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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | In contrast response to famed webmaster on how one winterizes their machine, I have to ask those who continue to ride throughout the year. It's hard to be concerned about them Florida or Texas folk and points along the way, West and East where the temp does not get below 50 or 40 at best. I'm looking at the folks where the frost hits early and the chills can be into the 30s or below for stretches at a time and you choose to still ride.
For me,when the cold wind blows I begin to layer my clothing, normally wearing long-sleeves year round, I add to that long-johns. I'll wear the top long john for short rides down to 30, and wear lined chaps with jacket and gaunlets. I also have a neck cuff, and wear a bandana across the face. I also opt for the tall winshield though I could survive with the stock shield. If it is below 30 or I'll be in extended cold, the long-john bottoms go on, and thicker socks. I'll use the hunter boot toe warmers if riding for extended periods. I've been good down to the teens and will stop before the chill sets in. The way I dress I warm up very quickly when I stop, so I'll go indoors and take off the leathers to warm back up. Then I'll go back outside before I'll be my leathers back on to keep from sweating.
I'm moving into my 6th winter riding again so I've got going what works well for me, and know my limitations. I doubt I'll go with heated gear as I've not seen a real need for it yet and don't want to get spoiled too early. I think I'll start appreciating it in about 2 or 3 years when I start getting thin blood from being old. For me the heated grips and seat don't go on unless it is below 30 as I don't see a need until then.
Having good tires into the winter is a must and I just put a set on order that should be here next week. I'll be ready for another season. I've got to a 5w40 synthetic oil and I've very pleased with it for the cooler tempatures.
Edited by varyder 2010-10-28 12:50 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | I ride year round I like to wear a thermal shirt, a sweatshirt and my leather coat and chaps. I love the seat heat and grips. Have had my Vision out in 20 degrees F very comfy
Edited by Trekwolf164 2010-10-28 1:20 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Trekwolf164 - 2010-10-28 2:18 PM
I ride year round I like to wear a thermal shirt, a sweatshirt and my leather coat and chaps. I love the seat heat and grips. Have had my Vision out in 20 degrees F very comfy
..just watch out for the dear deer... |
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | Well I live just north of Tucson, ride all year of course but still get the occasional high teens to 20's depending on if I ride north or leave in the early morning. I have leftover heated vest and gloves from the harley that I use and a pair of Insulated over pants. I think that if there was no ice or snow I would ride down to single digit weather with these...
mike |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| This will be my first winter riding, and here is my plan.
Temps that produce frozen bridges, snow, or sleet I will break out my truck key and avoid killing myself. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Pacific Northwest - I plug in my battery-tender and put on the light dust/rain cover in the bikeport to keep the bike clean during the rainy days, and the rare snow day.
When the skies clear and the roads dry - I ride. Electric vests, chaps, long johns, winter gloves, clothing in 'layers' in case it warms up more than you expect.
I rarely go more than 2 weeks without getting the bike on the roads. It is better for the bike to be ridden than to be winterized and left for months. I learned this 40 years ago - and since then have always kept the bike insured and ready to ride. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 141
| Get on the snowmobile..... ))) |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 741
Central New York | I do between 50 and 80 miles a day but seldom more than 20 miles a clip then I'm inside for an hour or two, so I need to dress "easy". Long John's are standard equipment below 50 degrees. Love a good turtle neck with a flannel shirt. Jeans and my leather jacket. Leather gloves w/thinnselate lining. I always use a modular helmet (is-max) so face is no problem, but I do have to put in the breath box below 50 degrees. I'll ride in anything short of freezing rain. |
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Tourer
Posts: 394
Tucson, AZ | Leather jacket with a liner, medium weight gloves, turn on the heated grips and seat, that's it. Then watch my Harley buddy shiver on his Road King. |
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | In the last 15 years I've ridden every month of the year except for two that were just unthinkable (one December & one January) I'll switch over to my Schuberth full face helmet, wear my Olympia jacket W/ silk scarf & pants and my usual gloves and enjoy the Colorado scenery-Brian |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | varyder - 2010-10-28 1:22 PM
Trekwolf164 - 2010-10-28 2:18 PM
I ride year round I like to wear a thermal shirt, a sweatshirt and my leather coat and chaps. I love the seat heat and grips. Have had my Vision out in 20 degrees F very comfy
..just watch out for the dear deer...
