Anyone Ride Year Round in Northern Climates?

[mindman]

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.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

[QUOTE=mindman;696355]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

[Pirate looks at --]

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.

..Northern California

[Tierhog]

Northern Cal here too. Worst weather is 39-41F.

[KatLen0405]

I get out and ride when the roads are clear - we always seem to have a few days here and there during the winter when it's nice to get out. Riding in the winter, I only go if the roads are clear and dry. And it's usually just errands also. But, a pleasure ride in the cold is a special thing that most people just don't understand. So clear, so crisp. I find it very enjoyable. My motto is "I don't own a battery tender - I ride". I'm in NW Indiana so it can be a challenge.

[Copperman]

I have cold weather gear and ride year round. And, this will be my first winter on the Spyder. I don't ride in the snow or ice (dry roads only) but I've ridden as cold as 17 degrees.

A funny story: I bought my Spyder a week before leaving for Spyderfest this year. I rode it and had my first service the day before we left for MO. I went with a group from Indianapolis and we met up with the group from the east coast. On our way there, the whole trip was very cold and rainy.

We stopped in Cuba, MO for dinner and I mentioned the only thing cold on me were my hands. Someone said, "Are your heated grips on?" DUH!!!

Having never had heated grips before, I had forgot that I had them on my Spyder. You can bet I turned them on during the last leg of our trip.

Bring on the cold!

[Doktor]

I ride year round, currently in SC, however, I rode year round in Korea, think Chosun reservoir, I rode year round in Colorado, snow wasn't the biggest problem, black ice will put you down pretty easy. I learned a trick there, put your feet down and use them like outriggers, used that in Kansas also, where I also rode year round, in winter, however, I usually was more inclined to keep off the streets, ice storms are a regular occurrence there. I actually got frostbite in Kansas on my toes of my right foot when the temperature plunged to -25 unexpectedly, my car was on the north side of the house, and the oil got too cold for the engine to turn over. My Harley sportster, however, was pretty well sheltered on the porch, and it started, rode it into Ft. Riley, KS, both feet on the deck passing the 4X4's that had run off the road, gaining a reputation as a true "biker", and as the day ended, I, once again, got to ride it home, 45 miles, each way. I drained to oil out of the car, then poured it back into the crankcase, when I got to town, I bought an oil dipstick heater. I was not wanting to repeat that day!!!


Doc

[JkRbbt]

I've always lived where they salt the roads in the winter. Never had an urge to wash my bike at 20*!

[Kmort44]

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.

I live in South Bend Indiana which is as far north as you can get before your in southern Michigan.
Weather gets to below zero with moderate snowfall from December to March.
I wouldn't say that I ride all winter long but if there's no snow or "SALT" on the roads I'll take the Spyder out for a cruise. I never winterize it because I do take it out during the winter months if weather permits. Its the salt that has me the most concerned and keeps me from venturing out, even on non-snow days there is sometimes still too much residual salt on the roads. As far as gear goes I have a heated inner liner for my jacket and plan on getting heated gloves but for now snowmobile gloves work fine (Can Am of course). Ryding pants are a must.
I have a 2009 Spyder GS/RS and it doesn't seem to act or respond any different in cold weather than it does in hot, as a matter of fact I like ryding in the cold if dressed for it.
Enjoy your ride and chill,
Kevin

[Tony99]

Mineman I ride year around except for snow either on my rt or my yamaha super tenere. What you will find is that the rt has alot more wind protection. By the way I live in kentucky

[retired1]

SethO lives in Breinard, Mn. and rides year round.

[Bob Denman]

Check with Tatt2R or SethO...
They seem to enjoy proving to everybody that they should be considered NUTZ... or: truly dedicated riders!

[greatrides]

I ryde in the winter if above 25 out.....I hope we don't get a lot of snow this year

[NancysToy]

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.

[Silvervette05]

I have gone to work (19 miles) one way in 38 degree weather not to bad, but I try not to take off if it is raining. if I have a lot of stuff to take or pick up on the way home I take my car, I have an 08 5 speed.

