Isn't winter over yet ? !!!

Its been a very long time since I've posted here but I've got the mid-winter blues. Seeing my bike in the garage and dreaming about warmer weather has me bummed. I need to get my XJ700 out and ride. We've had -30 degrees here in Northern Wisconsin nearly every morning for a week and I have no doubt this will be a long and brutal winter. If there is anyone else out there suffering the winter and going through XJ withdrawl symptoms I'd like to hear about it. Would be nice to know I'm not the only one longing for riding season to return.

 

Tee, glad to see you back. if it's any concilation, right now in middle tenn. its 30 deg, trying to snow & it sucks. i just got my 650 up & running over the holidays & it sure would be nice to take a ride. i did put the 1st 10 miles on it saturday, it was in the 40's & i couldn't stand to wait any longer.

 

In the 40's sounds like good riding weather to me. A little cold weather riding never hurt anybody, its just the terrible road conditions that keep my XJ tucked away for the winter. I don't really care for riding on ice and loose sand. I've managed to keep the shiny side up so far and don't want to push my luck.

 

i hear ya man, its been in the single digits here in upstate NY for about 2 weeks now. i can't even get out and tinker with her in this cold.

 

Yeah, where in the hell is my global warming anyway?

Yes I am chomping at the bit to drive around and see some LCD goodness....

Actually I think hanging out on this board is making it worse for me

 

it's so cold our politicians put their hands in their own pockets

 

It's so cold, I saw a guy selling "soup on a stick!" :lol:

 

I feel for ya Tee. Same thing in NH. Another foot of snow Sunday.
Got a spare set of carbs sitting in my shop waiting to be rebuilt, but no heat out there & no place to work on them in the house.

counting the days.............

 

Yeah, here in the Windy City, its been in the single digits if not lower and its driving me kookoo for coacoa puffs. My last ride of the season was Toys for Tots and that was maybe a month ago... seems like the longest month of my life! Luckily we have a few motorcycle shows coming up and that should make the next few months fly by smoothly.

 

Stupid planetary axial tilt...thing

 

Indoor motorcycles (racing) on ice!!! Flint, MI at what used to be the IMA arena I can't remember the new name, January 24... be there or be square!

And yeah it's been too bitter here for words. The damn arctic air mass was supposed to be gone but the dashboard in the Wabbit said 4*F (above at least) this morning. It was a tropical 9 by the time I got to downtown Motown. My XJs and the Norton are PINING...

 

I guess I shouldn't mention that tonight it's supposed to be the coldest night of the year here. It might get down to 34 degrees tonight. There may even be some snow flakes falling north of Tampa. Frozen wasteland...

 

You poor babies! Try living in an igloo and riding a dog sled all winter. I have to suffer through a full 7 months of PMS (parked Motorcycle syndrome) every year! It was actually above freezing for three days now. This is following a full month of bitter cold -25*C to -35*C. That's - 10-30*F. Riding season doesn't start until mid to end of May.

 

We just finished two weeks of ridable weather but unridable roads here! my only saving grace is having the max in pieces for repair so could do something stupid (like try to get to the dry road at the end of the 150 feet of snow and ice i call a parking lot!)

 

Well, I'm just back in Adelaide after riding round southern Laos in utterly perfect weather.
Rode to work today (First day back) through sunny, eighty degree Fahrenheit, windless warmth.
You guys REALLY need to get your priorities straight! How can ANYBODY live in the sort of climate you describe?

 

Hey Ross you got a spare room at your place until i can find a job and my own place!!!

 

Last Sat. it was -26' F at 3am (forced to work grave yard all winter) this winter sucks and Al Gore can kiss my A** I am praying for global warming. Also why do we think we are all mighty and can prevent or even cause such a global problem we only occupy a minor portion of this world and can't for once someone say that all of us none cage drivers may have contributed to lowering oil demand. I had seen more bikes on the roads last season than ever before. Not the economy but a conscious effort brought upon by the consumer. AHHHHHHHHHHH winter sucks I even got my sled stuck the other day, enough is enough.

 

Guys I hear ya, Living up North is starting to really suck. I used to think the Canadian Maritimes had nice weather, that is when I lived in Labrador, NF. But it's not just the cold that gets to you up here, it's the evil temp swings. It was -20C with the wind this morning, and its going back up to plus 4C tomorrow with rain, and right back down to -20 for Sunday. AINT no driving in that! Any how, at least you get to do a little maintenance until spring.

Cheers Mac

 

I've spent the last to days riding my quad around out in the woods but it just isn't satisfying my desire to put two fists into the wind and explore the limitless expanses of pavement. It got up to 12*F today. Thats warm enough for a ride... right...?

 

AAARRRGGGHHH!!! 60*F yesterday, little wind and sunny. Beautiful day. got about another 100 miles in aand loved every minute of it.

Today? -7*F, 30 mph wind and about 6" of snow on the ground and it's gonna get worse.

Mother Nature is such a freaking tease!!! :twisted:

 

It has been 65 for the last two days here in Arkansas. Had the H-D out both days. It also gave me some time to piddle with the wife's xj as well. Finally getting some of the bugs worked out. I hope to have it ready for her before riding season so she can get some seat time. She is a 100% noobie. 8O

 

Here's a look out the door earlier today.

 

Minus 24 Celcius this morning (minus 11 degrees F).

Winter definitwly ain't over in this neck of the woods. Fingers got a little cold trying to clean out a carb bowl in the garage last night...

