SS for wet weather climate

9713 Views 44 Replies 19 Participants Last post by jim r, Aug 17, 2017

l_r_g

Discussion Starter · Feb 28, 2017

Hi, I've tried searching the forums and not come up with much on this, my apologies if I didn't search effectively.

I live in the Seattle area and have started contemplating getting a SS so that I can take advantage of the HOV lanes to make my commute a little less painful. However, this is a very wet climate here and I'd be driving a lot in the rain. I've seen conflicting reports as I've searched, some say the wet weather handling is surprisingly good, others say it doesn't do well in the rain and has a tendency to hydroplane due to the rear wheel making its own track.

So what do you all think about this? Is wet weather an issue and bad idea or have you had a good experience?

Thanks for any insight!

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Blitzkrieg

· #2 · Feb 28, 2017

The biggest thing that would freak me out a bit is the SS rear wheel is going to be stuck in the oil slick in the middle of the road in a place like Seattle.

That being said, the stability control is quite good.

That also being said, I would not own an SS for a commute vehicle in a place like Seattle. Getting wet all the time will get old real quick.

My .02.

EjFord

· #3 · Feb 28, 2017

Bought my Slingshot 24 Feb 2015 --- live in Northern Indiana, and
have put 44,000 miles on the slingshot.....I don't like to drive in the
rain, (so I usually don't leave home in the rain) but some times when your 350 miles from home that it's raining you put on the rain gear and go. SLOW and take care. I drive mine almost every day during the riding season and lots this time of year (not a bad ride in the cold). I probably would use the Slingshot as a daily commute unit
in Northern Indiana.

Stridre

· #4 · Feb 28, 2017

I leave my SS at home in the rain. I found the nice channels in the hood are very efficient at dumping water on you. The one time I did get stuck in a heavy downpour was miserable. If you choose an SS might I suggest this mod.

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Nozzledog

· #5 · Feb 28, 2017

If you're replacing a motorcycle as your commuter, then you'll be in heaven. If you're replacing a car, the rain is pure hell.

Reactions: 1

SlingLow

· #6 · Feb 28, 2017

Are you kidding? It's Seattle! When are you EVER going to get above 15 mph? You're good to go with two sets of raingear. One for you and one for your raingear.....

WI_Hedgehog

· #7 · Feb 28, 2017

I've put up quite a few posts on aquaplaning, since Squirrel and I drive a lot, eventually getting caught in the rain. Generally, you want to be better at predicting the weather than the people on TV, otherwise life is significantly soggy.

Short story:

A taller windshield and Baker wings. Hypothermia will slow reaction times and possibly lead to death. Rain isn't that bad if it's warm.
Frog togs and waterproof hiking boots. Tactical gloves and glasses/goggles. Wet suit, you may want hooded.
Narrow, grippy tires.
Anti-fog.
A helmet.

It really depends on how far/how fast you drive, and if you can train yourself to overcome things. One example is getting pelted in the face and forehead by rain at 50 MPH--makes the eyes want to close even if wearing goggles. Hail is more interesting.

Reactions: 2

BKL

· #8 · Feb 28, 2017

If I were going to be driving alot in rain, I would definitely look for the best All Season tire I could find. I wanted a wider tire for my Slingshot since I plan on installing my turbo if the swing-arm replacement ever comes in and I went with a Nitto 555 G2 315/35R17. The Nitto Motivo All Season tire comes in the same size, but if I was focused on rain use, I think I'd stick close to the stock size. With the load (weight) on the tire being the same, a wider tire would seem to be more likely to hydroplane, even if designed as a rain tire. The narrower rain tire should maximize contact with water extraction for best wet weather performance.

