How to Ride a Motorcycle in the Rain: 4 Life-Saving Techniques

Today’s topic was selected by you guys in the last poll, and I’m happy to oblige! Let’s talk about how to ride a motorcycle in the rain. Riding in the rain can be a little bit intimidating in the beginning and it is something each rider have to do eventually. So yes, it’s a good topic to cover. This video is not just a heap of random advices, it has a structure to it - the whole task of riding in the rain is divided to 4 smaller sub-tasks, which we can easily solve separately. Systematic approach is always the best approach!
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On Moto Control channel you will find videos about motorcycles, motorcycle riding techniques, tips & tricks and online motorcycle training for beginner and advanced riders!
A little info about me. My name is Andrei Bodrov, originally I'm from Moscow, Russia, and now I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Back in Moscow I was a motorcycle instructor and creator of Moto Control Beginner & Advanced motorcycle rider courses, which quickly became the most popular courses in Moscow (well, at least the advanced one😁). My advanced training course makes emphasis on slow speed riding techniques at first (such as good clutch and throttle control, proper riding posture, proper use of vision, etc.), then proceeds to more advanced techniques (such as aggressive braking, trail braking, maximal lean angle). The course incorporates a lot of exercises from DOSAF slow speed riding (similar to police rodeo like motorcycle training in USA), braking and cornering exercises and motogymkhana style riding. And now, since I actively learn English - I decided to post some useful videos for both your and mine practice!😉
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Since everyone writes this, it's necessary, I suppose 🤷, so here we go. Disclaimer: Ride at your own risk, you are responsible for your own safety. Me, Andrey Bodrov and my channel, Moto Control disclaim any liability incurred in connection with the use of riding techniques from this channel. Use common sense, wear full protective gear and ride in a safe and predictable manner!
#motorcycle #motorcycles #moto

[@powemetal4life]

A russian living in Argentina teaching the whole world how to properly and safely ride a motorcyle. Best thing to ever happened to a newbie rider like ton of us all

[@yagotoo7999]

And experienced riders too.

[@pasizdobrekuce]

This is probably the most useful motorcycle themed channel on YT.

[@stara_garda_3]

Па кад је брат Рус 😉

[@vnm_8945]

​@@stara_garda_3 gay

[@jamesstark8377]

"Gender neutral person-hole covers" got me 😂 Great instruction and very charming delivery. Bravo!

[@RonniesRambles]

Thanks for doing this. I stiffen up a lot in the rain these days, it has a lot to do with a cycling accident along with lack of familiarity with the situation. Your videos are top-notch, Thank you.

[@apexxxx10]

To stiffen up! My case: In 2022 Bangkok-Phuket-Bangkok 1,850 km. On the return leg. Rain, rain and rain. Riding my dinky 350 cc =RE= Meteor while my buddies on their 410 cc and 500 cc Royal Enfield bikes. Passenger cars,trucks, buses, and pickups. Overtaking was a challenge in the dark was hard. I stiffened up! And I am still suffering from Wry Neck (stiff neck). Resulting from tight grip on the handles and the nasty vibrations from the single cylinder =RE= 350 cc engine. Now, I still love long-distance “Iron Butt” riding. But, I need more displacement. Remember: “There is no replacement for displacement” Therefore I am planning to buy a 650 cc cruiser. Royal Enfield Super Meteor? No! It will be the KAWASAKI Vulcan 650 cc. However that’s another story. Johnny BikeSanooK! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGqmXmavjplmhbcsi=nW-43dq0o8wzrAQ5

[@daniel-kun6443]

Remember to also be visible, in the rain everything is much moodier so your black bike with black clothing is even less visible than usual. get high visibility colors on yourself

[@PavelRappo]

Here in Ireland, rain is something you should always be prepared for. On one of the courses, I heard a motorcycle police officer saying this: bring a spare pair of gloves; there's no such thing as waterproof motorcycle gloves. While I don't know whether there are such gloves or not, that piece of advice has helped me a few times already. Having cold and wet fingers should certainly be avoided. From my own limited experience, I also note that treating visor and mirrors with water repellents helps. Perhaps one could also use similar sprays for their jacket, pants and gloves, but I haven't tried that yet.

