For myself I'm fine riding down to high 30's.
But once the first real snow fall hits and they start treating the roads I'm done until spring (usually). They like to throw down salt and sometimes cinders so even after the snow is gone that crap is on the roads. I'm in central PA, this last weekend it was in mid+ 50's so rode as much as family commitments allowed. But snow coming down today, wednesday we are looking at perhaps 18" of snow. So guess I'm most likely done riding until spring 😞
Snow and ice signal is the seaon end....
Cold and/or rain are not an issue, I have gear for that.
And ACF50 is my friend :laugh:
My VFR us too nice to ride on salted roads. Cold won't stop me, but the salt does.
30 minutes ago, vikingGoalieFor myself I'm fine riding down to high 30's.
But once the first real snow fall hits and they start treating the roads I'm done until spring (usually). They like to throw down salt and sometimes cinders so even after the snow is gone that crap is on the roads. I'm in central PA, this last weekend it was in mid+ 50's so rode as much as family commitments allowed. But snow coming down today, wednesday we are looking at perhaps 18" of snow. So guess I'm most likely done riding until spring 😞
I live in NE Ohio, so my weather is very similar to yours. I usually ride into early to mid-November, but have been fortunate to ride a little in early December some years. This year's riding season was extended a bit, as we had some warmer temps than usual until this weekend. Unless we have a few warmer and dry days after Christmas, I'm done for the year. For me, since I don't have heated gear, riding in temps below 40 isn't worth the chill to my body.
The salt and other crap on the roads is a kind of a deterrent for me, as I bought a brand new motorcycle in late August. The last few years, however, since my VFR was older and had tons of miles on it - and wasn't cosmetically perfect anyway - I would ride already treated roads if temps were in the mid-40s. I'm still willing to go ride in 40-ish temps, at least for shorter trips, but reluctant to subject my new bike to the crap on the roads. If I do go out now, I'll wash the bike when I get home.
November is usually about it and then I get set for some winter maintenance......
It doesn't seem to snow in Dayton anymore.... or if it does it melts off in a day or two....
There are temporary pauses when the roads are wet/damp and the temp drops below 0, but only because they don't treat the roads in my village so I can't get to the highway without risking an off on ice patches. But like Dutchy, I have heated gear which does a really good job, even over longer distances.
Y'all don't hate me....but I log miles in all 12 months. Granted Dec Jan Feb you have to take what you can get but, there's usually
enough days over 50F to warrant a ride. Yesterday the high was 68F and I got 300 miles on my VFR in the 'Carolina sunshine.
I still dream about those 70+ days coming this spring.
Down here in upsidedown land, it never ends, and we can only dream of a white Christmas as the song goes, coz it ain't going to happen! :fing02:
Salt on roads! Wtf.......only on fish and chips!
Yeah, I ride close to year-round. Maybe take a month or two off Dec-Jan when it's raining lots. Temp doesn't bug me tok much, it gets down to -5C here occasionally.
North Florida here, I ride all year except during hurricanes! 😄
Put the bikes on comp insurance as of 10/24. Yes, I cheated for a couple days when it hit low 60's. Not worth it in Michigan with close calls with deer during the rut. Stuck looking at YouTube bike videos and plotting trips til May.☹️
Last ride usually no later that the end of October. Last multi-day trip wraps no later than the end of September.
I know I was riding into late October this year, but only because of a career change and I was able to. I live in Maine so you never know. Next year will probably be different as I will get to ride a lot more.
The ride goes on forever, and the party never ends. 😀
Winter? 😝
since i don't have a car.............i need to keep at least one bike ready to ride all year.
i will ride if roads are clear and temp is above 40F. and if i need to go somewhere like get more beer.
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7 hours ago, squirrelmansince i don't have a car.............i need to keep at least one bike ready to ride all year.
i will ride if roads are clear and temp is above 40F. and if i need to go somewhere like get more beer.
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Holy crap. What a mess. :ohmy: That road salt gets everywhere! :wacko:
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thinkin riding might be done...
