A fun ride home

This evening, west London, riding home in torrential rain. For once I had decided not to lane split, the visibility was really bad, the road very wet, lots of spray and rain.

Probably doing about 50mph, in heavy traffic, car ahead seemed to start to slow, I followed suit, touched the brakes, nothing happened. Aquaplaning along a west London highway. Pure joy. Fortunately nothing bad happened, I got the bike back under control pretty quickly.

Controlling (or getting back into control of) an aquaplaning motorcycle is a valuable skill but one I infinitely prefer not to practice.

Yeh Chuck, best bet is to stay balanced and do nothing, do not brake, close the throttle. Dropping a gear is worthwhile, this helps when grip returns which will almost certainly be the rear tire. Until there is traction there is not a lot anyone can do.

Ashley ,I wouldn't recommend downshifting if you're hydroplaning, just back off the throttle, hang on and ride it out.... some feeling on a bike isn't it You really have to slow down and be extra cautious in heavy rain, braking and traction a greatly reduced. I ride in heavy rain and foul weather more than I'd really like to, but that's the way it is where I live, stay as far behind cages as you can so you can see possible hazards(deep puddles) and safely react.
Real glad you got through it ok.:devil:

Yeh, ideally stay in same gear, hang on and ride it out. Have enough distance ahead to do this. But this is London UK. If you leave that sort of space ahead it will simply be filled with another cage or two pulling into it. At 50mph if you stay more than about 15 yards distance behind the vehicle ahead it will get filled with another cage, and commonly the vehicle behind will be closer. Dangerously close for dry roads, and virtually nobody in London adapts to wet roads.

Picture it, three lanes of traffic, at 50mph, distance between vehicles 10 to 15 yards, poor light, torrential rain, heavy spray, large amounts of surface water.

Scary yes! This is London UK in rush hour.

The lower gear gives an edge, some power for when grip returns just in case I needed it and wanted to risk using it, which fortunately I did not.

Heh, I hear ya... only the rush hour here lasts 10 minutes,lol.... i don't like riding in heavy traffic on nice days....they're crazy, big hurry to go nowhere.