Reactions: 1

wjfyfe

· #9 · Feb 28, 2017 (Edited)

We're from your southern kissing cousin of western Oregon so we are very familiar with riding in the rain. What folks like Blitz do not understand about our west coast climate is that the center of the road seldom gets a chance to stay oily as it is constantly being washed, it is the water standing in the grooves worn into the surface that can get ya, (but that can happen with any vehicle.) With a windshield, (we have a standard 9" Madstad), and helmet, as long as one is moving you can stay relatively dry, stop lights/signs and stalled traffic are what ultimately become your enemies, (or when opposite traffic hits that puddle on their side!) Oh, and we would advise against getting a too tall of a windshield where you cannot look over the top, for it will ultimately get grimy from the road spray.

Ultimately, we keep our rain gear packed in the SlingShot at all times, especially when riding to the coast, or it always seems to be raining whenever we make the 140 mile trip to the dealer, and we'll get to our destination at most marginally damp on the outside but toasty dry on the inside. A real concern would be moss growing in the grooves and crevasses, (of which the SlingShot has an abundance), if it has to stay in the wet constantly, but if you can get it in so it can dry daily, to hell with the rain and go for it!!

HAVE FUN!

Bill and Justina

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WI_Hedgehog

· #10 · Feb 28, 2017

wjfyfe said:
....Oh, and we would advise against getting a too tall of a windshield where you cannot look over the top, for it will ultimately get grimy from the road spray....

A solution you may wish to consider:

Madstad or F4 windshield (hard, scratch resistant).
Ceriglass cleaner & polish (don't over-clean with the abrasives, don't press hard either). Both are abrasive, the cleaner cuts through things soap won't wash off (like mineral deposits), the polish is a finer abrasive that takes out the micro-scratches the cleaner puts in. I use a DA on the slowest setting with no pressure. Do not remove the scratch-resistant coating from the windshield. If the windshield is in good shape then skip this completely.
CQuartz FlyBy Forte

Reactions: 1

TimC

· #11 · Feb 28, 2017

Hail is worse.. ouch

Foggy1

· #12 · Feb 28, 2017

We love everything about our Slingshot except driving it in the rain. We think we have a really good rain tire and feel we are pretty safe to go about 35 if it's not a downpour. Anything faster then that and you are one puddle away from disaster.

wjfyfe

· #13 · Feb 28, 2017 (Edited)

Foggy1 said:
We love everything about our Slingshot except driving it in the rain. We think we have a really good rain tire and feel we are pretty safe to go about 35 if it's not a downpour. Anything faster then that and you are one puddle away from disaster.

The worst I have ever felt courting disaster was driving my previous employer's one ton Ford pickups, where if there was a rain storm in the distance they would start heading for the ditch, the SlingShot holds the road like a magnet on steel in comparison!!

Bill

Blitzkrieg

· #14 · Feb 28, 2017

2

Most miserable ride of my life. This photo is about 2 miles east of Vail Pass on I-70. We are on the bike path that runs along the highway. The river you see to the right of the bikes is the dirt shoulder off I-70.The white stuff is the melting hail. It was about nickel/quarter size when it hit.

First we got hailed on, then it rained a torrential downpour all the way from Vail to my house. The second photo is my friends truck in front of my house when we finally got home.

If I never, ever have to deal with that again it will be too soon.

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Reactions: 1

Yochemate

· #15 · Feb 28, 2017

l_r_g said:
Hi, I've tried searching the forums and not come up with much on this, my apologies if I didn't search effectively.

I live in the Seattle area and have started contemplating getting a SS so that I can take advantage of the HOV lanes to make my commute a little less painful. However, this is a very wet climate here and I'd be driving a lot in the rain. I've seen conflicting reports as I've searched, some say the wet weather handling is surprisingly good, others say it doesn't do well in the rain and has a tendency to hydroplane due to the rear wheel making its own track.

So what do you all think about this? Is wet weather an issue and bad idea or have you had a good experience?

Thanks for any insight!

