All weather rider; Riding Your Motorcycle Year Around?

[ericc]

Hello Everyone,

So far, my BMW R1200GS has been great to ride (but of course!). I bought the bike because of it's ability to handle both on and off road situations, and because it's a quality motorcycle. However, I also bought the bike because I'm thinking about riding it almost year around (I can't ride in the snow, but every other month).

I was wondering if you are riding your motorcycle year around (what months) and what you would recommend for someone that has not (yet).


If you have pics, please attach.



Thank You,

Eric
BMWR1200GS.com

 

[SilverFish]

Hi Eric,

I ride all year round, mainly for commuting but enjoy foul weather riding as much for its challenges as anything else.

My old 1150GS suffered a fair bit from corrosion caused mainly by road salt; I used Scott Oiler 365 which helped, but it washes off in water so you have to keep applying it. Also, the rear brake on the 1150 was particulalry suscetible to the elements, needing frequent cleaning - I lost one rear brake to corrosion at the bleed nipple and covered the replacement (carefully!) in copper slip after that.

A couple of mods I mad to the 12GSA which have made a good improvement this/last year are:

Internal Hugger from Wunderlich:

Great bit of kit which not only protects the rear suspension and linkages, but also does a good job of reducing the amount of spray hitting the back of your boots.

Front mudguard extender:

Various people make them, helps keep the spray away from the front engine cover and header balancing pipe.

ACF50:

Superb corrosion and rust inhibitor and killer. SHould be in every bikers garage. Is much heavier and 'stickier' than Scotoiler 365 and so doesnt wash off in heavy rain. Normally applied at the start of the Winter after a good wash and polish, then once the roads have cleared, a good wash and polish reveals the bike to be clean and corrosion free.

The kit you wear is the next most important thing, heated jackets, proper waterproof kit and anti mist visors all being bery important. After trying many different anti mist products, Im now happy with the Pinlock in my Shoei Hornet and Schuberth C2. A Gerbing heated jackets is fantastic too - but a bit pricey. I've been very happy with my Rukka gear - expensive again but it does its job, and if it does start to leak then there is very good dealer and warranty back up. If Rukka is too expensive, then a good alternative is simple pull over waterproofs. I use old army waterpoffs as theyre dirt cheap and work - and Im not too bothered about looking like a tree!

HTH,

Mike

 

[redcastle]

I used to ride mine all year round except snow.
Heres my tips for comfort and relaibility

Heated grips
Tucano muffs (ugly but toastie warm)
rear hugger
ADV screen with winglets
Swop the shyte stock battery for an ldyssey from motoworks
running lights for fog etc

If I had to choose one of the above it would be the muffs

 

[Brian ROSEN]

All year round

Heated grips /Tucano muffs / rear hugger /ADV screen with winglets
running lights for fog etc All makes sense. However I thinkthe requirement for a hggger (and extra lights) will depend on the roads you use; I never had any trouble on the original battery (in four years) and I think that was due to riding almost every day -(except snow, fairly rare here.) The big screen is very good in the rain I found.

 

[Magwych]

For me it is the ACF-50, Hugger ( I use the Machine Art Mudsling), and heated grips that are the key elements. Bigger screens, winglets and muffs all help, but if your hands get cold and the rear wheel is soakingh your legs and feet from spray it can get miserable.

Good waterproofs and either PinLock or Fog City are also essentials. For winter I use two crash helmets, two sets of waterproofs and two pairs of gloves ( not at the same time !). After two days of heavy rain I find that even the more expensive waterproof materials start to seep or at least feel absolutely minging just to put on.

If there is ice out there, or near gales and above blowing, I take the train, if it is running. If the train isn't running due to the weather I "work from home".

If it is good clear crisp winter's day with the sun shining low on the horizon, with warm puddies and toes you cant beat being out there on a bike.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

If it is good clear crisp winter's day with the sun shining low on the horizon,.....make sure that you have some form of screen on your visor against the sun.(Even some black tape can make a huge difference.)

 

[AdamA]

I think the requirement for a hggger (and extra lights) will depend on the roads you use...

Where are these mystical roads that never get wet and dirty so spray doesn't get thrown up by the back wheel?

 

[Slowdown]

A fender extender on the front.

