Are sport bike riders wimps?

[Seadog1967]

Well my buddy and I decided to go for a ride today. Sunny but lowwww 40's. When we left out is was mid 30's. Headed up to the mountains to ride. We're cruiser riders though. Still froze out butts off. Dressed warm etc. but wind chill and riding in the mountain and valley shadows didn't make it easier. We counted about 25 crusier type riders that passed by and only 3 sport bike types. Still have some riding time left but it's gettin real short I think. Garage is not heated but I let her warm up awhile before riding (the bike stupid) LOL

[Saki.Girl]

Originally Posted by PlayboyPenguin

It is 46f here in vancouver right now and I am on the fence about going for a ride today.

ya i went out yesterday but did not go out today

[Seadog1967]

Gee Saki I thought you were goin to take a ride over here so we could shoot. LOL

[VindianaJones]

Originally Posted by Ninja Noob

I think the guys on cruisers just own and wear more gear. Most of the guys on cruisers you see wear leather jackets, most of the times to just go along with the image. Most sport bikers i see ride around in t-shirts. I myself dont own a warm motorcycle jacket either. Plus there is a big difference between carving up the back roads going 80 and bobbing around town at 40.

Hmmm not sure about everyone else, but this Poser wears his leather jacket for protection. Same with chaps on the highway and boots. I dunno though. You might be right. All those Cruiser guys riding around with all that leather on instead of being cool and wearing shorts n a tee shirt and runners. No one can accuse you guys of trying to go with the image. I could go on with this sarcastic rant but i think you get the picture. Honestly dude, I can't help it if i just look Stylin in my leather jacket n boots.

[Averitteg]

I'll ride as long as it's not raining and it's not near the freezing point...so really...anything above...40 degrees and I'm out there. I just bundle up nice and tight. I'd rather ride on a bike in the cold than be in a car with the heat on.

[hunting1]

Here in NM it is in the lower 30's in the morning's and I ride in every Friday. They are all over the place out here and unless there is snow you will see bikes.

[Tweek]

During the winter I'll ride as long as there isnt any ice on the road. The biggest challenge is keeping you hands from freezing. Last winder I damn near gave myself fronst bite because I didnt have the right type of gloves. Oh, and 80mph speed in 40 degree temperatures makes for frozen appendages.

Anyway - some riders are wimps. Others are smart enough to get out of the cold. Others are idiots and ride regardless.

[w1ngzer0]

lol the bike doesn't make the rider a whimp. I've riden in 40 degree weather. I've riden in 110 degree weather. It's all the same to me.

[Saki.Girl]

Originally Posted by Seadog1967

Gee Saki I thought you were goin to take a ride over here so we could shoot. LOL

lol by the time i got there i would be a snow man LOL

[08Concours14]

I gear up and ride my sportbike year round as long as there is no snow on the ground.

[littleguy88]

it has been in the low 30's my last few times to school everyone else there stopped riddning thier bikes 2 weeks ago

[Averitteg]

Originally Posted by Tweek

Anyway - some riders are wimps. Others are smart enough to get out of the cold. Others are idiots and ride regardless.

I'll admit...I'm one of those idiots...

[Tim_Stanley_47]

Originally Posted by Saki.Girl

lol by the time i got there i would be a snow man LOL

Ang,

I have seen pictures, you are far from being any kind of MAN.................LOL

Tim

[Saki.Girl]

Originally Posted by Tim_Stanley_47

Ang,

I have seen pictures, you are far from being any kind of MAN.................LOL

Tim

lol
ok if i rode from oregon to Western Ma this time of year i for sure would have
bu tt sickles for sure

[JTpaintball70]

Some are... I know I'm not!

[stevend135]

I will usually ride until about 40 degrees not commuting to shcool just around town, colder than that I will take the car,
there is a older guy at school mid 40's he rides a newer buell sport bike it was about 35 out and he pulled up decked out in all his cold weather gear.
There is usually a older harley rider who rides when it's fairly cold.

[Plato]

I commute daily here in TX, which means I do it at 105F as well as 25F. I'm still getting used to my (new to me) Ninja 250 for this short commute (6 miles one way). But last week it got down around 40F and I did notice the wind sliced me up pretty good compared to my winter rides on the Nomad.

But then the Nomad is decked out with a huge shield, huge lowers, and engine guard chaps so its like driving the car only without the heater

[c_law23]

Originally Posted by ReticentZ

It's great here in San Antonio to ride year round. I have to put the liner back in my Astar jacket and wear two shirts instead of one but thats about it. That and switch to JR winter gloves instead of my Astar leather gloves.

I was in Columbus Ohio for an extended weekend last week. I loved it, so much so that I'm starting to look for work up there and move March of 2008. Kind of weird that in four days I only saw 7 bikes on the road and it was not what I would think is cold weather.

i live about 20 minutes or so from Columbus, it was around the 40's last weekend here, and frost everyday. WE get colder for sure, but it was 60 just before that so im sure it was a compare and contrast kind of thing.

[stefano]

Originally Posted by Thmastr

Also now that it is winter sportbikes cannot be ridden nearly as hard as they can in the summer cause there just isnt as much traction. So many people are much more selctive when it comes to going out on their bikes.

This is the answer right here.

If you want to generalise, cruiser-type guys ride because they enjoy the open air and the scenery and the feeling of freedom - they are not much into performance and carving corners and dragging knees.

Sportbikers on the other hand ride for the adrenaline rush. They like to go fast, carve corners, drag knees... they ride to get the heart pumping.

There may be exceptions to the rule, but in general, this is the "profile" of these riders. Can't argue with that - otherwise they would choose a different type of bike

So having said that, it is clear, as Thmastr rightly pointed out, that sportbike riders tend not to ride in the cold not because of the cold itself, but because of the reduced grip that the asphalt offers at this time of year - not only because of the fact that the ground is colder and therefore the tyres do not heat up to optimal temperature, but also because of many other factors - all the leaves on the ground because of the fall, possible ice patches, dew in the morning, etc. etc. etc.

I have experienced this on my own skin. My goal this year was to get my knees down (I started riding September of last year) and I still haven't managed. I have taken the bike out twice in the last month and on both occasions I was losing the front on entry into the turns and getting some slides from the rear out of the exits. I realised that the time for knee dragging is over for this year and will have to wait until the spring

Don't get me wrong - personally I will still be taking the bike out over the winter But that is just because since I don't want to winterise it, I need to ride it every couple of weeks or so to avoid the battery from running out. But I will be riding in the vicinity of my house and not going for those 150 mile carves that I'm used to in the mountains...

I hope I have explained my point with sufficient clarity

[ROMAD]

The wimpies are everywhere!!!
I hate to admit I don't always wear the "right" gear, but I went out today with a sleeveless T-shirt (what I usually wear! Had a 5 way bypass a few years ago and swear they installed a heat pump!) It was maybe high or mid 50's. Nice cool comfortable weather here in Lompoc, Kalifornia!! Anyway I am passing sporties, cruisers, you name it and everyone has on jackets, gloves, face masks, balaclavas, a couple even had scarves and mufflers around their neck!! I am thinking what a comfortable day to be just riding around town (FULL gear on highways, hot or not) and they all look at me like I a nut!
I don't even PRETEND to be that tough, so THEY gotta be the problem!