[@alanpritchard5709]

Hi Pavel...Just a little help on the glove front; You can buy (quite expensive) gloves with names like Gore Tex, Richa, Alpinestars, RST etc. etc. and there are many many others on the market, but there is only one make I stick to when riding in the rain...'marigold'. They are bright, cheap, waterproof (rubber), and throttle-grippy in the wet. Chuck a lightly talc-ed pair in your back-box/ pocket...you wont regret it! (PS, the only downside to them is ones sweaty, minging hands after a long ride, but hey, dry your hands and lash the gloves!)

[@kougerat5388]

If practicallity is no.1 you could consider handlebar mitts they will keep your hands and gloves dry alright, not to mention warm responsive fingers! luxury eh, glad I don't have to ride in the rain and cold anymore it was never much fun. be safe👍

[@ramblinjay3816]

As the title states. You're saving lives video by video. We all appreciate you so much!

[@irfandemir]

This is the most valuable channel for me to be a better rider! I’ve just started to ride a year ago, at an age of 50! Watching your videos and advices, trying your practices, really helps me to feel safer. Thank you! Thank you for your contribution to my best and enthousiastic experience of learning how to ride😊

[@ElDuderino999]

In essence: Stay cool, trust the bike to self-stabilize itself - and don’t push your luck! Thanks Andrey for this concise and (as always) excellent summary! 🎉

[@dominikmanka8734]

This is very helpful. As a new motorcyclist - i started riding motorcycle last year - i already had two little accidents, both took place on rainy day. Forunately i only scratched my motorcycle a liitle bit and just got few bruises. After these situations I became veeery careful when riding on rainy days and of course a bit stiff. This video will help me hack it for sure ! Thanks a lot !

[@kangaroogroundboy]

Thanks as always, next time it rains I shall ride faster to clear my visor😂. Riding in rain, my father said motorbikes are like horses, a light touch....they don't want to fall either

[@mikaelpettersson2389]

This spring I made a 350km trip on German highways in pouring rain. Fortunately only the gloves got wet, since the rest was covered by the rain clothes. But I got humidity between the pin lock and the visor! That was no fun at all....

[@GearShifter925]

Moto control, motojitsu and Dan dan the fireman...!!! These 3 channels of Motorcycle teachers are GREATEST two wheelers teachers available on this EARTH...!!! Thanking you for your great works. Keep it up.. always...!!! 😃👍

[@inevespace]

I don't know. Check recent motojitsu video about riding in wet and this video. They are miles away in amount of useful information. The whole jitsu's video is "be smooth", which you should do in any case, not only when wet.

[@FreeFlyFreak69]

MotoJitsu is nowhere near as good as this channel. He is a great rider, an OK instructor. Dan Dan is mostly commentary on other vids. Ride like a pro is too specialized. For me MotoControl is the best balance of great broad based education and a bit of humor to keep it entertaining

[@3h33am]

MotoJitsu is highly overrated

[@aussiebloke609]

7:11 "Gender-neutral-person-hole covers" got a chuckle from me.

[@dgphi]

If you have ABS, a good exercise is the practice hard braking on a wet road. You will probably be surprised how hard you can brake before the ABS kicks in. That will help you relax about the level of grip you have. (If you don't have ABS, I don't know. I've never had a bike without ABS.) A tip on visibility: Maybe this is obvious, but try not to get water droplets on the inside of your visor (and on your glasses if you wear glasses).

[@ElDuderino999]

Good advice, and always start that exercise with rear-brake-only to build up trust into the ABS. If anything goes wrong - ABS has its limitations after all and can also malfunction in the least favorable moment - the bike is much easier to catch compared to a front wheel skid.

[@dgphi]

@@ElDuderino999 You can test the ABS by jabbing at the brake. That is quickly pull and release the brake. If for some reason the ABS doesn't kick in, you will have already released the brake, so you won't lose traction and wipe out. Full disclosure: I haven't tried jabbing the brakes on a non-ABS bike myself because like I said I've never owned one, but I have seen someone do it, and it looked pretty safe to me. (Also, just to be clear, jabbing the brake is just for testing. It is not how you are meant to brake normally, of course.)

[@ElDuderino999]

@@dgphi seems kinda dodgy to me to push your luck instantaneously instead of building up experience, trust and muscle-memory progressively.

[@dgphi]

@@ElDuderino999 How are you going to find the limit of traction without testing it?

[@ElDuderino999]

@@dgphi by slowly progressing on the brakes, iteration after iteration. That’s the only proven way of motorcycling skill buildup in a safe manner.

