I took advantage of this little 'heat-wave' we are having in central PA today and got the bikes some exercise this morning.  Must have been about 25 to 30 degrees out with sun.  it was so cold out that the temp guage on the ninja500 only read when it was idling.  as soon as I started out down the street and the airflow started over the engine, the temp guage went right back to 'cold'.  Riding in those conditions can't be all that good for the bike, can it?

I can make it around town at or near the freezing mark, but I can only stand the highways at about 45 degrees or above.

so what's everybody's personal best when it comes to low temperature riding?  I think I call it quits around the freezing mark in the daytime.

I've really been missing riding the past couple days; we had sun thursday and friday morning.  The roads are still crap though, and my bike is 350 miles away.  I've been getting myself all pumped up about my possible cross country trip to Deals gap, and looking for new ways to spend money I don't have getting ready for the trip.

My personal best is probably around 25F, just around town though.  I like at least 40 to ride on the highway, even then, probably not for too long.

Managed to ride for an hour in 20F temps last november before the snow came in...

Quote from: vtlion...  it was so cold out that the temp guage on the ninja500 only read when it was idling.  as soon as I started out down the street and the airflow started over the engine, the temp guage went right back to 'cold'.  Riding in those conditions can't be all that good for the bike, can it?  ...

I think your bike was trying to tell you something.  

I admit to missing riding these 63 days, 4 hours and 43 minutes since I turned the key off (not that I'm counting), and can hardly wait to get back in the saddle.  My hope is that Mother Nature isn't late and that March 21st is not just an early April Fool.

check this out...that's me after a 100km ride back home for christmas break...


http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2134240244

I took a 95 mile ride that took two hours in Northern Jersey with the temperatures going from 26 to 30 degrees.  Did not stop at all.  
Did not see one rider.  That is rare.  I always see at least one.
I went on my DL650 after I put on the knuckle guards.  They help with the wind but are not a total solution.  The fairing is sweet, keeps the wind off the upper body.
Going to take the GS out on Sunday.  Will probably put a heater under it for about 30 minutes since it's starting to start lousy in cold weather.  Probably the choke.
I had it out in previous years in the teens and it's no problem with the cold weather.  Just let it warmup a little before you take off.
Watch the patches of salt.  The other thing to keep in mind is that cold tires have a lousy grip so watch it in the turns.

Quote from: manofthefieldI've really been missing riding the past couple days; we had sun thursday and friday morning.  The roads are still crap though, and my bike is 350 miles away.  I've been getting myself all pumped up about my possible cross country trip to Deals gap, and looking for new ways to spend money I don't have getting ready for the trip.

My personal best is probably around 25F, just around town though.  I like at least 40 to ride on the highway, even then, probably not for too long.

I was thinking about taking a trip to Deals Gap this summer.   If you are planning on passing through Bloomington let me know.

matt

i rode to work in the low 20's.  pointless.  everytime i stopped it put my hands on my engine to warm them up a lil.  my balls were like icecubes

I can hadle the 20's for an hour without a problem.
My problem now is the damn snow.  We got a dusting again last night.
Poor GS is going sit for a few more days.

Same here MP.  Bike has been sitting outside unridden for about 2 weeks now.  Though i did start her up yesterday and ran the engine for about 15 minutes or so.  She's surrounded by some old dirty snow (parked on the sidewalk locked to a no parking sign) I may dig her out a bit later when the temp hits freezing.  I was gonna try a ride today but like you a dusting of snow just enough to make riding "iffy" has covered the streets.  So.....i'll dig her out of the snow...set some icemelt...take the train to see my fiance (which would take 1/4 the time on the bike) and hopefully tomorrow..... :dunno:







My poor bike and dirty snow      

you store your bike on the streets?
how do you sleep at night???

A few reasons i sleep ok..
1) i've been lucky
2) I park it and lock it to the sidewalk.  A bike locked to something is a less attractive target than one in the street unsecured.  I believe 3 bikes were stolen over the last year in a 2 block area (probably by that ring that was nabbed a month back)
3) My neighborhood is pretty decent and a lot of local strangers have told me if they have seen anything strange going on (like someone lifting the cover)
4) i have a shot of Cuervo and a Corona before i go to bed  

I've rode when it was about 25-30 degrees for about 2 miles. i don't think i will ever do that again.

well, as much as I love riding... yesterday it felt more like work than play.  I'm somehow still stuck in the southwest Virginia winter mindframe... expecting a sunny, 45 degree day here and there throughout the winter.  Problem is, that just doesn't happen in central PA    

I never oiled the cylinders this year in the hopes that an odd 45 degree day would pop up here and there in Jan and Feb.  Unfortunately, its just not happening.

on the plus side.  The SV650S had been sitting for 6 weeks and it fired right up on the first try.  I'm very pleased with that bike.  

I ride to and from work every single day, and its been pretty cold lately.

I could not resist I went to gas up the GS and went for about 20 minutes.  If I would have gotten properly dressed I would have stayed out for an hour.  Middle of the week looks good.  Going to take a shovel to dig me a parking space in NYC.  :lol:

Pfft, fair weather riders . I ride every day, even when we have a high of 35 degrees. I stay warm, too. It's not hard, just layer up and put something over your face, like a balaclava. A fairing helps.

As far as the cold being bad for your engine, I don't see why. When your engine is cooler it runs better.

I don't think I'd be much for riding in ice and snow, though (although some people do).

I can't confirm the details anymore, because my original post disappeared with the old version of the message board.  But I recall being so gung-ho that I rode to work one day when the digital outdoor thermometer at home read 8F and a bank on the way to work showed 10F.  That would have been in 2001 or 2002.

These past 2 or 3 winters in Utah have been quite mild compared to that one!

ha, I'm down in texas where the avg temp during winter is in the 70s, ya'll like the snow up north?

i rode for about hour and half in 31 degree weather once, my hands felt like frozen nubs it hurt to try and break and pull the clutch, as for the rest of my body i wasnt cold until about 45 minutes into it (going down 95 south).

lesson learned dont ride on the highway unless its close to 40 lol