How cold is too cold? Poll, sorta.

pistolclass · 11-30-2017, 10:55 AM

So the mercury says 34 deg F. I have a quick errand to run and I just want to ride.

What is your limit, provided of course the roads are clear of Snow/Ice?

(can't wait for our Canadian Brother to answer this, eh)

tortoise · 11-30-2017, 11:00 AM

**JerryHawk250** · 11-30-2017, 11:18 AM

As long as it's not raining it doesn't matter. Just put layers of clothes on. But then again in south Louisiana we don't see temps in the 30's too much.

pistolclass · 11-30-2017, 01:07 PM

After Action Report:

So my round trip was about 7 miles. The helmet that I have is very well ventilated which is appreciated in the summer, no so at 34 deg F. I had a head sock which didn't exactly cover to my nose but when I did manage to stretch it there it just fogged my shield so it was little help. Again my riding jacket is well ventilated, but I had enough layers on that I managed to keep the wind off me.

Gloves did well. I feel I don't have the proper equipment to do a long ride in sub 40 deg temps. Looks like I will be shopping.

Finally my tires are inflated to 30 psi, and I felt that the rear was particularly squirmy so I kept speeds down below 45 mpg.

**JerryHawk250** · 11-30-2017, 01:28 PM

The coldest I have rode in was 28 degree weather. A misty rain had started to fall. By the time I got home I had a layer of ice on my gloves, clothes and helmet.

pistolclass · 11-30-2017, 04:07 PM

Do you change PSI in the tires for colder weather?

**JerryHawk250** · 11-30-2017, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pistolclass

Do you change PSI in the tires for colder weather?

I never have. But winters are pretty mild around here.

Mudflap · 11-30-2017, 04:43 PM

Minus 18 F one morning when I left for work on my Vespa 200 with sidecar. Wife needed the car so I had no choice. The control cables were all sticking because of the hard grease. I looked like the Michelin man with all the layers of cloths but I made it the 8 miles to work where it was only negative 15. Nowadays 50 is too cold.

Sport Rider · 11-30-2017, 05:13 PM

it's much easier to ride in the cold when you have a C10 with a big fairing and windshield, and heated grips.

As far as snow, etc.....sidecar!

Emerikol · 11-30-2017, 08:54 PM

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing - Alfred Wainwright". I've ridden in ice and snow before. I don't recommend it, however. Cold is just cold, and can be dealt with. However, I got caught in a doozy of a storm ferrying a crotch rocket through the Adirondack Mountains in March. I let some of the air out of the tires, put on every layer of clothing I had with me and tucked as much of my body as I could behind the windscreen. I also found staying tucked in behind big rigs kept the wind from blowing into any gaps in my cloth armor. The downside to that is the trucker can't see you back there, at all. Kind of have to decide if it's better to be seen and safe, or warm.

**cheesy** · 11-30-2017, 09:07 PM

-15F on a bicycle, but the body is its own mini nuclear reactor on one of those, so proper gear for fingers and toes is more important than core insulation.

18F on the Ural. Heated grips with handlebar mitts/60's Swedish Army winter motorcycle garb/Turtle Fur balaclava/Sorels.

culcune · 11-30-2017, 11:51 PM

We hit mid to low 40s most of /Late December/January/February/part of March. Sometimes high 30's with a couple high 20's. Layers clothing and nitrile gloves underneath my layers of gloves usually do the trick.

I have noticed the scooter has better wind protection than my TMEC enduros had.

Megadan · 12-01-2017, 12:06 AM

My general rule of thumb is anything below 40 degrees is when I start to put my bikes away. The coldest I have ever ridden in was -4 degrees. No special heated equipment, 3 layers of gloves, 5 layers under my riding jacket - which has a windbreaker liner. And 3 layers of pants under my riding pants. And 3 pairs of socks with my waterproof riding boots.

not the most comfortable I had ever been, but tolerable. Keeping my visor clear was the hardest part, because even with a Pinlock on my visor my breath would freeze to it. I ended up wearing a scarf wrapped around my face and neck under my helmet which helped a ton with keeping my nose and cheeks relatively warm lol.

This is on a bike with no wind protection, because that is all I ever own.

kirbo7106 · 12-02-2017, 10:57 PM

In Florida! There might be one or two days that I will pass on riding! I’m getting old! I try and avoid rain and temps below 50!

**JerryHawk250** · 12-03-2017, 07:43 AM

50?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirbo7106

In Florida! There might be one or two days that I will pass on riding! I’m getting old! I try and avoid rain and temps below 50!

