Cold Weather Riding

[ROSHOLT1]

How cold is too cold when it comes to riding? I remember in the late 70's early 80's Riding till the snow fell and having my old man come to work with his truck to pick me and the bike up. The temp was in the high teens low 20's

[FL_VTX_GA]

When I was 20 years old I rode the whole winter in Northern Michigan. The old Norton fired up every time, even at forty below zero. Yeah, I went down a few times at low speed and slid around a lot at all speeds, but I loved every minute of it. When I wasn't on the bike I was on the Ski-Do.

One day in 1973 I found some Honda Reps at a bar in Alanson, MI, having just driven a couple of prototype Honda snowmobiles up from another town. Neatest snowmobiles I ever saw. Liquid cooled, partially covered sides, with the radiator up front where the warmed air blew over the driver. These guys were driving around at about zero dressed in short sleeves. I tried for years to buy one of those things but I never heard another word about them.

Jay

[Mer]

I'll ride short distance in the 20's, longer in the 30's with my heated gear. Last year it only got really cold a couple of times and I only used the heated stuff a few times. I haven't really had to test them though. Maybe this year....lol. Dang it's hard living in the south...lol.

[chazb458]

Heated gear in Texas? Has it been that cold in the past few years here? I suppose for riding it would be. It's been a few winters since I had a bike. I'm sure I'll tough it out a day or two for that cold snap.

I won't even wear a coat unless it gets in the low 30's. But for bike riding I'd cover up just a tad bit sooner, like in the 50's. :)

[Mer]

Heated gear in Texas? Has it been that cold in the past few years here? I suppose for riding it would be. The year before it sure was!! My hands are the worse part for me though...hence the heated gloves. lol. I get cold at the drop of a hat anyway.

[chazb458]

Heated gloves sound mighty nice.

[chazb458]

Played hooky today. Road around the metroplex for 4 hours. Nothing like going nowhere on the bike and feeling like you've done something.

[Mer]

Played hooky today. Road around the metroplex for 4 hours. Nothing like going nowhere on the bike and feeling like you've done something.
I love days like that! I just got back from riding in Arkansas. (put over 750 miles on my X in a few days) It certainly feels good to be riding.

Glad you had a nice ride today!

[ROSHOLT1]

Getting colder in the great white north, I've been working in Marquette Michigan the last few days, High of 41 today and chance of flurries tomorrow

[VTXcitable Boy]

I ride year round. The only time I don't ride is on Ice and snow. Heavy rain sometimes slows me down. Course I only live 2.7 mi. from work. Greg.....

[NC Hammer]

Marianne,
What kind of heated gloves do you have?
Is there a web site where I can look at them?
I rode this morning and even now at lunchtime it's still cold out there - low 40s. My hands were still pretty cold, even with the hand wind deflectors. At least they were cold and not numb. I'm planning on riding all winter as long as the roads are clear. The gloves might just be the last little item I need.
Thanks

[Mer]

I've got the Gerbings. Here is there website and another website that tells more about them. http://www.gerbing.com/divmc/home/motorcycle.html

http://motorcyclecruiser.com/gerbings/

[roadhag]

mer....that has got to be one of the coolest things I have ever
read up on...and even the way the different components can inter-connect
also....will most definitely have to look further into...thanks for the info

[Captain X]

If it's below 40, my X is in the garage.

[KevTN]

Usually anything below 35 for the most part...although I have ridden while it was snowing before...but I have also been known to play golf when it is snowing, hunting when it is snowing, *smack* oops sorry...something like 35.. :drunk:

[VTXnVa]

I commute daily, 'cept when black ice is a sure thing. So far, coldest I've ridden in was 15*. Cant beat Gerbing gloves & socks, with the dual temp controller.

[DAR]

Its January and in the low 70's. I had to zip up my jacket. :stirpot:

[VTXnVa]

Its January and in the low 70's. I had to zip up my jacket. :stirpot:

:hmm2:

:spank:

[VTXnVa]

I had the Widder gloves before the Gerbing, both have pros and cons. I like the liner material of the Widder better than the Gerbing, but they werent leather like the Gerbing. I didnt like the large connection block on the Widder gauntlet, they had a tendency to break. I also didnt like the way the Widder connectors used small screws to clamp onto the wires, the wires broke here several times. The Gerbing wires are bonded to the BNC type connectors, very clean and reliable connection. The Gerbing temp controller is great, very easy to use with gloves on. I have the dual temp controller, for the gloves and socks, this is a must have!!

[ROSHOLT1]

Last Saturday I got the bike out of moth balls and waited for the rain to stop as it was supposed to be 45 and partly cloudy here in north central Wisconsin but it stayed about 33 and rainy all day (too close to makin ice for me) Last night I got home from work and it was 43 partly cloudy, my wife was not home from work yet, I left a note saying I was going to just try it out and made a big loop from home to Wausau, Stevens Point, Waupaca and home about 125 miles in about 2 hours 15 minutes. When I got home I was met by my wife who reminded me that I was to meet her and her parents an hour and a half earlier for dinner in Stevens Point oops.... but what goes around comes around. I got up at 5 am this morning to let the dog out and found a 1/2 inch of snow in the driveway so much for riding today.

[SeaRider]

It was in the upper 30's this morning in Houston. I actually went so far as to put on long underwear under my jeans and pulled my old winter gloves out of the mothballs. Went for a 200 mile jaunt to visit my daughter up at Texas A&M. Had to ditch the long underwear before heading back. One of the few good reasons for living in southeast Texas is you can usually ride year-round with little extra protection.

[mustangman]

The coldest I've ever ridden is 19 degrees. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, except for the tips of my fingers. I rode for about 40 miles and when I got to where I was going, the tips of my fingers felt like they were frozen. Part of living in northern Illinois, I guess. I took the wife to my new office yesterday. It was 51. It's starting to warm up. Gotta love that.