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Hey whats up all,

New England weather gets pretty nasty from here on, I was wondering how long everyone else rides into the colder months. I've been riding for about six months, but never into colder weather conditions is there anything inparticular people can share with me, settings, preffered gear etc Thanks.

AB

I'm in the same boat as you are.  Ive been riding for the same amount of time roughly, and I live in Mass.  We definately have the worst winters I think in the country.  I actually work with a lot of guys who have been riding for about 10 to 20 years.  I talk to them on a daily basis about riding and bikes in general.  I'd say about 80% of the people I've talked to put their bikes away for the winter (Winterizing http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/howtowinter/index.html).

The 80% of people that put them away do it mainly because of 1 reason.  Since we get the worst winters there tends to be A LOT of sand and salt on the roads during the winter months.  We all know what sand/salt does to our traction, and the fact that salt eats away at metal over time.

If you do a lot of highway riding (in a car) in the winter up here, you know what its like.  It's like a sand/pebbel storm with all the crap that gets kicked up from moving cars.  If you have ever gotten caught behind a 18 wheeler in the winter your car literally gets nailed by so many pebbels.  If you look at the front of your car after every winter you'll see all the chips in the paint job from all that.

I think most people are all set with riding in those conditions, but there are always a few who will ride no matter what the conditions are.  I actually just winterized my bike this past weekend.

 

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Bike: 1999 Honda CBR 600 F4

Mods:Yoshimura RS3 Slip on SS, DynoJet Jet kit stage one, K&N air filter, Xenon headlight, Zero Gravity Tinted Windsheild, Regina gold chain, Gold 525 sprocket, Galfer SS Brake Lines.

I do not completely winterize my bike, just put the battery on a tender and store it inside a storage unit. I try to get out once a week to warm it up and maybe take it for a spin if the roads look decent. I will only take it on the road during the winter if it hasnt been salted/sanded in about a week, and definitiely take it easy. Even when you tires warm up, the ground doesnt on a cold day, so if you hit the trottle too hard, your tire will still slip. Also make sure to dress warm, I usually put 2 or 3 layers on and cover your neck!!! I find it helps get through the winter to take the bike out a couple times, but just like badboybilly said sand and salt equals little traction, so you have to be extrememly cautious. This friday is looking to be unseasonably warm and the it isnt supposed to snow/ice between now and then, so there shouldnt be much sand/salt, so I am planning on going for a ride. Should be a nice relief form the winter blues! :)

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2003 600RR - Race bike
2001 KTM 520SX SM - Track/street
1999 KTM SX 50 - The Mini

"The track is like a crazy girlfriend; it's always fun to ride, but eventually you pay for it."