11-30-2017, 10:55 AM	#1
pistolclass Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: connecticut Posts: 978	How cold is too cold? Poll, sorta. So the mercury says 34 deg F. I have a quick errand to run and I just want to ride. What is your limit, provided of course the roads are clear of Snow/Ice? (can't wait for our Canadian Brother to answer this, eh)
	1

11-30-2017, 11:18 AM	#3
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,533	As long as it's not raining it doesn't matter. Just put layers of clothes on. But then again in south Louisiana we don't see temps in the 30's too much. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	2

11-30-2017, 01:28 PM	#5
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,533	The coldest I have rode in was 28 degree weather. A misty rain had started to fall. By the time I got home I had a layer of ice on my gloves, clothes and helmet. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	1

11-30-2017, 08:54 PM	#10
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing - Alfred Wainwright". I've ridden in ice and snow before. I don't recommend it, however. Cold is just cold, and can be dealt with. However, I got caught in a doozy of a storm ferrying a crotch rocket through the Adirondack Mountains in March. I let some of the air out of the tires, put on every layer of clothing I had with me and tucked as much of my body as I could behind the windscreen. I also found staying tucked in behind big rigs kept the wind from blowing into any gaps in my cloth armor. The downside to that is the trucker can't see you back there, at all. Kind of have to decide if it's better to be seen and safe, or warm. __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up
	0

11-30-2017, 09:07 PM	#11
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,763	-15F on a bicycle, but the body is its own mini nuclear reactor on one of those, so proper gear for fingers and toes is more important than core insulation. 18F on the Ural. Heated grips with handlebar mitts/60's Swedish Army winter motorcycle garb/Turtle Fur balaclava/Sorels. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	1

11-30-2017, 11:00 AM	#2
tortoise Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 221
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11-30-2017, 01:07 PM	#4
pistolclass Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: connecticut Posts: 978	After Action Report: So my round trip was about 7 miles. The helmet that I have is very well ventilated which is appreciated in the summer, no so at 34 deg F. I had a head sock which didn't exactly cover to my nose but when I did manage to stretch it there it just fogged my shield so it was little help. Again my riding jacket is well ventilated, but I had enough layers on that I managed to keep the wind off me. Gloves did well. I feel I don't have the proper equipment to do a long ride in sub 40 deg temps. Looks like I will be shopping. Finally my tires are inflated to 30 psi, and I felt that the rear was particularly squirmy so I kept speeds down below 45 mpg.
	3

11-30-2017, 04:07 PM	#6
pistolclass Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: connecticut Posts: 978	Do you change PSI in the tires for colder weather?
	0

11-30-2017, 04:43 PM	#8
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,870	Minus 18 F one morning when I left for work on my Vespa 200 with sidecar. Wife needed the car so I had no choice. The control cables were all sticking because of the hard grease. I looked like the Michelin man with all the layers of cloths but I made it the 8 miles to work where it was only negative 15. Nowadays 50 is too cold.
	7

11-30-2017, 11:51 PM	#12
culcune Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yuma, Arizona Posts: 9,035	We hit mid to low 40s most of /Late December/January/February/part of March. Sometimes high 30's with a couple high 20's. Layers clothing and nitrile gloves underneath my layers of gloves usually do the trick. I have noticed the scooter has better wind protection than my TMEC enduros had. __________________ "They say that life's a carousel, spinning fast you got to ride it well..." TGB Delivery Scooter 150 TMEC 200 Enduro--carcass is sadly rotting in the backyard
	0

12-01-2017, 12:06 AM	#13
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 7,909	My general rule of thumb is anything below 40 degrees is when I start to put my bikes away. The coldest I have ever ridden in was -4 degrees. No special heated equipment, 3 layers of gloves, 5 layers under my riding jacket - which has a windbreaker liner. And 3 layers of pants under my riding pants. And 3 pairs of socks with my waterproof riding boots. not the most comfortable I had ever been, but tolerable. Keeping my visor clear was the hardest part, because even with a Pinlock on my visor my breath would freeze to it. I ended up wearing a scarf wrapped around my face and neck under my helmet which helped a ton with keeping my nose and cheeks relatively warm lol. This is on a bike with no wind protection, because that is all I ever own. __________________ 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2010 VFR1200F - http://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20708
	1

12-02-2017, 10:57 PM	#14
kirbo7106 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Holiday, Florida Posts: 672	And that’s why I Ride... In Florida! There might be one or two days that I will pass on riding! I’m getting old! I try and avoid rain and temps below 50! __________________ Dan-O -2018 Tao Tao HellCat - DOA -2016 Hawk 250 - Kitty Hawk - eBay exhaust, Mikuni carb(120 main/30 Pilot), airbox mod with K&N filter, digital cluster, total LEDs, 17/45 sprockets, RK chain, Shinko 244 tires, trunk, aftermarket levers, burrito tube, skid plate, Sargent Cycle Seat... -2003 HD Sportster 100th Anniversary -1999 Buell X-1 Lightning - Race kit, Buell Seat
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