How far into the season and how cold will you ride?

Question

I just got my bike out of the shop and I took a ride this eve. before wind chill it is in the 50s, riding down the highway with wind chill it was easy 20-30s. The leathers took the edge off but after an hour I decided to call it a night...

Answer 1

i ride whenever I am sure there is no ice on the road (temperatures consistently above 32F for a few days in a row). when it gets close to 40F I wear a lot of gear (long underwear, long sleeve shirt under my 2piece leather suit, light ski jacket with goretex lining on top of leathers, leather boots with goretex lining, balclava under helmet and insulated leather gloves) I also tape up the vents in my helmet. Cold weather isn't an issue if you wear the right gear.

also, i use fuel stabilizer and keep my battery on a battery tender but I take the bike out for a ride (making sure the engine gets up to full operating temperature, and i clean the chain if there is leftover salt on the road) whenever possible during the winter. I believe it is better to keep a bike running over the winter rather than putting it in a long storage

Answer 2

I'm in Michigan Bear, and the bikes have been pretty much put in the garages. Like in the days of old, the cold days are spent in the garage/barn, cleaning inspecting, improving and polishing until even the garage is too cold, unless heated by some kind of stove. Then comes the languishing by the tv for football and looking through catalogues and magazines for activities in the warmer states, but mostly earning a living takes priority in the winter. Many bikers have other hobbys that carry them thru the snow.. Bob sledding, snow mobiles, skiing, hunting for deer, bear and pheasant, skating and yes even ice fishing when thick enough ice can be found to fish safely on. Music makes a good hobby for a biker too. Knowing how to play a few guitar cords around a campfire in the summer is a good thing and you have all winter to practice. So... leathers are nice but a wood fire with a pan of fresh fish or game and a guitar strumming in the back ground when the winter winds blow is nicer. :)

Answer 3

I ride an Ultra and wear full leathers in the cold. For local putting I ride year round except in snow and ice. But not as much as in good weather. I find below 40 is to cold for a good ride. I can't drink beer with a frozen face. So what fun is that? Of course a glass of blackberry brandy can help with that. So I do what I have to do sometimes. But usually if it's under 40 I take the truck. I'm in Wisconsin.

Answer 4

What is an "off season"? Down here in the Carolinas, we ride year round...

We have a News Years ride every year. It can get cold, but for the past 3 the temps have been in the 60's....

I'll ride down into the high 20's generally. With heated gear, maybe down to 20 degrees F.

Answer 5

Does riding to work (50 min. commute) in 37 F work? I did that last monday and it sucked... especially when I wore the wrong gloves. I'll pretty much ride anytime of the year as long as it's dry and the temperature has stayed above freezing throughout the entire night. There's only one bridge that I have to go over to get to work and it's straight so I just have to be carefull on that thing if the temperature was getting close to freezing. But once it reaches freezing I won't ride until I know all the ice is gone.

Answer 6

50's ain't bad, you have to dress for it.

I run all winter but I live in South Carolina. It barely snows here, but generally I am fine to 32 Degrees. I have ridden to 9 Degrees, but I prefer not to. I stay off the Interstate below about 40 Degrees.

Here is the scoop:

Thermals = good
Thinsulate gloves = good
Scarf = good

You are right, it sucks to ride in the cold without preparation!

Most of out here love to ride, and will endure a little cold to do so, especially in the early spring, when we are itching to ride again!

Answer 7

Down in Louisiana 30° temperatures are not common, never-the-less, hot or cold I ride. And I am looking for to taking my bike up to Snowshoe for a ski trip. I am sure that it will be an experience.

On the other hand, high winds, which we do get regularly, do slow me down. They don't stop me but my bike and I are big and a good gust will push us around some. My gauge is when the stop motorcycle traffic from crossing the Causeway.

Anyway, ride hard, ride safe

Answer 8

I'll ride if the temperature is 35F or warmer. If you wear the right clothes you can stay warm. Below this temperature you can get ice forming in shady spots on the road. Sliding around on the ice is not my idea of a good time. Once the temperature starts staying below 35 regularly I put the bike away for the winter (usually about mid December). About the middle of March I get it fired up and start the riding season. It's 3 months of utter frustration.

Answer 9

I have found leather doesn't work as good as those thermal shirts.

Get 3 or 4 thermal shirts and then a sweater and then put the jacket over that.

You will be hot as heck indoors and sweating instantly.

That's my test to myself if I am ready to ride lol.
If I am sweating a lot and its really hot then I know outside I will be normal.

Also you can buy those over the head masks, the kind where you have eyes and nose and mouth breathing slots, you can find them at any sporting good store or ski store, and wear that under your helmet.

Just remember when you take your helmet off and go into your bank that you have that ski mask on still he he

Answer 10

I live in MI I traveled to a Blessing of the Bikes in early March. It was a 3 hr ride one way. It was 27 when we started, snow flurries. The high for the day was 50. We thought we were in heaven on the afternoon ride home. Leathers and long johns. I had an open face helmet, sun glasses bandanna around my face and one around my forehead. 2 pairs of gloves. Advise, chaps don't cover your crotch so unless you want to ride holding your balls, wear leather pants.