Any must have, and must do's before the cold weather hits?

It's coming eventually, I hope. But I have had to break out a carhart jacket and gloves for the past week. Other than that is there anything special to keep a bike running good once the temp dips down into the 30's at night?

 

Re: Any must have, and must do's before the cold weather hit

One word:

Battery tender.

Ok, that's two words.

 

Heated grips Oh yea!!!!

 

Warm weather!!!! Ok seriously if you do go riding make sure that you keep youself nice and warm. Lots of layering, Coldest I have ridden was in the mid to hi 20's. Fingers got a bit of a chill but the rest was nice and warm inside of my firstgear suit.

 

Re: Any must have, and must do's before the cold weather hit

I stop riding when it starts freezing. Black ice + two wheels = PAIN!

 

Re: Any must have, and must do's before the cold weather hit

You can't call it winter when you live in N.C. !!!!!
That's like fall temps up here. I'd be riding around all year if I lived on the "Bible Belt"

No, seriously...Feul stabilizer, fresh oil and a cover.

 

My wife brought me home a bunch of chemical hand warmers for my gloves. They work pretty good. But you have to put warmer on top of your hand or else you can't get a good grip on your grips. When I get to work, I leave them in the gloves. I place my gloves palm-side down so the heat helps to dry them out for the ride home.

Speaking of gloves... Get a pair that has a built-in squeegee on the left index finger. I LOVE that feature. I've been riding in the rain for about two weeks now and couldn't imagine not having the squeegee to clear the face mask. A definite must-have!

 

Re: Any must have, and must do's before the cold weather hit

The only thing you need to do is keep your bike covered at night so the frost is not all over it. Keep riding it all you can. I ride mine as much as I can. I will drive the car when it gets below about 20. I don't have the equipement to deal with extreme cold.
I like the idea of having a squeege on your gloves, I have to get one. It was raining today and it would have come in handy.

 

Must do... ride all you can before it's too late
Plan out all the mods and tweaks you want to do while it's down

 

i really want to move down south, i'd use the bike for pretty much everything but hauling groceries or whatever else.

 

Re: Any must have, and must do's before the cold weather hit

Up here in SoDak the temp has already bumped inti the low 30 and to say nothing about the freaking wind that blows all the time. But do yourselves a great favor and put on a dang fairing. I had a small Rooster fairing but my bike didn't like it in cross winds due to it being mounted on the bars, but this weekend I put a Windjammer on with much fuss because I had to engineer a mount. I absolutely love the protection. My 54 mile ride to work at 6:30 this evening in 48 degree weather and wind blowing at 20 was quite enjoyable. Those heated grips are mighty tempting though.

Has anyone tried to use Rain-X in the wind screens? I wonder if it is compatable with the Lexan.
The Buff

 

Does the fairing keep you warmer by stopping some of the wind? Hadn't thought much about that before, But I wear a half helm with a badana ties around my face like a cowboy to help with some of the cool air. And you guys are right, there is no winter in NC, atleast not anymore. We hit 87 two days ago, no frost yet. I can remember when you use to get a frost in early Oct.

 

Don, you continue to suprize me. I have never seen or heard of a squeegee built into a finger. What/who? Where could I see/find a pair?

Even Duffman has heated grips. I have to get on the ball.

 

No frost yet? You're luck down in Fayetteville. I am up here in Boone, NC, last weekend i rode to work Saturday and Sunday, both days there was frost on the ground. Found a neck warmer because it is the only part of me that got cold.