Wiinter ride in snow country

ridenagain · 01-20-2006

It is usually well below freezing and with great many inches, or feet, of snow here in Northwestern Pennsylvania this time of the year. So the notion of a ride is just that, a notion. But not with the crazy weather this year. The snow is now completely gone, temps warmed up to 52 this morning and I was sitting at the computer looking for things to custom up the Vulcan. I looked into a new paint job, maybe some nice shiny chrome? Hmmm, I’ve been thinking about ordering the progressive shock springs for the front, perhaps I could order them today. I do need to clean up the wheel spokes a bit, which would make a good project today. I cruised Ebay and didn’t find anything spectacular or new to put on her. Then a great thought, unpack her from the winter storage, start her up and plunk my growing winter butt in the seat. So I did!!! Sixty miles on January 20th in Erie PA!! To my amazement, it was a quite comfortable ride, cool but not cold. What a fantastic day!! Now I am not sure if this will give some relief from the winter doldrums, or if this tease ride is going to drive me nuts for the next two and a half months. Either way is was just great to get out and ride. Kinda makes me jealous of all you folks out there who can ride year round.

**Spok** · 01-20-2006

awesome! it makes you appreciate it more

SilverEagle · 01-20-2006

Awsome, if I drove my Intruder today.....I'd have hard time stayin over the road with no studs on the wheels.....never seen anything for cruisers anyway?? There was two tiltboxes(SUV's) rolled into the middle of the field on the way to work this morning....slicker than snot after 3inches of snow and 32F.

ciso · 01-20-2006

Alright, nothing like a nice ride in the dead of winter....glad you had at least that.

FatCat · 01-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciso

Alright, nothing like a nice ride in the dead of winter...

That's exactly what I was thinking at lunch today. I about burnt up with the heave jacket on.

Fatcat

**Spok** · 01-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

Awsome, if I drove my Intruder today.....I'd have hard time stayin over the road with no studs on the wheels.....never seen anything for cruisers anyway?? There was two tiltboxes(SUV's) rolled into the middle of the field on the way to work this morning....slicker than snot after 3inches of snow and 32F.

how's that 1600coming

*jukief* · 01-20-2006

Riding when the temps are in the 50s is actually quite comfortable. I like it much better than riding when it's hot! The last few rides we've done (in the past couple of weeks) have been in temperatures like that. We had a great time. It's when it gets down to the 30s that my pleasure starts diminishing.

**2WheelFun** · 01-21-2006

Winter riding can be an enjoyable time to ride as long as the roads are clean and no frost. I've had some great rides during the winter months.

SilverEagle · 01-21-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by spok

how's that 1600coming

Hi! Spok, well......as we're speaking I got the rest of the spare parts in Friday. So I'm hoping sunday this weekend I will get some personal time off (Wife is a CPA=taxseason) .....I take care of kids and home while she is working......so I will go down to the shop and start tinkering.

Targetbuster · 01-22-2006

Yep, 50 degrees is the magic number for me. I WILL be on my bike if it is 50 and the roads are dry. Glad you could get out and enjoy..

**Spok** · 01-22-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Targetbuster

Yep, 50 degrees is the magic number for me. I WILL be on my bike if it is 50 and the roads are dry. Glad you could get out and enjoy..

sunny, dry and 42 in mount vernon at 10:00, I'm gonna give it a bit more time and I'm headed out....YEHAW

ridenagain · 01-23-2006

I do agree that riding when the temp is in the 30's is not exactly comfortable, even with winter gear. I usually just jump into the cage at that point. I'd say 45 is about my limit. If it is above that, I would not give much thought to it. I'd go riding. Like I said earlier, it is not something I usually get to do in January. The temp sometimes cooperates, but there is still ice, snow and the highly dreaded road salt still everywhere. I can deal with cold, but I will absolutely not take the bike out if there is any salt residue remaining on the streets. I'd be driving a rust bike in a few short years.

But man was it great to get out since all the pieces fell together!!

bigmacbkr · 01-23-2006

I think I'd go nuts if I couldn't ride year round. I had to run the air conditioners today in the house and in my truck as we're having spring like weather with a high of 73 degrees, and yes, I did take a ride on my bike......didn't even have to wear gloves.......it was WONDERFUL!
Sorry, don't mean to rub it in!

MatSox · 01-24-2006

I am envious. It has been in the 40's last few weeks off and on and I have been sooo tempted. I know the second it comes out it'll be 10 feet of snow and 0 degrees until April. Soon enough baseball and bikes!!! Can't wait

wvKawBoy · 01-24-2006

Just rode in to work on my bike at about 45°, but the sun was shinin' good & I was smilin' from ear to ear!

kz440atw · 08-09-2008

wow thats really cool you got out for a ride in the winter. I used to live in Illinois were in the winter it was always far to cold to ride (I rode dirt back then) but I live in Arizona now were you CAN ride year round.

kz440atw · 08-09-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverEagle

Hi! Spok, well......as we're speaking I got the rest of the spare parts in Friday. So I'm hoping sunday this weekend I will get some personal time off (Wife is a CPA=taxseason) .....I take care of kids and home while she is working......so I will go down to the shop and start tinkering.

