The Motorcycle as Primary Transportation thread
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The Doctor
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BlackViper
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Well incase you didnt see my thread. I just got a 1986 VF500 on friday and I dont intend to become part of the motorcycle is my only transportation club anytime soon. But I would like to end up riding it 3-4 days a week as my mode of transportation.
The problem is I live in Colorado so when it snows it snows (Im sure its not much to some people but it seems like a lot to me.) And I was wondering if its safe to ride during the winter. I know its not safer or anything but is it possible to ride safe during the winter? If so what can I do to be safe?
The problem is I live in Colorado so when it snows it snows (Im sure its not much to some people but it seems like a lot to me.) And I was wondering if its safe to ride during the winter. I know its not safer or anything but is it possible to ride safe during the winter? If so what can I do to be safe?
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ceemes
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Back in the day even before I was a Motorcycle courier, my bike was my only means of transportation, as so I rode year round all winter, even in the rare snowy day of Vancouver.BlackViper wrote:Well incase you didnt see my thread. I just got a 1986 VF500 on friday and I dont intend to become part of the motorcycle is my only transportation club anytime soon. But I would like to end up riding it 3-4 days a week as my mode of transportation.
The problem is I live in Colorado so when it snows it snows (Im sure its not much to some people but it seems like a lot to me.) And I was wondering if its safe to ride during the winter. I know its not safer or anything but is it possible to ride safe during the winter? If so what can I do to be safe?
Winter riding offers a lot more challenges then does the normal riding season. Weather is a big factor and most cagers are even less aware of riders then during the spring/summer months.
Coming from Colorado, you get a lot of minus zero days so you have to dress for the climate, especially since you are on what basically a naked bike.
Todays riding gear is a lot better then what I wore some twenty years ago, however its not perfect. Unless you are willing to invest in an expensive electrically powered heats riding suit, you are going to have to dress in layers to protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia. To give you an idea, here is what I wore daily in the winter, starting top to bottom.
I wore a Balaclava helmet under my riding helmet and a good long scarf wrapped around my neck. These protected me from wind chill and kept my head and neck toasty warm. I also had a breath guard fitted into my helmet that went over my nose and lessened the amount of fogging inside my visor.
I had a full one piece polyvinyl rain suit with liner, protected me from rain and wind chill. Under that I had on a tee, shirt, sweater, sweat suit top and my leathers. Over my butt and legs, y-fronts to keep the boys warm and snug, long johns, sweat pants and heavy jeans. My feet were encased in a a light pair of cotton sport socks over which I wore two pairs of heavy woolen socks. Finally a pair of heavy rubber Wellington boots with steal toes caps. As for my hands, I used a pair of thick leather riding gantlets, with long cuffs half way up my forearm and I also have a set of leather boots or gloves fitted over my grips and controls and they worked a treat in keeping my hands dry and warm. As you can see, I cut a rather interesting fashion statement, but I was always warm and dry, even when it
I never used a heated suit, mainly because I don't trust them. My buddy had one and during one winter trip up into the mountains we took, it crapped out on the way back and he was almost blue by the time we got home, where as I was still toasty warm.
Weather:
Let's start with snow, simply put, snow,bikes and commuting is s'no fun. It is possible to ride in the snow or when it is snowing, but you have to be super extra careful and aware.
I find that when it starts to snow, most drivers suffer from brain freeze equal to or even lower then the actual temp outside. They bunch up, go too fast for the road conditions, lock up their breaks and go into interesting skids and spins. They are also seem to become completely fixated on those cute spinning and dance flakes, that they lose complete attention to what is happening around them. This means the odds are you will not even register on their radar until after they slide into you. So, you have to be aware for them and give them lots and lots of room to be idiots in.
Secondly, you need to have a very very light hand when it comes to accelerating, breaking and turning. Master feathering your clutch and riding at slow speeds before even attempting to ride in the snow. Cut your normal speed down and allow anywheres from twice to three times the normal breaking distance and try to stay away from traffic as much as possible. And that lovely sweeping corner you normally take at 20 MPH over the posted speed limit? Forget about it, unless the road is dry and clear, putt putt around it if you can.
