The first time I went for a ride, I faced the rain, but I didn’t panic. I was also excited about the ride, though I encountered some difficulties. Today, I’m sharing my experience and some tips on what to do and what not to do. So, let’s go

Be Prepared

The first thing to do is be prepared. You have a trip planned for the weekend, but now it’s raining. Of course, you’re still going—canceling would be such a disappointment! The first thing to do when riding in the rain is to make sure you’re prepared.

You need to have adequate gear, experience, know exactly where you’re going, and be familiar with the bike you’ll be riding.

Riding for the first time on a new bike can be daunting, but don’t ride it for the first time when you’re about to go on a 300-mile trip down the coast. Fun fact: When I purchased my first motorcycle, a 2021 Yamaha R15 v3, I actually had to ride it for the first week in the rain.

There was a crazy downpour happening in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas, and we got the most rain we’d had in like 50 years or something. So, I kind of learned how to ride in the rain for the first time—really don’t recommend it! It was pretty scary.

Rain is a very interesting challenge for most riders. It can be a soothing experience with no issues, or it can become a nightmare if you don’t prepare. Your “squid” riding style is most likely going to suffer.

One of the most important pieces of gear is anything that covers your body beyond a T-shirt and pants. Gloves might be something you skip in the sun (though I don’t recommend it), but in the rain, water can lead to cold and numb fingers, which might slip off the handlebars and levers. You don’t want to lose control of your bike.

If you’re caught in the rain without gear, brace yourself and avoid high speeds. Be prepared to stop or wait out the storm if it gets too bad. If you choose to ride in the rain because you have the gear, expect delays and a later arrival time. It’s better to be late than in the hospital because you are low-sided on a slick surface.

Speaking of gear, keep in mind that when you’re wearing just a T-shirt and it starts to rain, you’d be amazed at how much those little water droplets can hurt when you’re going at speed. Wearing gear is not only safer, but it’s also way more comfortable when it’s raining.

Stop When You Have To

You really need to consider the fatigue that rain causes. If you have any gaps in your clothing where you’re getting wet or cold, frequent stops are a necessity. Don’t push yourself. Make it to your destination with cold hands, soaked feet, or a foggy helmet by making as many stops as necessary to stay safe.

It’s easy to convince yourself to keep riding farther in the cold when you’re already wet, but while you’re focusing on the ride, you tend to forget the dangers of your environment. Even if you’re commuting just 10 minutes, a lot can happen in a split second, let alone a full minute. So, accept that you may need to stop.

Don’t be afraid to pull over and check things like your tire pressure if you feel like something is off. It’s worth it to know whether you’re riding in dangerous conditions.

Avoid Road Hazards

If the rain does anything well, it’s making everything more dangerous to ride over. Objects that are harmless on a dry day—painted lines, sewer covers, metal plates, and tar snakes—become slippery hazards in the rain. Even dry cement, like when you enter a parking garage, can be extremely slippery if you’re riding on wet tires. If it’s porous concrete, you’re fine, but those smooth, slick parking garages can be very treacherous.

Use extra caution when riding and try to avoid these hazards as much as possible. Don’t accelerate over these objects because your rear wheel is going to spin—and not in a cool way! The worst time to ride in the rain is during the first half hour. That’s when water begins to soak the road, forcing oil, grease, and other grime to the surface, making it extra slick.

If you’re heading somewhere unfamiliar, it’s advised that you postpone your trip until dry weather returns. Not knowing the terrain can be risky even in fair weather, and adding rain into the mix is just asking for trouble.

Wear Your Hi-Viz

It’s time for Hi-Viz! With rain, fog, streaking wipers, and the overall reduced visibility, drivers have an even harder time seeing motorcyclists. If you thought you were invisible in the sunlight, rain will definitely amplify how little people see you. Even if you consider yourself the stealthiest of ninja riders, rain is a different story.

People won’t see or hear you, and they certainly won’t know where you’re coming from. Loud pipes won’t help here either.

Keep at least one Hi-Viz article in your bike storage for rainy days. This is the one time it really works and can save your life. There’s a reason why first responders and road crews wear Hi-Viz, especially in bad weather. Just because they’re next to construction vehicles with stadium lighting or cop cars with strobe lights doesn’t mean drivers still notice them. Hi-Viz in the rain is a must. Become the traffic cone, and you’ll thank me when people stop trying to hit you.

Riding Style

When riding in the rain, forget about popping wheelies, lane splitting, or dragging a knee through corners. Riding in the rain will be a completely different experience. On dry pavement, you want to be as smooth as possible, avoid leaning too much, and keep your bike upright in the corners. Always be mindful of your speed—accelerating too fast or braking too hard can cause you to skid or slip.

Also, forget about having the right of way in the rain. It’s better to stay alive than to prove a point about who’s right. That’s just good advice in general, but especially in the rain. You should keep double the distance between yourself and cars in front of and behind you. And relax! It may sound counterintuitive, but you need to stay calm and let the bike do its thing.

Gear

As mentioned earlier, one of the most important things to have in the rain is proper riding gear. There’s a huge difference in comfort between riding in the dry sun and riding in the rain. When things get wet, they also get cold quickly. Gloves, boots, and jackets meant for dry riding won’t give you the same level of protection in the rain.

I always suggest having gear that’s both windproof and waterproof. If you’re a squid, then a T-shirt, hoodie, or other cotton-based clothing won’t do much for you. When soaked, they’ll scratch against your skin, fail to retain body heat, and you’ll end up cold, wet, and miserable. Even in nice weather, like 65 or 75-degree days, once it starts raining, it gets chilly on your bike.

Gear should keep you not just dry but also warm. Being wet but warm is better than being wet and cold. Cold temperatures bring their own unique problems, like numbness, muscle fatigue, and slow mobility. Combine cold with wet, and you’re mixing a recipe for failure. You’ll start to feel fatigued quickly, and wet things become slippery—foot pegs, shift levers, front levers, and hand grips all become difficult to hold onto.

If you wear leather gloves, your hands might slip inside them, causing you to over-throttle or slip off the bars or levers. Be mindful of that.

The Mentality

Riding in the rain requires mental preparation. It’s more than just knowing you have to do things differently—it’s about actually doing them. If you don’t practice or apply the specific skills for riding in the rain, you’re going to become a risk to yourself.

Remind yourself that everyone had to ride in the rain for the first time once. Slow things down, keep your bike as upright as possible, and give yourself room to maneuver, stop, and accelerate. Most importantly, stay calm.

If you’re not ready to ride in the rain, don’t. If you want to wait until you have proper gear or need new tires, then wait it out. Don’t push yourself into a situation where you could go down, especially if it could have been avoided.

Prepare yourself, your bike, and your gear, and you’ll have no issues when you finally ride in the rain. I do strongly recommend that you eventually ride in the rain, though. It’s a great experience, and you’ll learn a lot and become a better rider.