Found this on the AMA website.   Quite helpful....

http://www.amadirectlink.com/features/Cold/index.asp

From the AMA website:

"Terry Cook, an AMA government relations specialist and MSF instructor, is a die-hard motorcyclist from Missouri. Cook rides 40 miles each way to the AMA offices in Pickerington, Ohio, year round"

I live just two miles from the AMA offices/museum and rode by there on my way to work today.  About 40 deg F which is warm in the winter around here.

I just rode through snow at ~7,500 feet in the dark last night, and I was fairly snug temperature-wise.

Here's what I used:

* A big,

Plexistar II windshield.  I can't say enough about the benefits of this shield.  Keeps off the wind, rain, snow, and spray from other vehicles, and even boosts your mileage a bit!  I'm glad I had the shield if only because of the sheet of ice that covered it during the coldest hour of my trip.  Better it than me!

* Steel-toed work boots

* 3 pairs of socks: tube socks next to my skin, thin thermal socks, and thick wool socks.  Even so, my feet were the most exposed part of my body, and the only part that was obviously cold.

* 2 sets of thermal leggings: one thin and one medium thick

* Denim jeans

* 4 shirts: cotton-poly undershirt, thermal (long johns) shirt, regular button-up shirt, sweatshirt

* Insulated overalls, like the ones farmers use out in their fields in the winter

* Fleece jacket, thin-ish leather jacket with lining

* "Turtle Fur" neck wrap, tucked down into my jackets and up over my mouth

* Frogg Toggs rain gear (PA109 Pro Angler Suit) Very lightweight, windproof, waterproof, breathable.

* Full-face helmet

* Tour Master Winter Elite gloves.  They came just in time for the trip.  WOW - windproof, water-resistant (no big deal with the windshield) and WARM with a nice liner and large gauntlets.  Kinda bulky though ... I switched back to my summer Joe Rocket gloves when I got back to the 40s/50s in the valley.  You can make them waterPROOF by undoing a zipper in the gauntlet area and pulling a two-section "shroud" over the fingers.[/list:u]

Quote from: KerryI just rode through snow at ~7,500 feet in the dark last night, and I was fairly snug temperature-wise.

That sounds like a fun ride.

Quote from: Kerry
Here's what I used:.................. A big Plexistar II windshield[/url].  I can't say enough about the benefits of this shield.

I'm thinking about getting one for winter riding.  Is it easy to take off for summer?

I love those gloves Kerry...and i wear 2 pairs of thermals myself....though it has been kinda balmy here the last few days...

Kerry, you really did the Michelin Man thing!  It occurs to me that a cheap SkiDoo suit over fuzzy bears (one piece fleece-in long johns) might have worked as well and you could still easily get your personal equipment  clear of the clothing when nature calls. Sorry ladies, not much help there for you, but then you're probably too smart to be out in that kind of weather anyway.

Jesus!  I think i'll stick to driving my 4WD Land Rover with the heater on, sipping on a Grande Caramel Macchiatto...   :mrgreen:  I bow to your die heartedness!

Good article, Juggetnaut.

Kerry - Is riding through the snow like riding in the rain? What does it 'feel' like? Undoubtedly, you have to be smooth with your throttle/steering inputs similar to riding in the rain, but really, what's it like? How do the tires 'handle' it (you're runnin' the Metzelers, right?)?

Quote from: John Bates

Quote from: Kerry
Here's what I used:.................. A big Plexistar II windshield[/url].  I can't say enough about the benefits of this shield.

I'm thinking about getting one for winter riding.  Is it easy to take off for summer?

The Plexistar II comes with 4-point quick-connect hardware.  It's somewhat easier to take off than to put back on, because you need to re-check the positioning when you put it on.  But yeah, it's pretty easy.  Spin off the two knobs in this photo and undo both thumbscrews like the ones in this photo ... and lift the shield off!

Quote from: scratchKerry - Is riding through the snow like riding in the rain? What does it 'feel' like? Undoubtedly, you have to be smooth with your throttle/steering inputs similar to riding in the rain, but really, what's it like? How do the tires 'handle' it (you're runnin' the Metzelers, right?)?

Unless it's raining cats and dogs (or I'm taking sharp corners or riding over inherently slick surfaces) I don't usually pay TOO much attention when riding in the rain.  I don't even worry too much when I'm riding through slush.

