GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Who will ride through winter, on days when there is no ice/snow?   :cheers:   I've found that if I dress right, riding in 30-40 degrees isn't that bad.  How many of you ride all year?  People from LA or the gulf coast don't qualify.

What about Texans? Do Texans qualify? I'll be riding again as soon as I heal up and fix the bike.

I dunno...Austin is really borderline.  But occasionally a cold front will bring ice, so OK.  I was raised in Round Rock.  I long to return to Austin, but alas employment only got me as close as Oklahoma.

I will ride around town "all year", but only when I feel that the roads are safe.  Road conditions generally aren't very safe in Jan/Feb in centra PA even when there isn't any snow or ice down.  This is because there is sand/salt/gravel EVERYWHERE from the last snow storm. :x

In a typical year I would say that in Jan/Feb I probably get my bike out about 3 or 4 times total.

Me me me me me ... yea ... uless bike is busted ... OK all 7 are busted ...  :(  :(  :(  :(  :(  :(  :(
Cool.
Srinath.

I didn't know you even rode a bike.

Quote from: aaronstjI didn't know you even rode a bike.

Oh yea I just sit here and spout theories ... is that a case of pot - kettle cliche ...
Cool.
Srinath.

Ok, but I get to be the pot this time.  I'm tired of being the kettle.

Day in- day out I try and ride both bikes, the GS behaves well in the winter but the Yamaha is a pig to start. Some years I miss a couple of icy days but that about it.

my bike is sitting in 3 inch deep ice  :(

The roads around here are covered in snow and ice all the time, I'd definately crash and burn if I tried to go anywhere on the bike. But atleast it'd be a warm demise...

I agree with RedShift, 45 degrees is my limit. Anything colder than that is too much for me.

It was mid to late 30's when I left for work this morning... I'll be riding every day I can!!  :thumb:

A hard frost isn't as bad as sheet ice, but it's worse than rain.  Care takes you through it, though.

temp going in the lower 30's, but I still ride daily.

btw, I'm all warm and comfortable, except my chin... what to do about it? the freakin body part get's very cold  :o

Balaclava.

grow some facial hair

Quote from: skoozi12grow some facial hair

This didn't work for me. :(

Still smooth as a baby's bottom...

some people might take that wrong...

No way...everyone here will know exactly what she means!  :lol:  :kiss:

Quote from: RoadstergalBalaclava.

Mine fogs my glasses up :(

Quote from: AlphaFire X5

Quote from: RoadstergalBalaclava.

Mine fogs my glasses up :(

Contacts!!  :thumb:

Quote from: pandy

Quote from: AlphaFire X5

Quote from: RoadstergalBalaclava.

Mine fogs my glasses up :(

Contacts!!  :thumb:

Yeah. I forgot them at home when I went to the track. Had to run with the visor cracked. My nose started running like crazy!

Well, it's the air circulation that keeps the fog off that's making you cold... you can try treating your glasses with antifog.  That's what Cat Crap was made for.

My nose runs in cold-weather riding no matter what I do.  :roll:

Yeah, mine trickles.  I just kinda have to let it.

so no 'real' solution for the chin getting cold? (had to google Balaclava btw). i don't wanna look like no terrorist on a bike... mmm, wait a minute... the real terrorists are the news, so nevermind that last line.

as I was saying, I don't want another layer of cloth messing my hair (helmet does enough damage already).

any takers?

I have a neoprene ski mask.  It covers from the bridge of the nose to the neck and the cheeks, then tapers down to two straps that do a hook-and-loop closure in the back.

Quote from: AlphaFire X5Yeah. I forgot them at home when I went to the track. Had to run with the visor cracked. My nose started running like crazy!

That explains the sneeze.....

Quote from: RoadstergalI have a neoprene ski mask.  It covers from the bridge of the nose to the neck and the cheeks, then tapers down to two straps that do a hook-and-loop closure in the back.

for some reason your solution isn't very appealing...



:dunno:

Quote from: RoadstergalBalaclava.

Just be sure to take it off along with your helmet when you enter a store.  No sense in making people nervous. 8)

I'll ride when the temperature is above 45F and sunny.  I usually can't ride to work (dress pants) when it's that cold.

Sometimes out here on the prairie (western OK) the wind is more of a limiting factor than the temperature.  We get some SERIOUS wind, especially in the winter.  Have to lean over 45 degrees just to go straight.  OK, maybe not 45 degrees, but...

I try not to ride if the wind is gusting to 30mph -- it's a little tricky.

Okay...Tucson, so no ice, but it's been in the 20s and 30s on my way to work in the mornings for the last few weeks.  I've been able to keep everything warm except for my fingers.  I've orders the Cold Fronts (I searched  :) ), so I'm hoping those help.  I've also sold my Jeep, so I don't have any other options at this point!

Quote from: AlphaFire X5

Quote from: RoadstergalBalaclava.

