With the winter coming and all

[oblivion007]

I keep reading about people putting their bikes away for winter.

Just curious since my 250 is my only mode of personal transportation.

Is this like a necessary thing? Do things break or not function correctly in the winter or is it just everyone hates the longer warm-up's and moving through cold air at 60mph+?

I don't wanna put my bike away in the winter!!! (As you can see lol) [=

[k-os]

Being in Texas I don't think you have to worry much about winter, but up in Wisconsin once the ice gets on the road it's not fun riding a street bike.

[Jiggles]

Does Texas even have winter? I don't think you need to worry about it

[eddiekay]

People run Urals and Royal Enfields in sub zero....errr, no...the ninjette does fine in the cold...dont put her away.

[oblivion007]

Oh okay [= thanks guys

[blink]

shouldnt you use up all the gas before storage? in the thread it says new gas?

[oblivion007]

Originally Posted by blink

shouldnt you use up all the gas before storage? in the thread it says new gas?

huh???

[k-os]

Originally Posted by blink

shouldnt you use up all the gas before storage? in the thread it says new gas?

You should fill the tank as full as you can and add some kind of fuel stabilizer to it and drain the float bowls of the carbs. Filling the tank before storage helps reduce moisture build up in the tank.

[Mazakawi]

I will likely ride my bike until the first snow. After that it goes on the trailer and into my dad's heated 4 car garage with his bike for the remainder of winter. It will stay there until spring.

People in Wisconsin already kill themselves in winter. They are too busy texting to see the snow, much less a motorcycle. Also, they use enough salt here that you could probably make plastic rust. That and the piles of salt where the trucks stop and don't bother to stop the flow are just as deadly as the ice if you try to hit the brakes on it.

Along with filling the tank and draining carbs I will likely put it up on front and rear stands to avoid flat spots on the tires.

[Skippii]

In case you can't see what my avatar is, it's a picture of my bike in January with snowchains on for riding in the Shenandoah mountains. You've have to move to Svalbard for weather to affect these bikes.

Winter Storage is done for the rider, not the bike.

[Mazakawi]

Originally Posted by Skippii

In case you can't see what my avatar is, it's a picture of my bike in January with snowchains on for riding in the Shenandoah mountains. You've have to move to Svalbard for weather to affect these bikes.

Winter Storage is for the rider, not the bike.

Winter storage is for sane people. Judging from your stories and pictures you are not 100% a member of that group.

[Skippii]

Originally Posted by Mazakawi

Winter storage is for sane people. Judging from your stories and pictures you are not 100% a member of that group.

Bah. You don't know how invigorating an hour long ride in 9*F temps on icy roads can be!

[Mazakawi]

Originally Posted by Skippii

Bah. You don't know how invigorating an hour long ride in 9*F temps on icy roads can be!

Nope, but I know how much fun it is in my truck with the heat going full blast. If I want some wind I'll crack the window.

[Skippii]

You should try next time it gets down to the single digits! You're in Wisconsin? You should be able to do it my next week!


Back to the OP on a more serious note:
The bike will not be in any way harmed by riding in cold weather. Salt from the road after a snow should be washed off to avoid corrosion, however, but temperatures themselves are perfectly safe to the bike.
As far as the rider is concerned, you have to be aware of more than just hypothermia for safety. Reaction time, and your ability to grab the brake lever when you can't feel your fingers are affected by the cold. There are also some weird things you might not expect--I remember on one ride I put a heat pack hand warmer thing on the back of my hands to try to regain some feeling. The extra windflow made the pack super-hot, but my hand was still too numb to feel it. I didn't think the pack was working until I got home, took off my gloves, and the burnt flesh started to come off attached to the heat pack.

...Okay, it wasn't really that bad...but I did burn and blister some skin and never felt anything (pain or any sensation) the whole ride.

Point is, a few people might think you're a wuss for storing a bike for the winter, but a lot more people will think you're totally f***ing nuts if you don't.

[etiainen]

Skippii, any advice on those snow chains/other winter riding ideas?? I'd like to join the winter riding club

[oroboros]

Originally Posted by Skippii

You've have to move to Svalbard for weather to affect these bikes.

Hey Skippii, I just got back from Svalbard. They said that your chains were for wimps and that they use road salt on their eggs for breakfast.

[Skippii]

Velkommen tilbake til Amerika!

[Skippii]

Originally Posted by etiainen

Skippii, any advice on those snow chains/other winter riding ideas?? I'd like to join the winter riding club

I'll write something up tonight.

[Nemesis]

Winter? We're still trying to beat the heat over here in Cali.

[RaZeDaHeLL]

I'm going to ride all year round... and I live in New York City. You don't HAVE to put your bike away. Just be ready to deal with certain situations... Like dressing in layers and watching out for ice on the road. I'm expecting at least 2 months of "down time" where my bike will only leave the garage once or twice a week, just to keep the battery and tires in good shape and the oil and fuel from building up and causing damage. For me, it's easier to keep the bike running rather than putting it in storage... and it saves me money. You don't have to ride it every day, a nice ride once or twice a week should be enough to keep things in good working order until springtime.

[RNrider]

This will be my first "winter" riding in southern california. Though it got pretty nippy today in the 40s after a little bit of rain! I'm about to buy some over-pants to become weather proof =)

[akima]

Originally Posted by RaZeDaHeLL

I'm going to ride all year round... and I live in New York City. You don't HAVE to put your bike away. Just be ready to deal with certain situations... Like dressing in layers and watching out for ice on the road. I'm expecting at least 2 months of "down time" where my bike will only leave the garage once or twice a week, just to keep the battery and tires in good shape and the oil and fuel from building up and causing damage. For me, it's easier to keep the bike running rather than putting it in storage... and it saves me money. You don't have to ride it every day, a nice ride once or twice a week should be enough to keep things in good working order until springtime.

This is my plan too! Just carefully ride it once a week when the roads get bad. I also found out about this amazing salt/rust protection spray called ACF-50. I've bought some and am going to spray it over all the metal parts. I obviously can't recommend it, because I have used it before, but lots of people do recommend it: check out the amazon reviews for it.