Hello all!
The weather is starting to turn! My first season riding in the cold, I am looking for some advice from you veterans. Any advice is useful but in particular two questions have popped into my mind riding into work the past few days:
1. What do you use to protect your neck from that wind chill? Currently my neck is bare to the wind, was thinking of using a scarf.
2. At what temperature do you cease riding? Is there a particular temperature where it is not recommended to operate the GS500 under for mechanical reasons? Or is the GS500 bulletproof enough that if it starts and warms up its good to ride?
As of right now I fully intend to ride as long as there is no precipitation in the forecast (either snow/rain/ice) regardless of the cold, unless one of the answers to question 2 forces me to not.
the weather where i am is in the 50's right now and I am doing ok with a fleece pull over under a windproof shell. The only thing i need is some better gloves. as far as my neck goes, I just zip up my pull over and shell all the way and they tuck up inside my helmet enough to keep the wind off. I know that Shoei makes a chin deflector for their helmets to keep air from shooting up the front of the helmet which may also keep the wind from blowing over the top of your collar.
Check which oil is recommended for cold weather use. I am not positive but suzuki may recommend something lighter than 10W-40 for cold climates.
I would also imagine our tires would get less tacky as temps drop so keep that in mind.
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Maintenance.EngineOil
Here is the recommended oil, looks like 10W-30 for colder weather.
In the cool weather I wear a thin balaclava and put my helmet on over top. In colder weather I will often switch to a heavier tube scarf that I tuck under the neck of my jacket and into the bottom of my helmet.
As for the bike itself, I am not sure. I assumed that if they sell it where you live then it can handle the temperatures. Last season I did a 300km trip in 3-4 degree Celsius weather with standard oil and no problems.
Turtle fur!
http://www.turtlefur.com/Original-Turtle-Fur-Turtles-Neckwarmer/dp/B008QZA48O?class=quickView&field_availability=-1&field_browse=5441975011&field_product_site_launch_date_utc=-1y&id=Original+Turtle+Fur+Turtles+Neckwarmer&ie=UTF8&refinementHistory=subjectbin%2Clifestyle-bin%2Cfabric_type%2Cgeneric_text_1-bin%2Cstyle_name%2Cgeneric_text_2-bin%2Csize_name&searchNodeID=5441975011&searchPage=1&searchRank=salesrank&searchSize=12 (http://www.turtlefur.com/Original-Turtle-Fur-Turtles-Neckwarmer/dp/B008QZA48O?class=quickView&field_availability=-1&field_browse=5441975011&field_product_site_launch_date_utc=-1y&id=Original+Turtle+Fur+Turtles+Neckwarmer&ie=UTF8&refinementHistory=subjectbin%2Clifestyle-bin%2Cfabric_type%2Cgeneric_text_1-bin%2Cstyle_name%2Cgeneric_text_2-bin%2Csize_name&searchNodeID=5441975011&searchPage=1&searchRank=salesrank&searchSize=12)
I live in fl, so its not "cold" here. The lowest temps ive ridden in are in the 20s.
Mostly, worry about rain, then cold. ice is bad. as for oil, maybe if you live in sub-0 temps (C) then drop to a 10w30? If you let the engine warm up before riding, you'll probably never have a problem. Just leave 10 minutes earlier, its that simple, and use that time to warm the cockles of your bike.
Quote from: stokes776 on October 08, 2012, 10:36:34 AM
1. What do you use to protect your neck from that wind chill? Currently my neck is bare to the wind, was thinking of using a scarf.
I use a balaclava down to about 45°F. Then a neoprene facemask/dickie combo for colder. My Shoei also has a chin skirt to keep some air off my face, but contributes to fogging.
Quote
2. At what temperature do you cease riding? Is there a particular temperature where it is not recommended to operate the GS500 under for mechanical reasons? Or is the GS500 bulletproof enough that if it starts and warms up its good to ride?
I might not ride below 20°F. Haven't been there yet, so I don't know. I have gone down to 22°F. But I'm the limiting factor, not the bike. A well-maintained GS500 will be just fine in temperatures much colder than you can take.
Quote from: mass-hole on October 08, 2012, 11:08:38 AM
http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Maintenance.EngineOil
Here is the recommended oil, looks like 10W-30 for colder weather.
