How cold is too cold to ride. In Michigan, it got to about 33 this morning. It'd be just a quick jaunt to campus, no highway. I just wanted to get tips from you guys on what temperature it's too low to ride in. Thanks a lot!

You might want to read over gsJack's wisdom in this topic:
http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21885

I think the answer a lot of folks might give is, "it's never too cold."  I would think that it is too cold when you can no longer dress in a way that keeps you comfortable.  Hypothermia is bad for concentration.  If you're cold, you're not focused, you're tense, shivering.  If you take off your gloves and your fingers are black...it was too cold.

Brrrr....I think that 33 is much colder in October than it is in January or February...but that's just me.  It was in the balmy low 40's this morning when I rode in (an hour on the highway), and that wasn't too bad.  Did have to pull out the fleece neck gaiter, though.

I road this morning, and it was like 2-3* C, not sure what that is in F.

Quote from: NarcissusI road this morning, and it was like 2-3* C, not sure what that is in F.

Right around 35-38F.

Hi there,
I've been riding since 1975, when I bought my first bike at 16 years old. Back then I lived in Madison, Wisc., where it was SOOOO cold that gasoline would turn to jelly on the coldest winter nights.
Back then, I rode daily, even in winter, as soon as the streets were plowed of snow. It was Wisconsin and they knew how to plow. Temps of 10 degrees F never fazed me.  But I was 16!
Today, I'm 46 years old and the outside air temps do faze me more. Riding at 30 degrees F is fine for me, though now I use electric Widder gloves.  Very toasty and well worth the expense. For me, as long as my hands are warm, the rest of me seems to be warm enough. I also use a scarf, layered jacket and sweater or sweatshirt, etc.
In general, though, I always say, ANY day is a good day to ride.
In Madison, we used to do an annual New Year's Day ride. Some years it was SOOOO cold and snowing, but still some rode their bikes. Other drove their cars and met for breakfast. We all had fun.
I'd say ride as often as you can, and if you get cold, try electric riding gear or raise your temp threshold next time. But if it's a nice day, suck it up and ENJOY!
Best wishes,
Todd

I agree with those that have said ride whenever you're comfortable.  If you're shivering, parts are numb, or you find it difficult to concentrate, you're too cold.  Other than that, just make sure you give the engine and tires enough time to warm up, and it helps to keep your battery on a trickle charger.

Oh, and I don't ride if there's snow, ice, sand, or salt on the road.    I assume that's a given.

I agree with you, ride whenever you feel comfortable, don't just look at the degrees.
Only when it's really really cold you have to be more careful on the road (snow..ice..), and be patient with the bike so the engine can warm up properly.
I road today but I can't even say what's the temeperature outside 'cuase I'm so excited by my GS that I don't rally care if it's cold or not...

Quote from: billyblackoutHow cold is too cold to ride. In Michigan, it got to about 33 this morning. It'd be just a quick jaunt to campus, no highway. I just wanted to get tips from you guys on what temperature it's too low to ride in. Thanks a lot!

It was freezing out there this morning, I've got a 55 mile commute to Detroit and turned back after 5 minutes.   Drove the truck over instead...to bad too, they are forcasting nice weather for the ride home...  

I think it depends on how much you can reasonably gear up without compromising your ability to ride and move around on the bike.

If I were going to ride in such cold weather (which i still might), then the first things i would get would be a leather jacket and some wind guards for the handlebars.

I'm not a big fan of being cold... esp when i can take it easy in the cage and listen to some doo-wop music as i set the temperature thermostat to 'toasty'

Quote from: TarzanBoyIf I were going to ride in such cold weather (which i still might)

If I had a garage I might consider it; we do have the occasional "warm" day during the winter.  My problem is that once it snows, there is no path between where I store the GS and the road, so it doesn't really matter how clear and dry the roads are.  That means it's got to be prepped for long term storage.  Thinking about what the winter was like last year makes me doubtful that winter riding might be an option.

Quote from: TarzanBoyI'm not a big fan of being cold... esp when i can take it easy in the cage and listen to some doo-wop music as i set the temperature thermostat to 'toasty'

Just the thought of having seat warmers in the winter tips the scales toward the cage.

Badger, i just got back from beantown last weekend... quite different from here in VA.  I've been there during your winters too and it's not pretty.  I'm going to be riding mine unless snow is on the ground, no car.  But yeah, when it's too cold and you're not dressed right... not only is it painful but it does become debilitating.  A few times last winter, that was me, stopping on the side of the road stomping around trying to revitalize numb body parts.

Quote from: nisus1I've been there during your winters too and it's not pretty.

Last year was particularly bad.  I had 6-8' mounds of snow in my yard all winter long.  I recall after one storm I had some difficulty finding my front door.  Every parking lot in the area was at 1/2 capacity because they ran out of places to put the snow, so they just left it in vast mountains in the middle of all the lots.*


* Before anyone asks...they used to dump it in the harbor, but then they realized that the treatment/salt/etc. they put on the roads mixes with the snow, and that's really bad for the harbor.  Now they have to melt it and run it through the storm drains, which route through the water treatment facility.  They can only do this so fast, and last year had a really hard time keeping up with the snowfall.

Quote from: TarzanBoyI'm not a big fan of being cold... esp when i can take it easy in the cage and listen to some doo-wop music as i set the temperature thermostat to 'toasty'

I don't like being cold so I use electric gloves and jacket liner by Gerbings. Keep in mind that if you are too cold to turn your head, you are raising the risks inherent in riding.  Therefore for me, heated clothing is a safety item.  I also use earplugs with built in speakers so I don't miss the creature comforts. They now are attached to a portable Panasonic XM radio (gawd what a cool gadget).  like others I stop for sand, salt, ice and freezing rain.

This morning was 36-40 with 4 miles of fog that had visibility down to a couple hundred yards.  The fog got me thinking about hanging it up for the season due to lack of visibility.

disposable heatpacks in the jacket and gloves can work too.

It was cold enough for ice and flurries last winter.

The right gear is essential.  And thick does not always equal warm.  Well-engineered linings can be reasonably thin and still keep the cold out and the warm in.  

I found hand guards to be far more valuable than heated grips.

Quote from: Roadstergal
The right gear is essential.  And thick does not always equal warm.  Well-engineered linings can be reasonably thin and still keep the cold out and the warm in.  

I found hand guards to be far more valuable than heated grips.

^Indeed.  It's all about WINDPROOFING.  I can bundle myself up for a scoot around town at practically any temperature.  Highway speeds are another issue for me.  Even with my best cold weather gear I can only stand riding at 60mph when temps are above 45 or 50 F.  Lots of fleece, lots of gortex or the like.

Hah once the sun goes down, watch out!!! I only ride during the day now

Quote from: groff22Hah once the sun goes down, watch out!!! I only ride during the day now

Halifax, Nova Scotia (10/20)
Sunrise:  7:35am
Sunset:  6:22pm

Getting shorter every day.  

October 20th, PSC:  Sunrise 7:35, sunset 6:14.  What's going to be fun is at the end of the year - rise at 8, set at 4:30.  That'll screw with your biorhythms.

I get off at midnight and there has been a night in the high 30's here.  Add in windchill for my run down 460 and it gets cold fast.  Windproofing is key and the best thing i do it always wear my rain gear.  Wind will on get in and any cloths/gear you have on underneith just keeps you toasty.  The only thing i need to get is a good, warm, pair of gauntlet style riding gloves.  My hands are the only things that get cold.