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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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#5 ·
I've gone -18* C. but max 60 KPH and not for very long as the fullface frosted up. As long as there is no ice on the road I will ride. I avoid drivers as much as possible because they do not expect to see a motorcycle in winter. Ideally my bike and I run best at about 0-10* C. with dry conditions. It is 0* now and sunny. Gotta go. See ya!
 
#6 ·
Depends on how much gear you have. Lower than about 45 you really need something fancier than jeans and a normal jacket.

I got stuck on a rainy 40 degree ride recently and my hands about froze off using uninsulated gloves.. I stopped at a gas station and got some one-time use hand warmers that hunters typically use. Stuffed them in my gloves and felt much better.
 
#9 ·
Lower 40's typically is about my lower limit. I've ridden in the 30's but it just isn't enjoyable; it becomes an endurance test by then, so why do it?

I would be happy to ride at lower temps, but I don't have any heated gear. Heck, I don't even have any winter gear - I wear the same jacket at jacket, pants, boots, and gloves at 40 as at 100, I just open everything up in the summer and add base-layers in the winter. I do have heated grips though, and they come on pretty much any time it gets down around 60 if it's not sunny out. Since they're there, might as well use 'em!
 
#10 ·
I'll ride anytime roads are dry, 27 F is the lowest I've ridden, I do have heated vest and gloves, though.
 
#14 ·
I've often ridden into the low 20F range as long as the air and roads are bone dry.

When the roads are frosty, icy or snowy, I'm taking 4 wheels.

+1 on the heated jacket liner below 50F.
If you don't need it you can turn in off.
If you need it and don't have it, it can be a darn unpleasant experience.
 
#15 ·
I would decline any rides in the low 40s or below...
I dont have any heated gear...but I bundle up in UnderArmor and layers...
The only problem I really have is the tips of my fingers going numb...

Heres me and a friend at Starved Rock a few weeks back...it was 45 degrees out that day...

...and yes those are Imperial logos on my helmet...;):D

 
#16 · (Edited)
20*

I hang it up at 20* for the commuting miles (33 one way). Of course if there is any chance of freezing moisture on the roads I don't ride. So, 20* and up without the threat of snow & ice is my limit for work. I break out the heated gloves at about the 35* mark. For pleasure rides I am leaning toward the 50* mark as my lower limit these days.
 
#17 ·
My lowest so far has been 17ºF. At that time I had a Fog City insert in my faceshield, no fogging up. My heated grips, Gerbing heated (full sleeve) jacket liner and heated gloves did their job just fine. My PolarTec fleece neck gaiter was perfect, as were the thermal undies from L.L. Bean. The thermal long johns together with the mylar/thinsulate lining of the pants worked perfect. Polypropylene sock liners and good socks over them in leather boots kept my feet toasty warm.

As long as there's no ice on the road, I'm riding. It's not a challenge nor a bother...it's a BLAST!
 
#18 ·
Heated gear has spoiled me. Last year I think I went out and came home at night with it about 21 F. I get a little trippy and don't always feel my bike is connected to the ground in those conditions. I can remember coming home at night and finding a thick build up of ice on the inside of my faceshield and thinking to myself that's a sign it's too cold to be out on a bike. I've also gotten hypothermic when it was 20 degrees warmer in the low 40s. I guess it depends a lot on speed and duration of your exposure to the wind chill...
 
#19 ·
:confused: What is this "Fahrenheit" of which you speak? Back in the old days I'd break the ice on my seat, pour boiling water over the clutch and brake cables, don my trusty Belstaff and set off. Mind you, back then I had no choice! These days my bikes lives in the garage from November till March. I've gone soft in my old age!
 
#22 ·
Next week would be borderline too cold for me - 30's in the mornings - but I have to go up to DC for training all week, so I'm going to ride anyway. Tuesday might be the only really dicey day; forecast for a chance of rain. It's only a 40% chance, but knowing my luck, I'll hit all 40 of it.
 
#23 ·
Told to me when I was 17 in a pub in Yorkshire, and tried to buy a round- "you're in Yorkshire now, son, and you'll not buy a Yorkshireman a drink". Got pretty toasted that night without spending a dime. :)
 
#27 ·
Couple of days last week I commuted in on my bike, 38-39F when I left in the morning. My riding buddy says I'm a wimp for using electric gear, but I'm a warm, happy wimp. Much lower, and I don't like the risk of ice; we routinely get black ice when the air temp is ~34-35F, if it was colder over-night.
 
#29 ·
coldest morning commute so far 27 degrees.... The roads have to be bone dry and hopefully a little sun shining... I don't have any heated gear so I think that's about as cold as I'm gonna go... recreational cruising has to be around 50 or its just too cold to for me to really enjoy the ride...

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#30 ·
I never commute( I'm a truck driver and I park my truck a mike from the house- what's the point). Usually only get to ride on the weekends. Once it snows I'm usually off the bike since I don't have a garage, and the place I store it is too much a pain to take it out for just a ride here or there. I usually get her out in march, but anybody who knows the northeast, it's pretty varied that time of year....from a blizzard to 70 degrees, who knows!


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