Anyone Ride Year Round in Northern Climates?

[EnjoyingTheRyde]

I wish I could get out over the snow bank... But honestly, living a mile in on a dirt road really makes it difficult to venture out after December and until April or May around here. Salt is on the roads until we get plenty of spring rain so it stays parked for at least four months...

[Flanker]

Yea. I John Wayne it in my Focus/snow tires with the heat turned up. Oh! Wait........................you said on my Spyder. Surely you jest.

[Spyderjockey]

Cold doesn't bother us we just dress for it with the suit from Bajaron or snowmobile pants and layering. We have ridden in the low teens before and have been comfortable even on long rides of over 100 miles. We have ridden on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day and a lot of days in between, if there has been sufficient rain to wash away any salt residue.

My concern is salt even if the road is dry, if there is salt residue on the road you can see dust from the salt flying off the tires and I believe it will get in where the computer "stuff" is and wire connections. Then if you ride on wet roads later on the dry dust turns into a very corrosive solution that could potentially cause major costly problems. Love to ride even in cold weather if roads are salt free.

[mindman]

[QUOTE=BLUEKNIGHT911;696365]

I live in Connecticut, and I ride year round. The only thing that has kept me off the road in winter is snow and Ice. My riding motto is: "There's no such thing as bad riding weather, just bad riding gear." Until now, all of my cold weather riding has been on my BMW R1200RT. It's what I used to commute to work. Now that I'm retired, I'm thinking that my Spyder RT might be a better choice for running errands because of it's higher storage capacity, and the fact that when I get my 2014, I'll have the trailer too.

Are there any other Spyder cold weather riders out there? If so, I'm wondering if there are any peculiarities I should know about how to treat them when riding in the cold. Logic tells me "no different than any other motorcycle", but I thought I'd check before I do it.[/Q
For starters if you treat the SPYDER like any other MOTORCYCLE you are going to get yourself killed. The Spyder is a defined as a Motorcycle for State and Federal purposes.....Otherwise it's a three wheeled ROADSTER.........Mike

OH! Maybe that's why when I counter steer it turns the wrong way ?! Damn! Wish I'd figured that out on my own.

[mindman]

I have ridden every month, road surfaces permitting. There are some hard core year-round members here. SethO and GroundEffect are possibly the hardiest. The light rear end and the traction control make riding in the slippery stuff somewhat frustrating. The VSS won't save you on a slick road, either. I'd consider some other means of transportation if the roads are slippery, and I would worry about corrosion if they are salty, but if they are dry plug in the heated gear and go.

Makes sense. Regarding salt and corrosion, I read somewhere that the worst thing to do in winter is to put your vehicle in a warm garage. The warmth actually promotes the corrosion while "keeping it cold" will prevent it. I don't know how true that is scientifically, but in all my years of two wheeling I've kept my vehicles in a non-heated garage and haven't had a problem.

[dancote]

I used to ride year-round in the Seattle area when I was working.

Now, I'm strictly a fair weather rider.

Regards,

Dan

[DoggyDaddy]

Living in sunny So. Cal. means temperatures rarely dip below freezing so 12 mo. riding is not an issue. Back in my Midwest days I lived in Indy and would ride anytime the roads were free of snow and Ice. I used my snowmobile suit for riding with a balaclava and was never cold. Problem was if I wanted to go inside to shop or have a meal. Then I had to strip off the gear and put it back on again when I went back outside. Needless to say, moving to So. Cal. in 1986 eliminated those issues, although I still have that old snowmobile suit stored somewhere in my shed!!

[groundeffect]

Hey Greg, hey everyone!


I ride everyday, year round in Newfoundland on my RS, as it is my only source of transportation by choice for several years now.


An interview with BRP in 2011 can be found here:
http://spyder.brp.com/blog/post-deta...0-9e950103f95b


In it I talk a little about the gear I use and how I approach everyday.


Be safe through any season everyone!
Cheers!

[Bob Denman]

Makes sense. Regarding salt and corrosion, I read somewhere that the worst thing to do in winter is to put your vehicle in a warm garage. The warmth actually promotes the corrosion while "keeping it cold" will prevent it. I don't know how true that is scientifically, but in all my years of two wheeling I've kept my vehicles in a non-heated garage and haven't had a problem.

I am also curious about this; is it fact, or urban legend???

(heated garage here... and no rust issues either!)

[Kungfuspyder]

In the deep south of Alabama, I ride year around, from shorts and tee shirts for most of the year and cold weather gear for the short winter months(December through February), I really test out my gear and ride when I visit some other state that is not in the south.

[Spidergirl]

No that's what snowmobiles are for!!

[Bob Denman]

[greendean]

I'm one of those year round guys. this will be my 4th year on Spyder commuter for me 60 miles round trip.
I live in the NW Puget Sound rain is the dominant weather issue. Cold at 3:30 AM on the way to work. No Snow or ice
I have experienced a bit of snow and the roads when slippery are a bit tense on the Spyder then again the folks on
their Cell phones paying no attention are as well. I have an electric vest and chaps also use the Hippo Hands I do not
have the heated grips my spyde is 2010 RS. Heavy rain on freeway do my best to avoid the tire spray from other vehicles
Well I guess thats all I have to say about that. Keep the rubber side down.

