[richj11]

Well, I chose to stay in Washington State after my retirement from the Navy for a number of reasons, all very well thought out.

Tomorrow will be two weeks since I brought the C50T home. I still have less than 100 miles on it :x

This lousy Washington gloom is making me blue. Normally you just go about your day and do what you need to do, even in the rain. I would imagine some day I may become a rainy day rider, but not until I am much more proficient!

Ah well, summer will be here soon, and contrary to popular belief, it does actually last longer than just two weeks up here in the great PNW.

Sorry, just had to vent somewhere.....LOL

Rich J

 

[Gixxerdale]

Wow! A new rider with PMS! Parked Motorcycle Syndrome! Hang in there! It will pass soon. I suggest you go to the Video section and watch a few. It will help. Take two Rich, and check the weather in the morning! :mrgreen:

 

[richj11]

Parked Motorcycle Syndrome

Wow! A new rider with PMS! Parked Motorcycle Syndrome! Hang in there! It will pass soon.

PMS! I like it! Going to breakfast with a rider buddy. But it looks like a cage day. :neutral:

I can't wait for that trip to San Diego next year :smile:

Rich J

 

[c50tiger]

Judging by the weather I experienced there last week, you just need to invest in a good rain suit. I left Seatac around noon Sunday, spent the next 3.5 days bouncing back and forth between Seattle, West Seattle, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Tacoma and Renton. It was never warm enough (to my Southern blood) to think a rainsuit might have been a bit uncomfortable, especially with the lack of humidity. But since it rained every effin' day I was there, at least 5 times and usually for only about 5 or 10 minutes each time, looks to me like you either deal with it or give up riding - so deal with it

 

[richj11]

Raingear in Washington

bouncing back and forth between Seattle, West Seattle, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Tacoma and Renton It was never warm enough (to my Southern blood) to think a rainsuit might have been a bit uncomfortable, minutes each time, looks to me like you either deal with it or give up riding - so deal with it

Bremerton huh? That is only about 15 miles from Seabeck where I live. I drive to Bremerton to work everyday. What brought you to this neck of the woods???

Well, I've lived here nearly 20 years now. I know to deal with. But just became a rider again after many years and just want to ride. I needed to vent.....

I definitely need to invest in a good set of raingear. They had a Stearns set at COSTCO for about $50, if I recall correctly. Anyone have any experience with that set? Should I spend more and get a nice set made for riding?

Rich J

 

[c50tiger]

Don't know about the Stearns set, but you can get riding designed rain gear for not much more, and sometimes less. For the something-teenth time, I'm honestly not getting a kickback from them, but Newenough Leathers - good products, good prices, and just really decent people to deal with. Look here: http://www.newenough.com/product_group_misc_rain_gear.htm - they've got some First Gear and Nelson Rigg rain gear for about the same as the Stearns set.

I was in Seattle on business - the Wa. state department of vocational rehabilitation decided back in '03 that all facilities doing business with that branch had to have a nationally recognized accreditation, and gave them until this year to start getting it. I happen to sideline as one of the surveyors for the national accrediting body they chose. The organization I was surveying has operations in all those places I mentioned. Ferry ride from Seattle to Bremerton was fun - I noticed right off that motorcycles are given preference in loading and unloading, and I quickly came to the conclusion that if I lived there I'd be riding to work every single day IBeautiful part of the country you live in, even if it does rain every day

btw - is Hwy 5 always slicker than cat sh!t on linoleum when it rains, or was it just me?

 

[Gixxerdale]

Nasty weather here too! I just got home from work. It's currently 102 degrees here! What's it going to be like when summer rolls around this year? :roll:

 

[R3VO3VOM]

Hey Rich,

Just thought I'd pop in and say Hi....Im also in the Seattle area.....Bothell to be more specific and it hasn't been much better here though although I bought my c50 back in that last stand of nice weather so I have about 700 on mine.....

 

[St0nkingByte]

I ride everyday in the Seattle area. Textiles, full face helmets & Nikwax are your friend. Sure it rains alot but how often does it really downpour? OK alot this week

Seriously though its amazing how many rainy days there are where I don't actually get rained on, or just get sprinkled a bit. People always ask me at work if I'm really riding on a cruddy day and I always tell them I ride every day unless there's snow or ice. I rode to work every single day this past winter except one when I thought there was going to be ice and I took the bus, of course there wasn't, boy was I pissed

Personally I've gone with a waterproof jacket/pants combo for the weather around here. With armor expect to spend $200 (very low end) to $400 for both. I prefer a two peice setup over a one peice because the one peice outfits don't seem to fit as well to me and seem like more of a hassle than overpants and a coat. If you're really serious about playing in the rain don't worry about the zipper-the-jacket-to-the-pants thing, instead look for a jacket that will overlap the pants a fair amount. I also like the two peice setup because once I'm at work for the day if I need to walk somewhere outside I can wear my riding coat as my jacket. I also have two pairs of gloves, a pair of big leather (nikwaxed) gauntlets for winter and the heavy rain and a pair of lighter mesh gloves for warm weather.

When I ride for fun I wear the same over pants but, shh don't tell anyone, I don't wear pants under them. That way I still get the weather and armor protection but I'm alot more comfortable. I may be changing my tune in August and looking for some mesh gear but so far I'm doing OK pulling out my jacket liner and opening the vents in my jacket on the few warm days we've had.

I guess what I'm getting at is with the right gear you can ride around here anytime. Do I head out for a fun ride if its already dumping rain, no of course not, but I always ride to work. Also if I do take off for a little ride on a questionable day and it starts raining, its no big deal. I just take it easy and head for home. Once when I got stuck in a traffic jam in the pouring rain for 45 minutes by the time I got to work I wasn't wet under my gear. Sometimes if I'm not careful about how I velcro my pant leg at the ankle the bottom half inch of my pant leg might get wet, that's it.

 

[richj11]

Okay, I give....

Well, I can quit whining now :mrgreen:

After lunch the clouds blew away and the sun dried everything up!

I hit the road shortly after that. Got about 50 miles on her this afternoon.

I rode over past Tahuya Lake and through the Tahuya State forest. Any dirt bike riders around here know that is one of the best off road riding places in Washington state.

Back up through Silverdale and around the loop along the Hood Canal. It really turned into a beautiful afternoon.

When I pulled back in the driveway the wife was out doing yardwork! "It's about time you came back" she said! LMAO I should have went for 100 miles!!

Rich J

 

[richj11]

I ride everyday in the Seattle area. Textiles, full face helmets & Nikwax are your friend. Sure it rains alot but how often does it really downpour? OK alot this week

Now that is some good rain gear info there. I can't ride to work until I take the MSF and get the proper pass. I work for Uncle Sam at the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton.

I've been checking the two piece suits. Like all you said above, it seems the best way to go.

Thanks for the input...

Rich J