Help! Should I avoid rain?

[GregM.]

'80 850G 23K - Very good condition, cosmetically. No rust or corrosion unless you get on your back with a flashlight - a couple spots the size of a dime. It's all stock - including electrical system - as far as I know, and it has all the parts it's supposed to all the way down to original tool kit and Owner's Manual.

One of the reasons I bought this bike was to commute - Rain or Shine. However, because of lots of reasons, I've only been riding in nice weather for the last year and a half. Now, I'm finally at the point where I want to use it for more commuting.

I'm in Seattle Wa. and I think this bike has been here for much of its life too. However, it's obviously never been stored outside in the rain - and it's the same now, it's stored in a dry garage. I've been reading this site, on and off for 2 years... and hear about all the various elec. problems. So far, I haven't had any - And I don't want any.

Question ----- Should I avoid riding in the rain as much as possible????

It's OK... You can tell me the truth And I've got a good car with a good roof

Or are there some simple things I can do, in case I get caught in the occasional downpour for 30 miles, to keep my bike and it's elec. system in the same condition it is now?? Once at work, I can park undercover, out of the rain. But, it would still be sitting there, soaking wet... And the same when I get back home, it would go in the garage, wet.

Please give me your advice. I would like to commute... but there's a good chance of getting soaked once in a while. And I don't want a maintainance or upkeep NIGHTMARE !!

If I want to keep my bike nice, and don't want to be working on it all the time, should I avoid rain as much as possible ?? Thanks........

 

[8trackmind]

I commute on a 1980 GS550. It's seen daily duty for 11 months now. While we don't get as much rain as you folks up there, I don't avoid it. No problems yet.

 

[Billyboy]

Try it and see...

You'll probably be just fine.

 

[REDDY]

Rain

Rain

Think british. They have about the same weather as you (different currents same effect). The brit couriers have to go in all kinds of weather. Maybe one of them can give you some pointers. Hello BRITS!

Living in TEXAS I wouldn't have a clue.

 

[flyingace]

I would say you will just need to be more watchful of your electrical connections - most notably any exposed grounds. Water = corrosion = fried components. Any additional waterproofing done to protect exposed connections is well worth the effort.

 

[Plasterdog]

Think british. They have about the same weather as you (different currents same effect). The brit couriers have to go in all kinds of weather. Maybe one of them can give you some pointers. Hello BRITS!

Living in TEXAS I wouldn't have a clue.

To the best of my recollection the only vehicles that got regularly stopped by the rain were my Minis. The Honda 125 I had survived being parked/driven in the rain with narry a problem. Other than the nice oily streets of London which got worse when it rained. I would advise taking a towel -in a waterproof bag- with you and wipe it down once under cover. To "cure" the Minis from getting too wet I carried a can of WD40 and sprayed the ingnition wires/coil/rotor. Dunno if it'll help on the bike, probably wont hurt.
Anyone else?

 

[DanTheMan]

I ride my '80 GS850L through any and all types of weather. This last weekend I taught an MSF course in Brooklyn Park, MN (by the twin Cities) and it downpoured all afternoon Saturday.
I got on my bike and rode home, 45 miles of which was in the downpour, the other 85 was dry, with the Northern Lights popping up for about 20 minutes in the last 30 miles of my ride. :-D
Now, that being said, the clutch safety switches and the sidestand switches on the GN 125's that we use on the course quit working in the rain........

 

[GregM.]

I would say you will just need to be more watchful of your electrical connections - most notably any exposed grounds. Water = corrosion = fried components. Any additional waterproofing done to protect exposed connections is well worth the effort.

Thanks to all for the quick advice... Any, and all details are welcome.

Where are this bikes "exposed grounds"?

And "waterproofing exposed connections"... Does this mean every electrical connection I can find??
Around the battery area - behind the side covers - under the gas tank? Where else? And, how do you waterproof these connections?

Another question - Is there anything I could do in a few minutes, after a ride in a downpoor... When I get to work, and the bike is out of the rain... To help reliability and keep it in it's current condition?

 

[flyingace]

Any place where an electrical wire is bolted to the frame. The one I know of off-hand is the R/R ground. It's probably the most important.

 

[DanTheMan]

Any place where an electrical wire is bolted to the frame. The one I know of off-hand is the R/R ground. It's probably the most important.

In fact, the best idea for the r/r ground and the starter relay/solenoid ground is to ground them to the negative post on the battery.

 

[GregM.]

In fact, the best idea for the r/r ground and the starter relay/solenoid ground is to ground them to the negative post on the battery.

Thanks you guys.
Sorry, I'm such an idiot on this subject... I've always loved motorcycles, and I love riding them, but I've never been much of a mechanic. Maybe now, if I take small steps, I'll get into it a bit.

So, what's the R/R, and where is it's ground? And where is the starter relay/solenoid? And if it's a good idea to ground these 2 items to the battery's neg. post (I know where that it ... How exactly would I go about doing it??

