Vidar. I’m SORRY. But I’m gonna have to tell you…while, I DO understand your logic Im here to tell you that YOU’RE WRONG! Norman summed it up very nicely. I’ve been riding for 40 yrs. Perhaps your number haven’t played yet. But, believe me.. the fact that you haven’t had any incidents in your experience is. Merely the stars alingning. Hopefully, you WON’T have an incident. I enjoy riding. I especially like riding in the rain. But, just as Norman pointed out, the danger rises considerably, when you ride in the rain. Because a particular circumstance (or cicumstances), escaped YOU….does NOT MEAN….THE DANGER DOESN’T EXIST!!! Ride hard. But ride SAFE.
#CatchMeOnAHighwayNearYou

Great post!!! You obviously have an enormous amout of experience, as I myself also have an enormous amount of actual riding experience!! Kudos to you, my friend.
#CatchMeOnAHighwayNearYou

Thanks for your input, Norman. I was going to finish reading all of the comments (as crazy as some of them are), before I made my comment. But, your comment is a perfect point to Segway into my comment.
First, let me say this: I’ll be 53 years old on Jan 19th. I’ve been riding bikes since I was 14 years old, and have rode and owned everything from a “pull string”, to a 2015 “Road Glide”, which I currently own. I’ve rode in the rain on many occasions, and had no problem doing so…until recently. I rode through a storm from nyc to myrtle b each sc. It rained from ny to Va, without incident. And I rode at considerably high speeds in spite of the rain. Last month I rode from nyc to bushkill, pennsylvania. It rained the entire trip also. But, 20 miles before reaching my destination, it began to downpour, so bad that I couldn’t see. I found myself weaving in and out of my lane. So, I KNEW it was time to pull over. I saw a sign for “rest stop”, and proceeded to make my exit. The plan was to pull over until the rain let up. I exit the highway and get to the light. It’s pitch bkack, and no signs of light (or rest stop) in either direction. So, I decide to hang a right. I traveled apx 1/4 mile and didn’t see any sign of light or a rest stop. The road began to wind in either direction. So, I th I thought to myself “the rest stop must be in the opposite direction”. Before I could make a u-turn, the two way (no lines), road began to wind to the left. I was traveling maybe 20mph. All of a sudden, the bike Bagan to slide to the right (apx 3-4ft). Before I could respond, the tires suddenly regain traction, and launched me up in the air, landing square on my head. Thank God for helmets !! This happened SO QUICK there was nothing I could’ve done differently! Thank God I wasn’t hurt. The bike suffeed minor damage. My point is that I have an enormous amount of riding experience. Prior to this incident, I didn’t give it a second thought about riding in the rain. I consider myself lucky. This could’ve happened on the highway, having resulted in an incident similar to the one you described, Norman. To each his own. Riding in the rain, makes you no more of a rider. Personally, I have nothing to prove. I will CONTINUE to ride in the rain. However, I will never underestimate, or ride over-confident. I was completely blind sided by this fall. Btw, the bike landed slightly off the road.. sort of in a ditch. I managed to pick up this 900 lb. bike by myself. But it was stuck with the tire not making contact with the road and I had to wait for 2 good Samaritans yo be kind enough to stop and lend a hand!!
In closing….whether you ride in the rain or not…..always proceed with extreme caution. I’ve lost count of the many funerals (from novice to “track certified”), I’ve attended in my 40 yrs of riding!! *NO ONE IS EXEMPT.
*FALYING IS INEVITABLE
*THE MORE YOU RIDE, THE MORE YOUR CHANCES.
#THE LIFE I LOVE
##CatchMeOnAHighwayNearYou

most states reiuqre you to have a regular drivers license plus the motorcycle endorsement added to your regular license to be able to ride a motorcycle legally. there are some states that will let you get just a motorcycle license only. i do not know if maryland is one of those. try calling your local dmv and ask.

Gerald,Great input I have been riding for years when ever I get a new bike new or old. The first thing I do is ride her HARD… and get to know her. I also take her out in rain as much as I can near home this way. I know the good & bad and I am better prepared for when I get caught somewhere. Don’t get me wrong I don’t plan trips in the rain. But we ALL get caught in the rain sooner or later. Avoid it when ever possible. Confidence is key.. NOT cockiness..

May the sun be at your back and the road ahead be clear..

Obviously there are some people that live in some areas where it rains quite a bit more. You should not be riding a motorcycle in the rain unless you have to, especially if you have a choice. It is dangerous and not the same as riding on a dry street.

Norm

I rarely have started a ride in the rain because no matter how many precautions you take, it is flat out not safe to ride a two wheel motorcycle in the rain. Hell two years ago I rode about 200 miles in a pack in a torrential downpour the entire way from California to Nevada. We were all very lucky to make it safely.

I can give many reasons why it is not safe to ride in the rain, but the main reason is that we only have two wheels, and if you hydro-plane or loose traction on any of the two wheels, there is a very good chance that you will go down. This is not the case in a 4 wheel car.

Each rider is different, with different riding skills and comfort levels. No one should ever ride beyond their comfort level.

We can agree to disagree. You may be the greatest rider on earth. However if a cager cuts you off in the rain and you have to do an evasive maneuver real quickly in the rain, you have a much less chance of keeping her up, then when it is not raining.

Norm

I have ridden through many rain storms. I rode in a bit of drizzle last Sunday.

Because of my experience, I only ride in the rain when I have to. Let’s face it, on a two wheeled motorcycle, it is not as safe to be on a motorcycle in the rain, as it is to be in the car. If you don’t agree with this than you are not being honest with yourself.

I have seen and represented too many bikers and motorcyclist who have been taken out in the rain. One biker during this past winter crashed in the rain storm and was decapitated by the truck who ran over him when he lost control on a rain soaked slippery surface on a curve in a tunnel in Pasadena.

I understand the balls to the wall machismo in the biker world, especially with you BMW riders who think that your equipment is more equipped to ride in the rain and other such conditions. Well if you hit a rain soaked oil patch you may sing a different tune.

If it is raining out, use your car. If you are on the road and it starts raining, be careful and slow down, if your gut tells you that it is not safe, get off and wait it out!

Norm

I have ridden in the rain. I do not think I will ever be comfortable doing it because it is a rare thing for me. To each his own!

Norm

You have to do what you have to do to stay safe and alive!

Norm

Norm