Monsoon · riding in the wet
Monsoon riding: a commuter's guide
Rain changes three things at once: how far you need to stop, how well others can see you, and what the road surface is hiding. The thread running through this guide is simple: leave dry-weather habits behind from the season's first week.
Before the rains
- Run the pre-monsoon checklist: tyres, visor, rain kit, electrics and digital copies of your documents.
- Try your rain suit on over your riding jacket before the first storm, and keep it on the vehicle through the season.
- Fit a clear visor if yours is tinted. A storm can make an afternoon dark, and visors marked for daytime use only are not suitable in the dark.
Source: Care & Maintenance (Studds Accessories Ltd (helmet manufacturer)), checked 26 October 2026.
Double your gap
The UK Highway Code says stopping distances on wet roads will be at least double those needed on dry roads, and that the gap to the vehicle ahead should be at least doubled on wet roads. On a two-wheeler, that means dropping your speed and leaving far more room than feels natural in stop-and-go traffic, so you can brake gently instead of grabbing the lever.
Sources: The Highway Code — Driving in adverse weather conditions (226 to 237) (Department for Transport, GOV.UK); The Highway Code — General rules, techniques and advice (103 to 158) (Department for Transport, GOV.UK), checked 26 October 2026.
Be seen in rain and spray
Rain and spray from other vehicles make it harder to see and to be seen. Ride with your headlamp on, wear a bright or reflective layer over dark rain gear, and give buses and trucks extra room because their spray hides you from drivers behind them.
Sources: The Highway Code — Driving in adverse weather conditions (226 to 237) (Department for Transport, GOV.UK); The Highway Code — Rules for motorcyclists (83 to 88) (Department for Transport, GOV.UK), checked 26 October 2026.
Reading a wet road
These are our riding suggestions rather than rules:
- Treat smooth surfaces as low grip. Painted markings, metal manhole covers, steel plates on roadworks and patches where fuel or oil has dropped deserve a straight, upright, gentle crossing with no braking or sharp steering on them.
- Assume every puddle hides a pothole. Ride round standing water when you safely can; when you cannot, go through slowly and upright.
- Make every input smooth. Squeeze the brakes progressively, open the throttle gently and lean less in corners.
If the steering ever feels light and unresponsive, the Highway Code's explanation is that water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road. Our suggestion: ease off the throttle smoothly rather than braking hard.
Source: The Highway Code — Driving in adverse weather conditions (226 to 237) (Department for Transport, GOV.UK), checked 26 October 2026.
Flooded roads: do not ride in
The US National Weather Service puts the risk bluntly: six inches (about 15 cm) of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult, and it is never safe to drive or walk into flood water. A rider on two wheels is more exposed than a person in a car, and murky water hides open drains and missing manhole covers. Turn round and find another route, or wait.
Source: Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service (USA)), checked 26 October 2026.
If you have had to go through standing water, test your brakes at the first safe opportunity: brake gently while riding slowly until they feel normal again.
Source: The Highway Code — General rules, techniques and advice (103 to 158) (Department for Transport, GOV.UK), checked 26 October 2026.
Fogged visors
A visor that fogs on the inside hides the road at the worst moment. Options, in our order of preference: an anti-fog insert lens if your visor has the posts for one; a visor with a factory anti-fog treatment; cracking the visor open by a notch at very low speed. Never ride with the visor fully open in heavy rain, and never wipe it with solvents or metal polish.
Source: Care & Maintenance (Studds Accessories Ltd (helmet manufacturer)), checked 26 October 2026.
After the ride
- Hang the rain suit and gloves to dry, inside out where possible, away from direct heat.
- Let a wet helmet dry at room temperature, away from direct sun and heat sources; do not hang it on the mirror.
- Motorcycles: once the chain is dry, check whether it needs lubricant.
- If you rode through deep water, mention it at the next service.
Source: Care & Maintenance (Studds Accessories Ltd (helmet manufacturer)), checked 26 October 2026.