RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?"

R1200RS + R1250RS Forum � RS Lounge Area � Off Topic � When do you say, "It\'s too cold to ride?"

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#16 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 12:13 am

Zitat von Davidnapo im Beitrag #15
I appreciate all the replies. I'd completely forgotten about those bar muffs. We called them "hippo hands" and made fun of people who used them when I was young and foolish. Now I guess I'm old and foolish if I'm commuting on a bike in the cold. Those sound like the would be fantastic for keeping your hands warm. Somehow the full moon on a clear, cold morning makes fall/winter riding seem worth it. Occasionally, I'll even see meteors riding in. At least the odometer turned 14,000 miles when I turned onto my street, so goal met. I may drive tomorrow.

see this thread for pictures of my Tucano muffs

Spam goes here

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#17 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:20 am

Zitat von Ray B im Beitrag #8

One needs to add conditions of how far and how fast.

Yep, distance and speed make a big difference.
For quite a few years when we only had one car I would ride to work year round on my Honda 250 scooter.
I would ride every day unless there was snow or ice on the road.
It was only 2 miles to work. You don't get very cold in 2 miles :)

Lee
2022 R1250RS
Iowa, USA

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#18 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 11:44 am

A word of warning ref rides out in the cold, a few years back i suffered a dislocated 9th vertebra in my neck and trust me it is very painful with a side effect of shooting pains in the left arm due the dislocation trapping a nerve.
After much deliberation the professionals decided it could have been caused by my habit of riding in cold conditions leading to a hunching of the shoulders against the effects of cold and a knot of muscle developing.

The knot of muscle in the shoulder had a pulling effect on the neck and the dislocation and many painful months of treatment. I still ride in the cold but now enjoy the protection of the fairing lacking on the KTM 950 i was riding when problem started. Wrap up and and wear too much it easy to cool down and and difficult to heat up and wear plenty to keep drafts out from around the neck.

As a foot note I can recommend Pirelli Angel GT 2 having recently crossed Dartmoor on wet roads at 5deg c and a local spin around the block yesterday when temp dropped to 4.4 deg again on wet roads and at all times a feeling of confidence in the level of grip transmitted.

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#19 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:29 pm

Zitat von Davidnapo im Beitrag #1
I wasn't sure where to put this. I was curious, when do other riders say, "It's too cold to ride!" I rode in this morning. It was a beautiful, full moon night. I'm generally in around 5:00 A.M. to use the gym before work. It's still dark when I get in and on most days still getting colder after I arrive. The indicated temperature was 26 degrees F. My ride into work is about 20-25 minutes, 20 miles. I had on my mobile warming heated turtle neck and gloves, all set on high. I also had on a one piece leather racing suit and boots. My helmet is an Arai that has a little chin dam you can pull down in cold weather to block the wind to your throat. Amazing how well that works. By the time I got to work my toes were getting chilly but otherwise not too bad. Part of this madness was driven by a desire to hit 14,000 miles before putting the bike away for the season. I'll hit that on the way home.

As I said, I'm curious. When is it too cold for you? Also, if anyone has any heated gear they'd really recommend I'd love to hear about that. The mobile warming gear is nice but it's run by battery. When the battery is exhausted, you're cold until you recharge. They made sense when I bought them. I had a 94 VFR at the time and they don't have the most potent electrical system.

When my brain says it's not worth it.

The mind is the limiting factor

https://www.youtube.com/user/azqkr/videos

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#20 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 2:30 pm

having got some some pain relief for my arthritis ,i had a ride over to Allan Jeffries last wednesday, did a couple of road tests f900xr & r1250r weather not great but well worth the effort. the f900xr was ok but the r1250r was a blast, i had forgotten how different a naked bike felt

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#21 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 5:07 pm

Back in the early 1970's I was in the Navy based in Plymouth. I used to ride my Norton to North Devon every other evening to see a girlfriend , leaving her around midnight to ride back. One bitter cold night in January I had to stop in Tavistock, on the moor , just to get feeling back in my feet and hands. The police woke me later , I was sat on the kerb , arms around my engine , fast asleep , it had snowed 3 inches while I was asleep. The things you do for love.

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#22 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 5:27 pm

Zitat von Davidnapo im Beitrag #15
I appreciate all the replies. I'd completely forgotten about those bar muffs. We called them "hippo hands" and made fun of people who used them when I was young and foolish. Now I guess I'm old and foolish if I'm commuting on a bike in the cold. Those sound like the would be fantastic for keeping your hands warm. Somehow the full moon on a clear, cold morning makes fall/winter riding seem worth it. Occasionally, I'll even see meteors riding in. At least the odometer turned 14,000 miles when I turned onto my street, so goal met. I may drive tomorrow.

