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Too Cold??

8K views 66 replies 42 participants last post by  hlmiskelly 
#1 · (Edited)
I was wondering when was everyone's limit on cold and riding???

Personally, it's not so much the cold, as it is the crud that makes the roads treacherous. Down to freezing, no problem, but I do Plug in for anything below 50º for extended periods of time....
 

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#31 ·
I used to ride in the winter if the temp got to 27f, but noticed my rims and forks became pitted from the salt. duh. so lesson learned, I'll ride til they salt the roads. I need to get some heated gloves tho.
 
#32 ·
You know, i used to call guys with heated gear sissies, like just take the car! Then I tried a set a few years ago and have been eating a lot of crow.:D Temps down to around freezing are just not an issue at all anymore, and about the lowest it ever gets where I ride is low 20's and that's doable. Biggest problem I have now with the gear is that it's easy to forget to look for ice when I'm this comfortable.
 
#34 · (Edited)
Amen, brother! When I first started riding I used to wait mornings for it to warm to 34 or 35, and go out on my cb750 in full Carharts, a half helmet, and goggles. LOL.
 
#35 ·
MY bikes brand spaking new and I rode it out of the showroom yesterday when it was like 40 degrees with nasty winds and it was evern colder today. So given the temp and the lack of break-in (20 miles), should I expect her to boggie at RPMs that normally wouldn't be issue? It seems the second I throttle down to 2200 rpms I need to clutch, even in first. This just seems a tad too high to ahve to clutch on. The weather perhaps??
 
#38 ·
We used to stud up the knobbies and ride through the winter, in the snow and on the frozen lakes.
That was then....
Now mid 50's is about a limit unless the heated vest is brought out.
They make a world of difference but a windshield, appropriate gloves and shoes as well as windproof pants are needed.

There is nothing like a ride on a crisp fall or early winter day when the wood stoves are burning away.

Riding this Thanksgiving was a nice return to those times that haven't happened in many many years.
 
#39 ·
Thanks Mark. I'll try to see if there's some sort of break drag but if thats not it I guess I'll have to bring it back up to the dealer for a look. I do have to say it's idling very rough even after running for a while.
Other than that its a nice ride.

Hope we all get to squeeze a couple more weeks in!

Anthony
 
#41 ·
When I had a 9-to-5, I rode my Trophy down to 18degF. After I sold it and bought the BMW F800ST, I've traveled (on vacation) in temps down to 25degF. I've got Gerbing heated jacket, gloves, long underware, heated grips, boots, helmet liner, etcetera. Toasty warm! BMW warns riders when the temps go below 32degF! Bonneville is fine down to about 35degF (windshield, no fairing).
 
#43 ·
So long as there is not ice or snow on the ground I will ride.

This past week the night time temperatures dipped into the high 20's (°F) and crept up to the low 50' during the day time. Put the quilted liner into my jacket, the balaclava over my head, and the winter gloves on my hands and now I am ready to ride all winter.
 
#45 ·
I'll ride up until they start to sand/salt the roads here. It's 35° out now, and I just put a set of heated grips on my other bike(the Triumph has them already)....I'll probably throw on some underarmor and head out for a ride. No heated clothing, just the grips.....have a nice warm jacket though, which really helps.
 
#46 ·
Being in Florida, anything below 45 or so is too cold for me. No heated gear. Just heated grips and layers of clothes under my riding gear.
I have ridden in temps in the 30's. NOT doing that again.
 
#47 ·
South of 5 degrees C, or 40 F is about where I stop having much fun on a motorcycle. I park it from Nov - March.

Those of you who haven't tried an electric vest - even if you don't ride in severe conditions - they just make those "a little too cold days" SO much more pleasant. When I finally got one 7 years ago, I couldn't believe how much better electric warmth to your core makes you feel on a cold ride.
 
#49 ·
My ride to work is short and the state of Alabama has one pile of sand and no salt so I ride to work everyday unless I have a reason to take the car or truck.

I try and drive at least once a week to keep the truck from dry rotting. Car gets used at least every other weekend.
 
#51 ·
Not sure how cold I've taken the Triumph out in but have gone way down in temps on a couple other bikes.

Got the HD Softail Deluxe a year ago and have been having a lot of fun cruising around at the speed limit. I also got my first Gerbing's electric jacket liner. I've had electric grips on other bikes but got some of their leather gloves to plug into the sleeves of the jacket. Very nice! I've also been using their electric socks riding my studded tire KLR thru 4 Alaska winters. My feet have never felt so good!

So anyway, I was able to ride studless till Oct 29 this year, the day before our first real snowfall up here. The coldest it got down to was about 20f or -7c. I've had electric vests in the past but it was quite an experience riding down the road totally bathed in warmth. VERY nice. I keep track on a calendar when the last ride of the year is each year and I've gone as late as Nov 9th.

From the last studless ride 2012. It had dusted but roads were pretty dry EXCEPT for one intersection that got compacted into ice that had me a little worried on my way out of town.



Lovely evening ride out the Seward Hwy, a Designated Scenic Byway along Turnagain Arm a few miles south of Anchorage.



Now about that "coldest." ;) Well, riding studs on a dualsport takes me deep into the winter. I don't commute on the motorcycle in the winter but have fun taking it out on occasion for a fun little spin.

I've ridden colder but this is the coldest with a thermometer in the pic:


This shot was published in RIDER magazine about winter riding, taken about 45mi south of Anchorage:



Warmest regards from way up north, Mark H.
 
#56 ·
I don't ride in below freezing anymore. It's just too damn cold and not enjoyable. I have done so. I was riding my R90S with a oil pan cooler over the passes from SoCal to the Mile Hi in Spring and Got very very cold. The temp was freezing and the bike got below operating temp so it was running like Krap. Had to stop at Dillon and warm up in a hotel lobby for about a half hour before going on. Plugged the cooler with rubber plugs and made it into Denver, but I froze my a$$ off.

It's not fun to ride in the cold and ain't riding supposed to be fun?
 
#58 ·
when I was commuting in Omaha 35 miles each way, I'd ride as long as the roads were clear and it was at least 17f

more than once I came out to snow on the seat for the trip home.

but even a little snow can't stop the determined (or ignorant!)

Awesome pic there, Ammo.
You could almost make it a Christmas card.
 
#60 · (Edited)
#63 ·
23 deg F yesterday morning. It wasn't bad. But it's only about a 20-30 minute ride to work in the morning. Watch out for the slick spots!
 
#64 · (Edited)
You the man, Charlie!

My road was dry this day, I thought I'd be OK, once I got on this road, I didn't dare try to turn around (Rocket Touring), 5 miles of curves, thank God the 1' wide bare patch held the whole way, LOL.



Haven't missed hardly any days in December here. It's been cold but not terrible and up until today no real snow accumulation. Lowest so far was in around 16F I think. Now if this continues thru Jan and Feb it'll be the 2nd year without a break in riding.
Same here, Jim, in western NY, crazy, isn't it. I got the side car on the BMW now, so even ice shouldn't stop me.
 
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