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Mostly year round but November-December-January-February is a lot less. Just out for an hour here and there. Mostly its the debris on the roads from trees and rain washing gravel into the corners that causes the problem. My area is pretty low elevation so we don't get any real snow.
50F High is the approximate cut-off for me whenever in the year it happens. Heated jacket and grips help to keep me warm. No rain, sleet or snow. And trailer if more than a 2-hour highway stint is involved.
Still rolling....
Lunchbreak spin
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When I lived in New England, the Princeton NJ area, and KCMO for a few years, there would always be that glorious January day when it almost hit 50. Worth calling in sick...check tire pressure, rip off the trickle charger, rummage through riding gear closet, and ride! The V4 just sounded different though, never quite acclimated.
Here in NorCal summer is perfect, but if you are on a popular road (aka PCH) the rental Mustang convertibles and 50 ft. RV's kinda kill the vibe. Winter therefore is great, and our locals are generally very nice about pulling over when we appear in their rear view mirror. But the roads get greasy with moisture out of the sun, and the back roads grow moss! So the pace is slower. I take multi-day trips north in the summer, south in the winter.
But...my last overnight trip was last January, Sant Cruz, Palos Verdes, Monterey. Covid...just day loops since then.
Today there was frost when I got up, but then all sun and a high of 62. Low sun is tough no matter what the temp however.
We got our first real snow, meaning plows on the road not flurries around the 11th of Oct this year. That and wet leaves pretty much ended the riding season.
On May 10th this past Spring I woke up to a snow plow going by the house, It was almost soul destroying. So by my estimation this years riding season was less than 150 days.
I have snuck out of Maine a few times in April but I go straight south to VA, WV or NC. This has not always worked well as I've been snowed in north of Harrisburg and in Albany waiting for the snow to melt enough to get back.
I'm seriously thinking of finally getting a trailer.
60F and above Means I'm riding. The days are shorter the sun is lower and I figure 4 hours is about all you get. I'll take it.
Dec Jan Feb and then it gets better.
4 hours ago, RC79NC00160F and above Means I'm riding. The days are shorter the sun is lower and I figure 4 hours is about all you get. I'll take it.
The sun, or lack of it, definitely plays a part in very late season or winter riding. Besides not wanting to ride dark rural roads due to deer, once the sun goes down the temperature drops fast. If it was only 45 degrees that day, by 6 pm with the sun completely gone it could be in the low 30s. So like you said, you only have so many hours to ride even with the weather is good.
I'm fortunate enough to live in a very temperate climate, a cold winter's day is 5C and a hot summer day is 28C; we do get our fair share of rain however. So I ride year round, and just pick my days as while I don't mind riding in the rain, I enjoy dry roads a whole lot more.
My riding season ended a few weeks ago, really, but I did my last ride of the year yesterday, just my short commute to work and back. The weather here was warm. If I'd had the day off I'd have tried to ride the last couple hundred miles to reach 12,000 for the year. Oh well. Now the bike will take turns slumbering and getting mods installed. 🙂
Temps here the past 2 days have been just below freezing. Although rain, cold weather, fog and reduced visibility usually end things in October, once there is frost about with the chance of icy patches on the road, riding becomes out of the question.
Still riding, despite...
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So went for a stroll with my family first..
But around noon...
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No worries thanks to acf50
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ok i admit i have an eye on the weather report every week. I see tomorrow might be 44, no wind, sunny. There's a chance i bust the bike out of the cocoon then, but monday is supposed to have a north of 50 day, and if it's not raining I'm riding then i'm also off that day, if the weather is agreeable might have to go on a short trip.
Take that old man winter...
Ok despite the earlier rumor, er post, that I was probably done for the winter. I said screw it's 39 out can't be that cold and went and did some minor errands on the vfr. I think she appreciated it greatly. Of course while running to get my wife a few things I had to blow some carbon out, I mean carbon build is bad for the engine right?