Umm, read the chart. Lower temperatures are on the left. 10w-30 doesn't work any better than 10w-40 for colder temperatures. The text in the wiki below the chart is simply editorial comment from someone who didn't read the chart and the text to the left of it. Also 10w-30 you can readily find is formulated for energy conservation and would cause trouble with the clutch.
Another vote for Turtle Fur, Balaclava's & Neck Gator's. Not trying to be a smartarse but....the best thing I ever found for cold weather riding was hiding behind all the plastic on the front of a Burgman. I stop riding in the 30's because the sun is so low in the horizon up here in Washington State and with all of our Evergreen Trees...some corners never get any sun on them and that makes for a PERMAFROST type situation that keeps motorcycles from retaining that UPRIGHT riding position that we all enjoy so much :icon_idea:
(http://home.comcast.net/~stykers/burgrain02.jpg)
I may be nuts, but as long as Suzi starts in the morning, I ride, as long as there's no ice on the road. The coldest I've ridden is 10 degrees F. I believe in layering. On really cold mornings (below freezing) I wear a turtleneck, my fleece, the inner jacket liner, my outer jacket, a pair of KLIM insulated Goretex snowmobile bibs (got these last year and LOVE 'em!). I also have a pair of KLIM snowmobile gloves, which are OK for very cold weather, but I still have to stop halfway to work to warm my hands on the motor. I pull the turtleneck up and fasten my chinstrap over it to keep it in place; I zip my fleece all the way up, too.
I'm usually the only motorcycle on the road in the winter around here. Pretty lame, if you ask me! But then, I'm pretty cold-tolerant. But my hands still take the brunt of the cold on the highway.
:cheers:
When I bought my 1st bike in late July 28 years ago I bought an open face helmet and got winter layup insurance. Come November I had no intention of stopping so I got a full face helmet, winter gloves, and some heavy longjohns, and along with a leather jacket with liner I had bought in a mall store and a couple of sweaters and a scarf I got by a few winters. Gear changed over the years. Now I use a middle weight armored riding jacket with zip in liner and three zip up turtle neck fleeces in different combinations depending on temps.
I wore a thin cotton balaclava over my face for a few years but with my asthma and eyeglasses fogging was a constant problem. In recent years it's been just the turtleneck fleeces keeping my neck warm below the full face helmet and if I have fogging problems at low speeds I flip up the shield to clear it.
I've ridden year around when the streets were free of ice and snow in temps down to 20F and have splashed thru a billion gallons of salt water doing it. Rain was never a deterent to going riding with a shield and rain gear on. Salt water can freeze on the street below about 17F if there isn't enough traffic to warm it so I cut it off at about 20F. If you're going to ride in below freezing temps watch out for black ice and also for ice patches on the road. I've ridden out on a clear road on a sunny day in late morning with plowed snow along the road and when I returned in late afternoon on the same road I hit patches of ice where the snow had melted and run across the road and froze again as it cooled. Only hit black ice once in all those years.
I use a small Spitfire shield on my naked GS spring, summer, and fall but put a big Plexi 2 on for the winter which helps with the hands.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/summer-winterGS.jpg)
I ride everyday year round,even in the snow ( I have a sidecar rig for that ).I use a Aerostich Darien jacket ( goretex ) under that I wear a balacava shirt ( 1 peice ) and a sweat shirt or fleece.For pants I have a pair of Cycloak Goretex riding pants and under that I wear a base layer pant.I also use Hippo Hands from Oct till around April,and Tourmaster winter gloves.For boots I have 3 different choices,Leather Up cruiser boots for warmer dry days,TourMaster Solution boots for cold rain and a pair of slip on HEAVY insulated winter leather boots for really cold dry days ( under 20 degrees ).I have been riding year round for over 25 years and I have been thru $1,000's of dollars of gear and this is the best setup I have found !!.
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Could someone link there cold weather gloves they use? Thanks...I would like to buy a pair...
I always wear a fogg off mask, for my neck warmth and to stop me helmet fogging. Thicker gloves, Thermal under clothes and put heated grips on the old girl.
I ride as long as there's no snow or ice on the road. I wear a balaclava which covers my neck, glove liners, spandex long john freeze outs, reebok heat gear shirt, a long sleeve cotton shirt, my textile jacket, and boots. So far, the coldest part of my body has been my hands. I just bought a pair of waterproof gloves that others have reviewed as being too warm for riding in anything but colder climates.
Hippo hands are a life saver for cold hands !!!!!.
