Exceptional bike in the rain

Jakeboy

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One of the big reasons I bought this bike was the idea that it would perform very well in wet and rainy conditions. Florida is notorious for heavy downpours that seem to spring up out of nowhere.

Since I've had this bike, I've been caught in some pretty heavy downpours and have done a good bit of my riding on wet roads. I have to say that this has got to be one of the absolute, best bikes out there for it's sure-footedness in inclement weather. The TC1 mode works extremely well, and when paired up with the ABS and the rain capable, Battlewing tires, this bike thinks it's a duck!

I've been thinking of what to name her and she ended up telling me herself! My bike has, therefore, just earned her name, and will forever be known as: "Gertie". ::012::

Now I just need to get a small sticker of a duck with her name under it.
 

Brntrt

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::026:: I agree 100%. The first day I owned her, I was riding in a moderate rain, TCS1 and T mode. I pulled out to pass a slow moving car and hit some standing water. The rear end started to go out from under mr and I said "this is it I'm going down", and as quick as it started it recovered and the TCS saved me from a certain crash, amazing stuff.
 

martinh

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::026:: I've been caught in some real heavy rain a couple of times already, once with my GF and she was nervous coz she has never been on a bike in the rain and I was happily surprised how well the bike handled. I always liked the Battlewing on the VStrom but on the Super Tenere they are like glue to the wet road with the ABS and traction control.
 

Dirt_Dad

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::026:: I found myself stuck in Vermont as Hurricane Irene went through. TCS1, Touring mode and ABS...bike never slipped once. It got pushed all over the place by extraordinary winds, but the bike came through like a champ even when ridden at an aggressive lean angle just to stay somewhat straight. ::012:: Battlewings are more than half gone now, but I can't complain about their holding ability in extreme wet.
 

Brntrt

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Do you think the Battlewings are playing that big a part in the rain or is it mostly the techno bits?
 

SisuTen

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Brntrt said:
Do you think the Battlewings are playing that big a part in the rain or is it mostly the techno bits?
Probably the tech stuff. Got caught in the mountain twisties in a downpour. I have the EXPs and they were fine also.
 

Brntrt

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SisuTen said:
Probably the tech stuff. Got caught in the mountain twisties in a downpour. I have the EXPs and they were fine also.
Hope you're right. I live in Georgia so I ride in the rain or I don't ride. The Battlewings don't quite cut it in the loose stuff so I will be going with something more aggressive. I would hate to lose my rain handling by screwing around with some knobs.
 

Twitch

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Jakeboy said:
Now I just need to get a small sticker of a duck with her name under it.
Maybe Gertie should get a custom airbrush job! :)
 

SisuTen

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Brntrt said:
Hope you're right. I live in Georgia so I ride in the rain or I don't ride. The Battlewings don't quite cut it in the loose stuff so I will be going with something more aggressive. I would hate to lose my rain handling by screwing around with some knobs.
I guess it depends on the tire. I read that they redesigned the Heidenaus with a solid center rib in the rear tire that's causing a little anxiety in the rain riding on the street. I think they did it to enhance tire wear. I have no direct experience, but it would seem logical. There are other more aggressive tires you can get, but I have no idea how they do in rain. Careful thought about exactly how you plan to use your bike would be the best route. I think for most of us, biasing toward street riding is the best avenue of thought. To get the mix wrong could become expensive, in more ways than one.

On the other hand, I tend not to rely exclusively on technology to save my butt. If tech saves me in a situation, I say "Whew!" then evaluate how "I" screwed up, try to adjust, and make sure I don't have to rely on gadgets in the same situation again.

Research your options, make your best choices and ride the conditions.

Paul
 

dcstrom

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SisuTen said:
I guess it depends on the tire. I read that they redesigned the Heidenaus with a solid center rib in the rear tire that's causing a little anxiety in the rain riding on the street. I think they did it to enhance tire wear. I have no direct experience, but it would seem logical.
I just fitted a Heidenau K60 to the rear of the Super Tenere after it shagged the Shinko... So now have a Shinko 705 on the front and K60 on the rear. I'd used this combo before on the Vee with no problems, same on the S10.

This weekend I did maybe 500 miles on wet roads, two-up and with loaded Jesses. I'd been worried about the solid center in the K60 too - this was the first time I'd tried it in the wet. It never rained while I had it in the Vee.

My usual thing riding solo in the rain on twisties is to keep up a good pace, enough to be fun, but also I think it's a good exercise to enhance your riding technique. To ride fast in the wet, safely,you need to be smooth and accurate - skills which translate to the dry as well. Just a lot more important in the wet. I've found the Shinkos pretty good in the wet - soft compound has something to do with it. That was another reason I was worried about the K60 - it's a harder, tougher tire.

Riding two-up in the wet, I don't go anything like as fast - safety is the main priority. At the speeds we were going this weekend, the K60 did great, didn't have any problems even when rivers of water were running across the road. The bike was great too of course!

So not ready yet to say the K60 = Shinko in the wet, but really pretty happy with the way they went, no dramas and if the rear gets to 8000 miles they'll probably be my regular tires.

And to the OP - yes there's a lot about this bike to inspire confidence in the wet - don't think you can pin it on one or two things, just a great package that works together to enhance the experience.

Trevor
 

SisuTen

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Trevor,
Can you update us from time to time on how it's going with the K60?
Paul
 

MotorcopBBQ

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::025:: Sorry man, I fell victim to the wide spread search of Google. I just put Gertie in the search box on got Drew Barrymore.
Anyway, I did get the pleasure of getting stuck in the rain. I was in TCS 1 and T mode. I tried to spin the tires at every stoplight but the computer wouldn't let it happen. Amazing! Although the TCS light didn't turn on. I could feel it in the throttle as open the throttle up and still no wheel spin.
 

Brntrt

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SisuTen said:
On the other hand, I tend not to rely exclusively on technology to save my butt. If tech saves me in a situation, I say "Whew!" then evaluate how "I" screwed up, try to adjust, and make sure I don't have to rely on gadgets in the same situation again.

Research your options, make your best choices and ride the conditions.

Paul
I couldn't agree more. My close call was exasperated by my experience passing with my KLRs. Wasn't ready for the torque when I whacked the throttle. Lesson learned.
 

Brntrt

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SisuTen said:
Trevor,
Can you update us from time to time on how it's going with the K60?
Paul
::026:: Anyone know anything about Mitas E07?
 
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