Post by Bashan on Jun 19, 2014 15:27:51 GMT -6
I hope this doesn't come off wrong, like I'm bragging, or being a snob. But I had an amazing experience on my SYM yesterday. I live about 42 miles from work and rode in as usual with just a 20% chance of rain. A few thunderstorms developed early, around noon, and I thought maybe 20% was a little conservative. Down here the heat of the day forces the air up and causes convection storms. At 5 I was ready to head home and I checked the radar. There was a cell close to the road I ride about halfway home. It didn't look bad and I didn't want to sit around waiting for it to fizzle out.
By the time I got to Childersburg, halfway home, it was looking pretty dark. But it was lighter off to the west which was the direction I was headed. So I thought I could outrun the storm and maybe just get sprinkled on. Sure enough there were a few sprinkles and the air was warm...kinda nice. Five miles later there was a huge crash of thunder, the wind started blowing like crazy, and the sky just opened up with a pounding rain. I was at a stretch of road where there's hardly any place to pull off or get shelter. There was a little town about five miles ahead and I figured since I was heading towards lighter skies things would ease up.
Nope, the wind got stronger, the rain harder, and the lightening continuous. The roads were soon under about two inches of water trying to run off. The winds were slamming into me buffeting me back and forth. Semis were pulling off the road, cars were hydroplaning and swerving back and forth, many pulled off with the semis. So here's the stupid part. I kept going, I kept saying if the SYM gets squirrely from hydroplaning, or I get pushed around too much by the wind, I'm pulling off. But it didn't, it was like it was glued to the road. The wind pushed me sideways but I compensated and the tires plowed through the water and stuck to the road.
A Harley passed me going too fast and I don't know if he was trying to make a point or not. But just as he got ahead of me he started fishtailing and pulled immediately off the road, presumably to check his shorts. I was only going about 50 but still, everybody was bailing, pulling off the road. People that passed me were on the side of the road and I cruised past them. I was looking just over the windshield and most of the rain was blowing over the top so I could see. The bike was tracking well and handling the wind, I just kept going wondering when all the water was going to kill the ignition. But no, it cut the water, stuck to the road, and just kept going, it was incredible.
About two miles from home the rain eased up but didn't stop. I was stuck at a long light and everybody was staring at me like I was crazy. Actually, I did feel a little crazy but exhilarated, kinda like when you ride a roller coaster. I was soaking wet but just stared forward like it was business as usual. It rained the rest of the way home and I started laughing as I turned into our development. Laughing because I made it, but mostly because I could not believe how a 300cc scooter could kick everybody's arse and keep going when they couldn't. Was it stupid, yeah, it sure was, I should have pulled off and waited. But it was one of those deals where you're in the middle of it before you know it and just think "I'm doing it and it seems to be OK....screw it." But the star of the show was the bike....flawless...solid on the road in horrible conditions, brakes never faded, engine never missed a beat....priceless. I was soaked when I glided into the garage, and grinning from ear to ear. Rich
By the time I got to Childersburg, halfway home, it was looking pretty dark. But it was lighter off to the west which was the direction I was headed. So I thought I could outrun the storm and maybe just get sprinkled on. Sure enough there were a few sprinkles and the air was warm...kinda nice. Five miles later there was a huge crash of thunder, the wind started blowing like crazy, and the sky just opened up with a pounding rain. I was at a stretch of road where there's hardly any place to pull off or get shelter. There was a little town about five miles ahead and I figured since I was heading towards lighter skies things would ease up.
Nope, the wind got stronger, the rain harder, and the lightening continuous. The roads were soon under about two inches of water trying to run off. The winds were slamming into me buffeting me back and forth. Semis were pulling off the road, cars were hydroplaning and swerving back and forth, many pulled off with the semis. So here's the stupid part. I kept going, I kept saying if the SYM gets squirrely from hydroplaning, or I get pushed around too much by the wind, I'm pulling off. But it didn't, it was like it was glued to the road. The wind pushed me sideways but I compensated and the tires plowed through the water and stuck to the road.
A Harley passed me going too fast and I don't know if he was trying to make a point or not. But just as he got ahead of me he started fishtailing and pulled immediately off the road, presumably to check his shorts. I was only going about 50 but still, everybody was bailing, pulling off the road. People that passed me were on the side of the road and I cruised past them. I was looking just over the windshield and most of the rain was blowing over the top so I could see. The bike was tracking well and handling the wind, I just kept going wondering when all the water was going to kill the ignition. But no, it cut the water, stuck to the road, and just kept going, it was incredible.
About two miles from home the rain eased up but didn't stop. I was stuck at a long light and everybody was staring at me like I was crazy. Actually, I did feel a little crazy but exhilarated, kinda like when you ride a roller coaster. I was soaking wet but just stared forward like it was business as usual. It rained the rest of the way home and I started laughing as I turned into our development. Laughing because I made it, but mostly because I could not believe how a 300cc scooter could kick everybody's arse and keep going when they couldn't. Was it stupid, yeah, it sure was, I should have pulled off and waited. But it was one of those deals where you're in the middle of it before you know it and just think "I'm doing it and it seems to be OK....screw it." But the star of the show was the bike....flawless...solid on the road in horrible conditions, brakes never faded, engine never missed a beat....priceless. I was soaked when I glided into the garage, and grinning from ear to ear. Rich
is this guy doing?? then the putz on the harley trying to show you up and gets shut down,,,,PERFECT!!!!!!!
