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.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515130757.jpg

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:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515141356.jpg


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

No heated grips use light gloves and heavy mitts, I never get cold hands this way. Even the best gloves stop working for me in this cold.

Twin Falls Idaho.....I was 2 blocks from his house in Nov when delivering that bike to you....

we had the big ice storm here yesterday. I could only do about 25MPH down hwy17. get to a stop light and there is a guy to the left on a motorcycle. unfortunately my light turned green first. I was really curious to see how he handled the ice

HA! Same here, had my two stroke triple all thru college. Got real good at balancing groceries between my knees on the tank! Man, we ARE all nuts.

Darn, coulda got a tank signature.....oh well. How old is he?:D

not a fan.

i can stand getting dressed for it..then undress at the office..etc.

Obligatory August summer riding pic of someone you might know ( not me, but taken by me)http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515180111.jpg

Back when I was young and stupid in high school I had a Yamaha 175 enduro . Just legal enough to ride on the street . Used to drive it to school in the winter in upstate N.Y. now you couldn't pay me enough to do it :D

1984... I survived a winter ride from Southern California to Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana. I was hyperthermic at times, with no control of my extremities and no ability to speak. I spent the last 12 hours or so all night long riding at 5-10 mph through the mountains with my feet dragging on the ice to keep myself upright. I don't think I would repeat this again ;)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515182311.jpg

hey! that is the 750 Interceptor, right?

and you are insane.

I'm gonna ride my bike to work next week, as long as it's not raining. With my liners, any cold temp is bearable.

From last year's Utah trip. Passed thru an unexpected snow storm in Tahoe in May: (damm, I hate how my photos post sideways).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515186103.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515186126.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515186677.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515186700.jpg

I don't mind the cold as long as the roads are dry.

February 2010... life in the snowbelt.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4071/4...5478dba4_b.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4021/4...10c473a8_b.jpg

Boxing Day 2017... had to go out and find snow since we rarely get it where I live now.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4739/2...1e9dd1d1_b.jpg

8)

Great pic Wayne!:)

Richard was a good model 🙂

Here is one from in the saddle

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515255433.jpg

Life is too short to do miserable things like ride motorcycles in freezing or boiling weather, jump into frozen lakes, eat bad food, bang ugly women, etc., etc...

That's my take on it, anyways. :)

Around here, inclement weather turns car drivers insane.

50F in Denver area today....still wore the cold weather gear.

BTW, anyone have recent contact info on Wes? I'd like to get his signature and make a decal for the tank.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515368333.jpg

BTW, can anyone recommend a rear seat bag that is big enough for a full face helmet?