SO will decent rain keep you dry and allow you to ride in the rain? How much does decent gear cost? Not looking to tour on this bike but I will want to make 500 mile day trips.

 

I once planned a trip from here in Florida to Virginia. It started to rain just as I was leaving. Donned the rain gear and took off. I thought I would run out of it soon. It rained all the way to South Carolina. I got a room, dried out the boots and got some sleep. The next day was beautiful and sunny all the rest of the way to VA. Riding in the rain is miserable.

 

Many, myself included opt for the HD Hi Viz gear as the stuff works pretty good. Include the gators and you are good to go. Last time I bought it was about $250ish. Don't bother with the frog togs or you may be scraping it off of your exhaust as many before you.

 

I have ridden many miles in the rain, including the remnants of a hurricane. As someone said, warm rain is a pain, but cold and wet sucks. I bought an HD rain suit and have never gotten wet inside the suit, except for sweat. I actually bought mine large enough to wear over my chaps and jacket for colder temps. I believe HD rain suits to be a great set up.

 

"decent rain gear" depends on what you want it to do for you. If you want something to allow you to ride a 500 mile day in the rain, get some good gear. Gore-Tex is the best. It's also the most expensive, BUT....it works and keeps you from seating to death under the rain geAR too. And it depends on what kind of bike you are riding also. If it's a big touring bike with a fairing, that keeps a lot of rain off you by design. In that case, I'd buy the Tourmaster brand or Harley Davidson stuff. Make sure you can get it on over boots easily.

Good footwear is important too. Harley makes some great water repellent boots. Your feet stay dry all day. Wolverine makes some good rainproof boots also.
The main part of raingear in my opinion is the jacket. That's why I like Tourmaster jackets. They are made of 600 denier Cordura outer layers and it will keep you dry even without a jacket over it. Then you just have to have a good pair of rain pants.

 

That's the part of riding in the rain that I dislike the most: The lousy visibility.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, but anymore, if I can afford the time, I'll just pull over somewhere and wait it out.

 

 

I bought my rain gear on this forum in Gear and Other Items for Sale, it was less expensive and was as advertised.

 

Get good rain gear. The cheap stuff either leaks, or is like wearing a rubber bag, which doesn't breathe at all.
The HD rain gear is great -- I love it! Breathes nicely and is pretty easy to get on and off.

One other trick I learned that has been a HUGE help when riding in the rain -- get a pair of "shooters glasses", or any sort of bright-yellow
lense glasses. You would not believe how nicely they cut through the rain/mist/fog and clarify your vision when riding in the rain.
I'll never ride in the rain without them again.

 

You are right about that! I have not used 'yellow glasses' for decades. I shoot allot & hate them when I am shooting, but used to use them as driving glasses in bad weather a long time ago, Thanks for the reminder on how well they cut through rain & fog.