December 29th, 2017, 05:06 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Nick
Location: USA
Join Date: Apr 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r Posts: 109
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Any other winter warriors?
Hey All,
For those of you that live in cold winter states, how often do you ride your bike? It gets pretty cold here in the winter, and I tend to ride if it is above 40 degrees. Any tips to cold weather riding? Both gear and skill wise. I mean obviously the tires are going to be cold, and not stick well, so lessen the speed/lean. But other than that, what do you guys think? |
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December 29th, 2017, 05:09 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much.
MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14
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When I was younger I rode in the cold. Now that I’m older not so much.
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December 29th, 2017, 05:33 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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My commute to SF was 42F this morning. I love watching sunrise along way.
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December 29th, 2017, 06:05 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Nick
Location: USA
Join Date: Apr 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r Posts: 109
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If I can stay warm, I don't mind riding. It's just when it drops below freezing it gets iffy.
I just love riding my bike. Traffic is easier, gas is better, and it's more fun. Although, I did recently buy a new WRX, so I have also been less inclined to ride in the cold. |
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December 29th, 2017, 07:42 PM | #5 |
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
MOTM - Oct '13
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I've done about 3 British winters on my bike. My tips are:
- assume it takes longer to stop so leave bigger stopping distances - try and wash road salt off your bike after each ride to prevent corrosion (it's hard and laborious I know; it protects your precious though) - don't ride at all if you find yourself shivering cold. I've done that and had a few close calls. My thinking was impaired when I was that cold and I made bad decisions. My reaction times were also much slower and it was harder to do things like quickly apply braking force. - Buy yourself some awesome warm and water proof textile protective gear. - Same as always: wear all the gear all the time. - Put one of those emergency foil blanket things in your pocket and keep your phone in a pocket too so in the event you come off your bike, you are badly injured and no one is around, you can keep warm and call for help. This isn't so important if you ride in a heavily populated area, but I'd go as far as saying it's almost essential if you travel in rural or less-populated areas. - Don't be embarrassed about shifting your weight left or right when corning in order to keep the bike more upright in a corner so you have more grip. I do this a fair bit. If it improves grip at high speed and big lean angles it will also improve grip at lower speeds and lesser lean angles. It also keeps you moving about on your bike thus helping you to keep warm and it gives you feedback from your body about how tense / mobile it is.
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December 29th, 2017, 08:19 PM | #6 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
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It's 9 degrees F before wind chill.
Eff that noise. Bike is tucked away in the shop.
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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December 29th, 2017, 09:08 PM | #7 |
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Name: .
Location: .
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MOTM - July '15
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It stays around 40 here. Hippo hands are ugly, but they're a nice investment. Also, wearing latex gloves under your riding gloves helps a lot. Lastly, while I've been guilty of this before, don't wear a scarf. Get a balaclava instead.
I recall reading that one member keeps a $10 tyvek suit on longer rides where it might get really cold to add another layer. I haven't tried it, but it seems like a nice investment. |
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December 29th, 2017, 09:33 PM | #8 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Bill
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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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December 30th, 2017, 07:10 AM | #9 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
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Aside from the whole cold thing, the biggest reason why I don't ride in the winter is this:
Road salt is something with which those from states where it rarely snows are not familiar. It gets everywhere. Bikes are full of nooks and crannies where it can find a place to accumulate, and bikes are a giant PITA to clean. Maybe impossible if it's cold enough for salt to be used in the first place, which means leaving it until spring. I've long been in the habit of parking the bike before November brings gray, miserable weather and the distraction of holidays, and pull it out in the spring after the road salt and sand have washed off the roads. As a result, my street bike (5 years old with 14k miles on it) is in near-new condition.
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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December 30th, 2017, 07:17 AM | #10 | ||
Nooblet
Name: Akima
Location: England
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R FI Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 5
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Quote:
Quote:
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December 30th, 2017, 07:27 AM | #11 |
ninjette.org member
Name: RJ
Location: PA
Join Date: Dec 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 Posts: 210
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I picked up a heated jacket liner and gloves last year to extend my riding season a little. I've ridden in weather around 25°, sometimes lower ( I'm young so I enjoy being a little crazy sometimes). But once they salt the roads she goes into the garage and doesn't come out till it rains enough days in a row to get rid of it all.
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December 30th, 2017, 09:39 AM | #12 | |
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Also why the wifes car gets spray off on the nice days. Underside and body. |
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December 30th, 2017, 11:21 AM | #13 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Chris
Location: Bristol, UK
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): ZZR250, VFR800 Posts: 478
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Well I ride down to below zero C if it’s dry. Tips are electric clothing is awesome. I use an inner jacket & attached gloves, they are toasty
The other hot tip is lower your tyre pressures by about 8psi when riding at zeroC, this creates a bigger footprint andallows the tyre to flex & warm up quicker, plus at that ambient temp it’s the correct pressure ! Most of all if it’s not fun don’t do it !!!!! |
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December 30th, 2017, 01:37 PM | #14 |
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Cold will keep me off my bike. Happy riding to those more acclimated or tougher than me!
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December 30th, 2017, 04:12 PM | #15 |
????????????????
Name: T
Location: no where
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2007 ninja 250, 14 ninja 300, 09 1125CR Posts: A lot.
