SuzukiSavage.com - How cold is too cold.....

MShipley

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How cold is too cold.....
10/20/17 at 08:23:12

Here in Virginia the afternoons have been glorious, clear and mid 70's. But at night it dips to the low 40's. If I want to have the bike after work I have to ride it too work and so I have. With long johns and a leather jacket, full helmet and gloves it is tolerable but I must admit quit brisk.

So I was wondering how cold is to cold for you?????

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Ed L.

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Re: How cold is too cold.....
Reply #1 - 10/20/17 at 08:39:15

Coldest I've ridden in was around 34 degrees. It was in Pennsylvania mid February and I had a real bad case of cabin fever. I wore thermals, a flannel shirt, heavy sweater and heavy leather and chaps. Probably had about 20 pounds of clothing on. Decided it was a bad idea when I hit a patch of black ice in the shadows, didn't dump the bike but was puckering all the way across the patch.
After that I parked the bike when the temp dropped below 45 degrees.

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springman Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2191 Spring, Texas Gender:	Re: How cold is too cold..... Reply #2 - 10/20/17 at 08:39:52 I have ridden in the mid 30's with insulated riding overpants, leather jacket with 3 layers underneath, and balaclava under my helmet. Unfortunately my gloves were not up to the task. Hands were freezing. For the most part if it goes below forty I will only do 5 to 10 minute rides.
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28367 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: How cold is too cold..... Reply #3 - 10/20/17 at 08:49:00 I'm with ED,... 45 is my limit... ...and then I got to be pretty desperate... More like 50 for realzies...
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28755 L.A. California Gender:	Re: How cold is too cold..... Reply #4 - 10/20/17 at 08:49:07 I will slowly transition to winter wear to the dead of winter which will break 40 in the morning and high 60's in the afternoon. Any colder and it's usually raining anyway and then I'll wear the 4 wheeled helmet. insulated jacket, riding pants over jeans, heavy gloves and balaclava.
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Steve H

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Re: How cold is too cold.....
Reply #5 - 10/20/17 at 09:10:48

I have left the house at 18 deg. a few times. That's thermal underwear, jeans, insulated overpants, two or three pairs of socks, t-shirt over thermals, heavy flannel shirt light jacket, heavy jacket, insulated riding jacket, and heavy insulated gloves.

It was still cool but tolerable. These days I'm like Ed. Below 45 is too cold unless it's an absolute have to type of deal. As the quality and reliability of my 4-wheeled vehicles as increased over the years since my teens, my tolerance for cold riding has decreased proportionately.

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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: How cold is too cold.....
Reply #6 - 10/20/17 at 09:18:53

I have ridden in some very cold weather....and it's never fun. I have taken advantage of the occasional warn day in January/February when you get the odd-ball day in the 40's....provided that thee isn't any salt or sand on the ground.

But after many decades of riding I came to this conclusion several years ago; my low temperature threshold always seems to be my age at the time. Think about it.

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MShipley Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 681	Re: How cold is too cold..... Reply #7 - 10/20/17 at 10:08:46 Gary_in_NJ wrote on 10/20/17 at 09:18:53: But after many decades of riding I came to this conclusion several years ago; my low temperature threshold always seems to be my age at the time. Think about it. LOL, If I didn't go out below my age I wouldn't ride much.
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sjaskow - FSO

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Re: How cold is too cold.....
Reply #8 - 10/20/17 at 10:21:36

When I owned the S40, I typically tried to stay about 40ish since bundling up to ride makes it harder to ride.

With the Vision since it has heated grips and a heated seat, I can drop into the mid 30s but I still need my thick jacket and gloved.

My deciding point isn't the temp, it's frost. It there's frost on the cars, I drive.

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Dave

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Re: How cold is too cold.....
Reply #9 - 10/20/17 at 11:06:22

The coldest long ride that I have ever gone on was for the Moonshine Lunch Run and we left at 6AM - it was 41 degrees. I was really bundled up, and the ST1100 did a good job keeping the wind off my hands. It warmed up to the high 60's later in the day and the ride home was much nicer - the entire ride was 570 miles...for a hamburger!

I enjoy rides when the temp is 60 and above.....I endure rides when the temperature is 50 and above.....I choose not to ride when it is colder (unless it is just a very short ride).

There may be some heated gear in my future if I make a habit out of riding in colder weather (the Honda has enough juice to power heated gear). I am sure my wife would be more willing to go on rides with me if she could stay warm - sometimes our Friday night dates result in chilly rides home.

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ohiomoto

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Re: How cold is too cold.....
Reply #10 - 10/20/17 at 11:22:45

I've leave for around 6:30 am and it can be pretty chilly. I base my drive/ride decision on how nice it will be that afternoon. I have been dealing with low 40s in the mornings this week but have been getting 70s for my ride home.

I take the fastest rout in the mornings when it's cold. So I have to survive 35 minutes mostly on the freeway on the way in, but enjoy an hour ride home on back roads though park lands. So far I've only added a light jacket, goggles and unlined leather gloves to keep from freezing in the mornings.

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Ed L. Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline "We All go a Little Crazy Sometimes" Norman Bates Posts: 2808 Sunny Florida Gender:	Re: How cold is too cold..... Reply #11 - 10/20/17 at 11:49:53 Now that I'm in Florida I miss cooler weather riding, anything below 70 down here and the locals get their hoodies and boots out.
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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: How cold is too cold.....
Reply #12 - 10/20/17 at 11:56:12

Another thought...an air temperature of 50F in the sun feels a lot nicer than 50F in the dark.

When I was in college I rode 60 miles to see a friend in 35-40 temps. I wasn't dressed for the conditions and by the time I got there I was cold-soaked. I spent the next two hours wrapped in warm blankets...and then I had to ride back to school. When I got back to school I was just in pain. I think I spent about 3 hours in a warm shower.

Since then I just don't like riding in the cold. Small airplanes suck in the winter too. They rely on heat muffs like the ones used on aircooled VW's.

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MShipley Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 681	Re: How cold is too cold..... Reply #13 - 10/20/17 at 11:59:13 Ed L. wrote on 10/20/17 at 11:49:53: Now that I'm in Florida I miss cooler weather riding, anything below 70 down here and the locals get their hoodies and boots out. Ed, (by the way love the extensions) you may wanna turn this thread around and ask how hot is toooo hot?
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Ruttly

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Re: How cold is too cold.....
Reply #14 - 10/20/17 at 12:28:13

Mostly the colder months are December,January & February and I still ride but I would have to say 45 and above. It's during July & August it gets past 110 some times and anything above 105 is testing your body with heat and man eating bugs and the occasional swarm of bees. Got me a old Harley shirt that says"If you can't stand the heat stay out of the valley" Grin

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