Wasn't much riding around, maybe 15 miles in total but my gear is fine, layers is a lesson i learned many moons ago. I do have heated grips but didn't even bother with them nothing was extended long enough for me to worry with it.
In my previous riding life I never would have ridden when it's this temperature, I blame my VFR it told me to take her out... 😛
So today went for a ride in the "mountains" around here, and ended up at Pinchot State Park. Met my wife there and we took the pups for a walk.
Was only in the mid 40's really but my VFR didn't seem to mind...
So just gear wise thing. I'm wearing not very expensive gear.
but a pair of jeans with these over them: https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Dualsport-Waterproof-All-Weather-Waist36-38/dp/B07LGXZLG5
I have an insulated high top pair of redwing boots. (working on getting purpose built motorcycle boots, but these are 100% leather, super comfy and warm and waterproof and come 3-4" above my ankle bone)
I layer the top, thin long sleeve t-shirt, thin sweatshirt/hoodie and this jacket: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XV4ZYLC/
I just have leather gloves with armour on them, I do have heated grips but don't really use them much tbh.
with that setup, I find that my lower half is completely impervious to wind up through triple digits down to into the upper 30's. The jacket is not really a winter jacket even though it says it is. I get a slight amount of cold at the zipper, (in the 30's at triple digits) but I did about 90 miles yesterday in total and was not cold at all it was around 45F here. Now would i go cross country in this gear at those temp's maybe not I would like to try a longer trip to see how I feel about it. This gear is in the category of best bang for the buck. So of course there's better suited gear for more $$$. YMMV
I rode to work today. 52 and sunny. Went on a short ride Sunday because it was about 50 and sunny as well. With how much grey overcast rainy weather we get here, you really need to take advantage of the nice winter days when they happen. I've never bothered to winterize my bike because usually I'm able to ride about once a week comfortably (i.e. no rain or freezing temps). I'm actually surprised I don't see more motorcycles out in the winter here because of how mild our "winter" is. I guess people just really really don't like riding in the rain.
Personally, I think the VFR is a great winter motorcycle. With how hot the bike gets it has no problem keeping itself warm at high speed, and at stop lights the radiators double as convenient hand warmers. Also the frame section near the rear cylinder bank gets quite warm so you can use that as well.
9 hours ago, comradeQuestionPersonally, I think the VFR is a great winter motorcycle. With how hot the bike gets it has no problem keeping itself warm at high speed, and at stop lights the radiators double as convenient hand warmers. Also the frame section near the rear cylinder bank gets quite warm so you can use that as well.
I agree, the VFR is a good winter bike. Since moving to a naked bike, I can definitely tell a difference riding in colder weather. The VFR's fairings and stock windshield were great at blocking some of the wind, and I could always tuck my feet in tight to the sides to help warm my ankles a bit. None of that is true with my new bike. I did just order a small windshield, more of a flyscreen really, but it will keep some of the wind blast off my chest at higher speeds. At least the new machine has heated grips, which work well. I should have added those to my old VFR years ago!
Tomorrow it's supposed to reach 50 so I'll be taking a short ride hopefully in the sunshine.
50F is the lower threshold for riding imho.
40-50; Ride only for an emergency ( car has a burned out clutch ) or I need to ride into the shop for new tires.
50-60; Not really comfortable but acceptable especially in the winter. You take what you can get...
61-65; Getting better...
66-89; The sweet spot. Temperature is not the limiting factor.
90+; Humidity dependent but, for the most part the fun is gone and you're trying to find air conditioning and a cold beverage.
ok, i'm such a liar. Either that or my VFR is a foul temptress, you decide...
so I'm not doing any real trips per se. But any excuse i have to run an errand or do a short outing, if it's not brutal cold out the VFR is getting busted out.
Today my wife called and had forgotten her wallet and was at the grocery store, of course I had to come riding on my steed to rescue my damsel in distress 😄 oh and then had to put a a few (er 20) miles on my bike before I went home. Perhaps I've just missed riding that much, but I'm truely hooked once more and don't mind that a bit.
oh it was a balmy 39F when i ran out today....
