Rubber booties: If you're on a budget, it's cheaper and just as effective to travel in your standard riding boots covered with rubber booties than to purchase a separate set of waterproof riding boots. Some motorcycle accessory manufacturers offer rubber boot-covers that are easier to put on than conventional booties. All can make life much more enjoyable and be had for under $20.
Gloves: There are many waterproof gloves on the market that fend off the elements. Most of the major apparel manufacturers carry a wet-weather glove in their lineup, so take a look at your local motorcycle dealer or browse through the Internet. When buying wet-weather gloves, avoid anything too bulky that restricts hand movement and dexterity.
Tips And Tricks:
Seal your helmet: Most helmets aren't successful in keeping all water out during prolonged wet weather riding. Usually you'll feel a few drips in the front vent or see rain dribbling down the inside of the visor. We like using small strips of duct tape to seal any vents that don't aid in defogging the shield. If fogging is not a problem, we even seal the gap between the top of the shield and the helmet.
Seal your gear: Many textile riding suits are capable of fending off moisture for a short amount of time. This can be lengthened by using a sealant such as 3M's Scotchgard on the material, applied twice on the seams. Mink oil can be used for leather products, but beware, these techniques also reduce the material's ability to breathe come warmer weather.
Defog: A fogged-up helmet shield is one of the most annoying problems during wet-weather riding, and it can be dangerous as well. Try the Fog City Fog Shield, which is a plastic laminate that adheres to the inside of your shield and eliminates fogging, or go to any ski or sporting goods shop and ask for an antifog cloth. Both work remarkably well and cost less than $5.
Rubber Gloves: If you don't have a good set of waterproof riding gloves, large rubber household cleaning gloves or other industrial rubber mitts will fit over your standard gloves and are surprisingly effective at keeping out the rain. Thin surgical gloves can also be worn to help keep moisture off the skin.
Boot Spray: Use a small amount of Pam vegetable nonstick cooking spray on the inside of your rubber booties for lubrication, which makes sliding them on and off a much less aggravating affair. It wipes off easily once the bootie is removed.
Glove Gauntlets: When riding a sportbike in the rain, try pulling the sleeve of your rainsuit over the top of your glove. This helps keep water from leaking through the gauntlet top and into the glove.
Emergency Rain Gear: If you're stuck in an unexpected rainstorm, look no further than your local supermarket. Large plastic garbage bags (with slits cut out for your head and arms) can be used to repel water from your upper torso, and smaller bags can be wrapped around the feet and hands to help fend off the moisture. Fashion points do not apply.
Neoprene: Fairly inexpensive slip-on neoprene braces for your knees, ankles and wrists can easily be modified to help seal off openings in your riding gear. When slipped over seams in your gear (between the glove and sleeve, for instance), they help catch water before it reaches your skin.
Remember: Stop the Rain. Even in warmer climates, it's important to keep moisture away from your clothes and skin. Wet clothes offer no insulating properties, and draw heat from your body much quicker than dry clothes. This is especially so when riding in wet, cold conditions, where the risk of hypothermia is highest.