Rider safety

Motorcycle storm safety

Motorcycles are the most exposed vehicles on the road in a storm. Rain reduces braking; wind gusts destabilize; hail can injure; lightning is possible. Here is how experienced riders handle severe weather.

Trip planning

Check the NWS or SPC outlook the night before any long ride.
If any severe weather is possible along the route, plan bail-out points every 30 minutes.
Save the phone numbers of gas stations and truck stops in the region.
Bring a compressible rain suit even in summer.
Waterproof your GPS/phone mount.

Reading the sky while riding

Dark line of clouds on the horizon in the direction of travel = get off the road within 15 minutes.
Cool downdraft against your face = downburst is upstream. Slow way down.
Sudden temperature drop = cold front. Wind gusts coming.
Wall of dust = haboob or gust front. Get off the road NOW.
Distinct wall cloud visible = possible tornado. Turn perpendicular to storm motion. Or shelter.

Rain riding

First 20 minutes

Most dangerous — oils lifted from the pavement plus water. Reduce speed 20 mph.

Steady rain

Add 30% following distance. Ease all inputs — throttle, brakes, steering.

Heavy rain

Get off the road. Visibility to other drivers is the biggest risk, not your traction.

Hydroplaning

If you feel front end lightening, ease off throttle. Do NOT chop it. Do NOT brake hard.

Hail

Pea/marble hail: keep riding but reduce speed and get to shelter fast.
Nickel+ hail: get under a gas station canopy, overpass, or any hard cover immediately.
Golf ball+ hail: this can cause serious injury even with a helmet. Ditch the bike and shelter under a substantial building if you can reach one.
Never ride into a hail shaft if you can see it ahead.

Lightning

You are essentially a lightning rod in an open field.
30/30 rule applies — if flash-to-bang is under 30 seconds, get off the road.
A metal-roofed gas station canopy is decent shelter (the metal conducts current around you).
A car in the same parking lot is safer than staying on the bike outside.
Never shelter under a tree.

Wind gusts

Straight-line winds over 40 mph can knock a bike over.
Sudden gust from the side: countersteer INTO the gust (opposite direction). Do NOT lean.
Cross-wind sections (bridges, canyons, overpass exits) are the highest-risk zones.
If gusts are consistent 50+ mph, park the bike.

If a tornado warning is issued

You have minutes, sometimes seconds. Priorities:

Get off the highway to any substantial building.
Abandon the bike if you cannot make it to shelter.
Lie flat in a low ditch, away from the bike, cars, and trees.
Do NOT shelter under an overpass — see tornado myths.