Problem Solved

You Want This Bizarre Honda Goldwing-Powered Three-Wheeler Thing

MRD

· #16 · Feb 28, 2017

I live up north, by the Canadian boarder and get a lot of rain. A taller windshiled (+5") helps and a good set of rain gear is a must. I have heated coat and gloves and...a heated seat liner which keeps me comfortable. It handles fine in the wet and I have driven in some good rainstorms. If you like adventure it is cool to go driving by the other cars with no roof, you get some strange looks, lol.

16.5 LE: 9" taller windshield, custom flashed ECM, Corbin saddle bags, Twist gullwing roof, DDM surge tank, red valve cove with black coil cover, red silicon hoses with red stand off brackets, floor carpets, pedal covers with custom modified spacer to align clutch with brake pedal, Kenwood GPS/Sirus double din radio with rain cover, 18" marine antenna, 1000 watt 4 channel amplifier, 500 watt bass woofer amplifier, 10" base woofer, upgraded speakers for high power, modified windshield support to allow for power and data cables to run down the center, Garmin 650 GPS, blue lighting under dash, strobe light for center brake light, LED Headlights, Canadian headlights with LED, turn signal lights on mirrors, Optima battery (grey), custom made battery tray, vertical hood hinge with strut, glove box light, custom built accessory fuse box with relays, custom made ABS fill panel to hide fuse panel and to hide wiring behind glove box, Whistler remote radar detector with gps, remote heated clothing controls, Polar ice cooling vest with custom built ice box/pump, hi flow personal cooling fan,, bad boy air horn, rear windscreen with red lighting, convex mirrors, gorilla alarm system, Lucas oil for final drive, black coil cover, master cylinder brace (red), rear drive mud flap, heat control package. custom rear fender, overhead console with custom LED's and fan, Baker Wings, JRI shocks, Ponzi tires with 12" in back, velocity seats, DDM Supercharger, DDM Fuel Rail, DDM Steam Line, Welter custom 2 1/2" Stealth exhaust, gauge pod with wide band O2 gauge, water and volt meter, rear speaker pods, custom made spacer blocks for luggage racks, red caliper brake covers, hi performance brake pads, clutch and oil fill caps, red brake reservoir cover, custom LED lighting under chassis and hood, 240 amp alternator, glove box light, custom badges, red accent decals on body, aftermarket steering wheel with red accents, fender buttons to stop flapping, brow lights,after market red belt cover, vented hood insert, custom wheel well covers, infill grills below headlights

infostrada748

· #17 · Mar 1, 2017

Tacoma area. Will not ride in a rain unless caught in it. Rear wheel dance around a lot even with 345 tire. Of course turbo doesn't help much either and the way I drive.. . People don't mind the motorcycles in the rain but for some reason in a slingshot they look at you like "that crazy guy is driving a convertible in a rain"

Reactions: 1

wjfyfe

· #18 · Mar 1, 2017

We might not allow the rain to keep us from riding our SlingShot, but after this very wet season I am really looking forward to some sunshine tomorrow when the Grasshopper takes me to work!

Bill

Reactions: 1

Blitzkrieg

· #19 · Mar 1, 2017

infostrada748 said:
Tacoma area. Will not ride in a rain unless caught in it. Rear wheel dance around a lot even with 345 tire. Of course turbo doesn't help much either and the way I drive.. . People don't mind the motorcycles in the rain but for some reason in a slingshot they look at you like "that crazy guy is driving a convertible in a rain"

That's exactly what I was thinking brother. With the turbo mine loves to spin. A snotty, grease laden middle track on a highway.... Not such an appetizing thought.

l_r_g

Discussion Starter · #20 · Mar 1, 2017

Thanks so much for all the helpful replies, you guys are awesome! So it sounds like it would be doable but far from ideal and likely not super fun.
If I were to undertake this madness I'd definitely get a great rain suit as well as a heated liner to keep warm. The widest and best all season rear tire would be in order for sure.
For those local to the area, my commute is changing and will be nearly 90 miles roundtrip from the south end up to the east side. It may just be better to take public transportation and deal with a longer commute time than endure soggy commutes with a SS.

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