Winter Riding

Any die hards up here in the Great White North who will still be riding after the snow falls ?

 

As long as the roads aren't covered in ice or snow, yes. Actually road my XJ a couple of times in March when the snow was still flying.

 

Fraid to say I am one of those too.......Short hops, roads have to be clear and the worse part is to take it real easy.....Tyres don't work for zip when its cold, people in cars are even more dense in the winter and mid-hi 30s really are not that enjoyable regardless how ya bundle up (IMO)....but, it beats waiting for spring if only for a short spin...........

 

i ride daily in the winter...unless there's snow or ice on the roads. but PA doesn't exactly qualify for the great white north. this past winter i was riding at 10 degrees F at 75mph and had to stop after about an hour because my hands started getting too cold. got some new gloves for this year though! i enjoy winter riding...seems there's a lot less traffic on the roads that time of year. and without fail, at every stop, some idiot has to ask "it's a little cold to be riding isn't it?" to which i love to shut them up by responding "beats walkin' doesn't it?"

 

Project....I'm also a year round rider but honestly, I don't think our measely 0-30 degree rides compare with the -40 to -80F they get up North....I don't have any inclination to ride in -40 degrees. I'm guessing by the time you realize that your fingers have gone numb, they'll fall off if you hit them against anything!!

BTW-wind chill has nearly ZERO effect over 45mph so once your over 45....there won't be any temperature difference to go 65.

jeff

 

I too ride as long as there is no ice or snow on the ground. It's funny, in Europe they have been doing this for as long as there have been motorcycles. Here in the States and in Canada there is a growing niche of riders that have turned to those Urals with the powered side cars for winter riding even in the snow.

 

I am planning to ride my bike when possible this winter. Ice and snow will keep my in my cage. Also it might depend on how much salt is on the roads. I am guessing salt is a lot like fine gravel I can see how it could case issues in a turn. Though I could be wrong. It will be my first winter riding, wish me luck. I am pretty comfortable riding in monsoons. Rode all this week and it has done nothing but rain here in Richmond, Va.

 

I don't like being that cold lol. Anything under 10 Celsius and I don't go out.
Evan 15 can be a bit cold, I don't like to have 4 layers of clothing on either lol.

 

Reading about winter bike rallies in Europe is what prompted me to ask this question.

I was born and raised in the north. If the roads are not slick, I will brave riding it in cold weather.
I do not really see the difference in putting on a snowmobile suit and riding a sled in the cold or a bike. I have done both.


When I was in high school, a classmate would replace his front wheel with a home made ski and ride in the snow.

 

When I got my first bike it was in October, so by the time I got it road ready it was already winter, but I was excited to ride so I'd go out on some of the nicer days with snow on the ground.
Now that I'm getting a fairing, I'm going to try to still make my 20 something mile commute to work until it starts snowing.
I pass a guy on the way to and home from work on a GL1800 and he rides EVERY day, even in down pours.

 

I work with a guy that rides everyday unless the roads are snowy or icy he rides, his motto for rain is it's only water.... One that I have adapted as well...

 

I have a 750 seca with the full touring package so it definitely helps to have the protection that a fairing offers once the air turns cold. Also, a pretty inexpensive cold weather outfit is simply a pair of insulated Carhartt Coveralls. I put them on over my armored jacket and I still have room to move. Plus, they make me feel pretty bulletproof - like if I go down I stand a fair chance of surviving to ride another day.

I often ride when the temperature is down around 25-27F in the mornings and I stay warm enough to make my 15 mile commute and arrive at work comfortable and ready to put in my shift. I think I would be good for about 20-25 miles if necessary. For the guys that are up around 40 miles I think that it may be pushing it especially without a fairing.

 

gee we are lucky overhear in queensland australia,a couple of times ive not been able to ride because ive overlooked a part or correct part while doing some maintance,its comfortable here all year round, and with the radar technology in place for the weather i can usually sneak in a ride between downpours,the roads dry quick.