[cabodan]

Up here north of the US border we Canadians we put ski's on the front tires and chains on the back and and drive around all winter.

[daveinva]

Ride year round in DC. When it gets near or below freezing, I bundle up for my (mercifully short) commute, but break out the heated gear for touring.

I won't ride in ice, but I admit to having taken it out in light snow. Spyder *can* ride on a snowpack just fine but it's definitely smart to ride VERY slow and deliberate if you have to be out in that (as noted above, the Nanny can't handle losing that much traction).

[flaggerphil]

When I lived in St Louis I rode most of the year round. I have a nephew in Seattle that rides year round, including when there's snow on the ground. He rides a 1200 BMW.

[yanksskins]

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.

yes ride in winter I'll bought freezer suit from refrigiwear .com . also got heavy leather coat, only thing change the distance you drive.bob

[GregP]

Hi Guys.... I ride all winter long as long as I have dry roads. Winter temperatures range from lows around 15 - 20 deg.F up to around 30 - 35 deg.F. The average temp being around 25 deg.F. I will usually put 1500 to 3000 miles on during the winter, depending upon how many snowstorms we get.

The RTS heated grips are GREAT !!! I don't use heated gear, just a Tourmaster Transition Series II jacket, a good pair of wind pants over jeans, warm boots, and decent wind resistant lined gloves. On the 'warmer' days I use a fleece neck warmer, and on the really 'cool' days, a full face fleece balaclava. This outfit will keep me going up to three or four hours before I start looking for the 'home fires'.

'Groundeffect' and I are friends and we compare notes as often as we can about our riding experiences, in particular the winter ones. He logs a lot more miles / kilometers than I log. The one thing that we both give a high amount of respect to is BLACK ICE. We get a lot of it around here in the form of unexpected patches where melted snow has drained across the road and frozen when the sun gets low in the afternoon. That's the time to go home and put feet up in front of a warm fire, and plan to ride another day.

I really enjoy winter riding. I treat it with respect and it rewards me with great rides, low volumes of traffic, and a really great 'novelty factor'.

If you decide to do some, have fun and above all... be safe.

Regards....
GregP

[Oldmanzues]

I ride mostly year around. PGR Missions or short trips in decent above 15 or so, no ice, little salt OK. I take the truck for the 1 mile drive to the mall. To much trouble to get "dressed up".
I had the oppisite problem with the heated grips as the person above. Leaving on a PGR escort, punched the parking brake, stalled the engine, repunched the parking brake (light still on), moved out. A short time (very short) time later, my hands were on fire. Only about 95 or so out. Bad word, heated grips, duh. Interesting discovery, pushing the forward part of the brake switch releases the brake. pushing on the forward part of heated grip switch turns the grips on high. Inches count ????
Oldmanzues

[EnjoyingTheRyde]

Up here north of the US border we Canadians we put ski's on the front tires and chains on the back and and drive around all winter.

Someone asked me the other day if I put skis on it in the winter...

[JJW SpyderRider]

I'm located at the north state line in Illinois and ride year round. Dry roads, no salt visible, and only during the daylight hours (black ice at night). I ride down to 15 deg. and put about 3K on October to April. The first two years no heated gear. Now have a Venture heated jacket liner. Co-workers ask if I'm cold and I have them touch my shirt which feels like a freshly ironed shirt.

Remember drivers aren't looking for cycles in the summer and really don't try in the winter.

[Motorcycledave]

I ride all the year I try to avoid rain & snow but if I get caught in it
I am always ready for it..
Dave

Northern Cal here too. Worst weather is 39-41F.

[boborgera]

I ride all winter, When i had a Spyder about an inch of snow was it's limit, Then i would wait for the plows to go by then i was good to go. With my Tri-Glide 4 inches is the limit. As far as cold iv'e riden over 100 miles on my Tri-Glide At 5 to 10 degrees F. Heated gear and no brains makes that easy.....
Salt doesn't worry me, I'll let the next guy worry about it. [when i sell the trike]