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



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     

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.

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.

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=

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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