Another thing about snow. You'll be amazed on how sticky it can be on your visor. It will hit, melt, then form ice on the outside of your visor and quickly accumulate till you can't see out. Have a rag handy to wipe it clear and be prepared to do it often. Also, have your visor crack a bit so you will have air flow inside it, this will prevent excessive fogging inside and open your visor up when you are at a stand still. There are products on the market to help with visor fogging, but I personally haven't found one that works 100%, perhaps others here have.
ICE: Ice can be a real cow when you are in cage, on a bike ice turns into a right homicidal cow, especially black ice. Again, about the only thing you can do is be aware that it is possible in front of you and ride accordingly, ie slow and defensively.
Riding in winter can be fun, if you approach it right and with the correct mindset. However, if you ever feel it is unsafe to ride, then don't. Better to take a bus or a cage then to ride sometimes.
Always ask why.
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BlackViper
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I haven't had any experience with snow, as I don't get there where I am. However, temperatures have recently gotten down to around 30, 40 degrees F, and that's no fun, so I can't imagine braving much colder weather. It might happen, though.
Riding year round can be a test of willpower and strength. Some of you, like me, may not have a choice at the moment. There are some days where it will be downright frustrating, but you can make this better by being prepared.
Temperature is one of the major problems riders face, if not the worst. Extreme cold is bad, and a lot of people think about that, but extreme heat can be just as bad if you aren't prepared. (I live in Florida, and even though it's north florida, it still get pretty hot.) When it's hot it's important to get the heat away from your body; it's also important to try to reflect as much heat as possible, for those times you're sitting in traffic. It's tempting to go out with no gear on, but is it really worth it? I personally don't think so. I can't speak for the many people I see on the streets here, riding in shorts and t-shirts, but I actually can't ride without my gear on, as I don't feel the same confidence I do when I have it on.
In extreme heat, it's advisable to have a mesh jacket, or something perforated. This may seem obvious, and it is, more or less, but you won't think it's funny if you're wearing that winter jacket and you're stuck in 90-degree weather. (You will be covered in sweat and you will not be happy, trust me.) Perforated gloves are worthwhile, as well. They're relatively cheap. The rest of the gear is a necessity as well - especially the boots. They may get hot (although I personally don't really get cold or warm feet if they're covered) but, uh, deal with it, I guess. It's worthwhile.
In extreme cold, you mainly want something that will keep your core warm. Your extremities need to stay warm as well (get good gloves! With gauntlets. You'll regret it once your fingers get that first taste of cold wind) but your core is really what keeps your body going. This means keep your chest and back warm, and keep your neck warm. It's easy to overlook your neck until you're out riding in cold weather - then it just sucks. Even a silk balaclava can help with this, as the wind chill is the worst factor (although if it's cold, wear something heavier). Your legs will get cold as well, depending on your riding position. I ride a ninja so the tops of my thighs get really cold, as well as my knees. Thermals might be worth it, or even extra basketball shorts over your boxers (as this keeps the cold fabric on your pants from directly touching your skin, which leads to cold).
Heat and cold aren't the only things you'll be dealing with - sometimes it will rain, and you will get wet. It's a fact of life and sometimes it really sucks. It can be really miserable if you aren't prepared. IF you can, always carry your waterproof liner with you if you have a mesh jacket. Some people have rain gear in the form of plastic coverings. I don't have this but if you do, find a way to always have it handy if you live in a rainy area or it's a rainy season. That liner can mean the difference between your pants being soaked (because you do have waterproof boots, right? I wear Tourmaster Response SC boots, and I love them; they're great for walking and riding, and they are fully waterproof. (Although nothing can stop wet jeans from seeping water into your socks and shoes.)) and you being cold, wet, and miserable. If your core gets wet and you're riding, you will start to get a chill, which is no fun.
