riding in snow

[dewie]

just wondering how other guys do it? I have the stock rubber on it and was going to head out for ride in the snow yesterday, it was snow covered road. and I mean snow, like 6" of Canadian snow hard packed by cars so I could wheel my wheelchair across with no problem. I did't make it out of my shovelled driveway before I knew I was screwed. as soon as I hit the road the bike was all over the place and I was stuck before I made it to my next door neihbour. So my buddy (210lbs)jumped on the rear hoping the tire would bite with no differeance, so he blew a nut trying to push me. And the nanny is a jpy to deal with when your stuck.

so what are some tricks for you guys who ride in snow? I'm going to take it out in the slush or a light dusting, but she is staying in the garage till it melts.

[boborgera]

just wondering how other guys do it?

so what are some tricks for you guys who ride in snow? I'm going to take it out in the slush or a light dusting, but she is staying in the garage till it melts.

This is my 3th winter with the Spyder,
I just wait till the Snowplows clear the roads,[usually one day] The Spyder is not made to go in snow 1/2 inch or more.

[bone crusher]

The Spyder is not meant for any snow at all...

I'd stay OFF the roads in any snow/ice.

It's not so much that you can't handle it..it's the cages that slide into you and hurt you that matter.

Get a cage for cold/dangerous weather...ride the bike in safer conditions...JMHO...

[pierrelogic]

I put a Kumho Ecsta AST on the back and it does have just a little bite in the snow. To get it out of the back yard I had to run across snow covered grass and it did fine but you'll not see me on the roads when there's a lot of ice n snow. Right now the roads are fine here with an occasional strip of ice on the crown of the road.

No problems....ride on!

[dewie]

Its not my daily driver I just wanted to play. I seen posts of guys putting on snow tires but that will get you so far. I couldn`t believe how useless it was in the white stuff.

I'm well aware of stupid drivers out there, most cagers are distracted. And accidents happen year round not just winter, I was paralyzed from a cager in a dump truck in the middle of summer. You gotta keep your head on a swivel and pray everyone see's you.

Guess Spydee isn`t like a sled even tho it`s made from BRP

[DarkSage]

I can't imagine driving the spyder in the winter. Here is Packerland (YAY!!!, sorry.....) the roads get plowed and covered in so much salt I don't even like driving my cage on the streets!

Not to mention that my little cage sometimes has trouble gripping the road in winter, let alone the spyder with all its 'nanny' systems as people call them, just start yelling at you from the get go!

Just makes riding it when the weather gets better all that much better!

[Lamonster]

I haven't had much luck riding in the snow either. If you're already moving it's not bad but trying to take off in the snow is just about impossible on a stock Spyder. I know some of these guys do it but they must know something I don't.

[SethO]

215/50 r15 snow tire off tire rack and get 2 120 lb sandbag tubes, take sand out till they fit under your wheelchair bracket or just secure them down on the back of seat and let her buck, you can not drive a spyder in more that 5'' of snow and do anything other than get home and to work and that is sketchy.


I have 625 miles on since the snow flew and I ride 95% of the days I leave the house, you can do it and if you are a full human you can ride more than me. dress for the weather plus 100+ windchill.


I do it so you can do it too, of course you need to have a plan that if you get hung up you can have someone there to help ya out and it is more dicey on the road but there are different challenges you face at different times of the year.
I will say there is NO way I could have road my rockets on days I rode my spyder, this is me being pre hurt of course.

[CyncySpyder]

I bought my 2010 RT-S to be my daily driver & it is
As others have stated, it's all about being prepared. However, when there's snow or ice, I cage it it's just safer & I have to much invested to take impractical risks with my Spyder.

I just took my 2nd 230 mile road-trip (Wed & Sun) yesterday from my home in Covington KY to the Indianapolis state fairgrounds where I bought my new Micro-Mate Camper at the Camper Show We just had a snow storm come thru on Friday, but by Sunday, the roads & highways were clear sailing. Tho, once I got to the fairgrounds, I was rerouted to snow covered side streets & you know how that story goes. Just not worth it.

But being prepared (FirstGear Thermo Riding Suit- thanks BahaRon) makes all the difference. You can always put on a snow tire & sand bags, but along with all the extra risks comes all the extra maintenance & cleaning

Sad to say, but the Spyder just isn't made for snow & ice I just wait a day or 2 for the roads to clear up, then I get my daily fix

[boborgera]

I haven't had much luck riding in the snow either. If you're already moving it's not bad but trying to take off in the snow is just about impossible on a stock Spyder. I know some of these guys do it but they must know something I don't.