[mindman]

Hey Greg, hey everyone!


I ride everyday, year round in Newfoundland on my RS, as it is my only source of transportation by choice for several years now.


An interview with BRP in 2011 can be found here:
http://spyder.brp.com/blog/post-deta...0-9e950103f95b


In it I talk a little about the gear I use and how I approach everyday.


Be safe through any season everyone!
Cheers!

Thanks for a Very interesting (and helpful) article. I'm surprised no mention of snow tires or using winter weight oil. Do you use either of them?

[Showie]

I too am going to try and ride whenever the roads are clear and no bad weather in the forecast.

[otter28169]

My key to ryding most of the year in upstate NY is very simple, Layers. I put on my under armor, my jeans, my long-sleeve shirt, a fleece, my snowmobile bibs, and jacket. I use a "turtle-fur" balaclava and have just ordered a set of leather mittens made by "Choko". Layers will help to trap air close to your body and will keep you warm, but that is not the only reason you want them. Hypothermia can set in very quickly, especially if you sweat under your gear. As the weather gets warmer I strip layers to stay comfortable. Another thing I am thinking about adding to the equation is heated grips.

The only 2 months I haven't ridden in the last 12 were January, and February. I too worry about the salt, and I am open to suggestions on how to deal with it. I do not have a heated car wash to keep it clean.

Just sayin'............

[rock]

we live in west virginia and ride all year long...we have got caught in snow storms , rain turned into ice storms, pretty much all kinds of weather...as long as you ride smart you will be safe..just ride smart and be sure you are not riding beyond your experience levels....it is very invigorating to ride on a cold crisp morning....the coldest weather we rode in was about 10 degrees above zero...we dressed for the trip and had no problems at all..all though we did have to stop and get the ice off of the windshield until the sun dried the air ...

[MTFan]

I ride year round in northern Virginia. I use an electric liner and gloves once the temperature hits about 30. I have yet to wear my First Gear winter suit on the spyder. I wore it on my last bike between 30 and 18 degrees. Like others have said if it is not snowing and the roads are clear I ride. Got caught in the snow once and the spyder turned white with an inch of snow. I communte 43 miles each way daily.

[rc51ny]

I live here in Western New York State (you all have heard about the snow here in Buffalo???). I do ride all winter long--but not the Spyder. Too much road salt, slush, and crazy drivers to take the beloved Spyder out of the heat, warm garage for that. Instead I have a KLR 650 (dual sport) that I do ride all winter long. I have one of the Bajaron suits, heated grips, and a helmet large enough to allow for a warm stocking cap underneath. NO--I don't ride in the middle of a snow storm--but most definitely the day after!!! LOL Hey--life's too short to stay off a cycle for 4-6 months of the year!

[hawkiii]

Nice suit Dave!

[GeoffCee]

My concern is salt even if the road is dry, if there is salt residue on the road you can see dust from the salt flying off the tires and I believe it will get in where the computer "stuff" is and wire connections. Then if you ride on wet roads later on the dry dust turns into a very corrosive solution that could potentially cause major costly problems. Love to ride even in cold weather if roads are salt free.

Our Local Gov't Traffic Dept's brag at how much salt they have stockpiled before the onset of winter. I HATE the stuff, my wife and I refer to it as "motorcycle dissolving fluid". There is nothing quite as effective as salt water for aging a bike before its time.

[macgyver 55]

I have been looking at building a trailer i want to make up the framing out of aluminum have to research a spool gun for my welder do you have any ideas for this thanks Macgyver

I have ridden every month, road surfaces permitting. There are some hard core year-round members here. SethO and GroundEffect are possibly the hardiest. The light rear end and the traction control make riding in the slippery stuff somewhat frustrating. The VSS won't save you on a slick road, either. I'd consider some other means of transportation if the roads are slippery, and I would worry about corrosion if they are salty, but if they are dry plug in the heated gear and go.

[WarrenGH]

I ride when it's cold but never when the street can possibly have black ice on it, meaning the I don't ride when air temp is below 36 degrees.

[CyncySpyder]

Ipad 593.jpg thermo1-pcrainsuit.jpg Ipad 583.jpg

[ARtraveler]

When snow and ice comes to my road, I park it for the season. I have ridden in 10 above here--but that was on clear roads in early spring. Riding that cold is now an exercise in endurance for me. Back in the 60's with my first motorcycle--I was out there in MN in January at 10 below zero one time. Now THAT was cold.

For me, I have found the to be to squirrily on ice or snow. Regardless of the nanny, you are not going to be saved in a skid on ice. I have heard of a couple using studded tires. My local dealer tried it on his for a bit--but quickly parked it for the season. Others--that's up to them.

If you are out and about riding on icy roads, and in control--you can still never be sure that someone else, who is not in control, will not run into you or run you off the road. IMO--not worth putting yourself in danger if you don't have to.