Occasionally you'll get stuck in a situation where rain will hit out of nowhere, and you're on the road. This sucks, and I haven't really found a way around it, because you get soaked before you can take action. :-\
Again, get riding boots. If you're going to be riding all the time, I'd suggest it. I'm wearing Tourmaster Response SC boots, and they're comfortable enough to commute in (on foot) and work wonders on my bike. They aren't very bulky. Again, I gotta say, I love these boots. Good boots will last long and stay comfortable in many situations.
If you ride year round, or even if you don't, having a clear faceshield and an additional tinted one can be quite useful, if you wear a full-faced helmet. You'll get used to switching them out. If you can carry them with you all the time, it's really handy. The clear shield is infinitely more important, as if you're caught at night without one, you're effectively blind. Similarly, glare can cut straight through your clear shield during the day and blind you as well, but you can usually avoid that or just tough it out.
Finally, backpacks and bags are paramount to commuting with only a motorcycle. We can't carry as much as cars can, but sometimes you'll need to get stuff from point A to point B. sure, there's no way I'm carrying my 110-pound bass amp to jam out with my friends, but I can carry some groceries and whatnot in my backpack. I'm sure cargo areas, like saddlebags and trunks, are great. I don't have any yet.
I guess riding all the time is just as much of a mindset as anything else - if you don't have a choice, it becomes automatic to just do what you have to do. Again, it's a test of willpower and can be downright frustrating...but having the right mindset and a do-or-die mentality can get you through the worst of times. (Although I've never had to deal with snow and ice, so take that with a grain of salt.)
Riding year round can be a test of willpower and strength. Some of you, like me, may not have a choice at the moment. There are some days where it will be downright frustrating, but you can make this better by being prepared.
Temperature is one of the major problems riders face, if not the worst. Extreme cold is bad, and a lot of people think about that, but extreme heat can be just as bad if you aren't prepared. (I live in Florida, and even though it's north florida, it still get pretty hot.) When it's hot it's important to get the heat away from your body; it's also important to try to reflect as much heat as possible, for those times you're sitting in traffic. It's tempting to go out with no gear on, but is it really worth it? I personally don't think so. I can't speak for the many people I see on the streets here, riding in shorts and t-shirts, but I actually can't ride without my gear on, as I don't feel the same confidence I do when I have it on.
In extreme heat, it's advisable to have a mesh jacket, or something perforated. This may seem obvious, and it is, more or less, but you won't think it's funny if you're wearing that winter jacket and you're stuck in 90-degree weather. (You will be covered in sweat and you will not be happy, trust me.) Perforated gloves are worthwhile, as well. They're relatively cheap. The rest of the gear is a necessity as well - especially the boots. They may get hot (although I personally don't really get cold or warm feet if they're covered) but, uh, deal with it, I guess. It's worthwhile.
In extreme cold, you mainly want something that will keep your core warm. Your extremities need to stay warm as well (get good gloves! With gauntlets. You'll regret it once your fingers get that first taste of cold wind) but your core is really what keeps your body going. This means keep your chest and back warm, and keep your neck warm. It's easy to overlook your neck until you're out riding in cold weather - then it just sucks. Even a silk balaclava can help with this, as the wind chill is the worst factor (although if it's cold, wear something heavier). Your legs will get cold as well, depending on your riding position. I ride a ninja so the tops of my thighs get really cold, as well as my knees. Thermals might be worth it, or even extra basketball shorts over your boxers (as this keeps the cold fabric on your pants from directly touching your skin, which leads to cold).
Heat and cold aren't the only things you'll be dealing with - sometimes it will rain, and you will get wet. It's a fact of life and sometimes it really sucks. It can be really miserable if you aren't prepared. IF you can, always carry your waterproof liner with you if you have a mesh jacket. Some people have rain gear in the form of plastic coverings. I don't have this but if you do, find a way to always have it handy if you live in a rainy area or it's a rainy season. That liner can mean the difference between your pants being soaked (because you do have waterproof boots, right? I wear Tourmaster Response SC boots, and I love them; they're great for walking and riding, and they are fully waterproof. (Although nothing can stop wet jeans from seeping water into your socks and shoes.)) and you being cold, wet, and miserable. If your core gets wet and you're riding, you will start to get a chill, which is no fun.
