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Cruiser
Posts: 62
Jacksonville, Florida | I am relating to my Northern and Mid Western brothers today. 25 degrees this morning and cold cold cold. I was born here in Jacksonville so I am not used to harsh cold weather. I know in the weather dept, as far as motorcycle riding opportunity goes, I am blessed.
But for today at least, my hat is off to those that give up riding for months at a time. It isn't fun. I just want to ride.
It reminds me of when I used to work for a friend at an independent motorcycle shop. We would have guys come in that really didn't have much, other than their bike. They would work all week to get a paycheck just to spend it all on their bike. The boss would have the bike tore apart waiting on the money for parts. The guys would come by in the middle of the week and beg him to finish and let them pay him later, (which of course, was a losing proposition). But I heard them say repeatedly... "come on man, I gots to ride!".
That was all the joy they had in their life... their bike. Their whole identity was wrapped up in those 2 wheels.
Anyway, for today that's all I can think... "Come on Lord, bring some warm weather... I gots to ride!" |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | LOL, no kidding. I rode to work a couple of days ago in the mid 30's. Too cold for me this AM, glad to have the car. I don't know what happened to me. 10 years in Florida from New York and what would have been tee shirt weather before is now freakin' cold. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | It was 29F this morning up here in Mass but I do it all winter so I have the heavy gear. It dose not bother me. The trick is to dress right. Stop the wind and you stop the cold. Stop every hour and warm up. More then A hour and bad things start happening. And let your bike warm up good. Oil is thicker in the cold. Have fun! |
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | Fred you are a mad man, even for up here! 
Joel, you guys need pray for heat and warm things up a bit! I was planning on spending the week between xmas & new years in Cocoa Beach area. Might be taking my bike down but BRRRR, not if its just as cold as up here!
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 27
Big Sky | It really isn't that bad. Kinda nice to have some down time to customize. I hate having my bike in peaces, waiting for parts when it's worm and I should be riding it. If it's cold and snowing out then it don't bother me. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 75
McHenry, IL | Must be nice! Single digits in northern Illinois. Supposed to warm up to the upper 20's before another dumping of that white stuff followed by an arctic blast! They predict that we will be longing for single digits this time next week.......... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 70
Fryeburg ME | Fastfred - 2010-12-08 6:58 AM
It was 29F this morning up here in Mass but I do it all winter so I have the heavy gear. It dose not bother me. The trick is to dress right. Stop the wind and you stop the cold. Stop every hour and warm up. More then A hour and bad things start happening. And let your bike warm up good. Oil is thicker in the cold. Have fun!
Hi Fred how you doing. 2 questions for you. 1. Hows the new bike going with all those nice add ons to the engine? 2. How do you cope with the salt? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 62
Jacksonville, Florida | Jedi Jeff - 2010-12-08 9:50 AM
Fred you are a mad man, even for up here!
Joel, you guys need pray for heat and warm things up a bit! I was planning on spending the week between xmas & new years in Cocoa Beach area. Might be taking my bike down but BRRRR, not if its just as cold as up here!
Cocoa generally stays 7-10 degrees warmer than Jax. But with these crazy cold snaps who knows what may happen. I will say that the coastal humidity tends to make the cold colder and the hot hotter. |
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Tourer
Posts: 496
Scottsdale AZ | Just to gloat-- It was a nice 55 this morning for a coffee ride at 7am- Suppose to be close to 80 by mid afternoon- and- 75 to 80 for the next week. No ice scrapers or shovels needed--- |
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Tourer
Posts: 457
Green Bay, WI United States | Ya, Ya but try to ride in Aug. and not have your clutch slip in the slow traffic around PX. The AZ boys have down time also, both from mech. issues and just can not stand the heat. My Brother lives in Catalina, north of Tucson and says it is too hot to ride for about six weeks. I would love to have this problem as here in WI. it's five months, and that's after pushing it on both ends. Glad your able to ride this late into the year. Take a trip to Apache Lake, this allows for some KA riding, twisting, low speed curves. Hate to say it but I rented a H-D Street Glide from AZ Victory in Tucson last Christmas season and had a hell of a good ride with my Brother Jim. We had a ride from hell but it was the best ride I ever did - first time riding with my Brother, would not trade it for anything!
Ride hard, ride fast, but above all - ride safe.... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| My brother came up from FL. I said, "Hey, it's only 3 degrees colder here." O.O
When I was working in FL there were plenty of days I did not ride cause it was too hot.
No place is perfect. Kara lives in San Diego. It's 70-72 year round but the traffic sucks. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | Visioness - 2010-12-08 11:35 AM
Fastfred - 2010-12-08 6:58 AM
It was 29F this morning up here in Mass but I do it all winter so I have the heavy gear. It dose not bother me. The trick is to dress right. Stop the wind and you stop the cold. Stop every hour and warm up. More then A hour and bad things start happening. And let your bike warm up good. Oil is thicker in the cold. Have fun!
Hi Fred how you doing. 2 questions for you. 1. Hows the new bike going with all those nice add ons to the engine? 2. How do you cope with the salt?
Still breaking it in. I only have 300 miles on it. I have not had it over 2500 rpm's I should have 500 miles by the end of the week so ill get the 1st oil change and open it up a little. It sounds good. I can really feel the power. Mom's and Llodz really did a good job on it.
As for the salt you stay with the speed limit and not take corners to fast. I have hit salt/sand and had the back tire slip a little but the vision holds the road well. You just cant ride like a mad man. As for what the salt does to the bike. Well that was my biggest surprise. I just turned in my 08 Vision. I ride in the rain snow salt sun ?. You name it. There was not one pit in the chrome and the paint held up good. I keep the bike in the parking lot out side when I get to work and in the garage at home. The salt has never been a problem. As you know I have had a few problems with the bike but none of them had anything to do with salt. When I had the kingpin the chrome pitted in the winter.
By the way... That was a long cold ride you had a couple weeks ago when Ness came to mom's!
Edited by Fastfred 2010-12-08 12:45 PM
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25 degrees in Florida - Cold!