Just a heads up for all the new riders out there, from a new rider - if you haven't ridden in rain before, find an empty car park (which is wet) and practice stopping. Do not wait until you need to do your first emergency stop in the rain to try it.
I had no idea how easily a bike will skid when its wet. First time in the rain a couple of days ago, was leaving what I thought was plenty of distance, only doing about 20-30 (moving with traffic), guy slows and stops as normal at some lights and I thought I was gonna end up in his boot. I did manage to stop, but it made me realise how differently a bike behaves in the wet. The difference is much more marked than in a car.
I had no idea how easily a bike will skid when its wet. First time in the rain a couple of days ago, was leaving what I thought was plenty of distance, only doing about 20-30 (moving with traffic), guy slows and stops as normal at some lights and I thought I was gonna end up in his boot. I did manage to stop, but it made me realise how differently a bike behaves in the wet. The difference is much more marked than in a car.