Riding in Cool/Cold Weather

[mark4Jesus]

This morning the temp was in the mid 50's and I noticed that the engine temp was about 1/3 upscale. Two questions:
1. Is is okay to run the engine that cool?

2. How cold will some of you ride?

I rode in the 30's and 40's regularly on my Victory Cross Country.

 

[jmatera]

How Cold is COLD

Glad you asked this question I'm curious about this too. I live in the northeast and I try and ride all year. Basically if it's dry out and I can squeeze in a ride I will. The coldest I've gone for a ride was in the 40s and man was that cold. I had no issues I did notice that the fan did not come on but that kind of made sense to me.

 

[Sarge707]

On my 2012 RT with air vents it was common to be at 2 bars during 35-40 degree weather and even 1 Bar a few times.

 

[mark4Jesus]

On my 2012 RT with air vents it was common to be at 2 bars during 35-40 degree weather and even 1 Bar a few times.

The 998 engine definitely doesn't have heat issues when it's cold outside!

 

[JayBros]

You drive your four wheel vehicles in cold weather; no difference with a Spyder. cold weather isn't going to hurt them. Dress appropriately. I ride into the 30s.

 

[mark4Jesus]

You drive your four wheel vehicles in cold weather; no difference with a Spyder. cold weather isn't going to hurt them. Dress appropriately. I ride into the 30s.

True, although the cold weather doesn't cause my car engine temperature to drop like it does on my Spyder. But, we are talking about a much smaller engine that is not enclosed as much!

 

[Mr. White]

While my group, The Hill Country Road Riders, ride 12 months a year, my pain thresh hold now is 40 degrees. The cold seems to bother me more as I get older. I have ridden with them @ 27 once, but it was too cold. Most have electric jackets and certainly heavy clothing. The good part about our area in south Texas is it warms up during the day....it may start out at 40 but goes up as we putt along.

:spyder2:

 

[Buckeye Chuck 54]

No hibernate

MY '14 RT gets run all year. In winter sunshine makes all the difference. If it's dry I can get out for a few miles in the 30's. I've got a heated seat and grips, a good pair of gloves and I'm good to go. Maybe someday I'll spring for a heated vest.
Chuck

 

[Spider-man]

This morning the temp was in the mid 50's and I noticed that the engine temp was about 1/3 upscale. Two questions:
1. Is is okay to run the engine that cool?

2. How cold will some of you ride?

I rode in the 30's and 40's regularly on my Victory Cross Country.

Internal combustion engines run by causing little explosions in a timed sequence. If it will run, it can't be too cold. The designers spend all of their time trying to keep them from running too hot!

 

[bushrat]

Two days ago, I needed to go for an early morning health appointment, about 7 or 8 miles away. Headed out a little after 8:00 am, temp around 40 F. Decided to go by bike rather than cage. I let the motor on the F3L warm up a bit, but I had gone a couple of miles before the first temp bar even showed on the dash. Hands were quite cool, gloves on. Wasn't until I reached my destination that 4 full temp bars showed. I only stayed about 15 minutes before heading back home. Bike was warmer by then and heated grips were up and working, so more comfortable. 1330 performed well; no problems.

 

[easysuper]

We ride year round, last year on the first of January we spent all day riding and it started at 27 degrees and never got over 34 that day. My wife rides with heated gloves, pants and jacket and even has a pair of snowmobile boots that she will put on. All I need is my heated jacket or heated vest.

 

[AeroPilot]

Bike runs great - Shield the body from the wind and you,re good to go

A day of riding in the 40's can get you cold without heated gear. But the RT has the best wind protection and heated grips of the bunch and you can put your legs up to the radiator vents to get a little heat now that it's fall. Good gear and sometimes a little duct tape around the pant leg/boot gap can be your friend on a cold damp morning-- :yes:

 

[foxtail1]

I've ridden to work some this week. Monday, it was 41˚F when I left the house, and today it was 47˚. I'm cool after a 25 minute commute, but not uncomfortable, wearing just regular gear (but heavy gloves). The days are getting shorter, so I'm getting to see the sun rise over the mountains as I ride in.

The reward is the 70˚ weather for the ride home!

 

[blacklightning]

My coldest ride so far was 29 degrees. Cold weather will not hurt these bikes. Probably going to be lower 40's and possibly upper 30's some mornings at the Maggie Valley rally. Not going to stop me from riding though.

 

[Chupaca]

Relax....

They use these same engines in the snowmobiles and they run in really harsh weather. Unlike some of the deisel engines where you need to heat them up before starting them up in freezing weather these will fire up and run fine...:thumbup:

 

[chaz7771931]

rode around 0 several times when it was around 0 without heated gear just lots of layers. We do the polar bear run every year on 1 January. Now have the heated grips so will be easier to ride when it is cold.

 

[d.o.spyder-rts]

I ride year round, yes, I live in the panhandle of Florida, but it does get cold her in the winter (30's sometimes). As mention in other posts, it's ok to ride-just dress for the ride. Dale

 

[MurrayBrown]

Cool/Cold Weather Riding

This morning the temp was in the mid 50's and I noticed that the engine temp was about 1/3 upscale. Two questions: 1. Is is okay to run the engine that cool? 2. How cold will some of you ride? I rode in the 30's and 40's regularly on my Victory Cross Country.

As long as your coolant is 50/50, you'll be fine. Just like your car/truck.
This morning it was +3 C ... about 37 F. That's v-e-r-y cool but we still ride, knowing that it will warm up later in the afternoon.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Things I have learned in over 200,000 Spyder miles. You can ride in the heat, you can ride in the cold, you can ride in the rain, you can ride in snow (well a little snow). You can wash your Spyder with water and you can run it on any gas that you can find (it won’t run without gas)

 

[blacklightning]

Things I have learned in over 200,000 Spyder miles. You can ride in the heat, you can ride in the cold, you can ride in the rain, you can ride in snow (well a little snow). You can wash your Spyder with water and you can run it on any gas that you can find (it won’t run without gas)

You are a trooper, and every word above is true.