A home made mudflap on the rear (cost £2.50 - I'm cheap) http://www.r1200gs.info/howto/mudflap.html

And a gallon of FS365, sprayed on the bike every evening

 

[AdamA]

And a gallon of FS365, sprayed on the bike every evening

Not that cheap then.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Finally succumbed to Muffs and a heated vest for those cold days. All year riding is fantastic as long as you stay warm and toasty.

I don't wash the bike after every ride but give it a quick powerwash occasionally followed by a good soak of WD40 which has worked for the last 2 winters!

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Where are these mystical roads that never get wet and dirty so spray doesn't get thrown up by the back wheel?

Well, I would not say that the roads around here never get wet and dirty but the area is very hilly and the water doesn't lie around - as it used to when i lived in Suffolk. (It doesn't rain very much either so that helps -just one more reason why we live here.)

 

[Jon P]

When living in the UK I rode all year - for 10 years I rode everyday to work, regardless of weather. I tried loads of things over the years to try and keep the corrosion at bay, including........
1. Covering the whole bike in waxoyl - everything except the seat and the brake disks - looks a big mess until you clean it off in the Spring with a bit of white spirit.....it did the job though.

2. I also tried WD 40 all over the bike - that worked but is did the stain the engine castings a light shade of brown. The WD40 was applied every few days.

3. The best thing was water - every night I got home after having ridden through salt during that day I would spend a few minutes with a hose pipe to rinse the bike. Nothing other than a rinse, no soapy sponge etc. The water needs to be cold - NOT hot. Hot water accelerates the corrosion effect of salt. I did only spend just a few minutes doing this then a couple of squirts of WD40 in some of the obvious nooks & crannies. Of course I didn't have to do this every day - only on the salty days.

Living here in Vermont it is not really possible to ride every day (besides, I work at home) due to the extreme temperatures and of course any water outside would instantly freeze.

 

[gahewson]

All weather riding

Yep, concur with most of this:

Got rear hugger
Got front fender extender
Put on larger screen - Nippy Normans
Put Adv handguard extenders
Found pinlock inserts to be the best plus you can change them for dark ones.
Use two helments - one for winter one for summer. Winter one allows me to wear a balaclava
Tried various Hein Gericke kit but regardless of cost they all eventually let in water. Curently have toureg rally kit for a year and just starting to let water in at the elbows.
Used to use a waterproof builders quilted flourescent jacket over the top!! It works.

Would like to get some sort of fog light set up though.

 

[DutchBryn]

Never ridden a 'pride and joy' 'bike through the salt-season. Used to buy a sacrificial Suzook or some such.
From what I've read on here though, enough folk here have ACF50ed their way through it well enough.

But.. Have the goal posts been moved?? :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/3140098/Winter-gritting-could-wreck-cars.html

The above from to-days Torygraph, if the link doesn't work (and knowing me as i do it prolly won't.)

Good luck with what you choose..

 

[AdamA]

But.. Have the goal posts been moved?? :

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/3140098/Winter-gritting-could-wreck-cars.html

The above from to-days Torygraph, if the link doesn't work (and knowing me as i do it prolly won't.)

Good luck with what you choose..

I really can't see "pre-wet"being an issue in the UK. It's not like dry salt spread on the roads doesn't generally become "very-wet" in a short space of time.
I can understand in drier cold climates it would cause issues tho.

Besides, the last couple of years some areas have been using salt mixed with molasses to prevent the salt getting washed away. At least brine will wash off easily.

 

[Dahoum]

A home made mudflap on the rear (cost £2.50 - I'm cheap)

cheap? bloody expensive - mine was 99p. and doesnt look much different to the silly money wundrtouracrap things

 

[Ali-bear]

I heard that us and Ireland are among the few remaining countries using salt on the roads. The Germans use a urine-based solution that is non-corrosive.

More importantly: I've looked around the usual shops for ACF-50 and can't find it. Who stocks this stuff?

 

[AdamA]

http://www.jaws-motorcycles.co.uk/acf.htm would be my choice.
John will see you right.

M&P and Busters both stock it if you are desperate tho.

 

[cookie]

if VW are worried about corrosion, this stuff will eat your citroens and renaults in a blink

 

[Gauche Rider]

Essentials

ACF-50: remove panels, spray liberally, reassemble, ride through the winter, wash off in spring - no worries, bike like new;

Heated grips: never used setting 2, even in the depths of winter UP NORTH - where we have one, not like dahn sarf

Visor insert - either Fog City or pinlock.