The monsoons are here! But does that mean you should not be out riding your bike? No. With these tips and tricks taken into account, you should be just fine to enjoy the rainy season while being safe and your bike is protected.
Maintaining your bike keeps it from failing due to running unfavorable conditions. An unexpected engine seize can cause a big problem during rain and especially if u are stranded on a highway. Always get your bike serviced from at least the local mechanic. A bike which is serviced is will not be a problem on long travels.
The tires which have worn our will not have as much as groves as the new tires. The tires will not have much traction and they will tend to slip more often. So before rains change tires or if you have recent tires get their groves cleaned. Air pressure of tires should also be kept in check and dropping a fewer psi will make it better to provide a bigger surface area to grip.
While riding in rains a proper gear serves 2 purposes. It will keep your clothes dry if it is water-resistant. And will protect you from injuries. A waterproof lining that is provided with the normal riding gear also serves the purpose. Wearing gear will also make sure that u remain warm during heavy showers. Being cold while riding tenses up the body can cause a loss of concentration.
Many new bikes have electronic controls that can malfunction if water seeps in them. The cost of replacing these might be much higher than the cost of covering them with plastic or waterproofing covers.
During monsoons, the use of the front brake should be reduced and the rear should be used more. As a rider, the person should also make use of gradual braking as sudden braking might cause a wheel lock-up. The wheel lockup on a rear-wheel has less risk than the front wheel lockup.
Potholes can be puddles of mystery. They can be filled with all kinds of stuff which can be dangerous to the bike.
These rainbow-colored patches can be very dangerous as they are seen where the oil mixes with water. Any vehicle on the road can leak its oil and when this mixes with water it can form a layer which will make it very slippery.
These patches are very dangerous as at high speeds the bike might move diagonally and cause an accident.
A manhole cover is made of metal and does not provide much grip over it. This sometimes might also be loose due to drains flooding and can flip due to the weight of the bike passing over it.
The waterlogged areas are a common sight during monsoons in Mumbai. It is always better never to cross a waterlogged area but if we are compelled to drive through it then put the vehicle in a lower gear and giving maximum accelerator pass through it. Do not take a risk of going through it if the silencer of the vehicle is lower than the water level
The best way to be safe in rains is to reduce speed. Reducing speed increases the window of reaction time. This will give more time to react when anything happens.
In rains reducing the speed will automatically reduce the lean angles. This will lead to better control of the bike.
A full-face helmet is always recommended as it provides more protection. The clear screen visor will help to see better and provide better visibility during heavy rains.
We hope these tips will help you in the rains. Do let us know if you know any more in the comments below.