| Author | Message | ||
     Ratbuell |
Time to adjust the lol' riding style... I've been off the bike for about a week/10 days because of cough/throat gunk/antibiotics. This time of year on the eastern seaboard...that's a global shift in weather. Last ride, I was in mesh. Today I was in textile with my heated liner (off, but an insulating layer), alpinestars winter gloves, and heated grips turned on. I also got a graphic reminder that the roads (and my tires) are very cold now. Looking over one shoulder to see where you're going is a fun way to do doughnuts in a muscle car...but not the most advisable way to ride a sportbike to work! Even the slipper clutch had less "slip" to it than the tire did... Remember to adjust your riding style for the season, folks. I got lucky and caught it, and kept it rubber-down, but the weather is a big factor right now. | ||
| Xtreme6669 |
Here in AZ its still 102F.... | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
In northern VA I wore my ole' Firstgear snowmobile suit this morning, first time this year. It was only 52...but screw it why be cold? | ||
| Jimustanguitar |
Indiana sucks... Last week we had a record high of 97, and this week it's gotten down to 42 overnight. | ||
| Northernyankee |
Yeah we were in the upper 80's-low 90's last week and not today its a high of 68. Had to bring out the leather jacket and gloves instead of the mesh. | ||
| Dannybuell |
Ratbuell - Great advice! | ||
| Ridenusa4l |
what is this thing called....winter?? Jake (....from Tucson, AZ....) lol | ||
| Dwp138 |
107 out right now... i better watch the tires! | ||
| Ratbuell |
One other fun factor... The bike, when the AT is low 60s and the CT is 170, makes STUPID power. Doesn't help the slip tendency...not that I was having fun being a hooligan on the way home or anything  | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
Oh yeah, I've noticed it REALLY likes the cool air....you can tell she's from up north! | ||
| Mhpalin |
We are sending you guys as much as we can not bad today -2C (30F) Thurs in the AM 67 in the PM got to love it 73F today (Lamont AB Can.) Mike | ||
| Zane |
I'm in mid Michigan. Need I saw more? | ||
| Craigg |
Ya he in Chicago. I almost forgot and took my normal corner like I normally do and the back end got a little squirelley | ||
| Jossi |
Here in Sweden riding season is almost over morning and evening temp down to 4-5 deg C | ||
| Kenm123t |
Its nearly cool enough to ride in the day time here in Florida! | ||
| Zac4mac |
Temperature doesn't bother me too much. Although I have turned on the heated grips the last few mornings. Been riding so long I have a huge arsenal of leather and goose-down. I was riding 3-4 hours at a time in 35-39 *F when I got Loretta - 18DEC07. Snow however is an issue. We have(me and my rain-gauge) had over a FOOT of rain so-far this month. That would translate to 10-30 inches of snow. depending on Relative Humidity. I am expecting to "not be able to ride" more than usual this winter. Gotta get a set of GOOD snow tires on my truck.. Zack | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
I used to ride the SV in the 30's with snow on the ground (but not the road), ppl looked at me like I was nutts...thus the snowmobile suit! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Oh, I ride down below freezing, no question. Gerbings!  But getting in the "cold road cold tire lots of slippage" mindset is something I didn't expect to have to do...in September. | ||
| Phwx2 |
low 40's 9/24/13 in Conn. took my xb9s w/ heated grips and ceebaily screen instead of the 1125cr. I was feeling great until I pulled in to get gas and my legs didn't work. I didn't realize how cold they were. thin casual work pants are not the best cold weather gear for 70 and 80 mph. do love the little xb though, glad it didn't sell. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I'm sure I grossly misunderestimated(thanks Dubya) the rain-to-snow ratio. Seems like I remember 1"=1'... ten feet of snow in a week???? yikes. Anyway... I now have 2 options for really cold riding - all passive gear, no electrics. My old standby was a Marine Arctic flight suit. It's 40 years old and pretty shot. 10 years ago I bought a one-piece leather for $100 and it is just big enough for 2-3 layers of thermals. Latest acquisition, 3 years ago got a Scorpion Exo jacket and pants. It's warmer than the leathers... I also got a set of Hippo-hands for the Uly.   Z | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
Nice rig, is that ice on the swingarm? I've never ever slid in the cold, barring a very few front end tucks on blacktop patch. Maybe I don't ride that hard in the cold? Maybe the Diablos stick better? I do plan on riding the 1125 all winter this year, we'll see if she stays in line as well as the SV1K did. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Diablos are like steel hoops below 25F. NO traction I saw my rear tire several times my first winter. on dry pavement. No ice on the swingarm, just mud on a belt guard. I can ride 340 or so days a year if I don't mind cold. We're classified as "High Desert". Nothing like when I lived in Houston or Orlando. Z | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
OK, you're talking REAL COLD. Down to 53 or so I run in jeans and a leather jacket, layers beneath and good gloves, hood/neck gaiter. Below that I use the snowmobile suit. I only went out below 25 once, and the inside of my Shoei misted over, I cracked it, it instantly froze...I opened it to wipe it and my eyeballs frosted and started streaming tears...I had to pull over on the side of the road it scared the hell out of me! I never went out below freezing after that. I'm thinking of Ully with all the luggage as a second bike for two up touring and the like. How does it handle? Good commuter? If I had to choose between the two, would the squishey ride drive me insane, being a sportbike guy? | ||
| Zac4mac |
I got my Uly in 2010 so I could take my wife riding. She won't join me on Loretta. I still think the Uly is a goofy looking bike but I LOVE it. It has a very comfortable riding position, great luggage choices and the ride is not mushy at all, even with minimum preload. Dial the preload up and it's almost as stiff as Loretta. BTW, Loretta has pretty big chicken strips as I haven't had a chance at a fun ride in a while. The Uly on the other hand has NO chicken strips.. well maybe an eighth on an inch. Get a Uly, 08 or later and you'll see what I mean. Z | ||
| Sir_wadsalot |
We sat on one last weekend, the wife thought it was butt ugly, but didn't care in the slightest, because she really liked the pillion! Is the difference beteween the X and XT big enough to be worth looking for an XT? I have no offroad pretensions whatsoever. | ||
| Ratbuell |
The only difference is suspension height, luggage, front fender, and windshield height. And the X has reinforced rims. |
