Riding in the Wet: Five Things You Must Know

TVS Community

02 Jun 2021

Riding in the wet can be a lot of fun for those who know what they're doing. For others, it is cloud spell trouble. A wet road equals low grip with longer braking distances and lower cornering grip. Naturally, you must curb speeds. If riding in the wet, cut speed by at least 30 percent. For instance, where you will go at 60 Kph, you should bring it down to 40 kph. Wet weather affects visibility for you and others on the road. Getting a pair of auxiliary lamps with yellow covers is a good idea if you frequently ride during nightly rains. Also, wear brighter safety gear with reflective taping—you will be more visible to other motorists. More visibility equals greater safety. Brake cautiously. On motorcycles not equipped with ABS, the chances of skidding are very high. Therefore, you must 1. Ride slower than usual. 2. Use both the front and rear brakes in tandem while braking 3. Use engine braking and 4. Try and avoid getting into situations that would need hard braking. For instance, if you need to brake for a speed breaker, let the throttle off and use engine braking to slow down ahead of the speed breaker. Aquaplaning is for real, and it mainly affects those who go through puddles of water formed on the road at high speeds. Whenever you spot stagnant water on the road, slow down to 40 Kph or lower so you don't get into an incident of aquaplaning. Never corner at high speed on roads with stagnant water—it is a major cause of aquaplaning on motorcycles.