The Secret to Enjoying Cold Weather Rides

[Tracey@Leader]

My personal minimum for cold weather riding is 45 degrees. Being a Minnesota girl I have to do what I can to extend my riding season for as long as possible. Few tips on how to enjoy the chilly weather and extend your riding season.

http://www.leadermotorcycle.com/blog/the-secret-to-enjoying-cold-weather-rides-89539e/

 

[sandeejs]

Cold!

My personal minimum for cold weather riding is 45 degrees. Being a Minnesota girl I have to do what I can to extend my riding season for as long as possible. Few tips on how to enjoy the chilly weather and extend your riding season.

Coldest I ever rode in was 20 degrees Fahrenheit. That was when I was riding to Florida, to get my Iron Butt cert. I wore almost everything I owned. Stopped frequently, to eat chocolate cake. I was sure that chocolate cake would keep my personal furnace burning.

~Sandee~

 

[rwc]

Winter ride

As long as the highway is not bad I ride. Snow mobile rides in much colder weather so just get one of their suits and ride on. If you live with salty roads and deep snow I would not ride but I live in Texas so I only stop riding for heavy rain.

 

[PMK]

As a kid growing up in New England, it never seemed to cold to ride or even consider racing motorcycles on a frozen lake. Almost 40 years later, and having lived on West Palm since 83, why bother being cold, tomorrow may be nicer...

I did not read the link, but certainly the tips are good. And we do ride when it gets colder here, not always, but sometimes.

PK

 

[Doktor]

When I was in Korea, my only transportation to and from work was my 883 HD. It was not unusual for the temperature to be in the sub-zero range, often -20 to -30, the good news was that I didn't have much more than 2-2 1/2 miles to get to the 121st EVAC Hospital, however, after I returned to the states, I was stationed at Ft. Riley KS, that first winter there, I lived about 45 miles from the base, on a north south road. It got down under -20, and the oil in my car, in conjunction with a weak battery, wouldn't turn over. However, that same 883 HD, which I kept on the porch, and sheltered, fired, right up, (grrr) I rode the 45 miles into the fort, at 7:00 am, my right little toe got frostbite and, then, I got to ride the 45 miles back to the house, but, on the way back I stopped at a parts store and picked up an oil dipstick heater, I didn't want to do that again. It never got above -10 that whole week, and most of that month. I don't know what the wind-chill factor going 60 mph into a 40 mph headwind but it was right cool to me.


Doc

 

[easysuper]

cold weather

We ride in mid 20s to 30s when the sun is out and the roads are clear , Heated gear makes all the deference in the world. All I need is my heated vest but my lovely Bride has her heated gloves, jacket, and pants.

 

[Gunkandpudge]

COLD WEATHER

I've been on the Spyder in 15 F. Wont do that again. But as long as it is above freezing, 32F, I ride. Left the house this am at 38F and when I returned two hours later it had warmed up to 43F. This weekend Pudge and I are heading to Dallas, cold or not. Being in Arkansas I don't know what a battery tender is...Ha.

opcorn:

 

[Brentc]

What a battery tender is

I've been on the Spyder in 15 F. Wont do that again. But as long as it is above freezing, 32F, I ride. Left the house this am at 38F and when I returned two hours later it had warmed up to 43F. This weekend Pudge and I are heading to Dallas, cold or not. Being in Arkansas I don't know what a battery tender is...Ha.

opcorn:

You don't have people who tend to your battery while your spyder is resting?

 

[Bob Denman]

As I've gotten... well: less young(!) ; I find that my tolerance for the cold has diminished considerably. nojoke But I still ride down into the upper thirties. The snowmobile gear comes out of storage, and the hot cocoa is being prepared! :thumbup:
My limiting factor now, is the salt that gets spread on the road. I won't put a tire out in that :cus:. I wait for a couple of rainstorms to wash things clean, before the bike comes out of hiding.

 

[r1100rider]

We ride in mid 20s to 30s when the sun is out and the roads are clear , Heated gear makes all the deference in the world. All I need is my heated vest but my lovely Bride has her heated gloves, jacket, and pants.

Don't forget the heated socks my favourite part of my heated gear with full heated gear I'm ok to 30 or lower but at some point even with full face helmet the air that gets through is to cold and fogging is an issue

 

[fratzba]

I ride as long as it's not icy for the most part, especially if it's at least in the 30's.

Heated gear makes a huge difference. If you can keep your core warm, your body will thank you.

If it's just in the in the mid 40s, I just use the heated grips on high and add an extra layer.
(The Aerostitch helps a lot too!)

-Fratz

 

[Casher50]

I rode about 50 miles last week when it was 16 degrees F. and I wasn't cold and recently rode 100+ miles at 28 degrees(I have ridden in -7 degree weather). The key to staying warm is layers (lots of them). I wear two or three pairs of socks, waterproof very cold weather boots, long johns, pajama bottoms, jeans, thick flannel shirt, Wall's Work Gear brown insulated overalls (like farmers wear), three coats (a thin jacket, a down coat covered by an extra large leather jacket, a bib to protect my neck, a full face helmet, ski goggles to protect my eyes, thick gloves/mittens and I turn my heated grips on high. Also, I have found that the wind protection provided by my RT with the windshield all the way up is amazing --- it feels like it is about 10 degrees warmer than the actual temperature!

This may sound like a lot of clothing but it is very comfortable. However, back in 1974 I rode 850 miles on a 350 Honda in 40-50 degree temps and about froze to death. I was young, dumb and woefully under dressed.

In June I'll be 66 and would hate to ride only on days above 60 degrees or some other arbitrary temp. Riding is the cold greatly extends my riding season. The only time I won't ride is on ice and snow.

Riding in the cold can be fun.

 

[Tracey@Leader]

I rode about 50 miles last week when it was 16 degrees F. and I wasn't cold and recently rode 100+ miles at 28 degrees(I have ridden in -7 degree weather). The key to staying warm is layers (lots of them). I wear two or three pairs of socks, waterproof very cold weather boots, long johns, pajama bottoms, jeans, thick flannel shirt, Wall's Work Gear brown insulated overalls (like farmers wear), three coats (a thin jacket, a down coat covered by an extra large leather jacket, a bib to protect my neck, a full face helmet, ski goggles to protect my eyes, thick gloves/mittens and I turn my heated grips on high. Also, I have found that the wind protection provided by my RT with the windshield all the way up is amazing --- it feels like it is about 10 degrees warmer than the actual temperature!

This may sound like a lot of clothing but it is very comfortable. However, back in 1974 I rode 850 miles on a 350 Honda in 40-50 degree temps and about froze to death. I was young, dumb and woefully under dressed.

In June I'll be 66 and would hate to ride only on days above 60 degrees or some other arbitrary temp. Riding is the cold greatly extends my riding season. The only time I won't ride is on ice and snow.

Riding in the cold can be fun.

Sounds like a lot of clothes, but if you are warm that is all that matters. It is not the cold so much as the roads here in Minnesota. Too much snow and ice. Although not so much of that this year.

 

[latony007]

If it drops below 55 forget it, even that i have to be really desperate to ride. Usually under 60 and i call it quits. good thing is that means about 4-5 weekends a year max i cant ride