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**steves** · 03-02-2006, 01:08 PM

Um, tarp it and secure with bungies?

Or get a cycle cover and strap it on to the bike?

**tzortn** · 03-02-2006, 01:11 PM

I never though about driving water into a gauge. The two time I drove the Deals Gap with the bike in the bed of the pickup I got caught is torrential rain. I did not cover anything. When I got there all I did was wipe down the seat and I was set to go. It maybe different for a trailer, but that is what my experience was with transporting in the rain.

**tzortn** · 03-02-2006, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by steves

Um, tarp it and secure with bungies?

Or get a cycle cover and strap it on to the bike?

Not a good idea. The flapping tarp will kill a paint job. Geza makes a cover that is designed to be used while trailering.

**TurboMike** · 03-02-2006, 01:24 PM

Yeah thats the problem with anything thats not very tight. Any little fold will flap like crazy and do damage. Even ends of straps can flap around violently at high speed.

tzortn- Yeah I -think- the windscreen would protect from most water damage at least while I'm moving. My Magna had no windshield or anything. I wonder if the Kat gauges are water resistant (designed not to let water in).

Dang those Geza covers may look nice, but they aint cheap.

**Junior** · 03-02-2006, 01:43 PM

It will be fine. DEFINATELY no tarps and you don't need the Geza.

Bike are designed to be ridden in the rain. Trailering is no different.

My '03 trailered 1800miles in torrential downpours for 18 hours. Started right up. Tzortn is correct... trailer, wipe off, ride. It's that simple.

**JACKAL** · 03-02-2006, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by Junior

It will be fine. DEFINATELY no tarps and you don't need the Geza.

Bike are designed to be ridden in the rain. Trailering is no different.

My '03 trailered 1800miles in torrential downpours for 18 hours. Started right up. Tzortn is correct... trailer, wipe off, ride. It's that simple.

I was looking for a couple of your pics from the rally to link to, but they appear to be gone now. Oh well...I'm sure he gets the idea

**Mojoe** · 03-02-2006, 03:45 PM

Re: Trailering the bike in heavy rain

Originally posted by TurboMike

Open trailer, and I know its going to pour. Whats the best course of action?

On my learning bike (ancient old Magna with no windscreen) the gauges would fill with water and stay condensated for days. So I started tieing a supermarket bag around the gauges when I was trailering and knew it was going to rain. That worked, for the most part.

Now that I have a nice bike (Katana, of course) and I know I'll be pulling it in the rain now and then, what to do? I have covers for when its parked but nothing that can withstand 90mph on a trailer. Is the windshield enough to keep water off the gauges as long as I'm moving? Is that even enough?

first of all mr. TurboMike......you should not be doing 90mph in the rain while hauling a trailer, you accident waiting to happen. 70 is about tops....and that is pushing it for me not to say, "look at that crazy bastard flying by". And this is coming from someone with a heavy foot himself. I have trailered enough to know that shit can happen with a trailer, and if you appreciate your bike, I would suggest slowing down. this is just my 2 cents.

as for rain getting in the gauages...or anywhere else for that matter....it is like Jr said. If you can ride a bike in the rain, trailering is no different. That is usless a hub lets go or something happens at 90mph and your bike goes flipping down the road. Then you might see some water get in there.

**Junior** · 03-02-2006, 04:03 PM

Re: Trailering the bike in heavy rain

Originally posted by Mojoe

...you should not be doing 90mph in the rain while hauling a trailer...

AWD minivan + 3 bikes on trailer + torrential downpour = 100mph

It's okay TurboMike...it's been tested. Just ask Range and Batgirl.

But Mojoe makes an excellent point...make sure your trailer is in tip top condition before attempting.

**Mojoe** · 03-02-2006, 05:23 PM

Re: Trailering the bike in heavy rain

Originally posted by Junior

Originally posted by Mojoe

...you should not be doing 90mph in the rain while hauling a trailer...

AWD minivan + 3 bikes on trailer + torrential downpour = 100mph

It's okay TurboMike...it's been tested. Just ask Range and Batgirl.

But Mojoe makes an excellent point...make sure your trailer is in tip top condition before attempting.

you can do it if you want. personally, I had 2 very bad experiences. one was a fishtailing trailer that almost put me off the road....and the other was when my axle broke on the way back from Ontario for a fishing trip. I was lucky it happened about 5 miles from home...so I just dragged it home. that almost tossed my pathfinder in the ditch.

nope....those 2 scared the crap outta me...so i keep it easy when trailering.

**The CyberPoet** · 03-02-2006, 06:10 PM

I'd say soap... let the rain wash the bikes clean!

More seriously, just keep the kat pointed towards the truck (no trailering backwards). The gauges are solid-state on the 98+ models and should be zero issue.

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

**WildKat** · 03-02-2006, 06:48 PM

We got caught in a ton of rain trailering down the Gap last year. Zero problems with any kinda water damage. As the others said, bikes are made to ride so you should be fine.

A couple notes of interest though..stop now and then to check your tie downs..when they get wet from the rain they can sometimes stretch alittle so u may wanna check and tighten them up if need be now and then.

Also if the bikes are facing front you should have any issues with water damage as we mentioned but one thing I did with ours last year i take a small walmart plastic shopping bag and put it over your exhaust and use a few tight rubber bands, just in case any dripping rain gets down in your exhaust. Its not really likely to happen of if it does its generally not enough to cause a problem.. and if u secure it w/ a few good rubber bands it wont blow off. Just a couple thoughts, and remember to remove the bag before you start up the bike too

**katcurvincorners** · 03-02-2006, 06:55 PM

Actually, covering a trailered bike must be a frequent concern... Cause now, Dowco makes a cover just for trailering... I think it uses a strap across the underside of the bike, as well as elastic on the bottom edges

**TurboMike** · 03-02-2006, 07:55 PM

Re: Trailering the bike in heavy rain

Originally posted by Junior

Originally posted by Mojoe

...you should not be doing 90mph in the rain while hauling a trailer...

AWD minivan + 3 bikes on trailer + torrential downpour = 100mph

The cover (if I got one) would probably see 90-100mph in between rainfall, not during the rain. Not easy on a cover. I might slow down a notch or two when the rain starts.

If I was a sane or cautious person on anything with wheels I probably would not own a bike.

Junior- how about a 350hp AWD sports car with massive brakes (it sees track time)? I'll race your minivan...... well ok not in the rain, I'll give you that one just for the pure cohones.

**Junior** · 03-02-2006, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by WildKat

...take a small walmart plastic shopping bag ...

You and your friggin Walmart

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