School me on equipment for rain at track days

[Imbeek]

I plan to do a lot of trackdays next year. I have heard that a lot can be learned through tracktime in the rain, so I would like to plan to ride rain or shine. I've only done 4 trackdays so far, and it didn't rain at any of those, so I didn't get to observe what other riders do to gear up.

Money is a factor, so with budget in mind, what should I try to bring besides rain tires on wheels and rain-x for the visor?

What more do people use if they have a bigger budget?

Anything else I should do to the bike besides changing tires if it rains? If I cannot acquire rain tires by next season, is it asking for trouble to go out on DOTs?

I've been caught in the rain tons of times on the street but I never have pushed at all in those circumstances...

[Mr. Kurtz]

Rains>street tires>DOTs>slicks

As for gear, I have a full Respro two piece suit I got from Street & Comp. It's not cheap, but it's effective. Many people use their old or spare gloves and boots as rain gear.

[butcher bergs]

Get a rain suit that will fit over your leathers. 2-pc suits can be had for $60 and up.

Define "DOT's" DOT race or DOT street tires? The street tires will be more forgiving than DOT races tires in the wet and a sport-touring tire will yeild the most forgiving results of any DOT-type tire.

If you are planning on riding on DOT race tires, don't. You will gain nothing because when they let go in the wet, they let go fast.

[Puppet]

What kind of helmet do you wear?

If it's available for your model, grab a Pinlock compatible visor with a couple of different color inserts. I love the orange insert in the rain. It really helps with contrast and they don't fog. They also work great during the cold morning sessions early/late season. http://pinlockusa.net/. I use them on my street helmets as well.

I wouldn't worry about a racing rain suit. Any rain suit that fits over your leathers will work and will be cheaper if you do happen to go down on it.

Having an extra set of boots and gloves can be really nice for really wet days or back to back days.

[Imbeek]

Get a rain suit that will fit over your leathers. 2-pc suits can be had for $60 and up.

Define "DOT's" DOT race or DOT street tires? The street tires will be more forgiving than DOT races tires in the wet and a sport-touring tire will yeild the most forgiving results of any DOT-type tire.

If you are planning on riding on DOT race tires, don't. You will gain nothing because when they let go in the wet, they let go fast.

On the speed four, I have pilot power 2cts in good shape, but I'm trying to give that bike an early retirement from trackdays before it ain't so purty any more, even though I love riding it on the track and its the only bike I have ridden on the track so far. It's never been down, (knock on wood) and I'd like to keep it that way. Especially when it comes to rainy trackdays, I guess...not sure; do people generally go down more during wet trackday sessions than dry ones? Seems like they do in road races I've seen on tv, but as I say, I've never seen a wet trackday so I don't know if people are generally more cautious, relative to the conditions, than they are when it's dry...I know when I get caught on the street, I go slow as hell, and not just on the corners either...I got a Harley touring bike hydro planing in a straight line going about 50 one time thru standing water, and saved it, but I don't care to test my luck that way again (it was dark out in traffic too; Sucked)

On the sv, brand new Pirelli diablo Rosso Corsas straight from Mr. Kurtz' end of season sale. I assume these are exactly what you mean when you say don't do it.
Gotta get some rain tires for the sv it appears (or throw down for a track toy that comes with some!)

As far as the rainsuits for 60 bucks and up, are they designed to go over race leathers for track duty, or do you mean an overly large suit designed to be used in the rain for street riding? Either way, I assume it gets destroyed if you go down; that's ok, better than destroying the suit I have now for street rain use that is reflective and cost me way over a hundred. Is safety an issue for whatever suit you put over leathers? I'm referring to materials that might slide silly far on wet pavement...

Is rain-x still the shiznit for the visor? Do they even make that stuff any more?

[Mustang]

Rains>street tires>DOTs>slicks

As for gear, I have a full Respro two piece suit I got from Street & Comp. It's not cheap, but it's effective. Many people use their old or spare gloves and boots as rain gear.

+1. To add though, I purchased a rain suit from CycleGear a number of years ago. I went down in it twice, and tore the jacket enough that it's ugly now (though still usable). I've found the CG pants to be too constrictive for track riding, but work well for wet weather on the street. Now, I just wear an old ski shell over my leathers on rainy TTDs/races, and go w/o anything on my lower half.

On the speed four, I have pilot power 2cts in good shape, but I'm trying to give that bike an early retirement from trackdays before it ain't so purty any more, even though I love riding it on the track and its the only bike I have ridden on the track so far. It's never been down, (knock on wood) and I'd like to keep it that way. Especially when it comes to rainy trackdays, I guess...not sure; do people generally go down more during wet trackday sessions than dry ones? Seems like they do in road races I've seen on tv, but as I say, I've never seen a wet trackday so I don't know if people are generally more cautious, relative to the conditions, than they are when it's dry...I know when I get caught on the street, I go slow as hell, and not just on the corners either...I got a Harley touring bike hydro planing in a straight line going about 50 one time thru standing water, and saved it, but I don't care to test my luck that way again (it was dark out in traffic too; Sucked)

On the sv, brand new Pirelli diablo Rosso Corsas straight from Mr. Kurtz' end of season sale. I assume these are exactly what you mean when you say don't do it.
Gotta get some rain tires for the sv it appears (or throw down for a track toy that comes with some!)

As far as the rainsuits for 60 bucks and up, are they designed to go over race leathers for track duty, or do you mean an overly large suit designed to be used in the rain for street riding? Either way, I assume it gets destroyed if you go down; that's ok, better than destroying the suit I have now for street rain use that is reflective and cost me way over a hundred. Is safety an issue for whatever suit you put over leathers? I'm referring to materials that might slide silly far on wet pavement...

