GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

I was moving my stuff last night to my new place (well temporary place for the moment, but it will be moved to my new apt on sunday - which is right next door to my friends place).

Anyway the biggest thing left was to move the motorcycle. So i put on my jacket and an warm sweater, jeans and my gloves.

20 minutes later i had frozen legs (itchy for one) and my fingers were cold.. otherwise i was fine..

At 60mph its mighty cold i tell you..

I got to remind myself to get a baclava and gloveliners.

edit:

one nice thing i noticed, after days of cold weather, hovering around 34-37F over night and me not riding the bike, it actually started up on the 2nd try :) I am amazed.. it never would do that in LA. For some reason it would drain overnight there. Same battery.. just now parked out doors under my ducow cover.

I rode into work this morning...a balmy 40 out.  Luckily in CA it will be in the 60's this afternoon when I go for a long ride in the country.  As long as the rain holds off here, I'll be out!!!

60F i can deal with... 40 and below with not enough layers... brrrrrr

I'll be riding to work all winter as long as the roads are clear.  You're right - the gear makes all the difference.  Without the layers, this could be considered an Xtreme Sport!

When it's in the 30's ... 20's ... Teens ... single digits ... I suit up in my insulated overalls.  For my 11-mile round trip to work I don't bother with the 2 layers of long johns, but for weekend trips I "don't leave home without 'em"!

(http://www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/DCP_1472_WinterGear_Blockbuster.jpg)

It gets to be kind of a drag, taking the time to hop in and out of that thing.  But better that than driving the car!  Towards the end of Winter, when the outdoor thermometer reads 40 or above I get "Spring Fever" and have to go for a ride at lunch time without the "baggies".

EDIT: Changed link from sisna.com to bbburma.net

50 to 55 is my break point.

manjul,
I saw under 30 at Newcombs last weekend...frozen stiff all the way through.

I've never been on a bike all winter but will try this year - local rides only under 50 degrees F.  I am betting on a mild winter here in philly - Famous last words! Actually last winter was so hard that if this one is just cold it'll be an improvement . it's really bizarre when a NE city cannot cope with snow removal , they just blocked off certain streets with  gargantuan piles of grey snow that seemed like they were there until april. I guess the mayor's brother had the snow removal contract.  :dunno:

I just got a GS500e last week, my first bike.  Bought it from Kerry, actually... his '96 black one, if any of you have seen his pics of it.  I have ridden to work twice in the last week, every day there wasn't too much snow on the ground to consider it.

I work 35 minutes away...  on the freeway.

80-85mph in 30 degree weather does get a little chilly, but with thermals under my pants, a good full-face helmet, a thick wind-proof jacket, and a $25 pair of waterproof/windproof riding gloves, my legs were quite chilled when I got there, and my hands and chin were a little on the cold side, but really not too bad.

It's all in how you dress... of course, I don't get cold as easily as most do.

I decided I need some windproof pants at some point, and a scarf/baklava/something over my chin, but if there weren't snow, I'd ride to work every day.

I'd LOVE to ride all winter, but I don't. The cold doesn't bother me so much, it's the fear of black ice and such that does.   :o

It's just not something I think I can rely on for work cuz you never know what the weather could be doing 8 hours from your nice clear ride to work. Add that to the fact that I have to cross a big bridge to get to work, and as everybody knows, they freeze pretty easily.  :(

John

Quote from: The_good_guyI got to remind myself to get a baclava

ROTFLMAO...

:thumb:

Quote from: JohnNSThe cold doesn't bother me so much, it's the fear of black ice and such that does.   :o

It's just not something I think I can rely on for work cuz you never know what the weather could be doing 8 hours from your nice clear ride to work.
John

Exactly.  And in my case, make that 11 hours as that is my typical day.  So far I've been very comfortable in a First Gear Thermo-Gear 1-pc riding suit, layered underneath as it gets colder (been down to low 30's F so far here), along with appropriate footwear/gloves/balaclava under helmet (no, not the Greek pastry).

Now that I've been noticed riding long after their bikes have been mothballed, I'm even getting new respect from the Harley guys!!

Quote from: richardI just got a GS500e last week, my first bike.  Bought it from Kerry, actually... his '96 black one, if any of you have seen his pics of it.  I have ridden to work twice in the last week, every day there wasn't too much snow on the ground to consider it.

I work 35 minutes away...  on the freeway.

80-85mph in 30 degree weather does get a little chilly, but with thermals under my pants, a good full-face helmet, a thick wind-proof jacket, and a $25 pair of waterproof/windproof riding gloves, my legs were quite chilled when I got there, and my hands and chin were a little on the cold side, but really not too bad.

