The rain will dry out your chain and cables and could possibly ruin your switches and any other exposed electrical components. If I get caught in the rain it's no big deal but I would'nt leave it sitting outside IN the rain.

 

Ride as you did on your first day with the bike. Be a little tender and not use too much throttle, lube the chain regular which is common sense, use some WD40 to clean it first as this is a water repellent. I'm repeating some posts on here and credit where its due, Rain Away or Rain X on your visor is magic, i have it on my car windows and dont really need wipers. Buy a bike cover for when its sitting as water gets into different places when its sat. If there has been salt on the roads rinse it with COLD water, not HOT as hot water melts the salt and gets it into places that are very hard to get out. Put your leathers over your gloves as this will stop the water running into your gloves, buy some decent water proof gear, buy a fender extender for the front mud guard as this will reduce the amount of water sprayed up from the front wheel and getting onto the electrics and engine etc.

Withoutrubbishing other fellow users, or putting them or their bikes down, this will ruin your bike or do nothing to it, depending on how much value you put on your bike. If its your pride and joy, put it in the garage and walk, if you like bikes and enjoy it, ride it whenever. Inevitably tho, riding in the rain makes you a better rider in the dry, as you get to know when riding if the rear is slipping out and in turn knowing your limits. Good luck