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.

 

Rain pants seemed like a good idea to me too
Trouble is,they got against the exhaust (this was on a Harley where your right leg is against the pipe when you put your feet down) ,which melted a hole in em
Then of course the wind caught in the hole,so by the time I reached my destination,they were totally shredded

 

Below 40 there is no substitiute for electric vest or jacket liner. With and adjustable thermostat you can dial in what you need. Keep the torso warm and you keep the limbs warmer. I am good down to 25 degrees with my heated liner, Firstgear Speed jacket, Alpinestars winter gloves, insulated bib overpants and boots. And don't forget the full face helmet. But if the roads are wet, park it.

 

+1 for wamaxims thought on black ice.....
Hit it once pulling into the intersection at the end of my street....
Found myself on my side, looking back up my street in the blink of an eye
I'm a bit less stubborn in the mornings wanting to ride now....
Frost in the driveway means black ice waiting on the roads

For extra gear a polar fleece type sweater under my jacket and a winderbreaker pantsunder my mesh riding pants...
Keeps things warm enough on my commute....

 

Well livnig in Montreal Quebec I pretty much ride till November 1st. If I can ride just a few days after that I'm a happy man. But obviously the frequency of riding is not the same starting mid October.

 

Tall "hunting" socks coupled with long johns really help with the legs.

The thermal insert and rain liner in my mesh jacket takes care of the chest and arms.

My chin and throat were my biggest problem area. Even with my full-face helmet, that open area between my jacket collar and helmet would be in pain after a few miles.

Finally settled on a thin wool scarf for the adam's apple and a velcro'ed camo mask which covers my nose and chin.

Thus bundled, I handled my 40-mile interstate commute as cold as it gets here in south Louisiana - typically 28-30 degrees F.

I'm sure there was a little pride involved in getting the amazed looks from my co-workers, but I also found the ride very enjoyable and, um, invigorating!

Stray safe-
Herb

 

I just got rid of my other XJ as well! 97 on 6 1/4" lift with 35s and lockers. Built for the rocks! They do VERY well in the snow...maybe it was my mechanical front locker... I tried not to use the ARB in the rear, takes all the fun out

 

I use 38*F-39*F as my "cutoff point." Anything below that and there's too good a possibility of hitting a patch of ice especially out in the rural area I start from.

 

I wouldn't use a scarf.
I heard about an incident where a bikers scarf caught on a fence,or car,or maybe it was the bike itself
Before he could get loose it strangled him
Might be true,maybe an urban legend,but either way it sounds possible to me

I wear what I call my "ninja mask" to keep my empty head and neck warm

 

Chaps make a huge difference. Even lightweight ones like mine.
I put the liner back in my jacket this week. Mostly for the morning ride into work.
Oh, and the big Windjammer on the front of the bike doesn't hurt either.

And thanks for reminding me to get out my winter gloves.


But if it's cold enough for ice, the bike stays home in the garage and I switch to my nice warm Taurus.

 

My wife and I have ridden in temps down to 32, but that was when we were in our mid 30's. Don't do that anymore, but then again we don't have the proper attire and things don't work at 63 the same as they did at 30 years of age. We try to stay in the mid 50's and up temperature range. Ride-On

 

Rode "The Legacy" to my daughter's house to watch the husker game tonight. 48*F on the ride over. Not too bad. Coming back was a bit nipply though. 38*F 20 mph winds and raining. Got a little soaked from the knees down. I rode into November last year due to now snow or ice on the ground. Was about 20*F or so a couple of mornings. Carharts are wonderful!!!

 

I'm using 25 degrees as my cut of this year. We only have one car for the family so I try to commute on my motorcycle every day. Coldest I have ridden is 12 degrees. It can be done but it wasn't pleasant.

For gear I use a Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket with a rain liner. When it starts getting below 40 I put on a fleece jacket under neath. Joe Rocket Balistic 5.0 riding pants. For gloves I just found a company called Rev'it. I forget which gloves I have they were a little pricey at about $150 but man they are probably the best piece or riding gear I have ever worn. I also have a balaclava from Rev'it to keep my head warm.

Has any one used a Snow Mobile helmet for winter? I am tossing around the idea of getting one.

 

I remember when I was really young (Maybe 5 years old), my dad would ride his 1970 xs650 all year round. It was his only trasportation as my mom needed the car. Ice, snow, rain. He had a full face helmet, a jean jacket and blue jean pants. Thats a tough sob.
Edit: Really, ropes for the snow? Wow, and my friends call me reckless.

 

Freakin' Huskers. GAHHHHHH... I STOOD THERE FOR 3 HOURS IN THE WORST WEATHER TO WATCH US DIE!

Everyone is going to romp on us all season. I'm frustrated.

/off-topic

 

I rode to work in -4c the other day doing 110km on the hwy. did not know it was that cold when i left and did not feel it until i left the city. hands got a little chilli. Got up this morning to snow and ice sheets for roads. Guess its time to pack up and put away. First bike and have only been riding for about 3weeks put 600km on and totaly addicted. Love to ride my seca, love the sound.

 

just did a quick conversion -4 is like 24 to you guys in the states.

 

Rode about a hour thursday and it was around 30F... It was last time before next spring and got to say it wasn't very pleasant.

 

last year i road at the begining of the spring it was 19F with windchill. that was a bit too cold. this year i got rid of my truck so gas mileage isn't as much of an issue so i'll cut it off a bit warmer as i road into november last year. pushing some low 30's.

 

You guys are hardcore... I guess I need to toughen up since the wife wants to move north... In my youth I would challenge the cold when I lived in Neb. (30s was the lowest) and that was with good gear and a short ride. I second the gear makes all the diff. Ride safe and WARM ;-)

 

Jeans and cut off T's year round. thats how I roll.

 

Herb, I bought a couple of tube thingeys from cycle gear. That covers your neck. Kind of like an insulated foreskin motorcyclist necks. As pointed out above, I would be careful with a long scarf.

I also have a balaclava that does an exceotional job keeping the frosty wind off my neck, chin, face, and forehead. Only problem with it is the dog, Bullethead the Boston Terrier, nearly craps himself if he sees me wearing it.

All, don't forget to try the 100% silk glove liners. Cheap, very effective, and as soft as a baby's keester!


Loren

 

Got my chaps yesterday. Rode in this morning with them. While it wasn't super cold out at about 50 they definately did their job.

 

Dave, what part of NE are you talking about?

 

Road to work today in -1C (30 F). I think my commuting days are done until spring. Time to get started on the maintenance projects! Get ready for more questions folks!

 

Wow, i guess I didn't listen to myself after that last post. -5 C this morning - and I ride about 45 mins to work. I think my fingers are still sore. No more riding for me unless the temp gets back above the freezing point at 5am (maybe next week). Not a big fan of ice patches.

 

-5C = 23F

 

There was a time when all I had was my bike(xj650). People thought I was crazy riding in the dead of winter. November-February, every day, day and night.

 

The coldest for me was -6C last week in the morning but it warmed up to +8 during the day! I don't know if that was to cold for me but it was definetly to cold for my present gear!! but the snow is to close to worry about it this year... I draw the line at snow!! drivers in Calgary can't be trusted on dry roads let alone in the snow!
Shaun

 

The coldest morning I rode this year in Northeast wisconsin was about 35 degrees. My hands were cold even when I wore 4 pairs of gloves, time to buy electrics

 

I like to ride until well after the snow falls. Nothing a good set of studs and good gear can't fix.