There were days back in the 60's and 70's, where i didn't OWN a vehicle, just a bike. If i wanted to go anywhere i rode it...lol. I had this sportster that i extended the forks 6" and didn't run a front fender. Well, that set up made the water go exactly right between my eyes! If I turned my head to the side, it would run right down the back of my neck. It sucked, but like i said, if i wanted to go anywhere, I rode it.

Later on after I was able to afford to buy additional vehicles, if it was forcasted to rain, I'll drive my truck. Now, the way traffic is in so. cal., if it's forcasted to rain, the crazies will no doubt get crazier, so I always drive my truck. It's a self-defense thing.

I really don't give a **** if that doesn't make me a true "biker" in the eyes of someone else. I had a corvette for few years a while back and i didn't run it in the rain on purpose either. Those cars perform wonderfully when it's dry but when it's raining and wet, they slide all over the place.

 

"I really don't give a **** if that doesn't make me a true "biker" in the eyes of someone else. I had a corvette for few years a while back and i didn't run it in the rain on purpose either. Those cars perform wonderfully when it's dry but when it's raining and wet, they slide all over the place."

+1 on that

 

In the Pacific NW riding in the rain is a everyday thing..

 

No doubt, in that climate it's a regular thing and if i wanted to ride, i would be riding in the rain. I have a sister in Tehama, Wash. and another in Canby, Oregon and know full well what you are saying. That's how it is up there.
Here in megalopolis so. california though, the drivers are mostly not even licensed anymore. It's crazy even when it's dry here, they have zero consideration for motorcycles. I think they even speed up in the rain. If it were to ever snow here, it would be grid lock as no one would know what to do.

 

I don't ride in the rain. Period. I think it sucks. It pisses me off. At 57, I don't do things that suck nor do I hang out with people who suck or who gimme brain damage. Life is too short. I ride for fun. I commute with a 2011 5.0 Roush Mustang GT. I'll ride that MFer in the rain all daylong. Just sayin'...

 

Seams like everytime I go visit my brother ( 500 miles away), I run into a day of rain and cold and driving winds. Fact of life out in the prairies, where he lives. Getting older made me wiser, so now I wear weather proof gear, ( boots, pants, jacket and gloves). Synthetic kevlar type stuff. I Also carry a heated vest, which helps my back in the cold dampness, had to rest my hands on the headers to keep fingers from freezing a few times, now I installed heated grips ( haven't tried those yet).
Still wear my leathers in town and short day runs, but carry other rain gear on the bike, just in case.
Nice thing about synthetics is that I don't have to stop and gear up if I hit rain, I just keep on riding. If your dry, it's easier to stay warm. Electric vest really dose make a difference, it allows me to ride all day in 40 degree weather.
I will pull off the road if its raining so hard that you can't see very far ahead. I don't want to get rear ended by a car or truck because they didn't see me.

 

I have ridden in ALL kinds of weather to include rain,hail,snow,freezing rain and black ice, but I also didn't have a car.Now that I have my own car I find it increasingly difficult to will myself to ride in the rain or in sub freezing temps.With the price of gas rapidly approaching 5$ a gallon I will bundle up and take off in anything above freezing.I see heated gloves in my future.

 

I'll ride in any temperature as long as there isn't anything frozen on the road. Rain and cold is another matter. If it's below about 50 and raining I'm in the truck. The Gerbings were the best investment for extending the season but I haven't used them in the rain. Might have to put a pair of rubber gloves over 'em!

 

I don't have a choice if I want to go to work and it is raining out I have to ride in it. And it goes the same for the cold I have rode in 32 degree weather. I have started out my day at 85 degrees a hour later it was 32 and a hour after that it was so hot I had to take off my coat

 

I actually prefer a light rain to hot sun. I have no problems in the rain.