Rain Riding

There is a question in here but let me start with a story... In June 2009, I hit the road with a friend to take in Laconia Bike Week. On the day we were departing Laconia, a low pressure system brought rain resulting in a soggy three day ride home. I learned much about the VTX I was driving. An hour of riding in the rain is quite different than days of relentless, sideways precipitation. Water collected in places you wouldn't expect it to. The VTX was was water resistant, not water proof. And three days of water spray from the front tire left a visible wear mark on the chrome rad cover.

My question is for those who have taken their XC through similar conditions... any problems or unexpected conditions? Leaks in the trunk or bags? Electrical issues? The battery location is questionable to me... directly in the path of tire spray. But judgement requires real world experience. So feel free to post your wet weather results.

I rode for 3 hours in basically a Torrential downpour on the expressway with high gusty winds, passing trucks etc. and zero problems.

After 2 solid days from Chicago to Atlanta in a non-stop rain, I can tell you without question that the Vision is absolutely waterproof....and it keeps the rider dry as well.

I ride a Kingpin - I've ridden 1 long 7 hr day in the rain. The bike performed flawlessly. All I had was a rain jacket - no pants. The bike did better than I did.

Concerned as well, I've heard of issues with cruise control buttons and radio controls. Any truth to that?

I've heard of it but never experienced a problem. A little die-electric grease will prevent it and I wouldn't use cruise control in the rain anyways.

Wife and I have logged well over 1000 miles in the rain on our XC. Plus we have left it outside over night during many storms. We both have proper rain gear and the bike doesn't even know it's raining. One thing that DID happen though (my fault), is I left the rubber cover off the 12v socket and now it's a bit rusted in there. So make sure to cover that.

Water does get to the battery, but a little di-electric grease and some preventive maintenance will keep you good. I ride rain or shine and havent had a problem yet.

I was just up to Maine and rode 1200 miles in rain and the vision was great. The other bikes...Harley's and Yamaha bags leaked some but not mine.
It was raining hard at times.

I have had zero problems in the rain on my 2010 Cross Country. I am running the hard lowers from the XCTour and the upper air contros as well. With the Cee Dragon and a face shield my glasses never got to wet. They fogged a little but for an hour and a half I was very comfortable riding in moderate to heavy rain. My footware stayed bone dry.