Is rain-x still the shiznit for the visor? Do they even make that stuff any more?

Any given TD will have differing amounts of crashes. It all depends on how "YOU" (the royal you, not you in particular) control your inputs. And also on the conditions themselves...wet days are really no different than dry.

Aside from that, tires - Rosso Corsas are street tires, so you should be fine on them in the rain. I personally don't like pushing at my pace on street tires, but in Red/Yellow/conservative Blue they will do just fine. If you can find yourself a cheap set of rain tires (or better yet, rains already mounted on a set of spare wheels/rotors) and have the cash to pick them up, do it. Nothing better than seeing tons of other customers sitting in the garage while you're out ripping it up on rains

You're going to slide far on anything in the wet. It's wet out; even the normal leather-to-asphalt friction is gone. If you have a $100+ street rain suit, I'd suggest getting something else for the track just in case. Rather screw up a WalMart rain "suit" or Frogg Toggs than your expensive reflective stuff.

Rain-X works just fine Also remember to turn your head right and left while keeping your eyes pointed in the "correct" direction - this will allow the wind to clear your visor as well.

[butcher bergs]

...do people generally go down more during wet trackday sessions than dry ones? Seems like they do in road races I've seen on tv, but as I say, I've never seen a wet trackday so I don't know if people are generally more cautious, relative to the conditions, than they are when it's dry...I know when I get caught on the street, I go slow as hell, and not just on the corners either...I got a Harley touring bike hydro planing in a straight line going about 50 one time thru standing water, and saved it, but I don't care to test my luck that way again (it was dark out in traffic too; Sucked)

On the sv, brand new Pirelli diablo Rosso Corsas straight from Mr. Kurtz' end of season sale. I assume these are exactly what you mean when you say don't do it.
Gotta get some rain tires for the sv it appears (or throw down for a track toy that comes with some!)

As far as the rainsuits for 60 bucks and up, are they designed to go over race leathers for track duty, or do you mean an overly large suit designed to be used in the rain for street riding? Either way, I assume it gets destroyed if you go down; that's ok, better than destroying the suit I have now for street rain use that is reflective and cost me way over a hundred. Is safety an issue for whatever suit you put over leathers? I'm referring to materials that might slide silly far on wet pavement...

Is rain-x still the shiznit for the visor? Do they even make that stuff any more?

I would not say riders go down more often in the rain at a trackday but I will say riders are much more susceptible to crashing if they have bad body positioning/ poor input habits. Truth is, the wet makes clear more readily where a rider is with regards to his/ her riding habits. Rain tires help immensely however riding in the wet is still riding in the wet.

Yes, find an oversized rain suit for cheap.

Not sure on Rain-X. I use a product called Plexus.

If you do crash in the wet, sliding is going to happen. The material of a rain suit is not going to make any difference whatsoever.

[The Snowman]

I shopped around and found a Frogg Toggs 20-piece suite for short money last year.

[Imbeek]

What kind of helmet do you wear?

If it's available for your model, grab a Pinlock compatible visor with a couple of different color inserts. I love the orange insert in the rain. It really helps with contrast and they don't fog. They also work great during the cold morning sessions early/late season. http://pinlockusa.net/. I use them on my street helmets as.

I have a shoei xs-p...not looking like they have one for that model but I will check with miles. Thanks!


Chuck, which model frogg toggs, if you know? I checked their website, they have a ton of models and reasonable pricing

[Rambunctous]

I shopped around and found a Frogg Toggs 20-piece suite for short money last year.

No wonder it was cheap. Did they include the thread?

[carsick]

Gotta get some rain tires for the SV

I will give you my spare front rain. In return You must buy a 1st gen SV for the track so I can pillage your spare parts the next time I have a "learning experience".

[OreoGaborio]

CHEAP ESSENTIALS FOR RAIN RIDING:

For feet




For hands




For vision

[carsick]

Pete, he asked about wet trackdays, not evidence free rape dates.

[OreoGaborio]

Well played, pizza breath

[CBR929RE]

Well played, pizza breath

what are you, a fucking ninja turtle?

[OreoGaborio]

You should see him eat.....

[carsick]

My reputation precedes me. If only I could ride with the same prowess.

[OreoGaborio]

If you could ride like you eat, you'd be rubing elbows with... Elbows.

[CBR929RE]

If you could ride like you eat, you'd be rubing elbows with... Elbows.

behind his back?

[OreoGaborio]

Brett, you're not short.. how come everything's going over your head?

[CBR929RE]

Brett, you're not short.. how come everything's going over your head?

yeah Spies, I get it. I thought my joke was funny though.

when did I become not short?

[nhbubba]

Wonder if this would work:
Fly Racing 2-Piece Rain Suit - 2011 - $39.99

[Paul_E_D]

It is, of course, MUCH easier to fall in the wet. Riding on the road in the wet seems to have ZERO relation to what a track feels like in the wet. Start off with EXTREME caution. I see guys go out all the time way to fast in the wet. They think they are GREAT... until they are not. Then speeds come back into line. This is true regardless of the tires you choose. On rain tires, it just happens at a higher speed. Traction can change lap to lap, so you always need a big margin in order to keep it on two wheels consistently.

It certainly can be fun sliding around, even on the ground! And it definitely exposes flaws in your technique, though you may not be able to determine what those flaws are as things happen so fast.

CHEAP rain gear. pants only in extreme conditions.Rain-X is debatable. It can break the water up too much making visibility in spray even lower.

[SVRACER01]

ive ridden on PP 2cts in the rain and they dont do too bad. the Road 3s are what michelin recommends for rain riding if you dont have full rains.

[BMMCBR]

CHEAP ESSENTIALS FOR RAIN RIDING:

For feet




For hands




For vision

And remember kids, these go inside, not outside.