I still white knuckle when I see one of those moving road blocks |
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Tourer
Posts: 323
Troy, NY | For Upstate NY I just have my Sliders Jacket and Pants in the morning when in the upper 30s. I still used my leather summer gloves and kick on the heated grips. When it gets into the 20s and lower 30s I have some winter gloves and I have a neck warmer. That is it......oh and of course the lowers. Without the lowers I would be much colder. I will use the heat warmer for the 20-30 weather or if I don't have my Sliders pants on when its 30-40s.
Aside from the jacket.....I don't wear anything special underneath......just normal work cloths. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 156
Bluff Park, Alabama - God's Country! 2011 PW VV | +10 on the Olympia!!!!
ByteN2it - 2010-10-28 6:34 PM
In the last 15 years I've ridden every month of the year except for two that were just unthinkable (one December & one January) I'll switch over to my Schuberth full face helmet, wear my Olympia jacket W/ silk scarf & pants and my usual gloves and enjoy the Colorado scenery-Brian |
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Cruiser
Posts: 91
| Want to go for a ride?
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Of course this was before my cancer treatment last winter, my hands and feet get cold quick now so all this could change.
I have silk long johns, silk scarf, insulated leather jacket with high zip collar, full helmet, leather pants, Victory cold weather gloves and my Victory engineer boots. When it gets real cold, near freezing or lower, I have leather snowmobile bibs and ATV insulated boots.
Silk works great because you won't sweat in it while wearing it indoors. I like boots that don't have laces cause it seems like the wind blows in.
I do not ride when the temp is near freezing or below and the road is not completely dry.
Heated grips, seat, lowers and windshield up sure help the bike keep me warmer. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 204
West Knoxville TN | I have ridden every month since I bought the vision and plan on doing so this winter as well. I hate being cold and hope to get a set of heated clothes. Until then I will wear my insulated pants, my wind resistant fleece lined jacket, my leather jacket, and tourmaster gloves. I rode in temps as low as 24 last year but I dont enjoy the cold. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| all year rider...Gerbings liner and gloves. love them. along with the heated seats i have yet to not ride due to too cold...no such thing. ride safe
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | My record is 11 degrees and I have lots of layers of good gear, gloves, helmets. The only area that constantly gets cold at those extreme temps is my lap. I think I'm gonna put a 12V socket in the side fairing and buy a pair of Gerbing heated overpants with a controller. My torso and hands (and even feet) are always ok. I remember riding to work (25 miles) on really cold, windy days and it didn't feel cold until I let go of the heated grips, got off the heated seat and started walking the 50 yards from the parking lot into the building. "BRRRR! Dang it's cold out here!" I learned real quick not to take any gear off until I got inside. I don't have my winter skin yet. 40's feels pretty cool right now. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Tom, having a wired liner and over-pants, I would tell you to get one size larger pants and get the pant liner. It is, not only cheaper, but significantly warmer than the over-pants. The over-pants from Gerbing are really bulky. If I had to do it again, I would go up in jean size for this purpose. I would probably be $100 ahead with two pairs of jeans. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 70
Fryeburg ME | This has been some great reading with good tips. Please help me with what you do about SALT covered roads, is it not hard on your bikes chrome, paint and chassis. I would love to keep riding thru the winter when roads are clear of snow, but the salt bothers me do you have any tips for salt? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Hey John, Thanks for the advice. I'm used to bulky outwear since I've had Tourmaster riding pants for a long time. I actually wish the Gerbing outerpants had armor underneath the Cordura. (Maybe Bonn Underarmor instead of longjohns?) I like taking my wallet out of my back pocket and having it in the big pocket on my thigh. I will probably just stash the overpants in a saddlebag as all in one rain gear/heated gear. I know the liner would be toastier and less bulky but I would still have to add another layer in the rain. I guess I'd rather just layer down from the commute at my locker and wear my regular clothes at work rather than buy bigger clothes and strip down in a bathroom just for a 30 minute commute. There's no way I could keep the liner on at work all day. Lot's of good ideas here. I have three different neck gaiters in my trunk. (I've also given away three gaiters to fellow riders at work.) My best friend has the Olympia Phantom one piece suit and he loves it. Aerostich is great stuff. I have a pair of their Combat Touring boots from my Dual Sport riding days. I have three pair of assorted Held gloves but the Lee Parks, Sullivan and Fox Creek all look great. If I had an unlimited budget for outerwear I would go full blown Rukka. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Tom - My work cold riding gear is lined chaps, sweat shirt over my long sleeve shirt then my jacket, gaunlet, and neck cuff. if it is very cold, like in the twenties I'll add long johns to that. When I get to work, the sweatshirt comes off. I've got a 35 - 40 minute ride and this proves to be very adequate and not bulky.