There some things that might help in snow; But all that means is the tow guy will need a longer chain to pull you out when you get stuck.
A lot of nimrods found that out with 4 wheel drive trucks.

[Bob Denman]

Everybody has their own idea of what is an adventure versus what is just plain unthinkable. My Spyder will stay tethered to the Battery Tender until the roads are clear and clean. It's not the temperatures... it's just that I REALLY hate cleaning these things...

[SethO]

I bought my 2010 RT-S to be my daily driver & it is
As others have stated, it's all about being prepared. However, when there's snow or ice, I cage it it's just safer & I have to much invested to take impractical risks with my Spyder.

I just took my 2nd 230 mile road-trip (Wed & Sun) yesterday from my home in Covington KY to the Indianapolis state fairgrounds where I bought my new Micro-Mate Camper at the Camper Show We just had a snow storm come thru on Friday, but by Sunday, the roads & highways were clear sailing. Tho, once I got to the fairgrounds, I was rerouted to snow covered side streets & you know how that story goes. Just not worth it.

But being prepared (FirstGear Thermo Riding Suit- thanks BahaRon) makes all the difference. You can always put on a snow tire & sand bags, but along with all the extra risks comes all the extra maintenance & cleaning

Sad to say, but the Spyder just isn't made for snow & ice I just wait a day or 2 for the roads to clear up, then I get my daily fix

Everybody has their own idea of what is an adventure versus what is just plain unthinkable. My Spyder will stay tethered to the Battery Tender until the roads are clear and clean. It's not the temperatures... it's just that I REALLY hate cleaning these things...

I do things that the spyder was NEVER intended to do and there is different risks for winter riding and I guess its not a factor when you don't wash or clean your spyder like I do not.

I would never tell someone to do something they are not comfortable with just to try it. Its all what you want to get out of your spyder experience.

[mxz600]

This is how I do it. I get plenty of bite.

[dewie]

was this thread about what you guys think about winter riding or was it about some helpful tips about making winter riding possible, from people have done it before. I don't chime in on threads about putting spydee on blocks for the winter and charging the battery for 6month while it's under a cover so it doesn't get dusty.

when ever I start I thread here I always get lectured from someone

[mxz600]

was this thread about what you guys think about winter riding or was it about some helpful tips about making winter riding possible, from people have done it before. I don't chime in on threads about putting spydee on blocks for the winter and charging the battery for 6month while it's under a cover so it doesn't get dusty.

when ever I start I thread here I always get lectured from someone

I haven't been on here much this winter and this is the first thread of yours I've read (I think). Don't feel bad if you think your being lectured to. I don't think most people meant their responses to be lecturing, just their opinion. And some responses are people's attempt at being humorous.

It is my opinion when winter comes you put away the Spyder. It is one thing to ride when it is cold, quite another to ride on snow. Even if you found a way to make your Spyder get better traction in snow why would you even want to be out there? People in cars scare me enough in the summer, but in winter on snow covered roads.

welcome , this is a great site. Enjoy your Spyder and I hope you get good answers to you questions.

[SethO]

I haven't been on here much this winter and this is the first thread of yours I've read (I think). Don't feel bad if you think your being lectured to. I don't think most people meant their responses to be lecturing, just their opinion. And some responses are people's attempt at being humorous.

It is my opinion when winter comes you put away the Spyder. It is one thing to ride when it is cold, quite another to ride on snow. Even if you found a way to make your Spyder get better traction in snow why would you even want to be out there? People in cars scare me enough in the summer, but in winter on snow covered roads.

welcome , this is a great site. Enjoy your Spyder and I hope you get good answers to you questions.

I am sure some of the posts on here were to poke humor at people for doing things like this but I find it HILARIOUS that you say it cold and that you would not ride because of the snow when you have a snowmobile with a bad suspension setup in your picture. we all know modern snowmobiles can tail stand, its cool and fun but not good for lap times or real riding, plus it cold, there is snow AND people in cars that hit you when you cross roads.

Can you really ride a sled around as a daily driver in MI? I mean besides that fact that to maintain a sled is 1/4 more money for 1/8 the amount of miles.