What is it with rain? - Page 3

Hewie · 02-10-2008, 07:57 AM

Has someone got an example of a standard bike thats never been ridden in the rain ?

Brougham · 02-10-2008, 07:58 AM

this one?

http://www.perthstreetbikes.com/foru...icolore-65689/

Spock · 02-10-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hewie

Has someone got an example of a standard bike thats never been ridden in the rain ?

I have two (a 1993 blade and a 2003 blade) that have only been in the rain when caught out unexpectedly and then always cleaned and dried afterwards.

Here's one (not too shabby for a 5 year old bike eh?)

Here is another - at 15 years of age this bike is older than some people on this forum:

Desmogod · 02-10-2008, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu

I really do not believe the arguments that there are detrimental effects on the bike to riding in the rain.

You evidently don't believe in chemistry.
Lol @ no detrimental effect.

Motormaniac · 02-10-2008, 08:18 AM

yeah, remember stu, if you have raw, exposed iron or steel that isnt stainless on your modern motorcycle, it may rust if it gets wet. oh yeah, and your un-lubed chain also. and remember, water eats the plastic in your fairing. and eats thru the paint on the metal and then eats thru the metal. Dont forget the tyres now. Rubber and water are almost as reactive as magnesium and Hydrochloric acid. DO NOT GET BIKE WET

Spock · 02-10-2008, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motormaniac

yeah, remember stu, if you have raw, exposed iron or steel that isnt stainless on your modern motorcycle, it may rust if it gets wet.

Even stainless can suffer pitting corrosion.

Motormaniac · 02-10-2008, 08:24 AM

yeah from salt water if you dont wash it off within an hour...

lord_zod · 02-10-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxo

hoarfrost

Isn't that when a woman gets REALLY mad and becomes a MEGA ice-queen and everything around her suddenly has a layer of frost on it because it's so cold?

Stu · 02-10-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spock

Oh yeah, I'm sure you'd rather buy a crappy, rusty, high km bike off a person who 'totally embraced motorcycling' than an identical, mint condition low km example off a guy who only rode it on sunny weekends.

Of course I wouldn't Spock if I was buying a bike. What I meant was I don't think about the resale value of my own bike when it is ridden all through winter. I'm not suggesting this is better in anyway, more that it isn't important to me and my current bike. If I had something more rare and exotic then I would probably think differently.

And when I said no detrimental effects I should have said no significant effects. Regular cleaning and maintainance should keep a bike in good (not perfect) condition. And yes, I do understand chemistry.

rod · 02-10-2008, 09:23 AM

It may not seem like much but it's finish of all the surfaces that deteriorate slowly when a bike is ridden (or even left outside) in the rain and not cleaned after. The water off the road is hardly clean and that's what goes through the bike, coating everything in a film of weak caustic spray. Some surface treatments take it better than others. When those surfaces get affected, the bike gets a patina of shitness and that's incredibly difficult to remove.

My 999 hasn't seen rain (AFAIK) and I think has seen water only on very few occasions. My Laverda has been caught in the rain however I've usually hosed it down when I got home to clean off the grit and given it another clean when convenient. This pic was taken last saturday and the bike is eleven years old:

Having said that, the water in Melbourne is very clean and is great for rinsing. Perth water is bad if you leave it on surfaces - watermark frenzy!

Spock · 02-10-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu

Of course I wouldn't Spock if I was buying a bike. What I meant was I don't think about the resale value of my own bike when it is ridden all through winter. .

Fair enough. There have been times when I only owned a bike (no car) and had to ride to work all through winter. If you've got no choice what can you do?

Hewie · 02-10-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brougham

this one?

http://www.perthstreetbikes.com/foru...icolore-65689/

Not exactly a standard bike though is it ?

So in general ..... Whats the difficulty in believing a bike hasnt ever been in the rain ??

Melchiah · 02-10-2008, 09:58 AM

I'll ride my POS suzuki in the rain anytime, but my ducati in the rain? No thanks. I spend enough time cleaning it and I cbf spending more time than I do now just to keep that thing pristeen.

If it's wet I'll just fang around on the across and let it whine through the rain.

apples · 02-10-2008, 10:00 AM

I don’t get it, what’s so hard to believe?

I know a bunch of guys who have bikes and cars that have never been in the rain (the bikes and cars, not the guys).
I know a bunch of guys who have bikes and cars and they take them out rain, hail or shine.
I know one guy who won’t ride his new bicycle in the rain for the sake of the bike.

If I was buying a second hand toy of course I would preferred it not to have been weathered, or at least for it to not look like it has been weathered, and typically the guys that don’t go out in the bad weather take better care of their toys in every other aspect too.