Tech Issues with Prolonged Riding in Rain

luckyslevin · August 11, 2008, 01:44:18 PM

hey, i know this was probably a bad idea, but i got caught in a pretty torrential rain storm on the highway... i would have loved to stop or pullover at a gas station or overpass, but i for some reason i decided to forge through it in fears that it would only get worse and leave me stranded and soaked and near hypothermic... definitely need to better prepare myself and my gear next time... lesson learned... anyway sorry for the tangent, but the real question is, should i be worried at all about any technical problems i may have incurred by riding in rain for a long time (about 1 hour) i have the DP full termignoni system so i know i don't have the stock airbox so one of my fears i realized after some searching is that i may have taken on some water... the bike runs fine and its all dry and i let it run at operating temp to cook off some more, but i can't help but be paranoid. any thoughts or reassurances? thanks guys

Ddan · August 11, 2008, 04:28:29 PM

I've gone for several hour at a time in hard rain with no long-term problems. Watch for funky electrical issues from wet connectors, moisture in the gauges or a sticky clutch if it's an open/dry clutch. That's all I can think of.

stopintime · August 11, 2008, 05:20:14 PM

Last week I did 120 miles in the rain + the bike was out alone (

) in the rain all night.
It was dirty and wet, but everything worked fine. The chain needs more frequent lubrication if you ride in wet conditions.
The bike is supposed to handle the rain, but I think it's happier dry.

He Man · August 11, 2008, 05:36:09 PM

My hardest rain ride was 80mph in a complete down poor. Even cars weren't on the road. Road it for 2hours, and my bike has seen rain for more than 8 hours at a time ride and parked in 1 day. You just need to make sure you wash it down with fresh water. Rain water is sometimes high in minerals, or acidic depending on where you live.

Qfactor · August 11, 2008, 05:38:05 PM

Usually I momentarily loose the temp gauge and the neutral light. But the bike runs fine through rain, snow, etc...

once It dries up It's all back to normal.

Q

NAKID · August 11, 2008, 07:03:48 PM

It's a motorvehicle. It's designed to operate in all reasonable conditions, even rain. Like others have said, the chain will need extra attention....

truckinduc · August 11, 2008, 07:13:19 PM

what about a ram air intake in the rain? Water injection?

speedevil · August 12, 2008, 05:14:26 AM

Quote from: He ManYou just need to make sure you wash it down with fresh water. Rain water is sometimes high in minerals, or acidic depending on where you live.

Rainwater is most likely better than any water from a hose. The real problem isn't the rainwater, but the chemicals that get sprayed on your bike while you're riding in the rain. Rinsing the bike will help get rid of them, some of which may be mildly corrosive or may exacerbate galvanic corrosion in electrical connections.

CDawg · August 12, 2008, 06:13:44 AM

Quote from: luckyslevin on August 11, 2008, 01:44:18 PM
i don't have the stock airbox so one of my fears i realized after some searching is that i may have taken on some water...

Pop the tank and remove the air filter to check. A bigger factor regarding rain water in air boxes is the the smoke deflector below the lower triple.

NAKID · August 12, 2008, 09:57:19 AM

Quote from: CDawg on August 12, 2008, 06:13:44 AM
Pop the tank and remove the air filter to check. A bigger factor regarding rain water in air boxes is the the smoke deflector below the lower triple.

Smoke deflector?

CDawg · August 12, 2008, 10:23:44 AM

Quote from: NAKID on August 12, 2008, 09:57:19 AM
Smoke deflector?

Official name according to Ducati.com
It's the flat metal plate that partially fills in gap between the lower triple and hte radiator on the S4RS. I took it off last season, got caught in a rain storm and ended up with some water i nthe bottom of the airbox. I re-installed it this season and got caught in another bad rain storm a couple of weeks ago and the airbox is dry.

stopintime · August 12, 2008, 02:58:38 PM

Are we back to the radial mounted midget, smoking his pipe while operating the ABS function?

NAKID · August 12, 2008, 04:21:07 PM

Quote from: CDawg on August 12, 2008, 10:23:44 AM
Official name according to Ducati.com
It's the flat metal plate that partially fills in gap between the lower triple and hte radiator on the S4RS. I took it off last season, got caught in a rain storm and ended up with some water i nthe bottom of the airbox. I re-installed it this season and got caught in another bad rain storm a couple of weeks ago and the airbox is dry.

In my manual, they call it a mud guard...

I mean, what smoke would it be deflecting?

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Tech Issues with Prolonged Riding in Rain