8 hours ago, vikingGoalieok, i'm such a liar. Either that or my VFR is a foul temptress, you decide...
so I'm not doing any real trips per se. But any excuse i have to run an errand or do a short outing, if it's not brutal cold out the VFR is getting busted out.
Today my wife called and had forgotten her wallet and was at the grocery store, of course I had to come riding on my steed to rescue my damsel in distress 😄 oh and then had to put a a few (er 20) miles on my bike before I went home. Perhaps I've just missed riding that much, but I'm truely hooked once more and don't mind that a bit.
oh it was a balmy 39F when i ran out today....
I know what you mean. I check the weather forecast every couple days, thinking maybe it'll be warm enough one day to at least ride to work. I work from home most of the time, but have a short commute to the office, and if it's warm enough I'll head in on the bike even if I don't need to work at the office that day.
It's supposed to get up to 40 here the next couple days, and that's my threshold. Fingers crossed! 😉
Well... it didn't get as cold here as previous winters, staying 45-55F most days. And rain hasn't been as continuous as predicted (always seems to be case). So went out for ride out to coast to Point Reyes Lighthouse last weekend via Mt. Tam.
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Didn't make it down to lighthouse though... too many steps to crawl back up!
It used to be that my riding seasons didn't end. They would get interrupted by salted roads and begin again when enough rain cleaned the roads of the salt. I used to ride every weekend that weather permitted. I have never desired to ride in the rain, especially in the winter. Now that I'm older, riding in the cold is much less comfortable, and I'm also way busier than I used to be. With age comes responsibility. I still get out and ride every now and then throughout the winter, but it may only be a handful of times before spring instead of every possible weekend. I'm in TN and we have a little snow on the ground now, so we do get some winter weather.
With age comes WHAT???
:tongue:
Never. It never ends
tbzep, 1/13/2021 at 3:58 AMIt used to be that my riding seasons didn't end. They would get interrupted by salted roads and begin again when enough rain cleaned the roads of the salt.
Hey American and European amigos. Please enlighten me regards Salt on roads!
I know its used to dissipate or dissolve the snow BUT bloody hell, is it like washing your bike with sea water? Doesn't all this salt end up in storm water which ends up in streams and rivers? Does it have an environmental impact on fish and other water animals? Sounds like nasty stuff to be smothering your fine machinery in!
As you can tell, I've never experienced it. Salt is only ever on my fish and chips!
Cheers.
Yes, IT IS A MESS! When I lived in the north east thirty years ago, a lot of people would drive old beaters because a new car would rust through in about four years. When they wanted to travel, they would rent a car. I have had people tell me that the trout fishing in NC has about gone away because of all of the runoff from the roads. The stuff gets everywhere when you ride or drive through it.
32 minutes ago, SweeperYes, IT IS A MESS! When I lived in the north east thirty years ago, a lot of people would drive old beaters because a new car would rust through in about four years. When they wanted to travel, they would rent a car. I have had people tell me that the trout fishing in NC has about gone away because of all of the runoff from the roads. The stuff gets everywhere when you ride or drive through it.
Yuk! Do the benefits really outweigh the cost to the environment etc, and heaven forbid......a rusted out VFR? :ohmy:
3 hours ago, GrumYuk! Do the benefits really outweigh the cost to the environment etc, and heaven forbid......a rusted out VFR? :ohmy:
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I don't believe it's an exaggeration to say that the benefits are that people are able to survive winters there. In many of those states, it's about the only way they can keep the roads open so that food / supplies / fuel can be delivered and commerce can continue. In the upper midwest of the U.S., ice on the roads can freeze as hard as rock and be simply unplowable. In Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan and many other states- the temps can be below freezing for extended periods, freezing over both rivers and lakes solid enough to ice skate or even drive on. Keeping roads open is for many communities a matter of necessity. It's one of those things you have to experience. I've never been so cold in my life as in Michigan in January.