[@alexugurie]

'Gender neutral personhole covers' 🤣🤣🤣 Nice touch! So important that you brought up the topic of hypothermia, something that is so easily misunderstood, yet should always be part of our forward planning. With hypothermia, the body automatically tries to keep the body's core temperature functional (heart and internal organs) and it does this by concentrating the blood supply away from the extremities (arms and legs) and to the core. That's why arms and legs lose sensitivity and control. Unfortunately, the head is also an extremity through which we typically lose some 25% of body temperature, so blood supply to the brain is also reduced. Increasingly, our concentration and awareness goes until we become unconscious if the cold is enduring. That means we often are not even fully aware of hypothermia setting in, a very dangerous circumstance (but on the plus side, dying of hypothermia is supposed to be pretty painless, as we are already unconscious 🤣) Even a two hour trip home in the cold with inadequate warm kit can bring us into this danger zone, something I can attest to. It's a terribly feeling when you know it's another hour to get home at night or the early hours of the morning, with no other possibility to get warm other than to get home.

[@d.j.howardindtla8748]

I know someone who ran over a Dorito's bag in the street and went down. He's an expert racer/rider. I've never even heard of that happening. I have a new found respect for trash in the street. Steer clear. Have fun!

[@PartyQuest]

great video! thanks!

[@Big_DT]

Awesome, just awesome! Thanks Andrei!

[@juanpablofajardoramirez1008]

Loved the video! thanks. A total lifesaver!

[@luk3ns]

Excellent tutorial as always - thank you!

[@josephbutler1925]

Very comprehensive! Good job.

[@calbrock6302]

I really really enjoyed that! Thanks and now subbed

[@avon57]

Great video, Andrej...thank you!

[@ElDuderino999]

Important additional advice I had to learn the hard way waiting for hours in pouring rain at a border crossing: No matter your rain gear (and mine worked perfectly), but make SURE your boots are waterproof! Cold hands can be dealt with by using heated grips or spare gloves, but wet and cold boots are going to make you suffer for hours on end, as they are nearly impossible to dry en route and usually there’s no spare 🥶 Long story short, even though the rest of my body stayed almost dry, my feet were soaking wet, my boots stank irrecoverably to the point I had to throw them away a few weeks later and I developed a harsh cold after returning home eventually, knocking me off work for about ten days!

[@whatsupbudbud]

I bought rain trousers with foot covers that are meant for bicycles. Don't look too good but always come with me for longer rides since they don't take almost any space and help a lot.

[@clay-sculpting]

Cold feet can't be the reason, you become sick :-D That's a myth!

[@KetilDuna]

Thank you for great tips and great videos

[@Golobtin]

Excellent as usual , cheers

[@JeffJeno1000]

Excellent work on the video. Concise advice 👍

[@ericschnipke874]

Thank you for the very informative video!

[@mohammadabbas6764]

Very useful programme thanks.

[@leslieaustin151]

Your stuff is always relevant and to the point. Thanks for this one. Les in UK

[@victorramalhobustamante3565]

thank you, man

[@Vl_Trif]

Thanks for this video, very helpful 😊

[@tonygolding2274]

Fantastic video there Pal , really enjoyed that one , I’ll study it and put it to use ,once again thanks. Tony

[@StudyFundaa]

Thank you for all tips....u really very thoughtful ....loved the layered and structured approach to tips....not heaps of advices...kudos!!

[@virendradr]

Thank you Mr Bodrov sir

[@adrianchiu5518]

Thank you.

[@user-pp6mn6oh1x]

Covered all monsoon problems for Rider's, Thank you, ❤ Be Blessed.

[@rbento123489]

Thanks for all the tips! Your videos are really helping me get started in the motorcycling world with safety and knowledge. Cheers!

[@StokedBuilds]

One of the best Riding Instructional videos I have watched. I still get very nervous in the rain so need to trust my bike some more!! Keep producing these videos. You deserve a whole load more subscribers! Great content.

[@4.18.2Mr.D]

Hi Andrei, i try to help friends/ people with driving and its not always easy to explain everything but your videos help a lot! thanks and greets from belguim

[@user-vm7qo2to3t]

Hi from GREECE. Realy thanks for your help with this new video. You are the best .

[@RLeunk-lw3ek]

Thank you! Very usefull!!

[@mymatemartin]

Hi Andre. Absolutely fantastic video. 100% engaging, topical and interesting. Your instructional technique is excellent as is the practical examples and advice you provide. As an instructor myself (IT sector), I really appreciate your efforts. I'm 3 years into my riding life and have followed your channel for all of that time.

