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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Ride Year Round
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Message started by John on 09/02/12 at 14:31:08

Title: Ride Year Round
Post by John on 09/02/12 at 14:31:08

Does anyone on here ride year round, regardless of weather (minus snow or sever weather)? If so, what gear do you use (and is it all waterproof)? In particular, hands and feet?

Also, if you ride in rain, how do you avoid sliding out of control and losing traction? (or is that a symptom of needing a new tire?)

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by rfw2003 on 09/02/12 at 14:42:19

I have no problem riding in the rain. This year I'm gonna try colder weather riding though and see if I can hack it. As far as slipping out of control in rain, your either pushing it to hard or you have tire issues.

For wet weather riding my jacket has a waterproof liner that I carry in my saddle bag. I also have a fairly large windshield so it keeps the rain off pretty good as it is when I'm moving.

R.F.

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by verslagen1 on 09/02/12 at 15:53:58

Yes year around. summers a mesh jacket, and an unholy jacket the rest of the time.

Don't ride in the wet though, too many four wheeled hazards. ;D

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by ralfyguy on 09/02/12 at 18:08:06

I ride all year around, no matter it it's just 0 degrees. But I don't have to go far to work. I don't ride in the rain though. Did it once and the bike feels too unsafe on the wet road. Not that I am scared easily, but power is too much on/off like in the corners no matter how easy I try to be on the throttle. Then there is Verslagen's point with the other idiots around you. They are worse in the rain. Third point is that it messes up the bike a LOT! Stuff starts to rust in every nook and cranny and the bike looks like shite after in general. I don't like that at all. Besides I find it pointless to put up with getting rained on in the first place. Just not my thing.
But cold temperatures don't bother me. Just put on more stuff.
I come from Germany and it's cold there in winter. As a teenager I had a bike and was my only form of transportation to get to work and back. I rode the thing in a foot of snow and could not see where the ditches were. 30 years later I realize how insane I was back then. Nowadays I wouldn't ride the Savage in the snow for ANY job, no matter what the pay is! I like driving the car in the snow, like it almost better than without, but the problem is the others on the road scare me from 100 yards away. Cold yeah, but not snow.

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by Charon on 09/02/12 at 20:26:32

I try to ride at least a little year-round. I live on a gravel road, with clay as the underlying soil, so I try to avoid riding in the wet. Believe me, an improperly adjusted end gun on a center pivot irrigation system can make a muddy mess out of the road. For cold weather I use whatever long underwear is at hand, plus a snowmobile suit. The weak point is gloves, as anything insulated enough to stay warm is also so stiff as to make controls almost unusable. Same problem with boots, as anything warm enough gives a lot of difficulty with the shifter. Rides with temperatures below freezing tend to be short.

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by J C Stokes on 09/03/12 at 00:23:59

Depends on your geopgraphic location. I'm in New Zealand and can ride year round except in higher parts of the country. These areas would generally only be affected by snow and ice for two months. The most lethal thing you could encounter in autumn/winter is "black ice" the kind you can't see on cold mornings in shady places. It's too late when you encounter it on two wheels and it's at it's most invisible on black top road surfaces.
As far as rain goes, the relatively high bottom end of the Savage S40 front fender will ensure any shoe or low boot will fill rapidly with water. Any good motorcycle shop can sell you reasonable to excellent wet weather gear depending on your budget, same goes for boots. A post on this site sugessted using surgical gloves under your ordinary gloves to keep your hands dry. You have only three friends in motorcycling, your two mirrors and the big gap in front of you, most other things particularly homo sapiens of any gender are your enemy and this applies more so when it's wet.

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by Wolfman on 09/03/12 at 01:39:32

I ride from about 35 degrees to 106.
Hots a Denim Jacket and leather gloves
Cools Leather and Leather gloves.
Cold is insulated underwear, sometimes snow mobile pants and a Leather Jacket with insulated gloves. Nice leather driveing gloves or 4 wheeler insulated gauntlets. Warm and thin enough to feel and work the controls.
AND and Neck Gaiter!

Rain i avoid if i can but if im caught out in it or need or ride i ride. Just slow down and avoid grass ad mud whenever possible!!!

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by Routy on 09/03/12 at 03:12:41

I ride between 60 and 80. Human instincts stop me from riding in any other temps ;D

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by bill67 on 09/03/12 at 03:18:02

+1 Routy ,I ride for fun to hot or to cold isn't fun.

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by BOBD on 09/03/12 at 03:28:59

I agree with Routy and bill67. Too hot or too cold is no good. Anything around 60-80 is great! Might ride at 55 though. Not fun to ride in too hot or cold weather, so I don't. Retired and can ride when I darn well please, thank you.

Title: Re: Ride Year Round
Post by ToesNose on 09/03/12 at 04:53:48

In the early 90's I only had a bike and rode through the NY winters for two seasons about 14 miles to work, sometimes while snowing and worst after snow with ice. I didn't have money for proper winter/rain gear other then having a good pair of boots and gloves, so I use to oil and use a honey conditioner on all my leathers to help make them water resistant which worked really well as long as you kept up on it.