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Quote from: Higgins13 on October 08, 2012, 08:52:33 PM
Could someone link there cold weather gloves they use? Thanks...I would like to buy a pair...
Tourmaster Winter Elite. Sorry, no link. Just Google.
++1 for the Tourmasters,I have been useing the same pair now for about 5 years.
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my bike doesnt have a windshield (YET) I use this for my face which worked great yesterday when it was 34 degrees yesterday morning. Teknic jacket with liner and lined overpants kept me pretty comfortable.
http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product/Face_Mask/web1008474
http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product/demon_waterproof_motorcycle_gloves/web1008621?registry_id= (http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product/demon_waterproof_motorcycle_gloves/web1008621?registry_id=)
I just got these gloves yesterday when it was so cold and my hands stayed comfortable. They were"cool" but fine 34 degrees at highway speeds
Gloves are vital..speaking from experience. I rode 40 minutes in 15 degree F weather many years back.
I now have frostbite on my pointing ,and middle finger on my right hand which means any weather under 60 degrees F while riding I have to wear gloves,and any prolonged time in the cold ,freezes my fingers. The blood goes away,and the fingers turn yellow/white,and hurt.
Don't try to test your limits...after you find it ,it may be too late.
I regret this everyday!
-CS
I have alpine stars dry star gloves made for wet weather but are also warm. Below freezing bike stays home, period. Black ice is no laughing matter.
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Rode for an hour today (3 hours if you account for the 2 hours of dead stopped traffic), in 45°F weather, at highway speed. Using a mesh jacket without the liner was not a good choice.
Mesh is for summer. Leather with a liner is for winter.
For the neck, i use this body shield from cycle gear. It works great for me. I like that it has enough slack material that i can pull it up over my face and nose under my full-face helmet for complete wind blockage.
http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product/body_shield/web1008352
I also retrofitted a more solid piece of material to the mesh chin skirt with velcro to keep the wind and cold out of my helmet. I haven't found the perfect pair of gloves yet for anything under 45 degrees. After reading this discussion, I think i'll check out the Hippo hands and tour masters.
Quote from: jestercinti on October 10, 2012, 08:03:39 AM
Mesh is for summer. Leather with a liner is for winter.
Poor planning on my part. I've got a heavier jacket that would have done just fine, but I left that where I was taking the bike and grabbed the mesh jacket instead. I was kind of hoping it would be in the high 60's like it had been for the past few days.
I feel you there...been there done that.
I have a tourmaster w/ thinsulate liner cortech jacket and overpants.... 50+ up I have a leather jacket then tourmaster equip- fleece balaclava that goes under your jacket so it fully covers your neck. Think ssg silk glove liners and harley gauntlets.
For 40+ I change out my leather jacket for a ostrich skin jacket.... No wind at all.
Here are some DIY UNIVERSAL heated grips CHEAP!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motor-Heated-Grip-Pads-Motorcycle-Handlebars-NEW-/170664829328?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D2651424322513765929%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D170664829328%26
Worth a try!
-CS
Quote from: burnchassis on October 10, 2012, 03:13:04 PM
Here are some DIY UNIVERSAL heated grips CHEAP!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motor-Heated-Grip-Pads-Motorcycle-Handlebars-NEW-/170664829328?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D2651424322513765929%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D170664829328%26
Worth a try!
-CS
i bought those exact heaters, probably from that seller. they are crap, i burned through 2 sets, and only the throttle side ever got hot enough to feel through the grip and the gloves. im thinking ill upgrade to big boy heated grips for this winter.
anyways, right now i wear my gerber heated vest below 50F, and once 40F and below i wear my snowboarding gloves, ski liners under my jeans, and my thinsulate ski mask under my helmet. comfortable enough, but id love some more wind protection on my hands. and maybe some real riding pants...
mikey
38F this morning on my ride to work. Not bad at all. Just some cold fingers after my 40 minute ride. this jacket, http://castlesales.com/Products/?id=3814703216692581470369258147036925814703692&a=showproduct (http://castlesales.com/Products/?id=3814703216692581470369258147036925814703692&a=showproduct)
with a thin windbreaker under it, and khakis pants with thermal underwear for the legs.
Hand guards work well at keeping the wind off your fingers.
Had a big batwing fairing once on a gs450. Kept wind away from me and my fingers.
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I bought this style and this brand http://www.ebay.com/itm/OXFORD-Heaterz-Heated-Grips-Suzuki-Scooters-fits-Most-/190739044705?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c68eed961&vxp=mtr
Never had an issue with them.