[@johnhewett9483]

sensible advice

[@gaston6814]

Nice video! Thank you. I didn't know you lived in Argentina until I saw the licence plates of the cars in this video

[@khalira1]

your videos are really very helpful, comrade! thanks a lot. cheers from Brazil

[@jonhavoc1141]

"Poor man's rain mode" is now added to my vocabulary! For cold hands I usually wear latex or nitrile surgical gloves under my regular gloves, which works in most cases for me. It traps warm air just above your skin, even if it does end up making your hands a bit sweaty and unpleasant sometimes.

[@ethownzbh]

Learned the painted lines one the hard way on my first bike when braking hard in slick conditions to make a late turn, hit a solid painted line and the bike dropped like I hit ice. I would also mention proper body positioning in cornering allows you to keep the bike more upright through corners (while still being able to corner quickly), increasing the contact patch and stability of the bike in lower grip conditions.

[@user-fg7jk9cq1b]

In Australia all painted lines are anti-slip. There are very grippy. Tell your roads people if real anti-slip paint is too expensive, just throw a handful of sand on the wet paint and sweep up the excess when its dry.

[@veronicaalessandrello1022]

I also thank all the commentators for their additional advice 🙏👍You are Top-notch riders too. This is a great community of people. I feel grateful, safer and more relaxed to ride and to enjoy responsibility.

[@CrimsonRaven51]

Good tips. Most especially about not riding through deep puddles. May conceal a sink hole that could swallow up you and your bike! Following a car through unknown puddles to be certain they’re ridable is good tip. Much appreciated.🙏

[@WAFallatah]

Thanks very much, highly valuable information I would love to see other episodes of ideas to pick bike in truck or cars safely, specially alone

[@gorazdnovak9940]

YOU ARE THE BEST :)

[@Hash9377]

The only yt rider I take advice from

[@daveo9844]

Excellent 🍻

[@cyrilb3013]

good duration, keep on

[@rufovitela920]

holaa, like very much your videos. Lots of information presented in a clear and entertaining way.

[@rayneman888]

I've watched all the ads to make sure you get paied. Excellent video.

[@mpspuij]

Very usefull .... thank you 🙂 Yesterday I drove my motorscooter home for 236 km in rain 2 times and hail 1 time could not see 10 meters ahead so hard it came down. And then sun again for the rest of the trip. I just bought the scooter, was my 1st ride in years. Glad I brought warm clothing and a rain suit. Avaridge speed 90 to 95 km/hour with much wind. Max speed on dutch highways is during the day 100 km/hour.

[@stephencummins7589]

I specially enjoy your videos in Buenos Aires

[@jhvorlicky]

One problem with this video, Andrej: we didn't get to see your cheerful face and your uplifting wave!

[@stevenmcginty3357]

i learned the hard way to stay off white painted and other colour road markings in the wet/rain

[@hunczar]

pinlock's are gold for rain and fog

[@kitsura]

Hola, my friend! Another informative video.

[@vikskywalker]

Hola amigo! Nice video 👌 Greetings from México 🇲🇽

[@felipedourado5721]

Hi Andrei, it seems that the blue hands after murdering Smurfs worth it. I mean, you did an excellent video regarding every major topic of riding in the rain despite the "Smurf massacre".😂 I'm really grateful to you since riding under wet conditions is a subject of my interest and, for that reason, I kept asking you for some advice about it here on your channel. P.S. I laughed out loud when I heard the "Gender neutral personal hole" joke! It was a very nice one! 😂😂😂😂😂😂 All the best from Brazil and, once again, thank you! ✌

[@233kosta]

I once went through some standing water with a bit of speed. Didn't lift my legs out of the way. I really really should have. My boots had managed to stay relatively dry up to that point.

[@lizstrangesavage7948]

Really appreciate your knowledge! Any good snow riding videos?

[@everestvirtue309]

Hello my friend Thank you very much for helping me Take care All happiness to you

[@nikisaunders2634]

Really good Diolch yn fawr 👍🏽

[@NoFrictionZone]

Awesome, looking forward to the lane filtering video. 🤙 Gracias Boludo! 😂

[@Pakulopapito23]

Duke 390 bs 3 ❤

[@EvendimataE]

I live in los angeles....i dont ride when the road is wet...not even at night..LOL

[@joesimamura223]

ya very nice video. from india and we have very poor road condition specially in rain. ty

[@Conzales]

Obstacles that should be avoided maybe are easily to spot, but in city traffic usually not so easy to that. Cars close behind do limited slowing down (they don't expect you to). Moving left or right has to be within a meter usually.

