Parking in the Rain - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

oatmeal · 10-08-2005, 10:16 PM

No, I haven't had the need to park in the rain. Not yet.

I'm planning to use my motorcycle to commute, though. Chances are very good that I'll need to leave it out to get wet more than once.

What do you do when you need to leave your bike outside on wet days?

jkulysses · 10-08-2005, 10:21 PM

I check www.weather.com every night and try to keep my cover on it when it rains, but sometimes I forget or just get lazy and let it sit in the rain. Then I got to wash it after the weather clears up cause I swear it rains dirt in kansas.

**Clint** · 10-08-2005, 10:53 PM

Buy a stinkin' cover already. They're only the size of a grapefruit and fit nicely in a tank bag.

DrBob · 10-08-2005, 11:41 PM

Don't worry, the bike is waterproof! Keep a good coat of wax on it, and it will be much easier to clean when you get caugh riding in the rain. I just keep a rag handy to wipe off the seat, and I don;t give rain a second thought.

ForbidInjustice · 10-09-2005, 12:46 AM

I don't like to ride to work in the rain, but I have no problem riding back home in it.. I don't even worry about wiping off the seat. If it's not raining when I leave the house, I'm riding!

In agreement with the first reply, I check www.weather.com on the morning of. [I don't check it the night before, because the forecast for this area can change from 10% chance to 50% chance in a few hours.] On any day that predicts 30 percent or more, I carry the cover under the rear seat. 20 bucks on eBay!

Mavman · 10-09-2005, 01:03 AM

Mines garaged.....BUT when visiting the folks this summer, I covered it....like said there small and easy to carry. I've blown off the water with a leaf blower and wiped her dry the one time I got caught in the rain coming home.

jkulysses · 10-09-2005, 09:44 AM

I guess I didn't say that right. I check weather.com at night to see if I'm going to cover my bike up for the night or just leave it uncovered and then I check it again in the morning to see if I'm going to get to ride it to work or not.

oklahoma_mike · 10-09-2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForbidInjustice

I don't like to ride to work in the rain, but I have no problem riding back home in it.. I don't even worry about wiping off the seat. If it's not raining when I leave the house, I'm riding!

In agreement with the first reply, I check www.weather.com on the morning of. [I don't check it the night before, because the forecast for this area can change from 10% chance to 50% chance in a few hours.] On any day that predicts 30 percent or more, I carry the cover under the rear seat. 20 bucks on eBay!

+1 same here

oklahoma_mike · 10-09-2005, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkulysses

I check www.weather.com every night and try to keep my cover on it when it rains, but sometimes I forget or just get lazy and let it sit in the rain. Then I got to wash it after the weather clears up cause I swear it rains dirt in kansas.

+1 it does rain dirt and clay here along with cows when the wind is high. LOL

Nexus242 · 10-09-2005, 12:01 PM

Just remember to lube up the chain after riding in the rain if you hav a chain and you may want to lube your key hole from time to time too.

OlderGS · 10-09-2005, 12:11 PM

When I ride in rainy weather to some place other than to my home I'm one of those jerks that parks under the eves of buildings on the walkway or whatever else I can find.

I usually try to keep it as dry as possible when it's not getting rode.

BudTheGrey · 10-09-2005, 03:43 PM

July 22nd, 2005

Weather channel sez 10% chance of afternoon showers. Good thing, 'cause I was headed to the dealer to pick up my new '05 C50 Limited, with windsheild, bags, back rest, etc. Got to the dealer's bright and early, and he's got it all detailed and shiny and the 50 mile ride to work was great. Got there at 11:30; showed off the new baby to several folks, including one harley guy who admitted that I got a lot of bike for the money.

At 12:20, that 10% cloud parked directly over Plattsburgh, NY and it proceeded to rain as hard as I've ever seen it for the next 4 hours.

Fortunately, it quit just before go-home time, so all I really had to do was wash it off the next day. I've ridden all summer, got caught in the rain a couple other times, no appreciable negative effects. I suspect the key is to keep the bike clean and waxed.

Heck of a baptism, though.

oatmeal · 10-09-2005, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oklahoma_mike

+1 it does rain dirt and clay here along with cows when the wind is high. LOL

So... can you recommend a motorcycle cover company whose product is rated as being effective against a rain of cows?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus242

Just remember to lube up the chain after riding in the rain if you hav a chain and you may want to lube your key hole from time to time too.

Well, I've got a belt drive, but thanks for the keyhole tip.

Nexus242 · 10-10-2005, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oatmeal

Well, I've got a belt drive, but thanks for the keyhole tip.

Even after a few bike washings lubing your key hole is a good thing to do then too.

**inspiron** · 10-10-2005, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus242

.. you may want to lube your key hole from time to time too.

NEXUS! This is a family-oriented site! *******!

[Edited by Rowdy - we don't say "pervert" on this family-oriented site. Thanks.]

SVZuki · 10-10-2005, 11:23 AM

I parked in the rain a few hours ago..now its dry, yay. Forgot my bike cover as it wasnt raining when i started from home. there was also a female making me late for work so i was rushing..

Nexus242 · 10-10-2005, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inspiron

NEXUS! This is a family-oriented site! Pervert!

Excuse me then.

Oatmeal apply a suitable lubricate, like WD-40, into the ignition cylinder opening on your bike to allow your master key to smoothly enter and retract effortlessly and allow for soild contact with the starter wires after every few bike washes.