 

I am not in the great white north, but we have been getting some bitch winters here in Missouri. I have ridden in snow, though I don't enjoy it. I have a couple dual sport tires on the way that fit the XJ, and plan to ride all winter. I work about 5 blocks away, and go to school across the street from my work, so not that big of a bitch commute.

 

Even though I live in Arizona, we are in the mountains
and temps will hit the teens through most of jan-feb.
at least at night. I work at night and early morn so I get
it coming and going.

Ice will keep the bike parked of cource but otherwise I'm
rolling.

 

Have you got any pictures of your 'wing, parts, I think they are awesome.

 

Not much to show yet wiz.

PO hacked it to pieces. I'll post pics as they come.

 

Colorado front range is great for winter riding. We can get 2 feet of snow in one afternoon in January and three days later it's melted and grass is sprouting underneath, with roads as dry as June. I just got my bike in April but I could have rode at least three weeks of every month last winter.

 

The white stuff, or that nasty so-called 'black' ice will keep me from riding. Cold itself doesn't stop me, I just wear thicker clothes 'neath the leather. I don't even mind the rain so much --- it's only water, and the bike cleans up nice later, 'cause it doesn't have a lot of Harley-esque chrome

I was riding this year starting March 17, which was when the ice finally melted from my long driveway. There were a few days when I rode in some snow and even hail, but luckily managed to avoid icy-ness.

My commute is only a 15-20 minute ride, but I won't risk it when the road gets slick 8O

 

Doc, doesn't your bike run extra well in the rain? It's not just you, it really does run better and you will never be "closer with your bike" then during a long day of steady rain....I know it sounds weird but those of you that ride in all weather know what I mean.

BTW- I heard on the news that we (between Richmond and Philly) got between 12-15 INCHES of rain during Irene....and that doesn't even count the remenants of Stan!!

jeff

 

Yes actually my bike runs great in the rain. I agree there is something that bonds man and machine in a good rain on the road! Yeah we had a lot of rain the last couple of weeks. Three good days of rain from the fall out of Stan, and I rode in all of that. Got a little wet but otherwise not too bad. The only down side is the cagers seem to pay less attention in the rain than they normally do when the weather is nice.

 

The cagers around here go fast and stupid in the
rain.
We have a hwy through the center of town posted
for 45mph-Every time we get a heavy rain there's an
accident at one of more intersections. It's amazing
how people seem to loose all common sense when the
weather turns ugly

 

Yeah, here in Richmond, Va no matter what the cagers drive like they are the only ones on the road. Now we have yearly safety inspections on all cars, trucks, bikes etc. I know their turn signals work, but they seem perplexed on what they are for. And, those mirrors must be for making sure your make-up is straight and you look good for where ever it is you are going, wouldn't want to use them to check for traffic in the lane your are just going to come over into.

I did see a woman today eating a bowl of cereal and driving. Yes she had a bowl with a spoon eating something... While driving.. WTF?

 

At least you can watch the road when you eat. Colorado didn't have the guts to make real anti-texting law when they passed one in 09. It's a $50 slap on the wrist if you're caught, and they really can't pull you over for it alone. That means every other person is texting behind the wheel and most of them are not good enough to do it with ONE hand. I saw a woman in a prius last winter drive off a perfectly dry road into a field of snow, spin a round a lot and eventually make it back on the shoulder. That's a texter. Hope she had undercoating.

 

And a spare clean pair of underwear!

 

I live across the river from st. louis, drive about a half hour through twice a day, and the driving habits compared to here out there are ridiculous.
It seems anywhere within a 40 minute drive time radius of stl is filled with a bunch of idiots who dont use their signals, speed like crazy, weave in and out of cars, and yes, i see someone eating a bowl of SOMETHING every morning on my way in. No wonder helmets are mandatory in missouri.

 

So winter riding was how I learned how to ride...and how to wear about 20 lbs. of clothing. Got my bike in early January of this year and rode it 'til it stopped running, around when I joined this site ha. Learned a lot of valuable lessons thus far.