wow... love the drifter.... thats one kick *** bike

01-20-2006	#1 (permalink)
ridenagain Foil Inspector BTK Intermediate Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Erie, Pennsylvania Posts: 122	Wiinter ride in snow country It is usually well below freezing and with great many inches, or feet, of snow here in Northwestern Pennsylvania this time of the year. So the notion of a ride is just that, a notion. But not with the crazy weather this year. The snow is now completely gone, temps warmed up to 52 this morning and I was sitting at the computer looking for things to custom up the Vulcan. I looked into a new paint job, maybe some nice shiny chrome? Hmmm, I’ve been thinking about ordering the progressive shock springs for the front, perhaps I could order them today. I do need to clean up the wheel spokes a bit, which would make a good project today. I cruised Ebay and didn’t find anything spectacular or new to put on her. Then a great thought, unpack her from the winter storage, start her up and plunk my growing winter butt in the seat. So I did!!! Sixty miles on January 20th in Erie PA!! To my amazement, it was a quite comfortable ride, cool but not cold. What a fantastic day!! Now I am not sure if this will give some relief from the winter doldrums, or if this tease ride is going to drive me nuts for the next two and a half months. Either way is was just great to get out and ride. Kinda makes me jealous of all you folks out there who can ride year round.

01-20-2006	#2 (permalink)
Spok RIP Deron - 1400Pilot Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mount Vernon, Washington Posts: 34,600	awesome! it makes you appreciate it more __________________ In Memory of Deron Harden - 1400 Pilot. You are missed.

01-20-2006	#3 (permalink)
SilverEagle You only have 1* Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 4,110	Awsome, if I drove my Intruder today.....I'd have hard time stayin over the road with no studs on the wheels.....never seen anything for cruisers anyway?? There was two tiltboxes(SUV's) rolled into the middle of the field on the way to work this morning....slicker than snot after 3inches of snow and 32F. __________________ VROC#19906 "Opinions are like rear ends, everyone's got one...and what comes out ain't always pretty".

01-20-2006	#7 (permalink)
jukief I miss you, Deron Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 18,177	Riding when the temps are in the 50s is actually quite comfortable. I like it much better than riding when it's hot! The last few rides we've done (in the past couple of weeks) have been in temperatures like that. We had a great time. It's when it gets down to the 30s that my pleasure starts diminishing. __________________ In memory of my friend Deron Harden. Life isn't going to be the same without him.

01-21-2006	#8 (permalink)
2WheelFun the "fun old" guy Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Albion, Washington "Pacific Northwest" Posts: 30,383	Winter riding can be an enjoyable time to ride as long as the roads are clean and no frost. I've had some great rides during the winter months. __________________ *KING KAHUNA* *2007 V2K LT* ****PICS** 2007 Brute Force 650i **PICS** I love the smell of SeaFoam in the morning**

01-20-2006	#4 (permalink)
ciso Refrigerator Magnet Test Engineer BTK Expert Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 493	Alright, nothing like a nice ride in the dead of winter....glad you had at least that.

01-22-2006	#10 (permalink)
Targetbuster Master Doityourselfer Forum Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cascade Foothills Posts: 934	Yep, 50 degrees is the magic number for me. I WILL be on my bike if it is 50 and the roads are dry. Glad you could get out and enjoy.. __________________ Black '06 V2K Classic '76 KZ900 LTD

01-23-2006	#12 (permalink)
ridenagain Foil Inspector BTK Intermediate Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Erie, Pennsylvania Posts: 122	I do agree that riding when the temp is in the 30's is not exactly comfortable, even with winter gear. I usually just jump into the cage at that point. I'd say 45 is about my limit. If it is above that, I would not give much thought to it. I'd go riding. Like I said earlier, it is not something I usually get to do in January. The temp sometimes cooperates, but there is still ice, snow and the highly dreaded road salt still everywhere. I can deal with cold, but I will absolutely not take the bike out if there is any salt residue remaining on the streets. I'd be driving a rust bike in a few short years. But man was it great to get out since all the pieces fell together!!

01-23-2006	#13 (permalink)
bigmacbkr Turtle Wax Taster BTK Intermediate Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 198	I think I'd go nuts if I couldn't ride year round. I had to run the air conditioners today in the house and in my truck as we're having spring like weather with a high of 73 degrees, and yes, I did take a ride on my bike......didn't even have to wear gloves.......it was WONDERFUL! Sorry, don't mean to rub it in! __________________ 06 Titanium Goldwing; Kuryakyn floorboards, Dullys, ISO Grips; fog lights, Utopia back rest;

01-24-2006	#14 (permalink)
MatSox Turtle Wax Taster BTK Intermediate Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 178	I am envious. It has been in the 40's last few weeks off and on and I have been sooo tempted. I know the second it comes out it'll be 10 feet of snow and 0 degrees until April. Soon enough baseball and bikes!!! Can't wait

01-24-2006	#15 (permalink)
wvKawBoy Refrigerator Magnet Test Engineer BTK Expert Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lewisburg, W.Va. Posts: 477	Just rode in to work on my bike at about 45°, but the sun was shinin' good & I was smilin' from ear to ear! __________________ Tha KAW: 2003 Vulcan 1600 Classic 2003 800A KAWAZY CHOPPER *www.cruisercustomizing.com/wvKawBoy*

08-09-2008	#16 (permalink)
kz440atw Austin/ KZ440- LTD Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oro Valley AZ. Posts: 11	wow thats really cool you got out for a ride in the winter. I used to live in Illinois were in the winter it was always far to cold to ride (I rode dirt back then) but I live in Arizona now were you CAN ride year round.

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