Last night I was riding my Blast on the last mile of a 15 mile round trip in the rain. This was my first time on a legit ride in the rain, and was consciously cautious.
I was on San Martin Dr in Baltimore, MD: a really curvy, low traffic road that snakes around Johns Hopkins University. There's a very poorly placed granite (read: Slick) sidewalk at the apex of the 2nd turn in a tight-to-wide S curve. Even when I'm driving at the speed limit (25), in dry conditions, in my Subaru Impreza, my back end slips out on that damn granite.
Anyway, I was slow passing the granite and got back on throttle to take an uphill right turn. On throttle, off rear traction. The rear quickly slid out behind me to the left til I was almost 180 around and I ditched it. Dusted off some dignity, picked it back up and eventually got her going and rode to destination.
Damage:
Bent front brake lever, roughed up right handlebar end and foot peg.
Burned a hole in my right cheek pocket. Yes, jeans do disintegrate and I was under 25 mph. My leather wallet stopped the road from reaching my flesh.
Icon Accelerant jacket took a hit to the right forearm and elbow. Almost no damage whatsoever and I barely felt it.
Little hole in the thumb of my glove.
Conclusion:
I'm adding leather pants to my gear before I take any serious trips or start riding at high speeds and now I've got more respect for riding in the rain. I've exclusively owned 5-speed awd Imprezas since I turned 16, 7 years ago, and grew up in Buffalo, NY, so I've got inclement weather experience..That said, 1 wheel drive motorcycles are not awd rally cars.
I was on San Martin Dr in Baltimore, MD: a really curvy, low traffic road that snakes around Johns Hopkins University. There's a very poorly placed granite (read: Slick) sidewalk at the apex of the 2nd turn in a tight-to-wide S curve. Even when I'm driving at the speed limit (25), in dry conditions, in my Subaru Impreza, my back end slips out on that damn granite.
Anyway, I was slow passing the granite and got back on throttle to take an uphill right turn. On throttle, off rear traction. The rear quickly slid out behind me to the left til I was almost 180 around and I ditched it. Dusted off some dignity, picked it back up and eventually got her going and rode to destination.
Damage:
Bent front brake lever, roughed up right handlebar end and foot peg.
Burned a hole in my right cheek pocket. Yes, jeans do disintegrate and I was under 25 mph. My leather wallet stopped the road from reaching my flesh.
Icon Accelerant jacket took a hit to the right forearm and elbow. Almost no damage whatsoever and I barely felt it.
Little hole in the thumb of my glove.
Conclusion:
I'm adding leather pants to my gear before I take any serious trips or start riding at high speeds and now I've got more respect for riding in the rain. I've exclusively owned 5-speed awd Imprezas since I turned 16, 7 years ago, and grew up in Buffalo, NY, so I've got inclement weather experience..That said, 1 wheel drive motorcycles are not awd rally cars.