MOTM - May '17
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It's -10 f so you would not be able to pay me enough to ride today
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December 30th, 2017, 05:03 PM | #16 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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December 31st, 2017, 01:26 AM | #17 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Chris
Location: Bristol, UK
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): ZZR250, VFR800 Posts: 478
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English = Tyre
American English = Tire, which to us means get tired ! As in after exercise or before sleep All tire pressure are advertised at the international standard 20C temperature. You gain or lose about 1.5 PSI for each 5C change in temperature. So if the bike says styrene should be 40PSI then that’s at 20C ambien. So 0C ambient is -20C from that point,which is 4x1.5psi or minus 6psi, so going 6-8psi lower than the 20C setpressure is actuallykeeping the pressure correct ! |
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December 31st, 2017, 02:17 AM | #18 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
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Excuse me while I go polish my spanners. Bill P.S.; I'm still pissed that you burned-down out White House.
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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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December 31st, 2017, 06:01 AM | #19 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
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Well, just burned. The building was still standing afterwards.
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December 31st, 2017, 06:38 AM | #20 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Yep. MY house wouldn't look this good.
Bill
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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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December 31st, 2017, 05:26 PM | #21 | |
"a legend in my own mind"
Name: maverick9611
Location: Augusta,Georgia
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Quote:
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December 31st, 2017, 10:48 PM | #22 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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It was down to 13F at Grand Canyon when I went for holiday break. Tourist trolley was strangely empty.
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January 1st, 2018, 12:21 AM | #23 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Tom
Location: Northern Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250, 2019 Harley Ultra Classic, 2001 Suzuki SV650 Posts: A lot.
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I ride year round here in the DC area, try not to ride when the roads are covered in salt like they are right now, and generally only ride when the temp is above freezing, but I have ridden when it was 26 degrees out.
You have 2 choices for cold weather, dress so you look like the Michelin Man or wear electric heated gear. Of course for the latter you need a bike with a big enough electrical system to run all of the gear. I have warm gear, heated grips, and hand guards to block some of the wind on my hands. I also have used a set of hippo hands which work very well. |
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January 1st, 2018, 06:21 PM | #24 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
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Funniest lookin' damn helicopter I've ever seen.....
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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January 2nd, 2018, 11:49 AM | #25 |
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I don't blame you. I won't ride when people don't park correctly either.
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January 4th, 2018, 01:34 PM | #26 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Nick
Location: USA
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January 5th, 2018, 07:35 AM | #27 |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
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We mess around on the lake and in the woods, but the street bikes are stored until the roads are decent.
I'd probably ride something like a 250 enduro on the road in the winter, but not any regular street bike. |
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January 5th, 2018, 07:41 AM | #28 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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January 21st, 2018, 07:32 AM | #29 |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
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Out on the CRFs this weekend with my oldest (21) boy. Almost 40F, but the ground in the woods was frozen solid. No traction at all once you got through the snow, leaves, and grass.
The bike is constantly out of line and sliding. Good practice. I bounced off of one tree on the way down, but luckily it was just a glancing blow. Plenty of close calls though. Here he is on our regular track - And in the woods after finding a small tree hidden under the snow - Fun day, but I'm a little sore this morning. |
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January 21st, 2018, 07:56 AM | #30 |
"a legend in my own mind"
Name: maverick9611
Location: Augusta,Georgia
Join Date: May 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2015 moto guzzi norge(brownie),2020 aprilia dorsoduro, Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Feb '18
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"trying not to get old" |
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January 27th, 2018, 06:50 PM | #31 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Michael
Location: MI
Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): Honda Elite 110 (deceased), Green 2012 Ninja 250 (sold on Pi day); Grey/Green 2019 Ninja 400 ABS Posts: 238
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I've ridden down to 10F, which was a day I won't repeat since between home and work I encountered an ice storm. Stayed upright but almost lost it in the gutter into the parking lot as it was solid ice; somehow my brain decided to stomp the pavement and right the bike.
Anyway, normally it's salt and snow, not degrees, that prevent me. That means rare riding here in winter made even more so when needing to bring others in the morning. |
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January 27th, 2018, 07:03 PM | #32 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
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Quote:
Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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January 27th, 2018, 07:19 PM | #33 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much.
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I’m waiting for the big thaw as well.
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January 28th, 2018, 06:14 AM | #34 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: -
Location: somewhere cold
Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 596
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I rode all year on the 250 for the first 2 years of ownership. It was very sketchy during the winter to say the least. The stock tires like to skip a bit when its very cold.
Now I have a car + gained a bunch of weight because I'm no longer shivering. Edit: Oh yeah, for tips we had a very good thread on this a while ago: https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=193270 In summary: Balaclava, pinlock visor, don't let the wind get to the trunk of your body, and for the love of god protect your hands somehow (heated gloves/barkbusters/etc). |
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January 28th, 2018, 07:47 AM | #35 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Dave
Location: Greer, SC
Join Date: Jan 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2017 Ninja 300 Posts: 11
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I don't ride below 30f.
One thing I've noticed is that my hands get much colder with gloves+liners than gloves alone. I don't know if it's because my hands are basically forced into the same position by the liner or if I can generate more heat from movement without them or what Last futzed with by Poddelniy Russki; January 28th, 2018 at 11:16 AM. |
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February 13th, 2018, 01:16 PM | #36 | |
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