Occasionally you'll get stuck in a situation where rain will hit out of nowhere, and you're on the road. This sucks, and I haven't really found a way around it, because you get soaked before you can take action. :-\
Again, get riding boots. If you're going to be riding all the time, I'd suggest it. I'm wearing Tourmaster Response SC boots, and they're comfortable enough to commute in (on foot) and work wonders on my bike. They aren't very bulky. Again, I gotta say, I love these boots. Good boots will last long and stay comfortable in many situations.
If you ride year round, or even if you don't, having a clear faceshield and an additional tinted one can be quite useful, if you wear a full-faced helmet. You'll get used to switching them out. If you can carry them with you all the time, it's really handy. The clear shield is infinitely more important, as if you're caught at night without one, you're effectively blind. Similarly, glare can cut straight through your clear shield during the day and blind you as well, but you can usually avoid that or just tough it out.
Finally, backpacks and bags are paramount to commuting with only a motorcycle. We can't carry as much as cars can, but sometimes you'll need to get stuff from point A to point B. sure, there's no way I'm carrying my 110-pound bass amp to jam out with my friends, but I can carry some groceries and whatnot in my backpack. I'm sure cargo areas, like saddlebags and trunks, are great. I don't have any yet.
I guess riding all the time is just as much of a mindset as anything else - if you don't have a choice, it becomes automatic to just do what you have to do. Again, it's a test of willpower and can be downright frustrating...but having the right mindset and a do-or-die mentality can get you through the worst of times. (Although I've never had to deal with snow and ice, so take that with a grain of salt.)
-lunchmeat
I live in a small town in Colorado that gets a lot of winter snow, and in my case full-time motorcycle riding is not really an option, since many roads are dirt and always ice-covered. Also the paved roads still have too much ice even after the plow goes through.
So I have to keep a car, which sucks because sometimes it's tempting to drive it for shorter trips in the other seasons, but I'm getting a lot better about that.
So I have to keep a car, which sucks because sometimes it's tempting to drive it for shorter trips in the other seasons, but I'm getting a lot better about that.
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ceemes
- Legendary 2000
- Posts: 2153
- Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:35 pm
- Real Name: a big secret
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 26
- My Motorcycle: 1998 Triumph Trophy
- Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada, Sol 3, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Known Universe.
Since this thread has been resurrected yet again, I might as well add to it.
A few months back, my trusty and loyal '88 Plymouth Horizon final gave up the ghost, she blew her head gasket and it will cost more to fix then she is worth. (However, I am still toying with the idea of doing a complete top to bottom, bumper to bumper restoration on her, just for the hell of it) I shopped around looking for a replacement, but decided due to the price of fuel to say bugger it and have rejoined the year round motorcycle commuting club. Even so, its costing me over C$15 to fill up my tank......ouch.......
Anyone else here thinking of giving up the cage and just ride the bike?
A few months back, my trusty and loyal '88 Plymouth Horizon final gave up the ghost, she blew her head gasket and it will cost more to fix then she is worth. (However, I am still toying with the idea of doing a complete top to bottom, bumper to bumper restoration on her, just for the hell of it) I shopped around looking for a replacement, but decided due to the price of fuel to say bugger it and have rejoined the year round motorcycle commuting club. Even so, its costing me over C$15 to fill up my tank......ouch.......
Anyone else here thinking of giving up the cage and just ride the bike?
Always ask why.
I live in an area where I can ride pretty much year round. So I have joined the motorcycle as my primary transportation club. I will tell you this though. My daily commute it only about 3 miles. 
2007 Honda Shadow Spirit 750
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