Kolpin sells a model for ATV's that will fit. No frame, just the muffs. But only $30 or so

Old Forum Orphan

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#23 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 7:24 pm

I live in a temperate climate here in NC, but I generally won't ride when it is below freezing. We rarely salt or brine the roads, and there are plenty of shady spots that will ice when the temperature drops. I do ride year round, commuting to work, but I take the truck to the office most days from Dec-Feb.

duccrazydave likes the post

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#24 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 8:45 pm

I�m with Lee and Debbi and take my heated vest on nearly every ride. I have given my reasons before on the forum and the main one is heated clothing allows you to cope with the temperature variation that can occur in a days ride. In winter the temperature variation throughout the day is often 5 degrees centigrade or less so the vest stays on. In Spring/summer going from a valley on the North side of say the Pyrenees early morning to the south side later in the day the variation can be 4 or 5 times as much. Start with the vest on. Turn it off as the temperature rises and take it off as it rises higher.
As to when I ride-anytime unless ice or snow is possible. 1250RS has done 15000 pleasure miles in 11 months of riding spread evenly throughout the year. Winter rides, as one member mentioned, provide some great runs. The downside of winter riding is the bikes normally come back covered in mud, although today�s ride of 190miles in temperature ranging from 3 to 6 degrees was the first time the bike stayed clean.
John

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#25 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Tue Dec 21, 2021 9:40 pm (Last edited: Tue Dec 21, 2021 9:41 pm)

My commute go/no go decision is if it hit below freezing all night there Could still be ice in shadows-no go. Secondly, if it will not be above 50 on the way home Ill usually scrub the launch.

Fun rides, Ill go down to about 38F as long as it's sunny and theres a warming trend throughout the day. Heated gear is NIIIIICE

When life throws you curves, drag your knees! 2016 Lupin 1200rs.

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#26 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:46 am

I spotted a Harley thundering down the street outside my neighborhood this morning. 26F! Years ago I rode my F650 to work in St Louis in -10F weather . Bloody stupid and lucky to have survived. GC

these members like the post: duccrazydave and Mr. 36654

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#27 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Wed Dec 22, 2021 7:56 am

Zitat von Davidnapo im Beitrag #1
I wasn't sure where to put this. I was curious, when do other riders say, "It's too cold to ride!" I rode in this morning. It was a beautiful, full moon night. I'm generally in around 5:00 A.M. to use the gym before work. It's still dark when I get in and on most days still getting colder after I arrive. The indicated temperature was 26 degrees F. My ride into work is about 20-25 minutes, 20 miles. I had on my mobile warming heated turtle neck and gloves, all set on high. I also had on a one piece leather racing suit and boots. My helmet is an Arai that has a little chin dam you can pull down in cold weather to block the wind to your throat. Amazing how well that works. By the time I got to work my toes were getting chilly but otherwise not too bad. Part of this madness was driven by a desire to hit 14,000 miles before putting the bike away for the season. I'll hit that on the way home.

As I said, I'm curious. When is it too cold for you? Also, if anyone has any heated gear they'd really recommend I'd love to hear about that. The mobile warming gear is nice but it's run by battery. When the battery is exhausted, you're cold until you recharge. They made sense when I bought them. I had a 94 VFR at the time and they don't have the most potent electrical system.

And the answer is ......Move to Queensland, Australia......Don't have a problem

these members like the post: duccrazydave and Ray B

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#28 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:57 pm

With this being my first year dealing with snow again, I am being cautious to mind if there is a potential for ice. Pretty lucky so far on my rides that it has stayed mainly dry. Ice in CA was always the concern, as the Bay area can get pretty cold and wet.

If there is salt on the road, it's a no go for me. However, I have all my fingers and toes crossed that I can take my bike south in March, as I am heading to GA for two months for training. If I can get to VA I think I will be okay. Its the OH, through WVA or PA that Im worried about.

A Straight Road Never Made A Skilled Rider.

these members like the post: duccrazydave and Lee

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#29 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Wed Dec 22, 2021 4:38 pm

Zitat von Doc4216 im Beitrag #28
With this being my first year dealing with snow again, I am being cautious to mind if there is a potential for ice. Pretty lucky so far on my rides that it has stayed mainly dry. Ice in CA was always the concern, as the Bay area can get pretty cold and wet.

If there is salt on the road, it's a no go for me. However, I have all my fingers and toes crossed that I can take my bike south in March, as I am heading to GA for two months for training. If I can get to VA I think I will be okay. Its the OH, through WVA or PA that Im worried about.

Uhaul rents one-way. $14.95/day.

I-75 will be a crap shoot (sleet or ice) until Atlanta at that time. Just my old-guy input

Old Forum Orphan

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#30 | RE: When do you say, "It's too cold to ride?" datum

Wed Dec 22, 2021 7:53 pm

Zitat von Mr. 36654 im Beitrag #29
Zitat von Doc4216 im Beitrag #28
With this being my first year dealing with snow again, I am being cautious to mind if there is a potential for ice. Pretty lucky so far on my rides that it has stayed mainly dry. Ice in CA was always the concern, as the Bay area can get pretty cold and wet.

If there is salt on the road, it's a no go for me. However, I have all my fingers and toes crossed that I can take my bike south in March, as I am heading to GA for two months for training. If I can get to VA I think I will be okay. Its the OH, through WVA or PA that Im worried about.

Uhaul rents one-way. $14.95/day.

I-75 will be a crap shoot (sleet or ice) until Atlanta at that time. Just my old-guy input

The trailer idea is a good one if you have the vehicle and know-how. My only suggestion would be to get an enclosed version. A bike on an open trailer in the winter will be covered in grime and salt by the time you get to your destination.

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