I gotta wonder how heated grips would work in sub 40f temps. With thick gloves on how will the heat ever reach your skin. With 30-40 deg a wind hitting the back of your hand and fingers how would a heated grip work?
I have been riding in freezing temps for 30+ years and the only thing I have found that keeps my hands warm are hippohands.For me it's all about keeping all the wind and rain off my hands.I put on warm gloves and my hands stay warm for hours,but I do use good winter gloves also !!.
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I wear a thin Nike balaclava that I think is made for runners. You can choose to put it over your mouth or just up to your chin and over your head. I also wear a pair of Tourmaster winter Elite 2 gloves. Their is a waterproof liner that tucks in above the wrist when it's not raining. I use the liner even when it's not raining as an added windguard. 38'F is my physical limit. I rode that for work for about 50 mins one way. Your toes are the first thing to get cold and my work boots are big enough to put an extra sock layer but small enough where I can't wear Thermal socks and it cuts off circulation.
Quote from: kbankovi on October 18, 2012, 11:39:15 AM
I wear a thin Nike balaclava that I think is made for runners. You can choose to put it over your mouth or just up to your chin and over your head. I also wear a pair of Tourmaster winter Elite 2 gloves. Their is a waterproof liner that tucks in above the wrist when it's not raining. I use the liner even when it's not raining as an added windguard. 38'F is my physical limit. I rode that for work for about 50 mins one way. Your toes are the first thing to get cold and my work boots are big enough to put an extra sock layer but small enough where I can't wear Thermal socks and it cuts off circulation.
Its been between 32 and 45 degrees when I get out of work these last two weeks...The only thing that never gets cold are my feet and legs..
The wierd thing is there is space between my pants and my boots and one layer of sock...
They are the well known Wally world 40$ boots. how wierd is that.
That's wierd. I lied and said I bought tourmaster gloves. I bought Fieldsheer but I'm not sure what model they are. They basically look the same as the Tourmaster. They have 100g of thinsulite, rainguard that tucks away in a zippable wrist compartment & they have a rubber wiper on the thumb to use on your visor (I've only used it sparingly as I think this would lead to scratching your visor.
So yesterday I rode my sidecar rig to work,it was 38 degrees and dry.I have NO bar mitts on that bike but the fairing does a ok job of keeping the wind off my hands.When I got to work ( 30 minute ride at about 70mph for 75% of the ride ) my fingers were cold,not frozen but very cold.Today I rode the V,it was the same degree but it was raining.I have HippoHands on the V and when I got to work not only were my gloves completely dry,my hands were just as warm as they were at home before I put my gloves on !!.
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/25/8e2umegy.jpg)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/25/se8ete3u.jpg)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/25/3age5aty.jpg)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/10/25/5y4e4apy.jpg)
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I've also had a pair of these on my Ninja 250, they help quite a bit. I'm currently using the ones from Oxford. By using these and my heated grips on low I can wear a thin pair of summer gloves and my hands stay nice and warm.
Tony
Do the Oxford ones have a place for the mirrors to come thru??.
I need a pair for the GS and the Oxfords are 50% of the price of the Hippos!!.
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nah, but a sharp knife cutting a small hole can fix that problem. Here's where I bought mine, link (http://lockitt.com/AccessoriesGrips3.htm#of82muffs).
Tony
Twisted Throttle has them also.
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I made the attempt into work today...got 3 miles and turned around. My fingers already began to get numb. Anyone use glove liners successfully?
I have tried 'winter' gloves and electric grips, and you have to turn the heat on the grips up high to feel anything. And the grips were hard as rock, so they were hot and uncomfortable ~ more irritating than useful :(
If I were to give it a serious try again, I would look for a softer heated grip with a lighter glove under a pair of Oxfords or HippoHands ~ the important part is keeping the cold airflow off your hands ~ gloves alone just aren't enough.
A light-to-medium-weight pair of 'waterproof' or 'windproof' gloves under the Oxfords/Hippos makes things tolerable unless it is really cold. I have ridden in the 45-49 F (7-9 C) range like this.
I keep thinking I need to get more heated stuff like a vest/jacket, but I don't ride in the cold enough that I feel I can justify the expense, although when I do find myself in colder weather on a trip I always wish I had spent the $$ and outfitted myself better.
