Cold weather and motorcycle riding
 

It was in the low 30s but dry as a bone and no wind. Put on my ski suit and face protection.....went on a ride.



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I'm riding out to the desert next week & having lunch. Been 75 degrees here, 78 on the desert. In between I get to ride through some nice, curvy mountain area roads - maybe in the mid 60s. Life has been hard around here lately.

You need Wes Cooley's autograph on that tank!

I like the cold.....btw, where does Wes reside?

I believe he lives in SoCal. He's on the face tubes... https://www.facebook.com/wes.cooley.7

I'm good friends with a good friend of his if you need an intro.

Yes, please do....

Watch out for the sand on the road....

Idaho.

He's a friend of a friend for me as well... he and his wife were here on the Island in August before setting out for a motorcycle show in Chilliwack where he was a guest of honour. :cool:

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Welcome to the club.

I had a freind who got divorced, and was only left with a full dress Harley. He rode that every day through the Winter to work in NW Ohio. On snowy days he got a ride from a freind, but otherwise, zero degree days, he rode.

i always enjoyed cold weather riding rather than hot weather. with suitable gear much easier to stay warm even on single digit days than it is to stay cool
on really hot days!

I ride everyday to work unless the road is snow covered. 10 degrees here earlier in the week. After the blizzard yesterday I have to take the bus

I just got this ride sorted out after buying it. Been sitting for 20 years. I have a perfect view of my elbows with the mirrors and it needs a few dash bulbs......but new brakes, fork seals, chain and lubricants. Goes like stink. Waiting on bar end mirrors from Amazon......

I had a similar model back in the day. Forgot how much fun bikes are....stay tuned.

I rode to Vegas in January a few years ago, left at about 6am. I was so effin cold, that I was seriously considering breaking into a house to get warm. I couldn't stand the 100 miles between gas stations in the desert, it was that cold. Riding to LA in a few weeks and will need time my departure just right to avoid the cold.

Guess I’m getting old. Have no interest in bundling up, balaclava, thick gloves with liners, etc, all to freeze while having little tactile feel for controls, fogged shields, etc. I guess if it’s necessary transportation. For pure recreation, I’ll wait until the mercury gets above 50.

Ride safe guys!

When I was 18-19 we had a winter that was very cold but it never snowed. Drove my bike all winter, -30C it was my only way to get to work and get to my girlfriends house. I'd wear my full snowmobile outfit, no different than hitting the trails.

Well had nothing else to do. Mercedes is in the shop. Couldn’t work my Lyft job.

^doubt its an age thing...

I have found my mindset is completely different once I adopted the motorcycle as a transportation/commuter tool vs. a recreational toy.

The only difference in my kit for 10 degrees F vs. 90 degrees F is an electric jacket inner layer under my Aerostich Darien Jacket outer layer, and I use insulated moto gloves as opposed to the plain leather I use in the warmer weather. The bike has heated grips. Because I practice ATGATT, 30 degrees is actually much better than 90, but you need the right gear and heated grips are crucial.

Before retiring I rode the R11 every day until there was snow. Even got caught in snow storms coming home. Thats some nerve racking schizzle! Then one winter salt spray got up under the tank and made a mess. After that I got very picky about riding over road salt. The coldest I ever rode in without heated gear was 9 F. Used something called Hippo Hands but still ended up with very stiff fingers.

I used to ride in every month I could. For me the two imperatives were :Traction and Protection.

I remember going for a long drive one day without adequate protection for my legs from the cold. When I pulled back into the parking lot at home, I almost gouldn't get my feet off the pegs, my legs were so stiff with cold. But oh my it was a beautiful day for a ride!
The other memory is of a ride to work and hitting a snow squall. It was hard not to flinch every time a big fat snow flake was on a collision course for my face shield.

Keep the shiny side up!
Best
Les