 

-24 degrees F last night. Our dog slipped on the ice in the driveway while chasing me on the four wheeler and hurt his left rear knee. Now I have to carry him down the steps whenever he has to take a leak. Tried to take him in today but the vet wants $145 just to look at him since its a Sunday. I guess he'll have to tough it out until tomorrow.

 

Found out today the dog has a torn ACL that will require surgery. This winter just keeps getting tougher. Hopefully he'll be healed and recovered by riding season. Hate to see the poor guy in pain.
Apparently, from the estimate they gave me for the surgery, no one has told the vets office we are in a economic crisis. I guess the Maxim will have to wait a little while longer for that fresh coat of paint.

 

Dang dude, hate to hear that about your dog.Hope he gets well soon

 

On Sundays, I have to go to the beach and collect a sample for NOAA. Yesterday it was 19c = 66 in the air and 15c = 59F in the water (which I had to be in up to my chest). Got out and it felt like 85 out side. Of course we pay for it in the summer when it is 98F and 98% humidity. Feels like 1010F. Come down here for July 4th and I'll show you some global warming!

 

43 degrees today. 43 degrees Celsius. (That's 110F)

 

Nice. Ross!!! We got all the way up to 4*F (-29*C) today. Nice day out though. Beautiful sunny day and snowing!! :roll:

Oh, yeah, no riding today!

 

Right there with ya smeltzer. Woke up with 5+ inches of the "White Death" on the ground this morning.

I blame Al Gore!

 

our winter has just begun... we hardly ever get snow anymore, we just get ice storms that turn the whole state into a skating rink for a few days... Just add bad drivers -- makes its own sauce! :mrgreen:

 

Back in the deep freeze in MoTown; 0*F yesterday AM, 5*F this morning with 2"-6" of snow on the way.

Am I the only one who sits on his motorcycle making vroom-vroom sounds when no one is looking?

 

we are in the middle of winter.

unless someone shoots that damned groundhog before he comes out of his hole we can expect to have winter right up to the spring solstice.

 

See, global warming is BS!

The ice caps are not melting, they're getting chopped up and sprinkled on the Midwest.

 

Calling for snow for the rest of the week. Bike sits in the garage waiting for spring. Got a package tray for her on the weekend, but that has to wait too.

 

We have had our 4 days of winter 42 and freezing rain today and then back in the 60's anyway. I put a little windshield on my maxim and that helped keep my eyes from watering so bad when i was riding in 50 degree weather. I am trying to ride whenever I can but the bike won't start at around 40 degrees without a shot of starting fluid. I use regular gas and it just doesn't have enough to get it going. I have to wear my glasses and the full face helmet I have is just a pain with them.

The price of bikes doesn't seem to be dropping all that much,although there are a few deals if you are quick.The was a yamaha bobber on craigslist the other day for 300 in dfw.

 

Ice here in Arkansas. But not to bad today.Maybe worse tonite.

 

As long as no one sees you it doesn't count! and yes

 

Nah there are lots of them out there...

I got caught by my wife but she already knows I''m not right...

 

i do it with my cb750 all the time, but its not a vroom, its like a bah bah babah bah..whoom, whoom, and then somehow it turns into a 2 stroke and then its wiiiiing, wiiiiing! wing ning ning ning

 

Supposed to be in the high twentys on Feb 1 here. Spring is on the way. At least the sun has been out here for the last few days. We didn't get our Jan Thaw here either. Last year it popped up into the 40's but this year it never got above freezing all month. Made for a long January.

 

been below zero here for 3 weeks. BRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

But I still start the bike every 3 or 4 days an sit on the bike and dream of warmer weather. then the cold sets in and I get back in the house where its warmer.

 

Took the boat out today to watch the sun set,
Brought a light jacket - - didn't need it.

 

Time, I mean this in the best possible way, but YOU SUCK!!!! :lol:

Spent 4 years in Ft Walton in the late 80's early 90's. Never got used to the humidity. Moved from Florida to Alaska. Now that's a shock to the system. 8O

 

Well I won't admit to sitting on my bike and making engine noises but I will admit to pulling out all my motorcycle dvd's (the wild one, ghost rider, etc.) and watching/wishing.

Artie(RT)

 

I think the key word here is "admit"

Took the boys to the indoor motorcycle ice races Saturday, that was a good fix.

 

115F this afternoon. Not a cloud in the sky. After my 25km ride home, the keys were almost too hot to handle, just from sitting in the sun. I was very grateful for my thick soled shoes when I put my feet down at the lights.

Still, temperature is forecast to plummet to only 103F by next Tuesday

 

How sweet it must be to live in the land of the XJ900.
With not a cloud in the sky.

Hold on it's summer there right now.
Just you wait, in July I'll dig this thread up and tell you about the beautiful 90F degree day.
:lol: :wink:

 

Yes Hound, I'll never understand why Yamaha didn't run the 900 in the US the way they did here. It was a good seller and still is a great performer.

Our July average max is 61F, min 48F. Still, we do get rain on an average 10 days then. Our lowest temp EVER was 31F. I've lived here 36 years and seen frost twice. I'll say it again: I don't know how you guys manage!

 

Hey Big_Ross,

I don't envy yoy those hot days in the least! I lived 6 years, 7 summers, and 3 lifetimes in Phoenix, Az. Never been so glad to move away from a place in my life! Where I live now we get 4 seasons a year, over 100 days of rain per year and I love it. Only disadvantage is the bike gets dirty from water on the road and so has to be washed often.

I ride in the rain, fish for salmon and white sturgeon in the rain, generally anything I like to do can be done in the rain. And I don't have to worry about dying of heat prostration!

Signed,

Too old and too fat for 115 F weather.

Wamaxim