- This topic has 11 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 7 months ago by madjak30.
Riding in the fall…
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September 19, 2010 at 2:00 am #4235madjak30Participant
We are expecting snow flurries on Wednesday this week…my truck goes into the shop on Tuesday, I sure hope they get it back to me within the same day…
I just went for a ride tonight…it’s 8C (46F) and dropping…it has been going down to -4C (25F) overnight, scraping windows in the morning sucks (truck doesn’t fit in the garage)…
How long do you guys ride before you call it quits for the season? I think I will keep on going until the daytime high doesn’t go above freezing…
This riding season is too short…and I don’t have a snowmobile to play with in the winter…blah…
Later.
September 19, 2010 at 4:02 pm #28519MunchParticipantFlurries….already…sheesh where you at? Me I ride most of the year. As long as its not wet … I ride. The coldest temp I have been out in so far in 17F. If theres no frozen stuff on the road I am good. Just gotta make sure to gear up for the ride. It’s all about layers and a good pair of gloves. Which this year I am going to look for better ones. The Alpinstars that I have are ok down to about 30F but after that the seams are too exposed.
September 20, 2010 at 4:17 am #28524madjak30ParticipantYeah, I went for a ride today to my buddies place about 100kms (60ish miles) and the only part that got cold were my fingers…definitely have to invest in better gloves if I am going to ride in the fall…
I went to leave his place, but before I could get out of town the clutch cable broke at the lever…that sucked, so my bike is sitting at his place and I had to get him to give me a ride home…I’ll take my truck down tomorrow and retreive the bike…changing the cable shouldn’t be too hard…I hope.
Later.
September 20, 2010 at 11:34 am #28525TrialsRiderParticipantCable change is easy enough, just pay close attention to the routing when you take the old one off. Bikes in the great white north live longer because we ride em’ spring, summer and fall, then we get to work on them over the winter. Any time the snow crusts up hard enough, I take mine out and practice riding snow banks. If you are really into cold you should check out the snowtrax conversions;
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/498/Motorcycle-Video/EXPLORER-Snow-Bike-Conversion.aspx
Cool addition for the Super Motard guys, take one of these out and beat the pants off the snowmobiles:)
Don’t let winter get you down, make fun of it.
September 20, 2010 at 12:53 pm #28527briderdtParticipantI’ll ride through the winter, though I pick and choose my days. I’ve ridden while it’s snowing (got home just as it was starting to stick on the road), but not when there’s snow on the ground. Ice… Nope. The worst, though, is fog. Freezes to the visor instantly and then it’s a white-out. Scary stuff.
September 20, 2010 at 2:53 pm #28528madjak30ParticipantI thought this was a good one and I should share it…tie a string to the end of the cable before you pull it out…pull the string in when pulling out the old one, then tie the new one to the string (okay, tie the string to the new one) and pull in back in with the string…should save you some tight spot issues if you have any…I’ll let you know how it goes…
As for the snowtrax conversion, I think that is better suited to a dirtbike than a 420lbs streetbike…I think maybe crosscountry skiing might be the better choice for me…I need some exercise in a bad way, and I think my dog would really enjoy it (once I figure out how attach the skiis to his feet…)…can’t hurt the kids any either.
Oh, and the forcast has changed…flurries tonight…oh well, more time to tinker with the bike…
Later.
September 21, 2010 at 1:28 am #28534TrialsRiderParticipantOne would think a dirt bike was required to suit a snow track conversion, but in fact variations on the snow conversion concept date back to at least the early 70’s. I recall seeing them on a 750 Norton Commando and a Kawasaki 750 triple. I think it’s a matter of more horsepower the better, because I imagine there is far more rolling resistance on a track drive and ski than on two tires. Newer designs are not as tall as their predecessors but it’s the price tag that keeps them in obscurity.
I usually pull the tank to replace any cables, but either way be most careful of the throttle cable routing or interference to the throttle cable operation by other cables. When working on anything in close proximity to the throttle cable, check the throttle action before you start it to make sure the carbs are snapping shut, and once it is running at idle, turn the bars both directions full lock to make sure the cable isn’t pulling the throttle open as the bars turn.
…if there is water in your cables they will freeze and break under lever pressure real easy, lubricate them with thin (honing stone type) oil to displace the water.September 21, 2010 at 2:50 am #28537madjak30ParticipantThey have to order the cable in from Toronto, so I have to wait a week…funny how it takes a week from Toronto, but I can have stuff shipped from Arizona in two days at work???…anyway, I also bought a cable lube tool and some cable lube…I plan on lubing all cables on the bike…I don’t know if they have ever been lubed (I know I never did)…also need to adjust the chain before I ride again…over the winter I will be getting a new rear tire and doing an overhaul on the bike…not diggin’ in to the engine, but clean and lubricate everything so that it is fresh in the spring…
I think I will do another season on the GS500 since I can’t decide what type of bike I want (also because I need a new truck…only so much money), so I will hone my skills for another season…then decide if I want a cruiser or an adventure/touring bike…
Later.
September 24, 2010 at 4:50 am #28552namvette68ParticipantThey make a few 5.00/16 snow treads still, and work quite well. I even had put one on the front, when I still had a dresser. I guess about the coldest weather I’ve done any long riding is about -30F. You cannot leave your bike outside or the oil turns to grease. I am not able to find a decent snow tire for my Sportster, so it stays in the shed all winter. The Suzuki may come out on the few nice days we get. I find my hands, face, and kneecaps are the first to get cold. Proper and adequate apparel makes a difference. I do like the new leathers with armor. They take a little getting used to the weight and inflexibility, but it isn’t obnoxious.
I’d love to move south or out west in the winter, but for now I’m stuck in upstate NY. I’ll add some photos as the white stuff gets here. Happy Riding!September 25, 2010 at 6:16 am #28565madjak30ParticipantI think I will stay off the road once the snow flies…if the roads are dry and it is near freezing, I may go for a boot…but I don’t want to be riding in snowmobile gear…
We’ve had flurries, but the ground is still too warm for it to stick…so we may still get another month or so before the winter arrives…
Here’s keeping the fingers crossed…
Later.
September 25, 2010 at 5:39 pm #28567TrialsRiderParticipantI think I agree, snow tires don’t sound like great fun on an icy road surface.
Now studded tires, that would be a blast ! Studded tires are even legal in your province, aren’t they Madjak ??? Imagine the looks you would get, ripping around on a motorcycle in the nastiest of winter weather, and considering we pay for year round license and insurance up here, I think it would be well worth the effort.
September 26, 2010 at 5:12 am #28568madjak30ParticipantHe has a 250cc Yamaha dirt bike that he has a set of tires that he installed studs on…he takes it out on the lake with the guys on the quads and does loops around them…great on the ice, but on dry roads…he says not so good…kind of like riding on the painted part of the pavement in the rain…his analogy…
Here in Sylvan Lake, you are allowed to ride your off hiway vehicles to the lake and home…so that is what he does, mostly…I’m sure he makes a few detours to round up the “guys”…I don’t have winter toys, at least not motorized ones…cross country skis only…and for now, it will stay that way (still trying to upgrade the bike…)
Later.
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