R1200RS + R1250RS Forum
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Mon Dec 20, 2021 6:39 pm (Last edited: Mon Dec 20, 2021 6:54 pm)
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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. |
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I've moved this to the "pub" as it is not directly RS related.
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Zitat von Davidnapo im Beitrag #1 For 18 years we had Gerbing and it worked good. It was the old style that didn't hide the sleeve and main connector cable when off the bike. Last year Warm And Safe had their Generation Waterproof Color stuff on sale plus Adventure rider had a code for a extra 20% off. Looks like they still have jackets on sale, red only. https://www.warmnsafe.com/collections/12...liner-in-colors If you don't like red they have grey or black at the regular price. https://www.warmnsafe.com/collections/12...=12595746439237 The Warm and Safe gear has a much nicer feel than our old Gerbing gear and we don't mind wearing it at night as a regular jacket on trips.
Lee
2022 R1250RS Iowa, USA |
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I have a Widder vest and gloves. Haven't used them in years.
I’m a Notary Public. RESPECT MY AUTHORITY!
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Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #2 We had heated socks for a short time and didn't like them and switched to heated insoles. The insole worked good. Both of us have stopped using our Gerbing heated gloves because they are too bulky. Been tempted to try Warm and Safe gloves to see if they're thinner.
Lee
2022 R1250RS Iowa, USA |
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Bike parked up end of October. Last ride was actually 15 October. Glorious sunshine but down to single figures at end of day in darkness. Toes were getting cold.
Carpe Diem!
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Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:56 pm (Last edited: Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:05 pm)
Zitat von Davidnapo im Beitrag #1 Short answer: -4 deg F (-20 deg C) at 70 mph. One needs to add conditions of how far and how fast. In the old days, when I used to commute to work, I was able to get by with a lot less than I needed for a 4 h ride. Aside from the occasional need to rinse off salt, winter riding can be great - no bugs, clear view through the leafless trees, never a need to put up with sweaty clothes, and the engine never overheats. Only disadvantage is short days and the risk of missing ice in the dark (see comment below). I've gotten away from heated clothing in favor of old fashioned insulation and wind proofing. At 70 mph, with 4 (of 5 possible) layers, I plug in a heated vest once it's below about 20 deg F (-7 C) and that gets me to about 0 deg F. If the speed stays under 60 mph, then I'm good to less than 0 deg F for long periods. I used to use heated chaps and jackets when I was trying to get everything under one-piece suits, but I found that wasn't necessary, and even a heated vest might be considered a luxury. In the past, I simply used a cheap, heavy snowmobile suit from a Holiday gas station (the guys from Minnesota will know what I'm talking about) in extra large size over a T Pro armored riding suit. The Aeroflow medium touring screen will likely be on the bike between November and March (about 39 deg latitude N). The pinlock goes on the helmet shield at anything less than 50 degrees F (about 10 deg C) to cut down on fogging. My current kit includes insulated and armored Rukka gloves from 50 deg F to 35 deg F and then Rukka 3-finger "lobster" gloves below that. (I'm a two-finger clutch and brake guy, so the lobster gloves work out well.) If I'm going out for days at a time, I can put the old handlebar muffs on - at which point, almost any glove becomes comfortable on the heated grips. (In the absence of lever guards or hand guards, beware of handlebar muffs riding the clutch and brake at speed.) Under the buttoned-up, year-round BMW Rallye 4 suit (with zipped-in liner), I wear relatively thin and light-weight down pants and jacket (Mountain Hardware) over a BMW Heat-up vest and a heavy Nike base layer. Sometimes, a 50 year-old LL Bean sweater goes under the down and over the heated vest if I know it's going to be a cold day - below 0 deg F. Advantage of the down is that it packs down small if the day warms up, and I can even store it in one of the big pockets on the jacket. If I pull out the insoles from my TDX track boots, I can get the thicker wool socks on with room to wiggle my toes - but cold feet hasn't been a big issue with the boxer. One has to respect the ice - and I do, but so far, in spite of a few episodes of coasting (or skiing) across unexpectedly ice-covered bridges after dark, I've managed to keep the rubber side down for the last 50 years. (Though, I can't say the same for my push bikes.) Have fun. The bikes like to run year-round, and we should give them that opportunity - should snow and local salting policy allow. “A good man always knows his limitations.” |
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Zitat von Boxerboy55 im Beitrag #7 Although, not my parent's brightest child (in the opinion of my Sister, either one), I do know when to use my garage.
Old Forum Orphan
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'Bout the same here. I've ridden in temperatures down to -14 °F (-25 °C), but that was a long time ago. I am riding in the cold less than I used to. I have an Aerostich suit and layer up with polartech or other warm fuzzies. I don't have a heated vest, but I do have heated gloves (now I have ones that have rechargeable batteries!). But I find that 'sunny' is at least as important as 'temperature' for me. I'll ride in colder temps if the sun is out. |
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The last time I intentionally took a longer ride in cold weather was when I agreed to take my Daughter out to lunch when she was working about 120 miles away. It was about 40F when I left, with heavy overcasts so the temperature did not get to 50F at any time. |
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I ride year round here in Colorado. We get a lot of sun which melts the snow and almost every week, there will be days with temps in the 50's F. I am retired so I ride strictly for fun, no commuting, no running errands, no "necessary" trips. About 40 F is my minimum for sustained rides. I can ride in 30's F when its that cold in the morning with sun that will warm up into the 40's. I wear a "heavy", tight fitting first layer, then a First Gear heated liner with gloves connection, then a full leather jacket. Heated gloves or heated grips. Full leather pants, no heat below the waist, Gore Tex half high boots.
'20 R1250 RS
'19 S1000 XR |
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Zitat von runnerhiker im Beitrag #12 And, you can't get in from the top due to the nose guard...........
Old Forum Orphan
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I pretty much stop riding once they put salt on the roads. I simply don't want to subject the bike to that sort of abuse. Living in New England, I've seen quite enough of what happens to vehicles around here.
2020 R1250RS
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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. |
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