The funny thing is when people from those states come west they often marvel at the "old cars" (aka ones over about 5 years old). I've seen cars in the midwest that you could literally see through - the holes in the panels were so big. Corrosion protection on cars has gotten better over the years, but nothing is immune to it I know one person that has a winter car and a summer car to avoid the corrosion the salt causes. It will even get under powdercoat and cause it to fail and peel. The wrap on that bike isn't much of an exaggeration of what salt can do.
6 hours ago, GrumHey American and European amigos. Please enlighten me regards Salt on roads!
I know its used to dissipate or dissolve the snow BUT bloody hell, is it like washing your bike with sea water? Doesn't all this salt end up in storm water which ends up in streams and rivers? Does it have an environmental impact on fish and other water animals? Sounds like nasty stuff to be smothering your fine machinery in!
As you can tell, I've never experienced it. Salt is only ever on my fish and chips!
Cheers.
A necessary evil, sadly.
I do ride through the winter but I'm usually stumped at some point as they don't de-ice the roads near to my house, only the main road through the village. Even if I can get out of the village, other roads may have had some preventative salt spread and that washes all over the bike. They even add molasses to the salt over here to help control the spreading and this conversely seems to make the road surface slippier and it lasts for weeks requiring lots of rain to wash it off the surface.
The bike has to have regular washes during the winter, cos if it's left, it just furrs up and starts marking the metals as the corrosion starts. Like most others, I use ACF-50 and FS365 after each wash to lay a preventative coating but it can't be used on wheels and brakes so they do tend to deteriorate first if not washed well.
I do envy people who live in areas of the world where it does not freeze. Of those, I then hate them if they have good biking roads. I hate them even more when they post pictures of their bikes, in the winter, on warm, dry roads. 🤬 :wink:
As we're having a bit of a heatwave here atm (15 deg C/59 F) this week, I shall be taking the 1200 to work for her first spin of the season. :beer:
9 hours ago, GrumHey
American and European amigos. Please enlighten me regards Salt on roads!
I know its used to dissipate or dissolve the snow BUT bloody hell, is it like washing your bike with sea water? Doesn't all this salt end up in storm water which ends up in streams and rivers? Does it have an environmental impact on fish and other water animals? Sounds like nasty stuff to be smothering your fine machinery in!...
It is truly nasty stuff. Main selling point is to avoid collisions yet winter tires or winter driving courses are not mandatory in US. In effect they simply cant drive on white road.
2 hours ago, SkidsOf those, I then hate them if they have good biking roads. I hate them even more when they post pictures of their bikes, in the winter, on warm, dry roads. 🤬
Do not hate please! Now is our good riding season and bikes are everywhere. In summertime can only ride mornings and evenings, rest of day is a scorcher.
Anyways, come over, we are open for business 🙂
14 hours ago, GrumHey American and European amigos. Please enlighten me regards Salt on roads!
I know its used to dissipate or dissolve the snow BUT bloody hell, is it like washing your bike with sea water? Doesn't all this salt end up in storm water which ends up in streams and rivers? Does it have an environmental impact on fish and other water animals? Sounds like nasty stuff to be smothering your fine machinery in!
As you can tell, I've never experienced it. Salt is only ever on my fish and chips!
Cheers.
Hi Grum:
It was -13C here yesterday, the day before we had 25cm of snow, on top of the 50cm we got the week before. It snows here about 7 months out of the year. To be honest, you are not riding in those conditions. Yes, they salt the living daylights out of our roads, but my bikes are not on them during this time, well mostly🙂
What is a problem is that I live about 1/2 a kilometer from the ocean. Over time, things just rust whether on the road or not. So, I try to keep up with it by treating things as I do common maintenence, like brake pads, suspension, tires, etc. Fastenings I'll put on a brass wire wheel on my grinder then coat with Phosphoric acid, which turns Iron Oxide into Iron Phosphate, a fairly inert substance. I work on ships and boats and we use a lot of it. When dry I'll spray or brush with Rustoleom paint. On the frame, or larger parts a stiff wire brush then the same procedure. Fastenings get a bit of Tef Gel or NeverSieze on the threads to make further maintenence less interestesting.
