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riding

9K views 31 replies 22 participants last post by  LarryinSeattle 
#1 ·
what are some tips for riding in the cold weather that has set in on us
 
#4 ·
cold weather riding

Actually in Alberta we ride cold weather all year round!!!
When it gets really cold we put ski out riggers on and use huskies to pull the bikes.
All joking aside..... I ride until not safe to do so, meaning that when the roads are to the point that water will freeze on them in the shade.
First thing in the morning is for me the most dangerous time, roads are really slick. I look out of the window and check current road conditions also checking the weather network and local tv channels, but i find that listening to the radio reports for traffic conditions is a good bet.
As to clothing LAYERS LAYERS LAYERS, its easy to take off if your hot.
Heated seats are great for keeping your core warm but I find that the heated grips only keep the inside of my hand warm, the outside still gets cold so a very good set of cold weather gloves is a must. I also wear a full face hood under my helmet only problem is fogging of glasses.
That's my 2 cents worth. There will be others, hopefully that will chime in.
Oh yes also take it easy first thing in the morning, your tires are very cold so warm them up for a longer time before leaning into those corners too much
 
#5 ·
I usually ride until it gets to be to punishing to enjoy or weather conditions warrant putting the Wing to bed for the winter. Dress in layers, heavy socks, boots and gloves. I also have the heated grips and seat which helps. If weather permits I can ride into mid-December. After that, all bets are off.

Whenever and wherever you ride, ride safe.
 
#13 ·
i agree but i wear tourmaster synergy electric jacket and pants liners and cold-tex gloves. cabels fleece lined jeans and over pants are good by them self down to the mid 30's. a pair of wigwam winter sox and my trusty tourmaster response sc boots. i usually don't get cold feet , i work most of the winter outside and don't wear boots or get cold feet. all this talk about cold feet, we are talking about biking in cold weather arn't we? :)
 
#9 ·
I normally ride down to about 3 or 4 degrees C. ( 37 to 40 F.) A side from a good suit, layers, and use a long sleeve thermal liner, I wear a belaclava under my helmet. I have heated seat and grips, and find that the Baker Air Wings, on the mirrors, upper and lowers really make a difference, especially on the hands. I never get cold hands. Feet sometimes get cold after a while, but if I get real uncomfortable, I'll put on my rain boots over my regular boots.

If it gets much colder, I get out the snowmobile.
 
#10 ·
For seious cold weather riding, Joe"s right about heated gear especially the vest to keep your core warm. Full riding pants (insulated) are a must as well as good gloves with thinsulate liners. a good neck protector is also very valuable. Strat is only kidding about the snowplow btw (at least I hope so lol). Even if there is no threat of ice on the roads, m/c tyres don't like cold (near, at or below freezing) pavement. Once there is any accumulation of white stuffand the tempersture refuses to break the frost mark the scoot goes into her lair and my snowmobile takes over.
 
#15 ·
my trusty tourmaster response sc boots. i usually don't get cold feet
Doc seems you & I have similar equipment likes. I love my Tourmster boots, can't believe they are a resonable price for how well they work & comfortable that you literally can wear them all day.
 
#17 ·
the heel support inside the boot was too low so i added a dr. schrols heel pad, works great for me. took off this morning, 34f outside. jacket liner on low cabela fleece lined jeans and tourmaster quest over pants, left the electric pants liners at home. only 48 miles and an hour and a half later i made it back home. i was looking for and outdoor thermometer to take a pic of with the wing in front of it but no luck
 
#16 ·
A long trip in the cold I have never done. The coldest I have riden in was over Mt Hotham Victoria. If its going to get coolder than that I will not be with you. I have done rides at 2-4c for 200 miles and that was cold. To me thats brass monkey weather.
 
#18 ·
I used to escort funerals on a motorcycle. We rode unless the rode was covered. I have been out in ZERO Fahrenheit and wow thats not fun. I had three issues my hands and my feet and my feet. I could come home from a run jump in the shower and my feet would still be cold when I got out. First layer would be under armour and then work my way out. I tried elec socks different boots and never found heat. Nylon bibs worked very well...Sorry Im jumpin around...Im going to go ride!! Stay warm
 
#20 ·
All good advice. But as another Canadian, I find only one thing works when the weather here does not permit riding... I go to Phoenix, AZ. Have an older bike down there, but it works just fine when no one here at home is thinking about riding, well maybe in their dreams!

Jason
 
#21 ·
The solution to the winter riding problem is so simple I really get tired of talking about it. Buy a heated seat, heated grips, electric socks and pants and vest and gloves, put wind deflectors in front of your handlebar grips, buy a tall windshield, and go for a ride.
Then, have a yard sale. Get rid of all that junk, And move to GEORGIA.
My favorite ride of 2010 was my FIRST one of the year. It was on New Years Day (as in January first) and I did 135 miles in the company of more than 100 other bikes. It was glorious.
 
#22 ·
My trick is heated vest with a fleece top, heated grips, regular boots that are insulated. I just purchased a nice pair of over pants that are insulated and looking forward to see how they work.
 
#23 ·
that a good idea oldbikerfarte and i'll do just that when i retire in 15 years if there is still such a thing as retirement :)
 
#24 ·
The little doors in front of the feet seem to really make a difference with wind, and rain. I get a lot less flapping of my pants with them open. Do they really keep my feet warm when it gets real cold - not really.

I just took my GW into the dealer today for storage where she'll be nice and warm until I pick her up in March. I'm always sad to put her away, but heck it snowed here Sat. night. Another couple of months and we'll have the snowmobile out. Just a note, it has to be very cold (-30 or more) for me to get cold on the snowmobile.
 
#25 ·
I notice the doors work when its in the 50's. You can feel a difference, but once in the 40's I dont know if they are open or shut with out looking.
I cant believe that people put away their motorcycle at a dealer for the winter. I know we are WAY south of Canada but it seems that you could ride at least once a month or something. :eek: just saying!
 
#26 ·
I for one put my bike away at a dealer, because in the winter, I park both my cars in the garage, so I don't have to clean snow off them or get into a cold car in the morning. The down side of keeping cars in the garage in the winter is they track in all the salt and slush, making for a humid and corressive combination.

We also have a law in Quebec that all vechicles must be equiped with snow tires between Dec 15th & Mar 15th, ( subject to a ticket) and since they don't make snow tires for bikes, I just bite the bullet, not to mention the fact that motorcyle tires just don't adhere well in the cold weather. Years ago, I use to race dirt bikes on the ice ( frozen Lakes).. We'd put self tapping screws in the nobbies. Had a ball. Now that was cold!
 
#27 ·
I am from Maryland and I guess it all depends on how cold it gets. Layers work great until you get down to the teens and single digits. I do not ride in the snow or ice but do ride all year long. I have left the house when it was 7 degrees and think nothing of it when it is 15 or 20 degrees. However, I have full Gerbings heated gear under a First Gear one piece suit. I have rode like that for several years on the old bike. Now that I have the Wing with heated seats and grips, it is great, just don't snow or ice over and I'll keep riding. I think the Gerbings heated clothing is a great way to go. Once you use it, you will ask yourself why you didn't get it sooner.
 
#29 ·
easyrider, that is a great suit. It is the exact one that I use. Had it on this morning as a matter of fact. It was 33 degrees when I left the house this morning. I wear the Gerbings heated clothes under it. Nice and toasty warm no matter how cold it gets !! Works fantastic in a cold rain also. You can not go wrong with it.
 
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