#weather

Maybe I’m not your typical motorcyclist because I absolutely love riding in the rain. I find that it heightens all my senses and can turn a mundane ride into one that becomes an intensely-focused experience. Perhaps my love of rain riding comes from the fact that, the very first time I commuted on a motorcycle, it rained – and I was prepared. (I was also terrified, but I’d only been riding for a few days.)

Not everyone is blessed with the good fortune of having year round mild temperatures that are conducive to riding. Others simply do not have a choice and are forced to ride their motorcycle in rain, cold and snow. Which category would you put yourself in?

Summer is most certainly upon us in the northern hemisphere. That means lounging at the beach, sunburns, and beautiful long days to enjoy rides on your motorcycle. Summer means different things depending on your geographic location, from triple-digit scorchers to high humidity levels that have you sweating before you even strap on a helmet.

In a world of motorcycle apparel where a single jacket can cost more than $1,700 (Klim Adventure Rally), it’s refreshing to know that basic, reasonably priced moto gear still exists. Of course you have to be willing to forego some niceties, but if you’re requiring shelter from the wet and cold, Firstgear’s Thermosuit literally has you covered.

When you really think about it, one of the determining factors in whether or not someone sticks with the sport of motorcycling is the frequency with which they meet the ground. Crashing sucks, and if you do it often enough, it could be a reason to quit the sport. Keeping the motorcycle upright, then, leads to successful, enjoyable journeys, and having fun on two wheels inevitably is the reason why we keep doing this.

Last weekend, I found myself faced with the unhappy task of a 700-mile round trip to attend the memorial service for a friend who had lost her battle with cancer. Since I came to motorcycling during a period in my life that I largely associate with loss, I have continued to use two-wheeled travel as a means to work through and let go of the emotions associated with difficult times. So, naturally, I expected to ride up to the event, but when I informed Editor-in-Chief Duke of my plan, he reminded me of why he’s the boss (and I’m just a hired hand) by saying that it might penalize the FJR1300ES in our upcoming sport touring shootout if I put those miles on the Michelin Pilot Road 4 tires without prior experience of their longevity. I could handicap the FJR in its title defense against the other sport tourers on their fresh rubber.