Edited by varyder 2010-11-01 7:19 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Chaps look even more exposed in my "cold area" than anything else. No cold breeze there? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | The new Gerbing pants have ballistic grade Cordura in the knees if that counts. http://gerbing.com/Products/Outerwear/extreme%20element%20pants.htm...
Visioness, I rode my bike once with in the salt and it gave me a few oxidation spots on my heads (just left side). I have tried Flitz to get it out to no avail. I read somewhere that a Dremel with a brass brush may work... In short, I washed and rinsed as soon as I got home and it still wasn't enough.
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | sgiacci - 2010-10-28 3:34 PM
Temps that produce frozen bridges, snow, or sleet I will break out my truck key and avoid killing myself.Hear, Here!! |
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Tourer
Posts: 423
northwest florida | between the heated seat, gips, and jacket....yes,I'm ready to go ride! |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | a99miata - 2010-11-04 7:41 AM between the heated seat, gips, and jacket....yes,I'm ready to go ride! Give me a break, Rod ! WINTER in Florida is what I consider good summer riding. When I lived for years in Kissimmee, Fl - summer was when I PARKED my bike! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 60
not far from hustler wisconsin | i have been riding in to work in the 20's home in the 40-50's for the last few weeks.
i wear leggins (leather chaps) if below 40, i have the liner in my leather jacket for several weeks now, and i am a firm believer in neck gaiters and stocking caps. i wear silk long johns so i don't get too hot off the bike. i use the grip heat and bun warmer as needed but can only take them for short bursts the low setting is too much. if the teps are in the high 30s and 40s i can thoroughly enjoy a day on the bike. the vision is definetly the best cold weather bike i have ever had. i am thinking about gerbing vest, but really can get by without.
oh yeah i am in s.w. wisconsin, and hope to ride until they salt the roads then i usually put the bike away. the salt is corrisive as hell and i dont have water in my garage to rinse the bike down after a salt bath.
Edited by wibiker 2010-11-04 2:11 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | ...I hate the salt in Wisconsin. They would put the salt down at the stop signs, and of course it melted the snow and then turned to ice, so you couldn't stop at all. It would have been better if they did nothing at all.
Where's S. W. Wisconsin? I always thought Wisconsin was a suburb of Green Bay. I got some real cheese curds in the fridge right now, love 'em. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | I ride until the salt hits the roads. Temp is of no concern. Performance clothing is quite abundant nowadays from numerous manufactures at reasonable prices. So, there is no way I'm missing a day of riding due to cold. Salt, however, is too corrosive around here for me to ride on. Bikes don't seem to be as resistant to it as the average car. My bike goes for a short rest while the salt is down until the next good rain to wash it off the roads. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 31
| Heated glove liners and sock liners from Brookstone. Relatively inexpensive and they work great. Mostly used them when I had the JP, but with the wind deflectors and the heated grips, I don't know if I'll even use them. The wife used them when we were in NM last month and she loved them. Independent batter packs so you don't have to plug them into a jacket. http://www.brookstone.com/heated-gloves-liners.html?his=2~46337~2~root_category%40kwd~heated+gloves&bkiid=searchResults|C4CategoryProdList1FDT|6926593 http://www.brookstone.com/heated-sock-liners.html?his=2~46337~2~root_category%40kwd~heated+gloves&bkiid=productDetail|CXConsiderationProductsFDT|8391681 Also Blizzard-Proof insulated bib overalls I got from a Western store. They also work great as long as I don't stretch my legs out where the wind will go up my pants leg.
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Cruiser
Posts: 177
| Well boys have fun with that. Here in Michigan they salt the roads HEAVILY, my bikes don't come out till we get at least 2 or 3 GOOD spring rains and all the car eating well most of the car eating potholes are tended to. So like this year 2nd week of March i got them out and still looks like some decent rinding this coming week on monday or tuesday. |
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Tourer
Posts: 363
Goldsboro, NC | Kilt. On Sundays, I add the codpiece. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Damn good thing they don't salt the roads down here in Geogia, I hate that stuff, I spent two winters in Oscoda Michigan and I remember the salt. It is a evil neccessity but it SUX and ruins everything !!! Cold is not a problem if you have electric gear, I ride down here on the coldest mornings which are around 10-15F just to be the only one out............ |
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