When does you call it the end of the riding season? Whats too cold? I am in SD, and i ride to school and work everyday, unless it rains. This morning it was 40F, without a helmet and riding jacket that was a chilly jont. Just curious on when everyone makes the call to put it up for the winter.
I think for me, it'll be when the highs during the day start getting to 40-50.
I don't like riding to work when it's 40 cause it's about 20 miles on the highway, which is too cold. But the ride home is nice after it's warmed up to 70-80.
Quote from: TANNER on October 03, 2007, 07:04:19 AM
without a helmet and riding jacket that was a chilly jont.
Maybee try wearing a helmet and jacket ??? Not only will they keep you warmer but you may even survive a crash :icon_mrgreen:
I live in PA and its getting cold here... I usually dont put the GS away until the snow flys :thumb:
I was planning to ride until the snow hits but I did some expressway driving a few months ago that may have changed my mind. Now I plan to ride until I fell it's too cold. Hopefully not until sometime in November.
It's getting colder... I could probably ride to Mid-November ... But will probably pack in the GS before the end of this month.
Why did you start such a depressing thread? :cry:
Cheers,
J
Il be riding all through the winter baby!
Even in the snow :)
Yes i have had to do it before, riding in single tyre tracks with both feet down sliding in the snow to maintain uprightness. Anything above a slight angle change in the road requires stopping and walking the bike round the corner before continuing in 1st gear basically idling lol.
I dont make a habbit of riding in the snow but sometimes you just have to.
Do they use salt on the roads to control icey conditions in the UK? That stuff would kill the already rust prone GS awfully quick.
All you lucky enough to ride all year, pipe down! O0
Cheers,
J
Uh, yeah I stop riding when I no longer enjoy it or it's too dangerous (snow or ice). Why would I do anything else? I have a car, with heat and traction control and ABS.
I definitely don't want my GS to see salt. I have a 1993 Mustang that was a summer car, and it's just starting to rust this year. My 1994 Dodge truck has almost no steel left. It's insane what salt does.
Yep they pile it on and its truly awful for rusting things. I wouldn't take the GS500 out over here in the UK in the winter. I nearly bought one when looking for my first big bike (back in 2006) i looked at a 2005 gs500 which had seen one winter and the whole thing was bloody going rusty, every nut, bolt, washer, weld pretty much the lot. Hence i didnt buy one :)
My top tip though is buy a cheap jetwasher, leave it plugged in in your garage or where you store your bike. When you get back from a winter ride, blast it off with the jet washer to clean the salt off then put in a garage or storage room where it will be reasonably warm. This prevents most rust. You just have to accept if you ride your bike in the winter and you decide to use this method that your going to go through chains quicker. Avoid blasting the chain with the jet washer as it forces the oil out of the seals but if you do need to to get to the wheel or frame just dont worry about it and just give it a good coating with chain lube (the aerosol stuff). And basically service your bike properly at the end of winter when its abit warmer and easier to service and the roads arn't so salty.
When you get to the end of winter i would suggest checking for rusty bolts, replace those if your worried about them, take the chain off and soak in parafin over night, then come back brush it off with an old paint brush, clean and dry. Then use the parafin in your container to wash round the rear wheel and anywhere where the copious amounts of oil you should put on your chain in the winter have flung off dont forget to do the sprokets and in particular the engine sproket (might involve taking a cover off) crap collects at front sprokets, Once all chain running is clean, Then hose down the bike, give it a good soapy wash and blast off and dry with a towel or leather. Reinstall chain and relube and tighten etc... You should also check your oil and tyre pressures and basic stuff like that.
When you ride in the winter you have to take the attitude don't worry about the bike, keep the chain well oiled and tightened and blast salt off whenever you can. Nights are cold so when you get back the last thing you want to be doing is servicing so just do the essentials then do a proper end of winter service like described above. Be safe!
well since I live in Texas, my "winter off the ride" will probably during Feb-Mar period (it varies from year to year) when it rains like a damn opened for 15 straight days and its 35'f outside.
otherwise unless there is ICE and/or below 10'F I ride... I just wear warm clothing.
I ride all year in any temperature unless the roads are icy. Heated gear and good leather helps. :thumb:
don't plan to put it away since i don't own a car :)
^^^^^
Mostly why i ride my bike all through winter i have no other transport. Although after this years harvest and the many hundreds of overtime hours i put in im looking at purchasing this little run about!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-FIAT-PUNTO-SPORTING-16V-BLUE_W0QQitemZ150166842277QQihZ005QQcategoryZ9843QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
^^^^^^^^^
...watch out man, the steering wheel is on the WRONG side!!!!!!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
kidding apart...I have TWO of these! :icon_mrgreen: both '00. :thumb:
Well, not exactly the Sporting version, but one with the very same engine (1200 16 valves) and a similar trim, currently my father's, but probably soon to be mine; and the other is the one I use, but 8 valves and 60 hp, basic trim.
I find the 16v very fun to drive, the Sporting must have better handling and suspension, besides the 6-speed tranny.
Just be careful about the head gasket, that is a flaw of Fiat "Fire" series engines.
Other than this, nice car. It will not rust as late 70's-early 80's Fiats did. :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: Mine has always been exposed to ANY kind of weather (I have no garage for her :() -- not a damn single rust spot. 8) :cheers:
Back to topic:
I still don't know what I will do about my GS being ridden this winter. :dunno_white:
Last winter was exceptionally mild, I don't think we will be as lucky (even though I hope there'll be enough rain and snow for water reserve on the Alps, riding is fun but being on a water shortage at summertime is no fun at all :mad:)
I might decide to keep it still next winter, I'm in need of new rubbers and i think it'd be more reasonable to wait for next spring. :dunno_white:
i am only insured for 6 months...and she is all done today. I will wash, polish and prep my bike for storage. I will venture into the garage once in awhile during winter and sit on my bike and go varooooom, varoooooom.
I live in florida so there is no off season here. Although it rains pretty much every damn day so that sucks.
Quote from: tripleb on October 03, 2007, 06:32:53 PM
I live in florida so there is no off season here. Although it rains pretty much every damn day so that sucks.
I'm jealous. I'm thinking about moving west or south so I can ride year round. Well not only because of riding but it would be nice.
Quote from: max_boost on October 03, 2007, 07:28:00 PM
Quote from: tripleb on October 03, 2007, 06:32:53 PM
I live in florida so there is no off season here. Although it rains pretty much every damn day so that sucks.
I'm jealous. I'm thinking about moving west or south so I can ride year round. Well not only because of riding but it would be nice.
:thumb: last year we got almost no rain, i hope its like that this year to.
use Sta-bil as directed.
Quote from: CndnMax on October 03, 2007, 08:05:44 PM
Quote from: max_boost on October 03, 2007, 07:28:00 PM
Quote from: tripleb on October 03, 2007, 06:32:53 PM
I live in florida so there is no off season here. Although it rains pretty much every damn day so that sucks.
I'm jealous. I'm thinking about moving west or south so I can ride year round. Well not only because of riding but it would be nice.
:thumb: last year we got almost no rain, i hope its like that this year to.
Word.
Even when there is rain, it's never heavy enough to stop me from riding :icon_mrgreen:
Quote from: groff22 on October 03, 2007, 08:48:07 AM
All you lucky enough to ride all year, pipe down! O0
:cheers: