A little advice

[staticmouse45]

Hello guys

So setting off this morning on my way to work, its cold with a touch of frost on the trees and grass (as I stay out in the sticks). Down my single track road and pull up to the road end turning right onto the main road.

Looking left, looking right all clear, clutch out and a little throttle and whoooosh bike goes one way, I go the others. Pick my self up hit the engine cut out and a friendly lorry driver and myself pick my bike up and get it off the road.

On closer inspection of the road it is an ice rink, the whole road was just ice.

This will by my first winter on my GS (R1100) and I just wondering if there were any pearls of wisdom which might help me in future......its was clear that the gritters hadn't been out - maybe they didn't think it was going to be so cold.

Thanks in advance

Alex

 

[Shep]

Accept the fact that where you live might not be ideal for all year around biking and buy a car

 

[skinnersscotch]

Less throttle, take it easy. Ice can be everywhere this time of year.

Bike not damaged. You not hurt.

Ride All Year

 

[patrick]

Try not to apply power whilst changing direction, sounds stupid but I guess its all about getting it sorted in the head. I have a v slippery roundabout at the end of my road and I go round it with neutral throttle until the bike is upright and then gently power out of it.
Sounds like you were just unlucky and you can't really prepare for that.
Glad you weren't hurt.

 

[Bugbear]

Riding two-wheels on ice is only for 'super-heros - +1 on getting a car.

 

[Grizzly]

Black Ice!

Dundee and Angus were badly affected by black ice this morning and no bike is any good on that stuff.
I use my GS all year - but I don't attempt any commuting early morning during the winter on a GS - you need a very light small trail bike for the winter unless your commute is along main roads which are always well gritted.
Knobbly tyres won't help either on ice - might even be worse!
The GS is just too big and heavy. Shaft drive & Telelever also doesn't help in these conditions.
Glad your ok though

Cheers.........Grizzly

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Ice and motorbikes just don't go together even if you have TKC80's!

Buy a wee car or do what i do and use the 'farm quad' when it's slippy(not so handy if you aren't a farmer i suppose)

FP.

 

[Shep]

Ice and motorbikes just don't go together even if you have TKC80's!

Buy a wee car or do what i do and use the 'farm quad' when it's slippy(not so handy if you aren't a farmer i suppose)

FP.

Sounds like FP's offering you the loan of the farm quad, very generous types the scotch

 

[Delboy777]

Mmmm, hope its ok on Saturday, im coming down your way to pick up my new bike from J Clark

 

[morty]

Dundee and Angus were badly affected by black ice this morning and no bike is any good on that stuff.
I use my GS all year - but I don't attempt any commuting early morning during the winter on a GS - you need a very light small trail bike for the winter unless your commute is along main roads which are always well gritted.
Knobbly tyres won't help either on ice - might even be worse!
The GS is just too big and heavy. Shaft drive & Telelever also doesn't help in these conditions.
Glad your ok though

Cheers.........Grizzly

I'd listen to grizzly and the rest,Ridden for years in all weathers but nowadays theres just too many dicks on the road & the majority of country roads are not salted & believe me you don't want to be stuck under your big heavy bike, in the early morning when it's still pitch black lying on the ground waiting for some dick to end your life with a car or lorry.Don't want to scare you but you've got to ask yourself "is it worth the risk" i fear not.

 

[boatman]

having ridden in a fair few winters i would have to agree with the previous
bikes, (normal bikes without ice spikes) just dont do on ice, its slow, nervy, and bl@@dy dangerous. Not worth the risk!!!!!!!!!!!
Only imho of course!

 

[Farmer Palmer]

How far is your commute?

Have you thought of riding a mountain bike with 'ice tyres' using back roads and tracks keeping off the busy roads!

I've got a set of Continental Spike Claw 120's............2.1x26" so there's 120 studs in each tyre and they're excellent on icy tracks and roads!

Been using them on my Trek 6000 in the winter when it was slippier than a d**s c**k and first saw them being used on bikes in Iceland

FP.

 

[hank]

I gave up commuting on the bike in frosty weather a couple of winters ago when our local council started using salt mixed with molasses on our roads. This mix stays wet on the road so you can never tell if the road is gritted or not, and makes it difficult to spot icy patches. If you do decide to continue using the bike keep it slow and smooth.

Here's a wee video from one of my winter trips, the slippy stuff starts at 1:35.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/g9PSqoKhuuY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Pablo1]

Ice and motorbikes just don't go together even if you have TKC80's!

Buy a wee car or do what i do and use the 'farm quad' when it's slippy(not so handy if you aren't a farmer i suppose)

FP.

+1 for that idea

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=318793