Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums banner

So how cold is too cold?

5K views 50 replies 34 participants last post by  redmosquito1 
#1 ·
Hey folks. My ride home from work tonight was about a 20 mile 24 degree F trip. I ride warm and toasty with my heated jacket and gloves and have gathered LOTS of strange looks over the past couple of years that I've been riding year round... I've ridden down to 3-4 deg. F, and discovered that at those temps, Sprint heat issues tend to disappear. Yeah, it's impossible to stay really warm, but man does the bike run great! So how many of you are missing as many marbles as me and won't park the bike? How cold is too cold?
 
#2 ·
As long as the road isn't icy and you've got the right gear it's surprising how low the temp can be yet still be ridable - whether it's a pleasure is another thing......

What matters is that you dont have too much of a fall off in human performance due to cold as that really could kill you if your attention and response times are down. I suspect our Canadian and Scandinavian brothers could tell us about what the pitfalls are of riding in extreme cold better than a UK rider.........but wet weather is a different story!
 
#3 ·
24F today and i rode the bike into work..(44 miles) I have on under armor shirt t-shirt, polo shirt and sweat shirt with 2 hotsnapz in my coat pocket, I did find out that my heat grips are not working..

I tend to keep my riding over 30F but today i had to take the bike into the shop. lol
 
#4 ·
Like you, I ride mine all winter as long as there isn't snow or ice. I haven't ridden more than 2 hours at a time at 20degF. My toes and right thumb start to get cold. Haven't ridden in much colder than that as it doesn't usually get any lower than about 15degF here. I found that my dog doesnt like riding with me when its below 50degF though.
 
#6 ·
Too cold is when it ceases to be a pleasure to ride . The grin factor is no longer present . Riding a bike has to be a pleasure even though it may be your only means of transport . When it ceases to be a pleasure , it's time to get rid of it ! If I'm feeling a little under the weather , and I know that I'm not really up to it. I just don't ride the bike . I think I can honestly say I have never ridden my sprint , or any other bike for that matter and not enjoyed it although I have ridden in pretty much all weather's , all my life . I find the main secret is to keep your hands warm . heated grips . If your hands are cold , you're bound to feel pretty miserable ! Cold feet not nice either
 
#7 ·
I've read in multiple places that the best way to store your bike for the winter, is to keep riding it. The temperature has never been the issue for me. It's really ice, snow and salt.

I currently have a 03 Speedmaster, but hope to purchase a Sprint ST in the next few months. We'll see. However, with the Speedy, there's a lot of chrome on it, so I try not to take it out when it's too salty.

Last year in Ohio, I was pretty much able to ride the bike through most of the winter, except for a period of about 3 weeks, when it seemed the salt trucks were on the road every day.

Daren
 
#8 ·
It was actually 28 degrees in SoCal when I rode to work last week. That was the coldest I've ridden in. Nearly froze my damn hands off. Got some glove liners so now I'm OK. I think I'll look into some heated glove liners though.
 
#9 ·
Over a week ago, it was clear and cold and 11 degrees F. I had been riding thru the cold because my truck is dead. I did fine in the lower 20's and even the upper teens. 11 degrees, and my visor was icing up, and my engine died when I rolled of the throttle when I got off the highway, and again when I rolled off to pull into the parking lot at work. I guess I need to take the bike in and have them look at it.
So far, the "reasonable" cold weather riding has been fine. I wear duo fold under my riding jeans, with my camo rain pants on over it all. On top, I have Firstgear Teton TPG jacket that I can't say enough good things about, over an underarmour knockoff made by Champion, and a duofold top if below 25. I wear a large bandana over my mouth and neck, and with the full face helmet, I'm good to go. Fly Milepost boots keep my feet warm and dry. For me, blocking out the wind, then a little insulation, and I'm in pretty good shape. I need new gloves though. I'm wearing a pair of ski gloves, and as long as I keep my hands in tight on the bars, the front fairing keeps the wind off my hands. If I open up my grip like I like, they get a little chilly without heated grips. Santa needs to bring me some nice cold weather riding gloves. By the way, the Michelin PP2's are absolutely outstanding.
Folks have been saying I'm crazy for riding when it's this cold, but it really isn't bad. My commute is a lot shorter than my walk up to the train station, and then waiting for the bus on the transfer. As long as it's above 15, the bike has been handling it fine.
One cold morning, coming out of my residential area onto the main drag, I stopped at the stopsign. And here was this idiot on a bicycle, 25 degrees out, and he's looking at me like I was some sort of idiot. :eek: After reflecting on the moment, it did seem quite funny. But I guess you had to be there...... :D

---Charlie
 
#12 ·
40 F is about the bottom end for me, even with heated grips and a Widder vest. As someone else mentioned, riding (for me) is not supposed to be a task, I have plenty of those! I used to ride my Trident 900 year round but those days and that bike are long gone. Salt or precip on the roads is not good- that's what the cage is for. If my significant other had approved the purchase of a '71 Honda CL 350 I would have my winter toozer! Tuition for the college freshman is a harsh reality...


denoose
 
#15 ·
Wow! -12??!!! That's cold amigo! With my Tourmaster heated jacket and gloves, heated grips and all the layers I have, I'd be scared to even sit on my bike at that temp. At 60 mph, the windchill would have to be equivalent to the dark side of Pluto! I've ridden in wet and frozen slop, but in my part of the counrty I'm fortunate that it never lasts more than a week or so... last winter, I did try to ride in on about two inches of ice because I thought it was funny--for about a quarter mile :rolleyes: of a 20 mile trip-- then I started to get seriously worried that I couldn't stay upright long enough to get back to my driveway. I made it home without incident and decided I'd leave that kind of stupidity for when I didn't have a choice.
 