God everyone is so PC wacko now a days.

**Trapper** · 10-10-2005, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus242

Excuse me then.

allow your master key to smoothly enter and retract effortlessly

Not to many times, though , or you'll go blind.

tlwisner · 10-10-2005, 04:03 PM

Go to Wal-Mart and drop $20 on the XL motorcycle cover.

Nexus242 · 10-11-2005, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlwisner

Go to Wal-Mart and drop $20 on the XL motorcycle cover.

Yeah I have that one, it's getting a little faded after a year out in the sun. 6-7 months ago a treated it with that water proofing stuff you can use on Tents or outdoor tarps. I still get water coming thru where the cover touches my rear seat but the rest of it sheds and beads up water pretty good.

10-08-2005, 10:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
oatmeal Ditch Magnet Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: Suzuki S40 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 168	Parking in the Rain No, I haven't had the need to park in the rain. Not yet. I'm planning to use my motorcycle to commute, though. Chances are very good that I'll need to leave it out to get wet more than once. What do you do when you need to leave your bike outside on wet days? __________________ The more I learn, the more I realize how much I have yet to learn. - oats Thanks for the tip. I'll pass it on. My riding log.

10-08-2005, 11:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
DrBob In The Zone Joined: May 2004 Bike: several Location: Decatur, GA Posts: 2,763	Don't worry, the bike is waterproof! Keep a good coat of wax on it, and it will be much easier to clean when you get caugh riding in the rain. I just keep a rag handy to wipe off the seat, and I don;t give rain a second thought. __________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog!

10-09-2005, 12:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
ForbidInjustice Puddle Runner Joined: May 2005 Bike: 2007 GSX-R1000 Black/orange! Location: Fort Hood, Texas Posts: 352	I don't like to ride to work in the rain, but I have no problem riding back home in it.. I don't even worry about wiping off the seat. If it's not raining when I leave the house, I'm riding! In agreement with the first reply, I check www.weather.com on the morning of. [I don't check it the night before, because the forecast for this area can change from 10% chance to 50% chance in a few hours.] On any day that predicts 30 percent or more, I carry the cover under the rear seat. 20 bucks on eBay! __________________ U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov .. hence strength and security

10-09-2005, 12:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nexus242 Can Ride And Chew Gum Joined: Aug 2004 Bike: yellow and black Location: Wide awake in dreamland... Posts: 1,935	Just remember to lube up the chain after riding in the rain if you hav a chain and you may want to lube your key hole from time to time too. __________________ The killer in me is the killer in you My love I send this smile over to you...Smashing Pumpkins

10-09-2005, 12:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
OlderGS Newbie Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 80 GS850 and 82 GS1100E Location: Isleton, Ca. Posts: 14	When I ride in rainy weather to some place other than to my home I'm one of those jerks that parks under the eves of buildings on the walkway or whatever else I can find. I usually try to keep it as dry as possible when it's not getting rode. __________________ 80 GS850L The Venerable One 82 GS1100E The Red Terror 1288cc's

10-08-2005, 10:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
jkulysses Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: Oregon Posts: 832	I check www.weather.com every night and try to keep my cover on it when it rains, but sometimes I forget or just get lazy and let it sit in the rain. Then I got to wash it after the weather clears up cause I swear it rains dirt in kansas.

10-09-2005, 09:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
jkulysses Sprocket Pilot Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: Oregon Posts: 832	I guess I didn't say that right. I check weather.com at night to see if I'm going to cover my bike up for the night or just leave it uncovered and then I check it again in the morning to see if I'm going to get to ride it to work or not.

10-09-2005, 03:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
BudTheGrey Third gear and cruising Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2005 Suzuki C50 LE Location: Keeseville NY Posts: 486	July 22nd, 2005 Weather channel sez 10% chance of afternoon showers. Good thing, 'cause I was headed to the dealer to pick up my new '05 C50 Limited, with windsheild, bags, back rest, etc. Got to the dealer's bright and early, and he's got it all detailed and shiny and the 50 mile ride to work was great. Got there at 11:30; showed off the new baby to several folks, including one harley guy who admitted that I got a lot of bike for the money. At 12:20, that 10% cloud parked directly over Plattsburgh, NY and it proceeded to rain as hard as I've ever seen it for the next 4 hours. Fortunately, it quit just before go-home time, so all I really had to do was wash it off the next day. I've ridden all summer, got caught in the rain a couple other times, no appreciable negative effects. I suspect the key is to keep the bike clean and waxed. Heck of a baptism, though. __________________ If you can't stand behind our folks in the military, feel free to stand in front of them

10-10-2005, 04:03 PM	#19 (permalink)
tlwisner Throttle Jockey Joined: Apr 2004 Bike: '05 Boulevard C50 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 3,208	Go to Wal-Mart and drop $20 on the XL motorcycle cover. __________________ Tim Wisner AMA, SCRC Happiness is something we create

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Parking lot practice tip	St0nkingByte	Tips & Training	23	02-27-2006 07:42 PM
Racing in the parking lot with my son	plasticweld	Members Photo Gallery	8	01-16-2006 09:41 PM
Graduated from parking lot	Big Iron	Cruisers	20	08-28-2005 09:54 AM
Parking Lights	skenn158	Volusia/C50 Getaway	2	01-05-2005 09:24 PM
Parking motorcycle	Larry W	Tips & Training	13	10-27-2004 11:50 PM