But snow that may or may not be getting hard-packed to the road surface scares me.  Even worse is rain (or melted snow, or whatever) that may or may not be trying to freeze to ice after the sun has gone down.  And when it's too dark to be able to tell for sure ... let's just say that I wouldn't have ridden that "hill" last night just for kicks.

To answer your questions: Yes, I would say that the techniques are very similar.  I tried to avoid leaning the bike at all if possible.  But the car in front of me didn't tend to hold a straight line, and I REALLY wanted to ride in his tire track.  So I periodically had to risk a bit of a lean to get across a snow patch and back into his track.  I thought I detected an about-to-slip sensation from the front a couple of times, and you should have heard me inside that helmet.  (No swearing, just loud ... blubbering?)

When we started down the other side of the pass I was even more concerned than going up.  It's one thing to be smooth on the throttle, and another to be light and smooth on the brakes when gravity is trying to dictate your speed.  The front brake is pretty much verboten.  I pulled in the clutch and coasted through most of the curves as I went downhill, only using the throttle when the bike was straight up and down and traveling in a straight line.

A funny thing, though.  Only a few miles from the top I noticed that the sheet of ice on my windshield was starting to melt.  It started clearing up on the outer edges, and slowly worked its way in towards the center of the shield.  That's when I knew that the road surface was going to be wet rather than frozen.  When we reached a passing lane I finally went around my "pace car" (who didn't have the same reassuring indications that I did) and gave him a grateful wave as I went by.  I'm sure he thought I was nuts - as if he didn't already know that.    I was still careful on the curves, but the lower I got the more confidence I gained.  (I also realized that I was feeling confident ... and that I needed to be that much more careful.)

The tires that came with the bike are Maxxis Promaxx - not sure of the size specs.  They're not new, but not TOO bad tread-wise.  I'll try to take pictures tomorrow.

Cool (sorry, bad pun :lol: ).

Quote from: KerryNo swearing, just loud ... blubbering?

I've done that...on wet pine needles...and when I had to go to the restroom with all my gear on.

Hey John.... Did your lights go out for the holidays? I live a couple miles from the AMA myself... Spent my free time cutting all the D@%M tree branches in my yard from that nasty storm....


fett

Quote from: fettcolsHey John.... Did your lights go out for the holidays?

Yes, no electricity for two and a half days.  Temp. in the teens. Power came on Christmas afternoon.  That was a good Christmas present.

Quote from: fettcolsI live a couple miles from the AMA myself...

If you haven't been to the museum, you should go.  My wife and I toured it last summer.  They have some great displays there. Didn't see any GS500s though.

Quote from: fettcolsSpent my free time cutting all the D@%M tree branches in my yard from that nasty storm....
fett

I have two complete trees down and many large branches down all around the house.  The place looks like a war zone.  I think they will stay there till spring.

I live in Northern California so it's not as cold but still enough to need proper gear. I like riding in the rain and if it wern't for inatentive 4wheel drivers i'd say i love it. I use Joe Rocket balistic pants ( just love them )
thay keep me warm and kept me in one peice sliding down a canyon rd @ 60 mph. Thank you Joe. I also sport steel toes all the time and when thay get cold it's no fun but when i pop in chem-warmers i'm all cozy again, those things work well... almoast too well at times.

John, I too enjoy a big screen, Turbo-Spitfire, pictured on Avatar, It is slightly more difficult to take off then Kerry's but my experience is that I don't want too. It's probably the best money I have spent on the bike.

Quote from: Cal PriceI don't want too [take off the big screen]. It's probably the best money I have spent on the bike.

Ditto.  

Cal ... That's a wind shield ... I thought it was your garage door ...
:lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: KerryA funny thing, though.  Only a few miles from the top I noticed that the sheet of ice on my windshield was starting to melt.

When you're at the edge of freezing, and especially if changing elevation, temp/surface changes can happen awfully quickly.  I was once riding in typical post-rain Seattle damp, and saw ice in a shadowed area of the road.  I straightened up as best I could, but still skittered the rear in a pucker fashion.  But that was the only ice I came across all day.  Crazy sheeot, but if it isn't 50 or higher, I've learned to be leery.

Quote from: Cal PriceJohn, I too enjoy a big screen, ................ It's probably the best money I have spent on the bike.

Ya'll convinced me.   I ordered one, hope to get it in time for my birthday.

Kerry,

Riding in the conditions you mentioned would scare the bejeebees out of me. There is no way to ride safely in snow on a bike.    If you go slow you might survive. What would you have done if a panic stop was necessesary?  At least your fall would have been cushioned by the snow and your multiple layers of clothing.