Being originally from frozen North I am amazed how long vehicles last here... except paint😋
Paint doesn't last on a man, beast or moto...
I typically stop riding when the snow stays on the ground or the first time they salt the roads, whichever comes first. I don't ride again in the spring until the first Biblical grade rainstorm has washed the brine away.
My understanding (possibly incorrect) is that salt isn't much use below -7 degC. I recall a friend from Winnipeg saying they sand the roads out there because it is too cold for salt to work well for much of the winter.
Salt brines are used in refrigeration and can remain liquid below minus 20C. But salt needs to go to solution in order to work. If you put rock salt on ice it will do nothing to melt it....
Grum, 2/20/2021 at 8:54 PMYuk! Do the benefits really outweigh the cost to the environment etc, and heaven forbid......a rusted out VFR? :ohmy:
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I just love that wrap!!!
Magneto, 2/20/2021 at 8:21 PMNever. It never ends
i almost bought one of those, I *love* the eddie lawson colors. How does riding your ZRX compare to the vfr?
so next week we are supposed to crack the lower 60's. Today is gonna be 55. So really I had about a 45ish day pause in riding.
3 hours ago, vikingGoaliei almost bought one of those, I *love* the eddie lawson colors. How does riding your ZRX compare to the vfr?
Love rex, I have it for 20 years now. Rex is an old school UJM bike with its pros and cons. Fueling is great, as long as carbs are clean and it has big bore power. I would use it normally to go about town, bike has great storage under the seat. It is also great on unpaved roads with its central upright seating position.
It is not well suited though for high speed cruise, expressway or long distance. Wind gets quite annoying. Even with upgrades I did to it with Nissin calipers, brakes are still old school at high speed.
22 hours ago, MagnetoLove rex, I have it for 20 years now. Rex is an old school UJM bike with its pros and cons. Fueling is great, as long as carbs are clean and it has big bore power. I would use it normally to go about town, bike has great storage under the seat. It is also great on unpaved roads with its central upright seating position.
It is not well suited though for high speed cruise, expressway or long distance. Wind gets quite annoying. Even with upgrades I did to it with Nissin calipers, brakes are still old school at high speed.
thx for the info. Not my first bike, but the first bike I really loved was a '83 KZ1000J. I rode the piss out of that bike, did a couple 1000 mile rides on it, straight through mind you. (a lot dumber and younger then) so have a soft spot for the old inline 4 kaws
Good bikes for sure, I am looking at KZ with Arata titanium exhaust and it is like wow looking bike. I wouldn’t mind building one like that some day.
Funny thing I rode sketchy and obscure bikes by today standard but there was just no other stuff available back in the day. Nowadays big city expressways become crazy, I need all the good stuff on a bike to play and survive dodgeball.
Magneto, 2/21/2021 at 4:56 AMIt is truly nasty stuff. Main selling point is to avoid collisions yet winter tires or winter driving courses are not mandatory in US. In effect they simply cant drive on white road.
Studded tires and chains used to be the norm when I was a kid. Studded tires are illegal in many areas now. I don't even know if they are still sold. It's not like they will damage the roads any worse than a ham fisted snow plow or grader driver. Some areas have started using beet juice as an alternative to salt. Our area uses rock salt, brine (regular NaCl solution), and to a lesser extent, calcium chloride solution.
We have tended to get ice "storms" more than snow the last 20 years or so, but this year we had a nice 8" covering of snow like we used to get when I was a kid. It is super easy to drive on compared to our ice storms. Then they salt the packed down snow with temps dropping to the teens and single digits. It freezes back into an ice sheet making it slicker than owl sheeet. It would make a Zamboni driver proud. 🤬
I used to work in East Tennessee. People would keep weather radio on all time in the office and run to their cars if front was approaching.... Snow daaaaay! 🙂