How cold do you go?

[8ninety8]

Too early here, 8AM, 4 degrees F. So much for carbon credits, didn't work.

[junkjohn]

Living in a region of the country with Snowmobiling, Skiing and Pond hockey it rarely gets to cold to ride, just to salty, sandy and snowy. But when the roads are clear lets ride. Thank you Gerbings.

[PGlaves]

I rode 72 miles once, at 8 degrees, to a Toys for Tots ride. I had a heated vest and heated grips. Once at the start of the ride - in the dealership - after a while I could feel my feet again and it wasn't pleasant. Two days after that ride I bought myself some Thinsulite lined boots one full size too big so I could wear big fluffy socks under the Thinsulite and still have some air space. Now I would ride down into the teens if I HAD to and warming was predicted, but on the other hand, they have motels there too, you know.

[shortythorne]

There is one good thing about being out on your motorcycle in cold weather...you usually won't see many do-rag types .

[Lee]

There is one good thing about being out on your motorcycle in cold weather...you usually won't see many do-rag types .

In Iowa I see more Harleys than any other brand in the winter.

[2wheeltraveler]

Went down to Greenridge State Forest in MD and had a day of trail riding. What an awesome time with all the washed out roads. Several log crossings and countless stream crossing due to roads being washed out made for a fantastic day. Left the house at 7AM and a high of 32F. Road south about 100 miles to meet up with a friend, then another hour to Greenridge. Weather was sunny and ranged from 37F down to 28F in the forest; however, we never got cold....forgotten just how hot one gets when off road. returned home in the low 30's at around 8:30PM. Can't wait to do it again!!

Pics wont upload...?

[PGlaves]

In Iowa I see more Harleys than any other brand in the winter.

Given that HD outsells BMW 20 to 1 that ought not be a surprise.

[Lee]

Given that HD outsells BMW 20 to 1 that ought not be a surprise.

I guess I should have worded it better and said I see plenty of Harley riders out in cold weather.

[179212]

This cold

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[skibum69]

Too bad as beer worth drinking should never be served nearly that cold.

[chrisinsc]

reminds me of that saying, "The warmest beer I ever drank was just cold enough."

I rode in in 34F this morning. 35 minutes door to door, feet a little cold, hands a little cold (I do have Olympia gloves with thinsulite but they are old).

I will say that goggle type safety/shooting glasses help with tearing/helmet fog management. Clear visor and balaclava, crack visor as needed for the exhale fog management. There's probably a better system for this.

[chrisinsc]

ok so this morning was silly, probably should have pulled over and if there was a shelter I would have!

At one point I was going 30-35 MPH with one hand on the throttle and the other in front of my face to keep hail from hitting my face. My visor was up because it became impossible to see clearly through it.

Lesson learned? Always ensure your visor is freshly waxed inside and out. Will try bar soap.

[jandhumphreyme]

When I was a younger man I routinely rode until the snow stuck to the roads commuting everywhere with my bikes, now I usually hang it up around Thanksgiving and am out by the second or third week in March. Temperatures can get down into the single digits early but will warm to teens mid day. My riding apparel then as is now is a Motoport jacket with waterproof liner, fleece top, widder heated vest and arm chaps, and merino wool undershirt, for pants either motoport riding pants or Aerostich AD's. I almost all year round wear merino wool socks with my boots. As for gloves, I do have some waterproof winter Held gloves but can ride with my ropers and heated grips with no problem. With that getup I can ride all day and be comfortable. I was raised in Northern Maine, as children we spent all out time outdoors regardless of the temps so even though I don't relish it, it's in my blood and when I get back out into it realize its not so bad. As others have indicated, my fears are more related to handling and stopping. I don't worry about the salt and such it does make a mess but it's not the end of the world for me. I'd rather ride in the cold than some of the time I've spent riding in the heat, 106F crossing Nebraska on my way to Salt Lake rally was miserable.

As for cold riding stories, a couple years ago I was heading to Moonshine for the annual lunch run first week in April and stupidly decided to take I-80 across PA instead of dropping down and getting I76. Well I stopped for the night in Grove City PA and woke up to 6" of snow packed into my windshield around the instrument cluster, temperatures in the teens and spitting snow. Well I borrowed the hot water in the lobby set aside for making tea and dumped this over the instrument cluster to clear the snow and took off toward Ohio, stupidly deciding not to head south when given my second chance. By the time I got into Youngstown there was 3" of snow in the breakdown lane, it was snowing sideways and and a winter storm warning had been issued. The road plow crews were standing by in the median and would wave at the idiot on the motorcycle. The trip back was even better, there was a Polar Vortex which dropped down into the States, I woke up Sunday morning in St.Clairsville OH to single digit temps. I had to take the battery out of the bike and warm it up in the hotel room to get the girl to fire up. It was an interesting 800 mile ride home to say the least, bike was flawless, toes and knees got chilled, off ramps were sketchy where the water had run across them and frozen some places. You all know the drill sit up, back straight, knees gripping the tank, hold the grips like eggs, point her straight and pray, never went down, but did pucker the air hawk a time or two. I pay a little closer attention to the weather now and won't hesitate to move of my planned path if necessary.

[PoorUB]

I have had guys give me crap about having heated gear. A couple guys said they ride in all temps with just layering up. I usually ask them if they want to go on a Saturday ride with me when the temps are around 30F, maybe 200-300 miles. Nobody has agreed to come with me! Generally I find out these riders are commuting to work and back, 5-10 miles. A few miles at 40F you can wear a heavy jacket, gloves and a helmet and survive. Ride for a couple hundred and you need decent gear.

[PGlaves]

I have had guys give me crap about having heated gear. A couple guys said they ride in all temps with just layering up. I usually ask them if they want to go on a Saturday ride with me when the temps are around 30F, maybe 200-300 miles. Nobody has agreed to come with me! Generally I find out these riders are commuting to work and back, 5-10 miles. A few miles at 40F you can wear a heavy jacket, gloves and a helmet and survive. Ride for a couple hundred and you need decent gear.

I was a slow learner. Voni and I would be on a trip and she would put on her electric "vest" and I would leave mine in the saddle bag because I wasn't really cold yet. Once as we arrived home in 40 something weather I was exhausted and she was still perky. When I bragged about how I didn't even need my heated vest she looked at me and asked, "And just how many calories did your body use to keep you warm while I did it with surplus electrons from the bike?"

That subtle slap beside the head woke me up. Now if it is even chilly I put on my heated jacket liner and save the calories for energy I really need.