#18 ·
. last winter, I did try to ride in on about two inches of ice because I thought it was funny--for about a quarter mile :rolleyes: of a 20 mile trip-- then I started to get seriously worried that I couldn't stay upright long enough to get back to my driveway.
I'll ride when it's cold, but the roads have to be dry! It's too risky with ice or black ice. Maybe if I had an ugly V-Strom with crash bars, then I wouldn't worry about it! :D
 
#19 ·
-12F is pretty amazing. My bike is a 2003, and I still have the same wonderful battery. It's never been on a charger or anything, and as I mentioned, I try and ride the bike all year if I can.

With the said though, when the temps get below about 15 degrees F, the bike definitely takes some time to start. To this point, the bike has never not started...

Now, I've probably gone and jinxed myself!

Daren
 
#20 ·
Today (December 19, 2009) is TOO cold. It will maybe reach 25 degrees F. Plus we are in the middle of a major snow storm with strong winds and at least 18 plus inches of snow expected from DC to Boston.

I hate winter. :mad:
 
#21 ·
Too Cold?

So I need to go pick up my bike this Saturday after it has been in the shop since before Thanksgiving because of a drag link recall complication (see other post). Anyway, the high here that day is 36F. So should I try to make the 1.5 hour trip in that, or just trailer it?I figure I could make the trip if I stopped every 30 minutes to warm up. Planned gear: thermal underware; baclava; leather gauntlets; wool scarf; technic track two piece leather suit; thinsulate socks and Alpine Stars leather track boots. Thoughts?
 
#22 ·
I rode from Richmond, VA to NYC the day after Christmas, I think in 2007. It was about 35º and rainy the whole way. It took 4 hours from RVA to DC, about twice as long as normal, due to traffic, and I was pretty well soaked and frozen by the time I got to DC. (I did have an electric vest, else I probably would have had serious problems.)

After a hot shower for me, a dryer for my clothes, and a borrowed rainsuit, I made it from DC to NYC in about 8 hours.

I would not want to repeat that experience, but 1.5 hours in 35º and dry with stops every half hour seems very doable. I recommend a balaclava, as the baklava is very sticky and does nothing to keep you warm unless it's straight out of the oven. :D

In all seriousness, do not try this if the only gloves you have are leather gauntlets. You need gloves with Thinsulate at the very least. Also, a tube scarf beats hell out of any other scarf for riding in the cold.

Cheers,
-Kit
 
#23 ·
Fiancee Made the Decision For Me

So right after I posted "Too Cold," my fiancee informed me that she had already rented a u-haul motorcycle trailer for Saturday. Aren't women great? $14.95! What would I do without her. So, I'll be all nice and toasty in my F150 pulling my dream bike behind me all fixed up with new drag link and drop link, too. I can't wait until it warms up and I can log some good ride time. It has been in the shop for 7 weeks waiting on warranty approval and parts to come in. I have felt so lost.
 
#25 ·
I'm a Suzzie

I have ridden year round before, but don't ride when it is around 32 F. Not for the cold, but for the road conditions. I live in North Washington where the roads are wet 9 months of the year. I'm too scared of ice to ride much in this weather. You all seem tougher than me.
 
#36 ·
I have ridden year round before, but don't ride when it is around 32 F. Not for the cold, but for the road conditions. I live in North Washington where the roads are wet 9 months of the year. I'm too scared of ice to ride much in this weather. You all seem tougher than me.
Same for me. It was near 32 this morning in Woodinville (near Seattle), and one cannot predict where there might be an icy turn unless it's actively raining, which it wasn't. The cool, clear conditions are the scariest, because even though the roads are dry when out in the open, under those shady trees lies madness. And bruises.

What I really need to do is move the thermometer sender from the front porch next to the house out away from the house. It was 38 on the porch, but 34 in the driveway (according to my car). I keep getting up false hopes with my porch thermometer.
 
#26 ·
I am in the same boat as you. I may get my bike back this weekend from its 7+ week draglink recall, and it looks like this will be our "weekend of winter" for Houston. The 35F high temp doesn't concern me as much as the 20-30mph crosswinds on the way home.

As for the rest of this post, I can ride year round and suffer through our "worst" 35F commutes on a few winter mornings without any heated grips or liners. I don't plan any longer recreational rides this time of year, though, and I will take the cage on a cold, wet days. I am somewhat bummed- with the bike in the shop since before Thanksgiving, I was still wearing mesh before I took it in, and have yet to break out the warmer leather safety gear.

Even bicycling year-round is easily doable with the mild winters here- probably one of the reasons I am still living here in this flat, featureless area, 150 miles from any good motorcycle roads.
 
#27 ·
the coldest i've ridden is in the 30s. I don't like riding in temperatures below 40F and ideally i like it to be at least 50. heavy riding gear keeps you warm (if you're lucky), but takes away some agility.

i think someone else mentioned this, but when you're freezing your ass off it takes the fun out of riding, so unless the bike is your only transportation why put yourself through that?
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top