is there such thing as cold weather not being safe for sport riders?

user3657 · 12-11-2007, 03:12 AM

can i ride my gsx r during the winter? it is my first winter and my boss says not to ride during the winter because my tires would not get hot enough. i think he is just a wuss and dont like riding in the cold. is it safe to ride in 40 degree weather, ro should i put the bike alway for the winter? and if it is ok to ride, can i ride normal? or should i try not to lean the bike? what i mean by lean is not speeding, but just taking turns wider and trying to keep the bike straight vs leaning a little and loosing traction.

please advise me on winter riding as i want to keep riding in the winter!

jeepcoma · 12-11-2007, 04:28 AM

It CAN be safe, with the proper gear and approach to riding. Your boss is right in that tires are colder longer in the winter, and your brakes will feel like a block of wood when they're cold, so you need to take these factors into account when you're riding: be smoother with your inputs and lean less in turns instead of hooning around like normal; occasionally ride your brakes to keep them close to operating temperature (especially if the circumstances around you warrant it)... but the most important factor is having the proper gear. Not braking properly or overleaning a cold tire might kill you if you ride long enough in the winter, but the cold will definitely kill you if you're at all serious about riding in the cold. Your boss is a wuss. Most people are.

There is a lot of info out there about cold weather riding. Lots of us do it. I've ridden year round for years in New England winters through ice and snow and close to 0*F temperatures: your BIKE can handle the cold just fine, it's the RIDER that has the most difficulty adjusting. Expect to spend some good money on quality winter protection. Best piece of advice I can pass along is to have all the gear you need BEFORE you decide to get any heated accessories (like grips or a vest); that way, you know how far you can ride at any given time and you won't get too far from home that you can't make it back. If you've just put on the heated vest over a T-shirt and turn the grips up to HI and have an electrical problem or conditions get worse or there's any sort of problem (and they will happen), you're pretty much screwed up your chances of making it back safely. Make do without heated gear for a least a season, so that you have enough of the right gear to get the job done; think of heated gear as a luxury not a necessity to winter riding.

Lexcruiser · 12-11-2007, 08:48 AM

The issue w/ the tires not getting up to temperature is the single most significant thing specific to riding in the winter time. Your boss is correct. Tires will *not* heat up to optimum temps because ambient temperature and the road temp will be low. This means your tires will not grip as they should.. Your results on how they perform will depend on the quality of your tires, how old they are, how many heat cycles they've gone thru, how worn they are. This means you'll have to be smoother with your input.

I see you're in NJ also, so if you ride during the winter, another thing you need to watch out for is potholes and sand/gravel they toss out for the icy roads. It's definitely doable, just not optimal.

Anthonyd5189 · 12-11-2007, 09:35 AM

I ride as long as it's above freezing and the roads are clean. Your bike will be fine, just be more cautious about things as everyone has already stated.

Goin Ape Nutz · 12-11-2007, 11:17 AM

clean and dry roads are important when riding in the cold. even a thin layer of ice can lead to all kinds of issues.

COLD :p weather gear is a good idea too... obviously.

If your boss is a bike rider himself, then he may be speaking from experience.

boner · 12-11-2007, 11:35 AM

Remember too, if all you can think about is how freakin cold you are, you will not be able to pay enough attention to the road and your surroundings.

kevin_stevens · 12-11-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexcruiser

The issue w/ the tires not getting up to temperature is the single most significant thing specific to riding in the winter time. Your boss is correct. Tires will *not* heat up to optimum temps because ambient temperature and the road temp will be low. This means your tires will not grip as they should.. Your results on how they perform will depend on the quality of your tires, how old they are, how many heat cycles they've gone thru, how worn they are. This means you'll have to be smoother with your input.

I see you're in NJ also, so if you ride during the winter, another thing you need to watch out for is potholes and sand/gravel they toss out for the icy roads. It's definitely doable, just not optimal.

Note that this is also the issue with riding in the rain. Even in quite warm weather (to us), the water increases the heat dissipation by a factor of 25, and tires don't heat up. It is this more than hydroplaning that makes roads slippery when wet.

KeS

bush · 12-11-2007, 12:28 PM

Most of it has been covered.

Yes, the cold weather will affect traction. You will have to be smoother with your inputs and give yourself larger margins when leaning or stopping. There is also the issue of debris such as stones or salt. That shit is everywhere after the snow has melted.

Jeepcoma is right - the cold will affect you way more than it will affect your bike. The bike will get used to it quick - but I guarantee that you'll reconsider riding in the winter once it drops below 40 degrees. I did a day trip to the finger lakes about two years ago on a 40 degree day, and although I enjoyed the trip, I had to ride through a blizzard on the way back and that wasn't the most fun I've had on the bike.

Then there's sub-freezing temperatures to worry about. I was on a ride once on a day where it was below freezing and the roads were dry - in most places. I hit a shady patch that I thought was just water, but it was really ice. I made it over the ice but my ass end went sideways and I almost highsided.

Basically, riding in the winter is dependent on how much risk you're willing to take, what kind of temperatures you're willing to deal with, and how much cold weather gear you can afford.

user3657 · 12-11-2007, 08:36 PM

cool. tomorrow is suppose to be 50 so i am going to take it out. first time ive had it out in about a month! i think it might be my last ride till late jan/feb. i keep it in self storeage, do i really need to do anything to it if i let it sit that long? useally in feb it starts to warm up again, so ill be taking it out once in a while and by march i should have it out for good. i dont need to winterize it for this short time do i? im thinking ill just keep the gas low so when i ride it next month ill just bring some fresh gas with me and fill er up.

user3657 · 12-11-2007, 08:37 PM

one more thing, is waxing it really important? im thinking ill just wait till the spring to wax it unless the cold can damage the paint??

Lexcruiser · 12-11-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by user3657

cool. tomorrow is suppose to be 50 so i am going to take it out. first time ive had it out in about a month! i think it might be my last ride till late jan/feb. i keep it in self storeage, do i really need to do anything to it if i let it sit that long? useally in feb it starts to warm up again, so ill be taking it out once in a while and by march i should have it out for good. i dont need to winterize it for this short time do i? im thinking ill just keep the gas low so when i ride it next month ill just bring some fresh gas with me and fill er up.

Is it climate controlled or heated storage? If not, take your battery out, fill your tank and put some fuel stabilizer in there. Keeping the tank empty is *NOT* good for winter storage. Condensation will build up inside the tank, fuel lines freeze, bike no work.

Maintain your bike well and it'll work well for a long time. You need to read:
Winter Storage Guide for Motorcycles

user3657 · 12-11-2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexcruiser

Is it climate controlled or heated storage? If not, take your battery out, fill your tank and put some fuel stabilizer in there. Keeping the tank empty is *NOT* good for winter storage. Condensation will build up inside the tank, fuel lines freeze, bike no work.

Maintain your bike well and it'll work well for a long time. You need to read:
Winter Storage Guide for Motorcycles

no its not climate controlled

user3657 · 12-11-2007, 09:18 PM

should i get the fuel stabilizer at the shop or would any auto place be good?

donkeyman · 12-12-2007, 12:07 AM

Any ole fuel stabilizer will do. I like Sta-Bil myself which you can find in any automotive store.

MINI NSX · 12-12-2007, 04:14 PM

Just don't lean as far and watch out for debris on the roads. You should be smooth anytime you ride. Add a little "dry gas" to the gas, which is just ethanol or methanol. The alcohol absorbs any water that collects in the tank and suspends it in the fuel so it burns in the engine. Bundle up at go!