How cold (temp) do you ride?

This is my first full season on this or any other street bike.

My question is how cold is the temp before most of you call it a season. I love riding and am not ready to quit for the year but the ride in to work this morning which was about 40 miles at 80mph (big slab) in 48 degree temps made the legs quite cold.

I had my full face helmet, heavy leather jacket, gloves, jeans and boots. The feet, head, hands and upeer were fine. Legs frozen. I've ordered some chaps to help with that so we'll see.

 

get yourself a good pair of chaps and long johns and you can ride well into the fall/winter, I rode to work the other day and it was 33 f. Gaunlets are good to have also as they don't allow the wind to go up your jacket sleaves.
Ride until you feel its tie to stop.

 

I don't worry about temperature. I do worry about freezing temperatures combined with moisture. Any kind of moisture! Freezing fog, snow, ice, BLACK ICE. Black ice scares the bejeebers out of me.

I have a bike this year that has an 80 amp alternator so I will buy an electric jacket and pants for those crisp winter days. On the Maxim I wear my normal armored riding gear with the insulated liners. When the temps reach the 30's I wear a fleece jacket under my gear and silk long johns. Don't laugh 'til you've tried 'em!

I would MUCH rather ride on a 25 deg F day than a 100 deg F day.

Don't park 'em, ride 'em! Except in the snow belt!

 

It was 33 f This moring. I need better pair of gloves and a good pair of chaps and I will ride as long as it is not raining or snowing....and the bike starts. Its the one that does not like the cold.

 

Come on wa, a biker can't expect to admit to wearing silk underwear and not at least elicit a humor-laced grin! :roll:

 

I used to ride the Maxim 365 days a year - eventually you just lose feeling in your legs and don't notice the bone numbing chill.

But my wife did when I climbed into bed. :lol:

 

The cold is manageable if you dress for it. What I do not like is riding to work and home again in the dark. 12 hour shifts, 6:30 -6:30. One way not too bad. Cold on it's own not bad, dark on it's own not bad put the two together. I just don't trust cagers that much when their warm and drowsy.

 

I purchased a snow-mobile suited fleece lined outfit(pants and jacket) that i wore over top my protective gear,(add fleece gloves too). works quite nicely for keepin ya all warm and cozy but if ya think you gonna never feel the cold,forget about it. The fleece traps your body heat fairly well but the cold is cold and it is penetrating. Rode my bike for 3 years(all i had) all year round when i lived in virginia. some days just had to stay home,and that Black Ice skeeeeeerrrs ya to the soul !! never lost it on any but sure came close, but, advancing towards any open area(bridge,overpass,open flat area) with moisture in the air MUST bring out the cautionary 6th sense. Even that is not gonna save you if your bike is gonna slide. Let it slide and wear your protection. Pieces can be replaced, your life cannot.

 

You can ride as cold as you can stand it. Just don't forget the wind chill factor!!

In Nebraska I would wear a bandana most mornings and had to allow time to defrost the thing from my mustache I never thought of shaving it or better yet buying a car, duh!! :roll:

That same year, I walked out of work one evening to find 3+ inches of snow on the seat and still coming down. 8O So of course being young and resourceful (in my later years I define it as stupid) my buddies and I proceded to make snow chains out of knotted rope. (not my brightest move) :lol: I did get me home less than 2 miles away but it took me 45 minutes using my legs as outriggers! 8O

 

How about temperatures in the real scale - Celcius? :lol:
Never understood that strange Fahrenheit thing going from 32° - 212°... bizzare.

Anyway - using my basic gear I'll keep riding so long as it's above 5°C / 41°F
Below that it's just too damn chilly without warmer gear or electrics. Even then if it's damp or wet it's too damn cold to enjoy riding.

 

Thanks for the input so far guys.

I'm not going to risk the ice/snow. Drivers around here freak out at the first sign of moisture.

Besides I have a different XJ more suited for the snow/ice. It's a 94 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 on 33" M+S tires. I've driven out of ice covered parking lots I couldn't hardly walk in at ski resorts.

 

Started riding last November and then rode all last winter in temps down to 25*F. Skipped two weeks when there was snow on the ground, but unless there is ice/snow, I ride. Have driven my cage less and less. I work in a company that has at least 2 dozen riders and I have gotten kudos from most of them for riding when it is so cold. I finally bought some winter gloves and boots this year to keep warm and will ride as much as possible this winter as well. Less money spent on gas and insurance means more money for toys.

 

John, listen feller! I LOVE my silkies! They make me feel all..............silky! Got them for Christmas one year, top and bottoms, and they are great! Very thin and very warm. Wash in cold water, gentle cycle, then air dry with your other dainties! No shrink, no bulk.

One of the best accessories you can get for $10 is silk glove liners. They will add comfort down another 10 to 15 deg. Again, very thin and oh so silky! I had to order them through one of the bike stores. The parts counter dude thought I was nuts!

Now then there is the matter of Dave, aka VMAX, aka V. Tire ropes??? Freakin' tire ropes?????? As in, Aw nuts! It's snowing like the dickens out there. Guess I'm going to have to put the old tire ropes on if I'm going to get home safe! How far south do you live anyway? Tire ropes

I would recommend you use a ratcheting tie down instead of rope!
Just pass one end of the loop through the front tire the other end through the rear tire. Ratchet it down hard and your good to go!!!

Loren

tee hee hee Tire ropes!

 

OK OK I'll go shopping.

 

Ther is no such thing as bad weather just bad gear.

 

I get em out for 10-20 miles every 2-3 weeks in winter,as long as the roads are clear of course.I use 20 degrees as the cutoff point.My fingers are already trashed by the time I get into 3rd gear at those temps,feet frozen within the first few miles,so I don't stay out more than 1/2 hour.If I had electric gloves and socks,and if they actually work,I'd ride all day every day,year round

 

Loren, I never said it was my brightest moment. It took 4 of us to come up with that idea too! I made it home less than 2 miles it took at least 45 minutes of ice skating on the bike (kz550) and I no rope left. Lucky!! my feet were frozen and caked with ice. what can I say 18 and certified crazy by USAF shrink... 8O In Florida we just add clothing when it gets cold, all other seasons clothing is optoinal :mrgreen:

See here is a Florida Biker in summer attire 8O
http://www.cfnews13.com/MediaPlayer2/Me ... itle=Naked Motorcyclist Arrested

 

I find that the rain pants help a lot with the cold since they are good for taking care of the wind chill. Still get a bit cool but much better than just jeans.

mikeg

 

Too true.I'm well geared up,so I'll ride until there's snow/ice on the roads.

 

I just picked up a pair of Tourmaster Cold-Tex gloves over the weekend. They're the "entry level" of Tourmaster's cold weather gloves (their others are around $100+), but they seem to work really well so far. I rode in this morning (38F) wearing them and my hands were perfectly fine.