In spring and with the heat that it has been doing in recent weeks, storms in many parts of Spain are the order of the day, especially in the north. We are going to give you four tips so that urban driving in the wet does not necessarily mean always going on the razor’s edge, especially if you ride a scooter.
Leaving aside the fact that, in case of rain in the city, the ideal would be to leave the motorcycle at home -not only because of the risk of falling, but also because the traffic usually becomes impossible- the first thing to take into account is that You must have a waterproof suit as God intended and waterproof gloves and boots (boot covers are worth it). What if, even if it’s only ten minutes -which will be more- you will end up soaked if you do not have them.
If you carry a bag or backpack, remember to put them under the raincoat, or inside a plastic bag (inside the chest, if you have a scooter).
Driving
Forget stress and drive as if you were carrying a baby in your arms: very smoothly in all manoeuvres. When accelerating – even with a simple 125 scooter – over a wet white stripe, you can find yourself on the ground without knowing how.
Whenever possible, go between the white stripes and not over them. Also avoid manhole covers, and be very careful around roundabouts, whose asphalt is always more worn and slippery. raffle them stiff as a stick.
Also smooth when braking: all current 125s must have ABS (mandatory on motorcycles larger than 125 cc) or combined brake. The latter does not guarantee that the wheels will not lock up when braking hard, and if the front one does, a fall is inevitable. Also remember that ABS lengthens braking, so, in general, increase the distance with the preceding vehicles.
Always, but especially if your motorcycle or scooter does not have ABS, brake with both brakes at the same time, with little pressure on the front lever: in the rain, unlike in the dry, the front brake is not your best ally.
In the same way, be even more attentive than usual to the reactions of other drivers: traffic jams often cause nerves and with them, sudden and unexpected manoeuvres. As said: leave more distance.
Another issue that seems obvious -but is not always taken into account- is that the smaller the diameter of the wheels, the lower the stability and grip, since on the one hand larger diameter wheels generate a greater gyroscopic effect. stabilizer and on the other hand they have a greater contact footprint with the asphalt.
In addition, in case of a wet surface, the reactions increase by ten, and if with a 16″ or 17″ wheel it is possible to feel the moment in which the tire loses grip when leaning, with a 10″ or 12″ wheel it is possible. you will discover when you are already on the ground. No leaning in the wet, no braking into the turn: brake gently before it, release the brakes and follow it smoothly with a little bit of gas.
ABS is not everything
ABS and traction control are a great help to prevent falls due to wheel lockup when braking (ABS) or slipping when accelerating hard (TC), but they do not guarantee grip. In this section, the tires have a more decisive role, both their drawing, as well as their condition and pressure. For an urban scooter, the more I draw the better, since it evacuates more water. The drawings are not there to decorate the tire.
Check the pressures once a month – nothing “They look at that to me in the reviews”- and if the tire shows signs of wear, change it without hesitation: the price of a tire is much less than what you will have to pay for a repair in the event of a fall, possible injuries aside. In addition, those for scooters are much cheaper than those for a motorcycle.
above all, head
Although driving in the rain in the city is not ideal, it does not have to be a drama, but, more than ever, use your head and drive defensively.