 

[Guest]

Forget about the bike, what about your health? I avoid rain at all costs. I would say your likelihood of being in a serious accident are about ten fold when it's raining, but hey, sometimes you just gotta do whatcha gotta do, especially if it's your one and only form of transportation. I only ride my bikes for pleasure, but trust me, I can remember times back in the early 90's when a bike was all I had, and I toughed it out, even in the "cold" Texas weather! Personally, now that I'm older, wiser and much more responsible, I don't ride in the rain, ever. If it starts raining while I'm out, I pull over under an overpass or carwash or somewhere dry and wait until it stops. That's just me. I have 3 kids and I value my life, I'm just not going to risk it.

 

[DanTheMan]

Thanks you guys.
Sorry, I'm such an idiot on this subject... I've always loved motorcycles, and I love riding them, but I've never been much of a mechanic. Maybe now, if I take small steps, I'll get into it a bit.

So, what's the R/R, and where is it's ground? And where is the starter relay/solenoid? And if it's a good idea to ground these 2 items to the battery's neg. post (I know where that it ... How exactly would I go about doing it??

The r/r is the regulator/rectifier and it's mounted on the bottom of the battery box. the starter solenoid is mounted on the left side of the battery box and they're both grounded to the frame through the battery box. Just unhook the black ground wire, extend it if necessary by using crimp style butt splices, crimp ring terminals on the end of the new wires and attach them to the battery negative post with the other ground wire. :-D

 

[8trackmind]

Forget about the bike, what about your health?

How can he avoid rain (at all costs) and still commute in Seattle? :-s

 

[rustybronco]

I watch the weather reports if the rain is spotty coming home i ride, if i get caught in a down pour, i hide and wait it out, when i get home its air compressor and towel time and i don't worry to much about it. it takes a day to clean all the accessable connections and coat them with dielectric grease, a good winter project, and have good tires.

 

[Guest]

How can he avoid rain (at all costs) and still commute in Seattle? :-s

Probably can't, but this was his question:

"Question ----- Should I avoid riding in the rain as much as possible????"

The answer to that question is an emphatic YES, as much as possible!

 

[BadBillyB]

I agree with Tornado, I avoid riding in the rain as you have very little control of your bike on a wet street. The cagers cant see you when the weather is good, so if its raining you are at great risk. If my bike gets wet, I use compressed air and give it a quick blow dry....Living in Florida, I'm gonna get caught once in a while and to me it's a scary situation.....I find cover and wait it out......BadBillyB

 

[GregM.]

I watch the weather reports if the rain is spotty coming home i ride, if i get caught in a down pour, i hide and wait it out, when i get home its air compressor and towel time and i don't worry to much about it. it takes a day to clean all the accessable connections and coat them with dielectric grease, a good winter project, and have good tires.

Hey thanks guys. I appreciate your thoughts and advice. And as I said initially, my 850 isn't my only form of transportation. I won't be riding it as much Nov. thru March, except when they're forcasting blocks of dry weather. And even though we just had one of the nicest and driest summers on record, we can still have times year round with days of on and off rain. We don't often get the same kind of downpours that some areas of the country get, but more often, it just rains and rains and is damp out much of the winter.

I do want to commute on it more than I have, because Seattle traffic is some of the worst in the country. But now we have these car/pool lanes everywhere, including my particular route. And motorcycles are allowed, at least in Wa. State, in them 24/7... cutting my commute by at least a half, and sometimes by 2/3.

Based on what I've heard so far, I'll weather-ize my bike a little, and take advantage of those c/p lanes. The time I'll save will more than make up for re-routing some grounds, weather proofing the connections and giving it a good wax job. Anyway, I will be doing this when I think it won't be too bad. I just wanted to learn from you all, if getting caught in some rain once or twice a week would hurt my bike - mostly the unreliable electrical system.

And I hear you about the safety aspect - I'll be cautious and prudent. Any other details on winterizing/waterproofing would be great. Thanks again.

 

[marvinsc]

Just A thought, You said You had a Covered Area to Park at work. Probably Would Be good to let the Bike Run a Couple of Minutes While You are Getting out of Your Gear if its Wet. The Engine Heat Might Dry off Some of the Moisture.

 

[GregM.]

Yep... Good idea... I could do that.

Also like the idea of carrying an old terry towel in a plastic bag and giving a quick wipe-down.

I just thought of an idea myself (you experts are rubbing off on me), I could carry a little spray can of that compressed air... for the few times the bike might really get drenched (again, I am going to avoid that for the most part) Anyway, I could spray air under the seat, around the battery box, behind the side covers, up under the tank...
Would that be a good idea?? Maybe not... with my luck I'd force a drop of water right into someplace I don't want it Maybe I should blow that air, only if I know exactly where I'm directing it. What do you think??