Has anyone tried these from Bass Pro Shop? I've not seen Hippo Hands in person so can't tell if they're basically the same or not but they're only $29.
http://www.basspro.com/API-Outdoors-ATV-Handlebar-Mitts/product/63933/
Hippo hands are made for the bike so they fit well.I might try a pair like what your looking at but beware you will probably need some sort of hand gaurds to keep the bar mitts from pushing on your clutch and brake lever!!.I have barkbusters on the 500 so just about any will fit,also make sure you get ones with big openings for your hands.Most ATV ones have small openings because they don't seem to take there hands out much plus they are going slow or stopped to do it.Hippo hands have BIG openings and I can take my hands out and back in at 70mph without looking.
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I picked up a set of Trackside grip heater elements from cycle gear for $20 (http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product/grip_heaters/web1007460) this past weekend and installed them last night. For $20 bucks, i didn't let my hopes get too high and figured any heat is better than no heat when it's cold. Nothing is worse than cold hands on a motorcycle. Well, this morning was a pretty good test as it was 42 degrees with a windchill making it feel like the low 30's and this heaters worked GREAT!! My hands never got cold once and as much heat as these put out, I really believe it could be a good 10 degrees colder and my hands still be warm. Best 20 bucks i've spent.
You guys make me feel like I'm being a wimp about this cool weather. I was riding last night through the pastures and what not, 55 degrees, with my leather jacket on, jeans, boots, and some dewalt work gloves. I was practically frozen when I hit my girl friends house.
Today it was 55 this morning but with the sun out, layered some gym shorts and a wife beater under my normal attire and made it alright haha.
Florida boy problems :cookoo:
When I was 20 sumpin, I commuted on a bike until there was ice on the ground, I have nothing to prove to anybody, commuting on a bike pretty much ends in the wet or the 40's, cause either one of those things pretty much sucks all the fun out of it for me. I still get out on the weekends as long as there is no water or ice around (I have electric gear for the cold)
Mornings are getting chilly here in Kansas this time of year. Was 34 degrees when I left for work at 7:00 am. I stayed pretty warm except my finger tips got a little chilly. Granted, I'm riding a YZF 600 currently and not the GS, so the fairing probably helped. My gear is pretty simple though. Old AGV textile jacket with liner, thermal long sleeve shirt, light t-shirt underneath for my torso. I have Firstgear overpants over my khakis, thick socks and Alpinestars riding boots for my legs. I use a full face helmet with anti-fog shield and a Schampa facemask, and lined leather riding gloves (cheapos) with silk glove liners inside.
The Schampa mask has a neck gaiter that tucks into my jacket and keeps my neck warm. I am good with that set up down to freezing for my 25 min commute to work it seems. People at my job think I'm crazy.
I'm trying to figure out how to ride in the cold on a budget. In Seattle its been raining non-stop for the last week or so. We had about 70 days w/o rain this summer so I forgot how much it can suck to drive everyday in downtown freeway traffic sharing space with big-rig trucks and people in a hurry to get to work while being completely invisible in all the spray. Being wet and cold just makes it even more fun. I have been using an old rain suit from Costco but "waterproof" it is not. I would trade 20 degrees and dry for 40 degrees and rainy.
I just ordered hippo hands and a 1 piece rain suit and some waterproof overboots. I think this should be a relatively low-cost system that keeps me warm and dry and can still store on the bike when I get to the University.
Put the Hippo Hands on the bike today. Awesome!
With no gloves or heated grips my hands were just fine at 50 degrees on arterials.
Then I put on a thin pair of non-insulated leather gloves and put the heated grips on high, and my hands were practically sweating after 10 miles of freeway riding. The Hippo Hands make a pocket of still air that not only keeps the wind chill off your hands, it also keeps it off the heated grips (if you got 'em).
Yep, I sure like them and they work well for me.
Tony
https://www.tourmaster.com/product/Gloves/100__Silk_Glove_Liners/161/9I use these during our cooler months.
I love my liners we had a night where it hit 41 and hated not finding my liners. Yes, I'm in Florida and they up down up down of the weather sucks. I'm not a fan of putting on 4 layers in the morning, being stripped to practically summer gear in the day and then putting it back on. I ride down to the 30's because we don't have ice problems.
Mary
I need to move where you guys live. It must be nice to ride all year round...
Took the bike yesterday- 28* into work at 11 am and 25* heading home- an hour and half ride was a chilly alternating hands on the motor type of road!