a time safely and surely before doing the next thing. Anything, such as a wet road, that divides your attention is potentially dangerous. Focus and stay safe.

With preparation and a little practice, riding a motorcycle on wet roads should be no problem. Riding on a wet road requires proper technique just like any other and if you practice it enough, it will become second nature. Keep the shiny side up!