Winter riding. By 89newbie (Read 497 times)

[89newbie]

Watched a video from Europe about winter scoot riding. Those guys are die hard I plan doing the same, but I think they have better tires. I got questioned about the scoot the other day in a parking lot and what was I gonna ride in the winter, with all the snow and ice and wasn't I afraid of sliding to a halt on two wheels? LOL he kind of lost his point when I told him I was going to ride the three wheeler with lawn tractor chains if it got that bad. He countered with how you going to get out of the driveway? My reply was thats what I bought a self propelled snow blower for to get to the street.

[kz1000st]

I spent a couple of winters riding a bike, except when it snowed. What I discovered was that it took the fun out of riding. Even with good gloves, long johns and a scarf the cold seeps through like water until your whole body is cold-everywhere. What I remember most was the pain of my hands thawing out from being numb with cold. It was like a vice. If you have a short commute-fine-but if you have to ride a half hour or more, take the car. I'm sure not everybody with a bike in Europe rides in the cold but a video can make it seem that way. They have better public transportation and can bus, trolley and train almost anywhere with a minimum of fuss.

After I gave up the cold weather riding and bought another car it was a good couple of months before I'd even look at the bike, much less ride it.

[89newbie]

Sept 14, 2011 5:58:28 GMT -6 kz1000st said:

I spent a couple of winters riding a bike, except when it snowed. What I discovered was that it took the fun out of riding. Even with good gloves, long johns and a scarf the cold seeps through like water until your whole body is cold-everywhere. What I remember most was the pain of my hands thawing out from being numb with cold. It was like a vice. If you have a short commute-fine-but if you have to ride a half hour or more, take the car. I'm sure not everybody with a bike in Europe rides in the cold but a video can make it seem that way. They have better public transportation and can bus, trolley and train almost anywhere with a minimum of fuss.
After I gave up the cold weather riding and bought another car it was a good couple of months before I'd even look at the bike, much less ride it.

LOL spent many winter days on the HD and still have the gear. Big secret to hands is the electric mittens. Big problem is the black ice, its there but you cant see it. Only trip I ever took I regretted was one weekend early spring started out at 38 degrees, dressed and packed warm clothes, naturally wore my leathers etc. Round trip was 972 mi, and the weekend turned out to be one of those weather flukes got up in the 80's and I was a roasted hog. Convinced me I need to drop a lb. or so. (dropped 60 over the last 4 years)

[jct842]

When I was around 21, young and dumb, I rode a small honda 365 days in a row to prove some thing to myself that I have forgotten today. I lived in iowa where there were many below zero days and snow that would stick a car on a level surface. I had knobbies on both wheels and still dropped the bike more times than I could count.

fat tires like scooters have just do not work in snow, tall skinny dirt racing knobbies are the only thing that works on the white crap you find on city streets. a wide tire is more like a ski or snow board.

untill you have experienced wet snow at speed you will have no idea what cold is. John

[Bashan]

I ride my motorcycle all winter using a heated suit from my neck to my toes. This year I'm adding a heated visor to try to control the fogging. It's fun most days but sometimes suiting up and dealing with the dark are a PITA. I do NOT ride a motorcycle or scooter when there's snow or ice down, rare down here anyway. I won't ride a scooter in the cold either. The electrical system won't support a heated suit and I'm not going to freeze my nards anymore. Rich

[runningslow]

I prefer riding in the winter down here in Florida, too. Too damn hot and humid to ride for the most of the summer. Its fine as long as you're moving, but stop and go traffic is unbearable. Not to mention the fact that you're very likely to get caught in an unexpected rainstorm.

You may have a put on a few layers on the cooler winter mornings, but I'd rather be bundled up than dying of heat stroke.