That was such a great area. I need to get back out there sometime.

Hijacking my own thread, but I remember I took some vo-tech motorcycle maintenance course one quarter or semester out there near the base. Can't remember where exactly for the life of me, but I remember the instructor, who worked as a motorcycle mechanic telling us a story.

Something about one of the other mechanics putting the finishing touches on a transmission rebuild. He'd kept all the little parts in a box. My instructor said that as a joke he tossed a spare circle clip into the box: he thought it would be funny to see the look on the other guy's face when he found that "missing" clip in the box after he'd put everything back together.

According to his story, he got distracted, forgot about the clip, and went to lunch. When he got back this guy already had the engine back out of the frame and was frantically tearing into it to put the missing clip back in.

He never worked up the courage to tell him. True or not, quite a story.

<endHijack/>

 

End of October I call it quits...the mornings are usually below freezing, and the majority of my riding is on the highway, so it gets cold fast and my tires never seem to get up to temperature to grip that great. The winter months? Forget about it....-20 to -30C temps till March. Sure wish I could have more than a 5-6 month max riding season.....You southerners dont know how good you have it!

 

Good point about tire temps ... doesn't take ice to get slippery.

 

In San Francisco you never have to stop riding. Just change the bike. Soon I will be pulling out the WR450 to run through the muddy horse trails in Golden Gate Park on my commute through the City. Looking forward to the rain!

Miguel

 

hot grips, ATV mits, fog shield insert, and chains....bring it! Don't like to run the SH unless roads are devoid of salt and shale, but often get days I can ride it. I only remember a couple of winters that didn't quit and one of these forced me into making the chains. I know, I need therapy but it doesn't work on dumb-asses.

 

I stop when there is too much Ice in the driveway to get back up it and resume once it melts. Up here in the NW that typically means 1-2 weeks downtime. I just bundle up, though heated grips will be coming this season. I do have a short commute though and definitely do less pleasure riding below 32*.

 

Chains -- that is really cool! Or insane. How well do they work?

 

i stopped at the beginning of sept because i broke my damn leg. if it wasnt for that id ride well into november or until the snow falls, even then ill do short rides until the salt hits.

 

It just came to me but I used to ride with a guy that had a 600rr, and had no other means of transportation for winter....so he had the local shop find some dual sport tires that fit, and proceeded to install 300+ ice racing studs into each tire. It was ridiculous...seeing him in a snowmobile suit, and its -20C outside. Good thing he had a crash cage on that bike. I think I may have a picture of it somewhere, I'll see if I can dig it up. I do know that there are some stunters that do it too, and practice on a frozen lake instead of a parking lot. Its amazing how much grip those stud have on ice!

 

It must take some *****..check it out.
ice stunting joeyb - Stunt Bike Forum

 

they work well if you have a couple inches of snow to run on. Run 10psi. Just cut some heavy dog chain and tied them on, some with plastic ties and some with plastic coated clothes line(has more give/elasticity if you can tie quick release knots works better than ties.

Be prepared to fall off and push the bike up against a curb or other to keep it from sliding when you're lifting it up.

 

I put the VTR into storage on Remembrance Day, November 11, and do maintenance during the winter.

 

Here in UK I try to run all year round - but the past two years with severe winters have meant a month off with ice and snow making it impossible if not dangerous. Just in case I now have a mountain bike tucked up my sleeve...

 

My wife and I rode mountain bikes in the snow, halfway between Anchorage and Fairbanks, about 12 years ago. It was fun, until we were faced with a steep downhill. That was scary... just don't hit the brakes... and hope for a long runout, which we thankfully had.

I really admire you guys that find ways to ride in cold climates, just like I admire surfers in Oregon, Washington and Vancouver Island.

 

these(ATV mits) help keep the hands from numbing up on cold-day rides. I bought these for cheap just to try them out and they work. There are much better ones available but i haven't researched them yet. Heated grips work well, but you need mits or covers if you want to really be comfortable, and of course a heated vest.

 

Snap!

 

Now those look handy! (No pun intended.)

 

I don't believe you. haha

Now those freakin tents that wick picked above(no pun intended)look like you could have sex in em. Seriously though, it seems like they would catch a lot of windblast at speed. I can feel the the air pushing mine back against the brake lever as in "auto-trailbraking", ya know what i mean, like traction control, ABS, speed maps, etc....

 

They used to be called "Hippo Hands" back in the day.

 

Ditto. I hate driving so I don't quit riding. Last winter was tough with all the snow we had. Ended up having to drive much more than I'd prefer.

 

.....when all your road bikes are apart in the basement...and you've been waiting two weeks for your friend to press your steering stem bearings on!!! I've been in agony every nice day I see bikes galore riding around

I picked a bad time to start an involved project and leave myself with nothing to ride on the street...Last time I rode was 9/18 on the track for my last race...i've been seriously tempted to take the race bike out for a quick spin. But slicks on the street is not a good combination, especially how ragged my rear is..

 

You sound like me and that's why you need two bikes, and to always keep one running. And despite salt or debris on winter roads, the dual sport fulfills my needs. For example, when i started the process of ordering the shims needed for valve adjustment, i was running around on the xr for parts. Someday you too will learn to think ahead young grasshopper.haha

 

I ride year round. My coldest hiway ride is 0*F, but have many rides in the teens.

I have tried everything but prefer snomobile hand guards. Hot grips kill your battery around the city. I dont think the hungry hippo hands are safe (imo). All you really need is a still air pocket.

I have had to shovel a wheel track width 2 blocks to a main streed & use it to get out but the cold shouldnt stop you if you ski or snomobile. 30* rain is the worst becaure it can freeze at anytime.

Touring windscreen is a must also.

 

Shoveling your own path down the street? That's more dedication than I have!

 

Small price to pay for riding. Its the ice chopping that bothers me.

 

My rule is that the roads have to be pretty clear of ice. Other than that game on.

As you can see the thread below I ride, weather be dammed! Its nice living in the south now, one less thing to worry about.


https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...oday-mn-13928/

 

I just set a personal best this week. I've ridden to work yesterday and today, monday being 27F when I left. Hands got cold (26mi one way) but everything else was toasty. I love my Firstgear Kilimanjaro and pants.
Fresh tar snakes are like ice at that temp, they simply move you over a few inches. And the bike runs like a vicious beast.

 

Hey wolv, if you plan to continue this you NEED handguards.

My old commute was 70+ each way & the one thing I can tell you is that something as simple as these artic cats mean no cold hands ever.

Which is why snomobilers who have heated grips still use em.

To me cold hands are a huge safety comprimise since we control the bike with our hands. Bad gamble in my book.