It's all in how you dress... of course, I don't get cold as easily as most do.

I decided I need some windproof pants at some point, and a scarf/baklava/something over my chin, but if there weren't snow, I'd ride to work every day.

Ok Now there is 2 Oremites... Well Here is what I want to know... How big was the MotoX outlet sign and how long has it been there. Anyway... It was a lovely 46 this morning and a stoopidly warm 55 this evening... I sweated in my Joe Rocket Suit...
Cool.
Srinath.

Hey Srinath!  When you ask a question, you should come back to read the answer.   ;)

Check out my 3rd post in the MAW or ridegear?? (http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5706) thread, where you originally asked about it.   I took the time to supply you with pictures and everything. :thumb:

I feel so smug  ;)  I got a Widder electric vest, and Hot Grips, and tested them yesterday and today in mid-30's to mid-40s weather, at highway speeds.  TOASTY!!!!!  I also wore long johns, jeans, leather pants, a turtleneck shirt, an overshirt, winter gloves and full face helmet.  I could have done without the extra shirt. I'm really happy with the system. I'll keep testing it at lower temperatures until I find out where even they can't keep me comfortable.  Meanwhile, I figure I've added at least 2 months to my riding year. :)

When I lived in Denver, I bought a 2nd hand snowmobile suit that keeps me toasty warm on the coldest of days. It is lined with down(sp) from ankles to the neck and is water resistant in light rain.
The only negative thing is it takes up a bunch of room in the closet although rolled up, I can fit it into a small back pack.
I also look like I am getting ready to jump out of a plane but I don't care because I am not cold. 8)  
I have been wearing it for the past week because the after dark temps are in the 40's but it has been dry.

I try to ride as long as possible before the roads are icy or snow covered.  Riding in the cold is bearable, once you get use to your hands and feet being numb!

to quote the canadian border guards at windsor, who asked my friend, "so you think its cold eh?"  (dec 14th)

Quote from: chimivee

Quote from: The_good_guyI got to remind myself to get a baclava

My Wife make excellent baclava. Mmmmmmmm baclava. And koulourakia.

I ride to school everyday an in VA it is cold.  It frosts everynight!  I ride with paper thin gloves, jeans, and a Joe Rocket Ballistic series jacket.  The only thing that gets cold are my hands so a pair of warm winter gloves will be a X-mas present to myself!

Mmmmmm baklava....  :P

I was planning on storing my bike over the winter, but I think I've changed my mind. In the past six weeks, I've seriously started to love riding my GS. It's a blast. Today it is 27 degrees out, and I decided to ride the bike to the grocery store instead of driving the car, because I hadn't been on the bike in 2 days. My hands and feet got cold, but I think silk sock and glove liners should help with that. I only have to go 35-40 mph for about 15 minutes to get to school, and I can park right in back of the building, whereas if I drive my car, I have to park 6 blocks away.

I found that the Ballistic pants work pretty well in the chilly weather.  Just as long as there's another layer beneath to keep you from conducting heat.  I think I need to pick up a pair of winter riding gloves and something to keep my upper arms warm while wearing my Teknic Lightning jacket... for some reason my arms are the chilly parts when I ride!

Make sure you drink lots of water when riding in the winter... the wind and low humidity will dehydrate you just like hot weather does.

Ahh, I keep hearing this word: "cold", is that how you say it?   :)

Here in S. AZ rarely does it get nippy (freezing temperatures don't come around til late Dec/early Jan)

Other than that, it is an unmitigated pleasure to take the lady out for a ride.  (Just put the liner inside my ventilated jacket about two weeks ago  :lol: ).  Oh sure, there are those two pesky months Jul/Aug when you'd rather risk an asphalt lobotomy than wear a helmet... but all in all not bad.

It does not get too cold here and I ride year-round but the wet can be a real bummer but you just get used to it. Last December I had to do a 100m trip with snow flurries and temperature hovering around the freezing point, woolen gloves inside leather did a good job but fingers still get cold, the worst aspect I found was when my legs started to shiver uncontrolably. The following day I bought some L-Js they may not be cool but freezing I can do without. So far this year I have worn two pairs of waterproof overtrousers together on a cold & wet day and that was fine.
I am still toying with the idea of heated grips but most of my trips are fairly short so I don't know if they would do a lot.

"There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes."                                                                                                     Well, thats what Billy Connely thinks. I just keep stopping to warm my gloves on the engine.

yeah i remember s. ariz., mostly phoenix, 70-75ish in dec. jan.,  :) but 30 ish @night :x , the summer weather, has a nasty habit of making your tires, shoe soles etc stick to the asphalt though :x  :x  :dunno: i guess there is a price to pay no matter where you live.