Best bike type for long distance in the rain?
Discussion
Just did 7 hours on A-Roads and Motorways on my CB750 Hornet in the rain. It was fine... But it was the wet, exposed hands that got me really. With heated grips my hands were warm enough but were like boil in the bag fish by the end. Even with leather/goretex gloves that have been perfect until then.
So... If for example we take Suzuki GSX-S1000GX tall-rounder with handguards is that better than the GSX-S1000GT with no handguards but a more aerodynamic looking fairing.
Do you get wet hands on a R 1300 RS for example? OR IS AN S1000XR better... I can't imagine that without handguards the air really flows outwards and prevents the hands getting wet/chilled.
Assume it is night and day compared to a naked where the gloves just get blasted for 7 hours, but my next bike needs to take s
t weather on the motorway a bit more easily.
So... If for example we take Suzuki GSX-S1000GX tall-rounder with handguards is that better than the GSX-S1000GT with no handguards but a more aerodynamic looking fairing.
Do you get wet hands on a R 1300 RS for example? OR IS AN S1000XR better... I can't imagine that without handguards the air really flows outwards and prevents the hands getting wet/chilled.
Assume it is night and day compared to a naked where the gloves just get blasted for 7 hours, but my next bike needs to take s
t weather on the motorway a bit more easily.Only ridden a couple of bikes with handguards briefly, funnily enough the big GX Suzi was one and the handguards noticeably reduced airflow to the hands at motorway speeds. OTOH Rukka waterproof gloves on my R1250RS in torrential rain in Spain was okay thanks to the heating.
Correct answer is an RT. Visor up on the motorway in the middle of winter was impressive and the fairing protects the whole body, not just hands.
Correct answer is an RT. Visor up on the motorway in the middle of winter was impressive and the fairing protects the whole body, not just hands.
hiccy18 said:
Only ridden a couple of bikes with handguards briefly, funnily enough the big GX Suzi was one and the handguards noticeably reduced airflow to the hands at motorway speeds. OTOH Rukka waterproof gloves on my R1250RS in torrential rain in Spain was okay thanks to the heating.
Correct answer is an RT. Visor up on the motorway in the middle of winter was impressive and the fairing protects the whole body, not just hands.
I couldn't have an RT. Don't need that level of trade-off for protection vs looks, size and performance in other areas.Correct answer is an RT. Visor up on the motorway in the middle of winter was impressive and the fairing protects the whole body, not just hands.
Did the R1250RS keep the rain mostly off. Are you in a bubble or still strongly reliant on good kit!
smifffymoto2 said:
Just buy a cheap,s
t car for rainy days or stay in and watch tv.
I spent a couple of days working up to the top of Scotland and needed to smash it back home. Bike was fine the rest of the time but that long trip back in the rain wasn't ideal.
t car for rainy days or stay in and watch tv.Want to do some more long weekends or weeks away, including heading off to europe. I don't want my week ruined by a day of bad weather leaving my kit absolutely saturated on day one.
crofty1984 said:
Maxi scooter with a big screen, bar muffs and one of those big skirt over the legs things. Plus heated clothes.
Not cool, I will admit.
This is the correct answer if you really don't care what others think. Not cool, I will admit.
Even without the muffs and skirt (which frankly is a set too far even for me) the weather protection from from a big scooter is astounding.
Glade said:
hiccy18 said:
Only ridden a couple of bikes with handguards briefly, funnily enough the big GX Suzi was one and the handguards noticeably reduced airflow to the hands at motorway speeds. OTOH Rukka waterproof gloves on my R1250RS in torrential rain in Spain was okay thanks to the heating.
Correct answer is an RT. Visor up on the motorway in the middle of winter was impressive and the fairing protects the whole body, not just hands.
I couldn't have an RT. Don't need that level of trade-off for protection vs looks, size and performance in other areas.Correct answer is an RT. Visor up on the motorway in the middle of winter was impressive and the fairing protects the whole body, not just hands.
Did the R1250RS keep the rain mostly off. Are you in a bubble or still strongly reliant on good kit!
Don't underestimate the performance of the RT, it's surprisingly agile.
Glade said:
I couldn't have an RT. Don't need that level of trade-off for protection vs looks, size and performance in other areas.
Did the R1250RS keep the rain mostly off. Are you in a bubble or still strongly reliant on good kit!
As others recommend the RT is a great place to be when the weather is sub optimal, size isn’t an issue, filtering is easy as you’re sat up nice and straight / comfortable and don’t underestimate the performance the Police don’t seem to be too hindered by the boxers abilities. Did the R1250RS keep the rain mostly off. Are you in a bubble or still strongly reliant on good kit!
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