| Author | Message | ||
     Tom_b |
Anybody else riding thru the winter? i'm not talking about the people who enjoy the southern climates. Real riders who ride when it is in the teens or 20's and cold. I went riding last week, 22 degrees farenheit and 3" of snow a little slippery, but the main roads were clear.  | ||
| Tramp |
real riders ride in below zero weather. nice shot, good to see i'm not alone on this site re: year-round riding. it's not fun, but it's.... welll...................................... | ||
| Bartimus |
 Not much snow here, but it does get down in the teens. I just use electric vest and gloves... | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I used to drive my KLR250 in the snow. I wouldn't try it on a bike that I cared about though. I might take mine out from time to time to make sure the oil get circulated and the battery gets charged but I wouldn't try to drive it to work. | ||
| Tq_freak |
I rode monday and rode some today, I would say High 20's low 30's still freakn cold out, need to get some electric clothing and fleece lined jeans | ||
| Mbsween |
I've had to brush snow off the Buell more than once..... I'll ride as long as the salt is minimal and the roads are mostly clear. I think the biggest issue in below freezing riding is faceshield freeze up. Most of my commute is highway and if its snowing hard, its a pita to keep the shield clean enough to see out of. And then there's the frozen hands, numb fingers.... remind me why I do this again??? Oh yeah, its fun! | ||
| T9r |
I'm still riding here in Maryland. Two weeks ago it was in the single digits, temperature wise. Rode yesterday and it was 16 degrees F, when I started out. I try to stay off the roads when there is too much ice or salt. If it's snowin' I ain't goin'. Electric gear helps brave the cold. I commute 40 miles, round trip, to work on it. At 50mpg and folks thinking I'm a bit crazy makes life worth it! | ||
| Road_thing |
What is this thing you call "winter"? rt | ||
| Chainsaw |
Gonna be 64 in Denver today. Wohoo! I was riding last week when it was 12 degrees. Gotta love this town.  | ||
| Blackbelt |
kind of hard to ride when the bike is snowed in the shed... and the wheels are off the bike.. but i have been known to ride when others think it is far too cold. lol Koodos to you and watch for frost bite | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I use my DR650 and I just may take it out today for a quick ride. I just rebuilt the top end, new rings and have to take it easy on her for a while. Good time to slowly break the motor in. The problem up this way is they use so much damm salt on the roads. | ||
| Tramp |
I rely on that salt to scrub the past summer's funk off my scoot.... | ||
| Cataract2 |
I rode last night when it got to 44F. Does that count? | ||
| No_rice |
i am going for a ride in a bit!!!!!!!  32 out, just have to put the plate on first | ||
| Buellin_ri |
I like my bike to much to subject it to road salt. | ||
| Tramp |
i like my bike too much to put it away. | ||
| Buellin_ri |
Touche. | ||
| Arbalest |
I ride my BMW/Neval conversion rig all year. To prep for winter I spray down all the chrome and aluminum with a clear hight temp grease, and reapply during the winter as needed. If you haven't taken a rig out during or right after a snowstorm, you don't know what fun is (well, with your clothes on). | ||
| Tramp |
hey- i absolutely understand the salt thing. no way do i enjoy taking a nice looking car or motorcycle on salty roads. it's the formula for heinous corrosion. my own rat is ok with it, that's all. | ||
| Tom_b |
I feel the same as tramp, I love my bike too much to put it away. I also for some strange reason like to ride short runs(less than 15 miles) in real cold weather. Preferrably not in snow, never ice. A good 90mph blast down the interstate on a cold dreary day will really perk me up. | ||
| No_rice |
went for a nice hour or so long ride today!!!!!!!!! it got up to almost 50. was great. only takes a few min to remember why i love banging gears so much though!! | ||
| Bake |
I ride my sled to work every day, does that count? | ||
| Tramp |
those little cold-weather hops that tom_b refers to are an amazing pick-me-up for winter blues. really amazing, esp. on nice sunny days with dry roads, even with sub-zero weather. machines have more power in the cold, and buells and harleys lose all their exhaust popping in really cold running..... | ||
| M2nc |
Hey! It get's cold down here! It was between 28 and 32 when I found Ice on the Uly. I was doing fine until the bike laid down through an intersection. Okay its not Siberia, but I do not know how any can ride in temps much colder than mid-twneties. I do not have heated gear, just use layers and the brush guards on the Uly. | ||
| Cochise |
rode to work this morning at 21 degrees, rode home at 55 degrees, I had more fun going home!! Wore two work coats, one leather, summer riding gloves, and bib overalls, and two hotpacks on the backs of my hands inside the gloves, still freakin' chilly!! | ||
| Midnightrider |
Did my first sub-freezing ride last night. Usually wear jeans, an insulated riding pants liner stolen from an old pair of fieldsheer riding pants, an d leather overpants. On top its a tee shirt, a down jacket, leather jacket. Wool gloves under thick leather gauntlet-style gloves with "Hot-Wraps" electric grip warmers. A neck gaiter and my Scorpion helmet. I was very comfortable at city speeds except when i stopped for long lights the condensation would form inside the helmet visor and start to freeze. This was easily cured by just venting the visor a crack at the lights. I then did a few miles at highway speeds and some parts got cold. Not too cold for a short ride but I wouldn't want to do a hundred miles that way. I just worry about ice on the roads | ||
| Xbduck |
I have been trying to get back to ridding my bike. The biggest problem I have right now is the 2" of ice on my driveway. I chip at it every day with an old maul and a square nosed shovel. hopefully the 50+ degree days we are having now will help. I ride with a Gerbing jacket liner and heated hand grips. I haven't been able to try out my new electric chaps yet. | ||
| Tramp |
ice on roads is little trouble, as long as you can relax and let off of every control. as to that 2" on the driveway, just start the scoot, bring it to operating temp., and set both feet on the ice as outriggers after you've released the clutch. be verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryy light on the throttle, anticipating your stop so that you need no brake. If it's a downhill, then don't even start the machine, just roll down with your feeet planted on the ice and(all kidding aside) head for some firm snow or a dry patch, then brake. riding on snow and ice can be incredibly instructive i terms of developing one's balance point and 'control feathering'. play around on the yard a little and you'll see what i mean. of course, even wet grass on a lawn is enough to cause any of us to wind up on our keister before we even know what's happened. I've done that more times than I care to remember. baby steps, Doc, Baby steps. | ||
| Ducxl |
you guys' are NUTZ considering riding on ice/snow.I'm sure you've seen the REAL ice bikes with SPIKES on the tires! Relax and wait for dry pavement.Change your oil or grease/change those bearings or something maintainance related. | ||
| Xbduck |
Tramp, Thanks for the advice, however the driveway is a real driveway. I live back in the woods. I have been having real fun taking the suburban to the main road. I have been very close to some trees. I have found that this can also help you learn how to handle your cage. I even taught my wife how to slide her minivan sideways, the kids loved it.  I have also noticed that the wife's sporty does better in the nasty stuff, I guess that weight is good for something. |
