February 28, 2012 4:06 AM PST
Black, you would actually be pretty amazed at how much traction you can have on a wet track with a good set of wet tires. From what I understood about the dynamics of it from the tire reps... unlike a car tire on a wet surface with even the best designed wet tread, you can't possibly push all the water out from the between the entire tire/road surface. On a motorcycle tire since there is such a focused point of contact, it is much easier for a well designed tread to push the water out and allow the tire to be on the track and not a thin layer of water.
Of cousre you did run slightly slower racing in the rain, but not all that much. The real issue was braking! If your tire locked, even for a split second, you now took away the advantage of the tread design diverting the water since it was no longer rolling. If it boke loose even for that split second, you were LOOSE! The only good thing was - sliding 150 feet on a wet track didn't tear my leathers up as bad
But remember that's on a track specifically designed for traction and no oil layer and dirt mixed with the rain and tires specifically designed for a WET TRACK. I wouldn't take my Road King at any speed through a wet turn on a public street with all purpose tires
February 28, 2012 4:19 AM PST
Do NOT try this at home!!!
February 28, 2012 5:43 AM PST
ok, that's just crazy. even if I knew the bike would stick I don't think I could possibly get my mind to let me ride like that in the rain!!!
February 28, 2012 7:13 AM PST
DAMMIT Lucky I'm making fun of NASCAR! The least you could do was indulge me and play along! SHEESH! LOL
February 28, 2012 11:12 AM PST
Lol may be they can put on indy tires on a NASCAR? But the driver might get wet as well.
February 28, 2012 1:13 PM PST
Sorry just thought this was funny
February 28, 2012 7:05 PM PST
LMFAO!
February 28, 2012 9:15 PM PST
@ Lucky ... that's some pretty insane racing. Don't think I'd have the guts to try that on a wet course.
btw ... what I hate about riding in the rain is the idiots who don't realize they're driving their cage in the rain. They scare the hell outta me.
March 1, 2012 6:52 AM PST
Lucky... DAMNTHATWASCOOL! My heart rate shot up, adrenaline and I was leaning into the curves... Really loved the way he was passing and the onscreen readouts ROCKED! Thanx for sharing this vid...
March 1, 2012 2:09 PM PST
Rode once in Tropical Depression Eric, rode from SE MO to Dover Delaware. Never again. Thumbs down to riding in the rain, road grime, rust, and wet tires. Call me a sissy. Oh yea, don't wanna forget the lighting storm in SE Arizona between Patagonia and Sierra Vista, with no place put road to ride. Scrary poop.
I talked to a guy once that his belt buckle was welded to his gas tank via a ligtening bolt thru his helmet. NOPE not a rain fan.
March 1, 2012 4:41 PM PST
LMAO now thats a serious rain riding story Chucky!! & awesome video Lucky !! n yeah dont ya just love how he hijacks a thread LOL ; )
March 1, 2012 5:01 PM PST
That's some good riding. Visibility would be the worst part.
I'm far from being a racer but have put in more miles in adverse conditions than a lot of folks.
Just goes to prove we aren't so sweet we melt in the rain!
That's a great pic Black & a great video Lucky . Thanks. Glad the sun is sposed to shine on me this weekend! Vrrrroooom put put put...
March 2, 2012 1:53 AM PST
and still I see these knuckleheads in their beanies riding from the west coast to the Black Hills and their only defense agin da rain is that cheap pair of sunglasses they probably bought from Full Throttle! Cracks me the eff up! Don't they know that west has the spottiest weather patterns? OK I admit I was one of them 'cool' dudes until I had to lean sideways for like 40 miles to keep the bike going straight in a down pour down I-90 a steady stream of rain going down my back and in the crack of my ass! Then I hit some hail and to top it off it snowed when I got to Billings! You live, you learn! LOL
March 13, 2012 5:56 AM PDT
<snip>Oh yea, don't wanna forget the lighting storm in SE Arizona between Patagonia and Sierra Vista, with no place put road to ride. Scrary poop.
I know that road - no place to hide from the rain on it, except maybe to pull into someplace in Sonoita (the Steakout wouldn't be a bad place to be stuck!). On the plus side - not that much traffic either, so not too many idiots to worry about sharing the road with. I ran into the same thing once in Indiana - the storm just popped up - went from clear and nice to pouring rain in about 10 minutes. Nothing but farms around, no bridges, no place to pull over. The sky got dark so suddenly, I was still thinking about pulling over and putting on rain gear, but the sky opened up first. The only good thing was that it was over in 10 minutes.