Rain Gear Test

fakebikerdude59 · 06-09-2010, 01:13 PM

Against all common sense I decided to ride the Nomad this morning on my weekly jaunt between Tacoma and Bellingham, WA. It's about 135 miles straight up I-5. I usually leave by 4am to beat the Seattle traffic and often ride in the dark and rain on the way up.

The forecast was for heavy rain showers along the route and when I checked the 3:30 am radar is showed heavy showers to the south, moving northward, and light rain along the route north. Figured I could outride the heavy stuff, so set out at 4:02am in full rain gear (Cheap Motoboss rain jacket and pants from Cycle Gear, Nelson-Rigg boot covers). Within a mile it was coming down pretty steady and by the time I merged on I-5 it was bouncing off the pavement. Thought about turning around, but by the time I did that and got back on the road in the car, I figured I would have passed out of a locally heavy shower and be OK, so I gritted it out. Long story short, rain was bouncing off the pavement for the next 50 miles, the longest heavy downpour I've been in, although I ride in the rain all the time around here. To add insult to injury, it was still dark and there was lots of spray. I kept my speed between 55 and 60 in the right lane and things pretty much were fine. The weak sunrise was like riding into heaven.

I'm happy to report that my inexpensive gear kept me bone dry...surprisingly so. When I first hit it I was wishing for some of Kris Olsen's Carhartt gear, but I lucked out. I also discovered I don't really need the boot covers as my new hard lowers kept everything dry and toasty down there.

Final observation...no HDs out in that weather. Couple of wings and a crotch rocket or two...and lots of crazy looking stares from people in cars.

Netnorske · 06-09-2010, 04:24 PM

I drove my truck from Everett to Mount Vernon this morning. I can confirm it was pouring....hard!

**schoeney** · 06-11-2010, 05:09 AM

Sounds like a good test. Thanks for sharing.

delivery58 · 06-13-2010, 11:13 PM

I typically don't enjoy riding in the rain (just cause it takes so long to clean the bike, ten minute ride in the rain is 1-1/2 hour cleaning), but I had a campout in Kettle Falls , WA last weekend. Yup, rained Friday going up, Saturday was beautiful, Sunday return poured down. It was also my maiden voyage pulling my trailer. The Nomad is a pretty trusty horse.

06-09-2010, 01:13 PM	#1
fakebikerdude59 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 108	Rain Gear Test Against all common sense I decided to ride the Nomad this morning on my weekly jaunt between Tacoma and Bellingham, WA. It's about 135 miles straight up I-5. I usually leave by 4am to beat the Seattle traffic and often ride in the dark and rain on the way up. The forecast was for heavy rain showers along the route and when I checked the 3:30 am radar is showed heavy showers to the south, moving northward, and light rain along the route north. Figured I could outride the heavy stuff, so set out at 4:02am in full rain gear (Cheap Motoboss rain jacket and pants from Cycle Gear, Nelson-Rigg boot covers). Within a mile it was coming down pretty steady and by the time I merged on I-5 it was bouncing off the pavement. Thought about turning around, but by the time I did that and got back on the road in the car, I figured I would have passed out of a locally heavy shower and be OK, so I gritted it out. Long story short, rain was bouncing off the pavement for the next 50 miles, the longest heavy downpour I've been in, although I ride in the rain all the time around here. To add insult to injury, it was still dark and there was lots of spray. I kept my speed between 55 and 60 in the right lane and things pretty much were fine. The weak sunrise was like riding into heaven. I'm happy to report that my inexpensive gear kept me bone dry...surprisingly so. When I first hit it I was wishing for some of Kris Olsen's Carhartt gear, but I lucked out. I also discovered I don't really need the boot covers as my new hard lowers kept everything dry and toasty down there. Final observation...no HDs out in that weather. Couple of wings and a crotch rocket or two...and lots of crazy looking stares from people in cars. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-09-2010, 04:24 PM	#2
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	Rain Gear Test I drove my truck from Everett to Mount Vernon this morning. I can confirm it was pouring....hard! __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016
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06-11-2010, 05:09 AM	#3
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	Rain Gear Test Sounds like a good test. Thanks for sharing. __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
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06-13-2010, 11:13 PM	#4
delivery58 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Idaho Posts: 400	Rain Gear Test I typically don't enjoy riding in the rain (just cause it takes so long to clean the bike, ten minute ride in the rain is 1-1/2 hour cleaning), but I had a campout in Kettle Falls , WA last weekend. Yup, rained Friday going up, Saturday was beautiful, Sunday return poured down. It was also my maiden voyage pulling my trailer. The Nomad is a pretty trusty horse. __________________ Vinnie in North Idaho
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