Mine fogs my glasses up :(

I sometimes wear a bandanna "bandit style" and never had a problem with my glasses fogging up  :thumb:

Not to mention catching the "nose drips" before they become a problem.  :)

Quote from: RedShiftJust be sure to take it off along with your helmet when you enter a store.

I just leave my helmet on...  

It's pretty funny handing over your ID while your helmet is on...  They look at the ID, look at you...  Look at it.......   Look at you...  Shrug and sell you the beer.

:lol:

Quote from: JustinNoobWho will ride through winter, on days when there is no ice/snow?   :cheers:   I've found that if I dress right, riding in 30-40 degrees isn't that bad.  How many of you ride all year?  People from LA or the gulf coast don't qualify.

30-40F isn't bad at all. Totally rideable. It just sucks (for me) when it's like 10F. Seems no amount of dressing can keep me warm. Plus, around here, on most of the days where it isn't snowing, there's slush and crap on the roads and of course there's always heavy amounts of salt mixed in there as well and we all know what salt does to cars/bikes aaand since it's so cold out I personally wouldn't feel like washing the snow/salt off the bike every day so it's just much easier to winterize it for 3 months and stock up on stuff to keep my nerves calm until I can ride again. :P Of course, if I didn't have an 05 and just had a rust bucket already then I guess I'd try to bundle up real good and get out there...

Quote from: JustinNoobPeople from LA or the gulf coast don't qualify.

hahaha...sucks to be you.
j/k.

yeah, I'm in LA. but I ride angeles crest, where it can get into the 20's and see's snow and black ice. First time up there in the winter I almost died of the cold. Now I dont go anywhere near it without my heated vest and heated grips... :nana:

I ride all winter.  When I only had the GS I had it out plenty of times when it was in the teens.  Anything above freezing is fine.  High twenties is not bad.  Low 20's gets tricky.  At that point I had a 3/4 helmet.
Now I also have a V-Strom and I am so not worthy.
Upright seating position, hand guards, windshield, full face helmet and dig this, Oxford Heated Grips.
I know, I know, life is not fair.  :lol:  :lol:

It took two winters to get my winter gear just right.
It's a constant battle.  Knees froze first, got that figured it was onto legs, got the figured it was hands, got that figured it was upper body and on and on.  You just work on one thing at a time as it screams for attention.
Now I'm back to the damn toes.   :(

Yesterday the temperature was hovering around freezing - of course that's much colder in Celsius - and was riding tolerably warm around town until stopping by the dealer, who told me the feshly scarred bike in the corner was a frost fall-down a few yards from the store 30 minutes earlier.


Suddenly felt much colder.

Quote from: mp183It took two winters to get my winter gear just right.
It's a constant battle.  Knees froze first, got that figured it was onto legs, got the figured it was hands, got that figured it was upper body and on and on.  You just work on one thing at a time as it screams for attention.
Now I'm back to the damn toes.   :(

Usually it's my legs (above knee), neck and hands that freeze. I could probably fix the neck problem with a scarf and one of those leather face dealy bobbers. Leg problem I dunno, but it does help a ton when I wear thermals but when it gets below 25 or so, it sucks again. My hands I dunno what to do other than buying heated gloves for weather in the teens.

Argh.  I really wanted to take the bike out this weekend.  It's still mid-30's cold, but the sun was out and the roads were dry.  Unfortunately, my lack of garage means I need to keep the bike around back, and there are 2-3 foot snow drifts between it and the nearest dry pavement.   :x

Out and about I saw a couple of folks out on their bikes, and briefly considered trying to bust over the snow drift on the bike.  Thought better of it, though.

this is why i like texas :)  ( when it desides if it wants to be warm or cold .. or rainy or dry .. its never the same ) but yea .. i went on a 2 hour ride today in 40's was a bit chilly but .. not to to bad .. as far as keeping the chin warm .. they make mask that keep your front face open but cover you head and chin

I usually just tie a bandanna around my face to block the direct wind to my chin. Snowmobile pants work well for my legs.

Now I got to get a set of hand guards because my fingers are getting numb after about 30 minutes of low 20 degree riding.

How can you discount us on the Gulf Coast?  It gets cold here too.  We've had quite a few 30s degree days.  As I have to ride on the Interstate on my way to work going 80 you feel it.

Try this out:  http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=&store=Main&catId=402&productId=p354665&leafCatId=40205&mmyId= .  It is awesome.  My nose is the only thing that gets a little cold.  If you get one of those mouth guards to put in your helmet that would also stop you visor from fogging up or your glasses.

Quote from: subctemp going in the lower 30's, but I still ride daily.

btw, I'm all warm and comfortable, except my chin... what to do about it? the freakin body part get's very cold  :o

bandana on your face under your helmet i know its thin but your breathing warms it up and makes a big difference i never did it because i didnt think that littl ething would keep ya warm but i did it this year and i dont leave without it when its below 40 deg or so. that is with a full faced helmet.

I live in Texas by the gulf coast but I have a bald rear tire. Do I count?  :P