Trailering my bike in the rain...

[Jamis07]

I am bringing my bike to spchips tomorrow, so he can help me replace the headgasket and a few others, but the forcast is for heavy rain. In fact, they are saying that we are going to get 2 to 4 inches of it tomorrow alone! I have a standard metal flatbed trailer that I am transporting my bike on. Will it be okay out in the rain or should I attempt to cover it somehow. It's going to be about a 2 and a half hour drive on mostly highways.

[salty_monk]

What would you do if you were riding it & it started raining??

If you cover it be careful, they can have a tendency to break loose on the Freeway.....

[lurch12_2000]

I would reschedule.
Unless you have a fitted bike cover it's pretty hard to keep a tarp on effectively for 2+ hours on the highway. You'll probably do some hydroplaning with that amount of rain too. No fun pulling a trailer in that weather if you don't have to.
Do you like pulling a bike apart that's soaking wet once you get there?

[Jamis07]

Thanks Salty... a good dose of sarcasm is always tasty on a late Friday. I thought of that and I figured it would be alright, but I am a newer rider and just wanted to double check.

[Jamis07]

Lurch,

Your thoughts make sense as well, but I have trailered boat and cars in all kinds of weather and although you are right, not always fun, I am up for the challenge. Plus, I have been waiting to get my bike fixed for months, so between my busy schedule and getting antsy, I think I'll go for it.

I hope I don't get to post and "I told you so's" on your behalf though.

[posplayr]

I have seen it recommended

to NOT tarp a bike under transport as the wind will whip the cover and do unpleasant things to your paint job (assuming you want it to last).

Best not to have to find this out the hard way.

Good Luck.

Posplayr

[earlfor]

Forget covering with a tarp. The wind will beat it apart and whip the bike with the shreds. LOL I have towed bikes in rain plenty of times. A little water is not going to hurt the bike a bit. Pulling a trailer in the rain is like pulling a trailer in the rain. It makes no difference whatsoever what is on the trailer. The trailer and road dont give a damn and wouldnt know the difference anyway. :-)

Earl

[salty_monk]

Thanks Salty... a good dose of sarcasm is always tasty on a late Friday. I thought of that and I figured it would be alright, but I am a newer rider and just wanted to double check.

That'll be my dry English humour coming through but there was an underlying truth.

Personally coming from the land of wet weather, I would chuck it on the trailer & get on with it....

Dan

[tkent02]

Super pristine showbike or just another old GS?
Ride it.

[gremlin]

your bike will be OK. i have ridden mine in some very bad rain storms.

[duaneage]

If your too nice to the bike it'll eat your lunch eventually. I think it will be OK, but if the weather is really windy as it is supposed to be I would reconsider. Trailers get loopy in windy conditions.