We have officially had our first snowfall for the year that completely screwed up the roads. Here in Minneapolis they think that 2 cups of salt per snow flake is just about right. I winterized the onld GS  . How many people will ride on the salt, and are you worried about what it can do you your bike?

The only nice thing about putting the bike away is, the ski season is not that far off. Grab the thin sticks and head out.....

I wouldnt ride in the salty wet streets. 1: its crazy slick for a bike; and 2: Salt makes thing corode quickly.

I don't usually put it away from the first snow, but we use more plow and less salt here, I think. I used to ride the old maxim (shafty, no chain) right into the teeth of winter, but got bitten a few times with storms coming in while at work, or cleared streets and uncleared parking lots (riding fine, riding fine, nearly there, WHUPS!  Thud. Grumble.)

Once there's any likelihood of snow sticking, I put it away. In late fall you have to watch for wet leaves, too, depending on the road. Those can be worse than ice.

Unless you've powdercoated your frame, salt is a big deal. Even if you have, it's bad news for your chain.

You'll know your likely local fall pattern better than I will - here, the first snow is not the harbinger of winter so much as the distant early warning - there will be plenty of indian summer to ride in after it on a typical year. Let the rains come and clear the salt away, and ride if it's nice weather after that. But watch out for leaves.

When it's too cold, or if there's ice on the road (or it's gonna snow before I get home from work). Last year, I never went more than 2 weeks without riding in to work. The coldest morning was 16 deg F at the house when I left (and in the single digits in some low-lying hollows I'll drive through... Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!)

It depends strongly on your comfort level... I'm pretty comfortable for most of the year. In SE PA, we don't get any long-lasting snow cover, so I can get away with it. YMMV...

Quote from: applecrew on October 12, 2009, 09:16:36 AM
When it's too cold, or if there's ice on the road (or it's gonna snow before I get home from work). Last year, I never went more than 2 weeks without riding in to work. The coldest morning was 16 deg F at the house when I left (and in the single digits in some low-lying hollows I'll drive through... Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!)

It depends strongly on your comfort level... I'm pretty comfortable for most of the year. In SE PA, we don't get any long-lasting snow cover, so I can get away with it. YMMV...

I have driven in with the temps around freezing, and for the most part it is not that bad. I would of kept riding, but the corrosion from the salt is not worth it. I still bring out the bicycle when the salt is down so I get my two wheeled fix that way.

Quote from: applecrew on October 12, 2009, 09:16:36 AM
When it's too cold, or if there's ice on the road (or it's gonna snow before I get home from work). Last year, I never went more than 2 weeks without riding in to work. The coldest morning was 16 deg F at the house when I left (and in the single digits in some low-lying hollows I'll drive through... Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!)

It depends strongly on your comfort level... I'm pretty comfortable for most of the year. In SE PA, we don't get any long-lasting snow cover, so I can get away with it. YMMV...

I'm with applecrew on this one.  I'm in Michigan and can easily get 10 months out of my bike every year.  We get lots of snow, but it doesn't take long for the roads to get cleared and dry out.  If the roads are dry the salt doesn't get kicked up on the bike that bad.  Besides I don't feel guilty driving my truck and it cost me $20,000. Why should I feel guilty about a bike that costs $4 grand.  

If you keep riding thru the winter you can make fun of the Harley riders.  I constantly tell my boss (he has a $30,000 special edition Harley) that he's only as bad-a$$ as the weatherman lets him be.  He gets so mad!

Never. I live in southern california. It doesn't get below 40 here.

Now.

See you next spring

mine usually gets put away when its gonna cost to much to repair whatever ive broken since last time.
failing that i would usually ride right through the winter.living in scotland means theres salt on the roads 90% of the year...you just have to pay more attention to the upkeep of perishable parts.

My bike is already put away.

Calgary, AB, Canada.

I gave it a handwash, cleaned & lubed chain, put half the jug of stabilizer in and ran it for 10 minutes (other half goes in after winter).

Center stand, place cardboard & carpet underneath front wheel, and plug in the battery tender.

Anything else you chaps can think of?

Mine doesn't get put away. I ride year round because I still have yet to get my driver's license. Yeah, I could technically go get it now but  I don't got the $20 what with all my pending tickets 

Never, but then again I am in Australia

Here in Colorado we have crazy winter weather.  Can be days/weeks/months of ice/snow and cold.  Then you get a break every now and then.  This is my first winter riding so I have yet to say.  But when I  just went to lunch I noticed all of the ice and snow we had from last weekend was gone.  Looks like I can ride tomorrow.  If not, she is in the garage.  I am just counting down the days until I have to tear her down.  Until then, i want to ride!!!!

I don't put it away for the entire winter.  When the roads are dry and clear (meaning no ice/snow/salty water) I'll take the GS out - whether it be December, January or February.  Didn't really have any problems with corrosion last winter - biggest issue was starting due to the battery being sapped.  This year I will put stabilizer in the tank because it can be a few weeks between rides, but I don't do anything other than that.

I ride year around here in NE Ohio and have for 25 years now.  I'll go out if the roads are not covered with ice or snow, I just splash right thru the salt water. I've gone out for most of those years when temps were above 20F since the salt water can freeze below about 17F.  Last couple of years I've yielded a bit to my age and raised my minimum temp for winter riding about 10 degrees and don't think I'll be out this year unless it's above freezing.

It's hard on the bikes, brake calipers are a mess and chains are kinky and rusty and need replaced in the spring.  I clean up the rust a bit on chrome, frame, etc in the spring and just live with the rest, bikes are an expendable item.  Buy them cheap, use them up, and throw them away.

In all those 25 years I've only taken 2 weeks off from riding twice for broken bones. Rust isn't all that important.   

If I rode someplace that salted, I'd definitely hose it down regularly.  That stuff just sucks.

In rainy weather, I alway clean and lube the chain more frequently.

Quote from: respite on October 12, 2009, 10:19:54 AM
Never. I live in southern california. It doesn't get below 40 here.

Ditto!   

usually early/mid november for me. It gets chilly and i don't really have winter gear. The roads suck here in new england to begin with, i don't want to mess with the salt/sand they throw down and all the craters that get dug up on the highway by plows.

Quote from: RyanMidd on October 12, 2009, 11:10:03 AM
Anything else you chaps can think of?

Personally, I'd drain the carb bowls (having run the stabilizer through first) rather than leave them filled (albeit stabilized). Also a good idea to change the oil. When did you last change brake fluid? It's pretty easy to prop the front tire right off the ground with a 2x4 the right length or a jackstand. Also plastic wrap and rubberband over exhaust and intake (or a big cork). Strew a few old fashioned mothballs &/or set some mousetraps. Remove the battery and let it sit elsewhere on the tender. Pop the sparkplugs and put a teaspoon/5ml of oil down each plug hole (then replace them). Look it over for anything you'd like to get done while it's not on the road, so you don't lose riding time next year.

All this assuming long-term storage, which would seem to be the case if it's already off the road.

Usually mid to late November.  I'm too much of a wuss to ride when the temperatures start consistently dropping below freezing at night, too worried about finding an ice patch somewhere.

-Jessie