[@redbear1935]

Hello Andrey. Your videos are very helpful and easy to understand . You should make video about (target fixsation ). That is a big problem with motorcycle riders and may save life's. Especially with new riders.

[@Gustavo-gc7ic]

Greetings from Brazil.

[@ioandragulescu6063]

@1:05 that was me in the begining, on dry also. This terrible positive feedback loop that took me a while to get over... and the worst thing was that my rational mind was fighting my instincts and until I got enough kms to get my subconscious used to riding, there was no ammount of thinking that could help.

[@233kosta]

Low sided doing moto gymkhana last Sunday (coming out of a 360, the next bike was right on top of me 🤬🤬🤬), ironically in the dry with hot tyres 😂 It had been wet earlier that day - not an issue.

[@VinWeiLee27171]

socal is pouring right now, perfect timing

[@mr.perfect1er933]

Yes, wet antifreeze spills at intersections is worse than ice

[@jackpoell1673]

Thank you for this video. Maybe I’ll be much more confident if riding in rain. Normally I try to avoid it. But maybe you can also give some info for riding cobblestones and the likes of that, because I also feel very uncomfortable when being confronted with that riding condition.

[@lukeorlando4814]

Car washes. Soap and tyre shine being tracked onto the road. Especially tire shine. I dropped a bike doing a steady 12mph riding past a hand car wash. Rear wheel suddenly slid out from under me. About 10 Guys came running over to help me and the bike up. Boy was I embarrassed and confused.

[@georgecurtis6463]

Stay away from the center of the lane. Stay in the part the car tires travel in. For sure stay away from painted anything on the road. And take it a bit slower.

[@user-ni2tl7ky2k]

Вот люблю теорию и структурность!

[@edgarsserugo2436]

Very nice video, thou 9:30 took me by surprise 😲 😲

[@mamapapa5860]

the problem is the vehicles that pass us. they bring water up in an arch when they drive over a long/large puddle... and the water will hit us for a few seconds. :)

[@steve00alt70]

People from the UK must be experts riding in the rain.

[@veronicaalessandrello1022]

You are super good 👍 I never get bored watching your videos. Your instructions are serious but you make them truly amusing by adding some clips that are imposible to believe 😱🫣😬🤦🏻‍♀️😂 That motorbike that ended in a giant pot hole hidden under a flooded road. Tragic indeed! It could happen to anyone but I couldn’t stop laughing. 😂 What kind of local authorities allow that hole to be unattended without hazard barriers or signs? 🤷🏻‍♀️ you are awesome 😊

[@thirdyv124]

the counter steer makes me nervous haha

[@ma5thew]

poor man rain mode, man, you killed me 😂😂

[@otlndsh]

Always check the weather, kids!

[@aforashish7]

Which tyres?

[@szymongrabarczyk3561]

You should drive it like when drunk driving. Slow and steady, avoiding traffic if possible.

[@coolfriend693]

Thanks..... What you suggest about oil spills on road in rain?

[@colesthelol]

Hi. Thanks for the video. Are there any tyres you would recommend, that work in the rain as well? We had a light rain yesterday and my Dunlop Qualifier Cores were decent. Then again I'd probably look to change them to a more all-weather tyre. What are you using in this vid?

[@ehsfrac]

One more thing. Don't forget to wear clothes that are visible in dark and rainy conditions or use a reflective vest.

[@Mikoai]

When you started leaning on that parking lot my subconscious was alarmed that you are going to crash, and when you went through that puddle my whole brain was like “Impossible. What is this magic?!?”

[@Mikoai]

For the record, I passed my moto license (cat. A) a year ago and during my course, exactly two days before my exam I’ve had a crash on MT07 exiting roundabout because of an oil spill that got on my rear wheel and ended up getting thrown over handlebars almost directly on my head. That being said on the day of my exam when I saw even a slightly wet part of tarmac I was riding as straight as possible out of fear. Never had a bike so I was not riding for that year but planning on doing it soon so channels like yours are priceless for me and people alike. Thank you for your content!

[@tapio_m6861]

@2:33 such a weird place for the traffic lights. If there's more than two cars trying to exit the roundabout to that direction and they face the red light, the entire roudabout will be clogged up.