For motorcycle commuters, the most dreadful time of the year has arrived. The rainy season could potentially spell disaster for two-wheeled commuters. Freshly precipitated asphalt tends to be very slick due to the fact that rain water washes all the oil, gunk, and soot to the surface. A sudden downpour also greatly affects visibility and could catch an unprepared rider off guard. And let’s not get started with the dangers stopping under an overpass in the middle of speeding traffic poses to safety. When it comes to riding a motorcycle in the rain, preparedness is key. Here are seven tips to help get you prepared for the rainy season.

1. Gear Up

The temptation to forego key pieces of safety gear for the sake of comfort, especially during a downpour, is very strong. Wearing slippers instead of closed shoes, and shorts instead of pants in avoidance of the hassle of having to deal with these items being drenched seems like the more convenient option. However, studies show that operating a motor vehicle in rainy weather on average increases the risk of an accident by 37%. That means you are 37% more likely to lowside a corner, overshoot a turn, ram into another vehicle, or simply lose control of your motorcycle. I don’t know about you, but I’d definitely want to be more geared up given that 37% differential in odds.

2. Visibility is Paramount

When it rains, visibility is hampered significantly. Both for you, and the motorists around you. As a responsible rider, it is your responsibility to ensure that you see and be seen. Given that anyone reading this article would wear a helmet whenever they ride a motorcycle (otherwise, please close this article), it helps to put a layer of hydrophobic wax on the face shield, or to purchase a pin-lock visor for your helmet if available.

Putting a layer of hydrophobic wax on the visor prevents water droplets from remaining on your visor, blocking your vision. Instead, it allows these water particles to simply slide off, keeping your vision clear. A pin-lock visor, on the other hand, prevents your visor from fogging up by providing a thin air pocket between the warmer inside of the helmet, and the colder outside.

It is also important to keep yourself visible to other motorists. Make sure your jacket or vest has reflective areas or patches, and avoid wearing matte and drab-colored gear. Consider also installing a set of auxiliary lights onto your motorcycle.

3. Keep Your Bike In Shape

Keeping your motorcycle rubber side down should be our top priority, especially during the rainy season. Lots of mechanical gremlins reveal themselves in wet weather. Being complacent by allowing dirt and mud to build up on your bike and not cleaning it for days or even weeks only makes things worse.

Make sure that the vital fluids essential for your bike’s smooth operation are kept in check. Oil, coolant, and brake fluid, as well as brake pads and tire tread should always be above optimum. It’s bad enough to have a bike break down on you in dry weather, it’s exponentially worse for a bike to break down on you in a torrential downpour.

4. Tire Pressure is Vital

Our tires are literally the only thing between us and the tarmac. They provide the contact patch essential for us to be able to efficiently control the bike. In rainy weather, it is important to maximize our tires’ ability to displace water so as to have a firm grip onto the pavement beneath.

Our tires’ ability to displace water is heavily reliant on 2 factors. First is tread depth. It is important to have above-optimum tread on our tires. These are easily checked by looking at the tread-wear indicators found in between the grooves of all tires. Ensure that your actual tread is at least 2-3 mm above these indicators.

Second is tire pressure. In rainy weather, it is best to slightly decrease tire pressure so as to maximize the tires’ contact patch with the road, thereby improving the tires’ ability to displace water. However, make sure not to decrease the pressure too much, such that the tire’s structural rigidity is compromised. A 3-5 PSI decrease should be sufficient.

Of course, none of this would matter if your tires are completely worn out, or have reached the end of their service life (tires are typically good for around 5 years). So make sure to check the overall health of your tires first. I would also suggest using a good quality tire sealant to help slow down the tires’ natural loss of pressure over time, and to prevent being stranded in the event of a puncture.

5. Ziploc bags are your best friend

Having your wallet or phone damaged by rain is the last thing you’d want to happen while riding your motorcycle. Having a few differently sized Ziploc bags in your backpack or storage compartment could come as a godsend in times of need. Personally, I keep a full-sized clear garbage bag in my backpack, so I have somewhere to store my wet clothes in the event I’d need to do a full outfit swap.

6. Stay Cool

Even though temperatures are significantly cooler in the rain, the tendency for tempers to flare up is greater than ever. Most times, people just want to get to their destinations and out of the rain as soon as possible. So it’s particularly important to keep a cool head and not let your temper cloud your road judgement.

It is also important to keep yourself physically cool in rainy weather. Waterproof rain gear can get extremely hot and can restrict movement and get snagged on foot pegs and gear or brake levers. It is important to get rain gear with breather vents to let some of the hot air out. It is also important that your rain gear fits you well enough not to restrict your range of motion. Sometimes, I forego the waterproof jacket and pants, and just wear my usual armored jacket and jeans, and keep a full set of dry clothes in a waterproof compartment in my backpack. I find that changing into dry clothes when I reach my destination is a lot more convenient than having to deal with the discomfort of hot, heavy and bulky waterproof garments.

7. Think Ahead

In motorcycling, anticipation is key. A seasoned motorcycle rider has the ability to accurately predict what will happen seconds before it actually does. The wet road surface slightly decreases our tires’ ability to turn and stop the bike, as such having a heightened sense of anticipation is a must in wet-weather conditions.

Thinking ahead also includes the foresight in planning your routes and what you bring for the day ahead. It may seem clear and sunny when you wake up in the morning, but end up raining torrents in the evening when you’re about to head home. Check your phone’s built-in weather app before leaving the house so you can decide whether or not to pack extra clothes, or wear your waterproof gear throughout the day. Stay clear of flood-prone roads and puddles on the road. And lastly, if the weather is just too unruly for you to manage, or if you feel your skills are not yet at the level needed in order to safely commandeer your motorcycle in stormy weather, swallow your pride and take four wheels to work instead. Or, if that’s not an option, get up extra early and book a Grab instead.

Riding a motorcycle in rainy weather need not be a hassle. In fact, riding in the rain is arguably one of the best ways to gain experience in total motorcycle control, as the thresholds for everything are a lot lower. Grip and braking performance are lower, not to mention visibility and temperatures as well. All it takes is practice, good foresight, and a strong sense of adventure.