Riding through the winter ?

Stop Stop

Stop Stop

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Who is planning on riding through this winter? I know I am.
Though judging on the recent spills from a couple guys, I will refit my metal mule pannier racks (although I no-longer own the panniers) and keep on my front metal mule crash bars on.
We had the first real frost this morning, and I don't want to be the next "man down"!!!

I rode every day bar 2 last winter on my then brand new 650gs, this time it will be my new 800gs. So any tips I should know about apart from don't do it??

Cheers
Stop's...
 
Muffs,WD40 sprayed everywere(of course not the tyres,brakes etc),better headlight bulb,also i fitted a tt front extender mudguard which kept a lot of road crap of the front of the engin and radiator.
Happy riding.
 
I'm not planning on putting my bike away for the winter, but I don't "need" to ride it every day, so mixed answer.

As for gloves, depending on how long your journey is I've found that the heating cranked up on max and a decent pair (I've currently got a set of Held) winter gloves will do for all but the longest commutes. Muffs will help quite a lot if heater+gloves aren't good enough.

Protect your bike with ACF50 - don't get the spray, it doesn't spray and when it sprays it goes everywhere. Get the "normal fluid" and brush it onto the clean bike - BUT DON'T GET IT ON tyres and brakes. You can wipe a (very!) thin layer onto the rims/spokes with a cloth/sponge.

And when it's potentially slippery ride with gravity only. I.e the only reliable grip is gravity. ABS won't save your bacon, all it'll do (just like on gravel) is cut the braking force off. Keep this in mind.

Other than that, good cozy and warm bike gear (Halvarssons is my choice), perhaps electrically heated stuff, is worth its weight in gold.
 
Personally ride (commute) all year round and only stop for snow or severe ice - in practical terms that's cost me about 2 weeks in 5 years of commuting on the bike :D

Don't get on with winter gloves - hate the lack of "feel" - so summer leather gloves, heated grips and muffs for me. Shockingly already had to fit them this year - last night in fact given I couldn't feel my fingers after the trip home. Just as well as -2 this morning wasn't funny for October...

Other than that, lots of layers, neck tube etc etc and just take it that bit more carefully, and especially wary of icy man-hole covers.
 
am i right in remebering that WD40, once aged a little, becomes hygroscopic?
I am sure i read this somewhere in an engineering publication, warning of the risks of storing equipment coated in the seemingly 'wonder stuff' that most people believe WD-40 is.

Short term applications ok, long term a bit dodgy?

Anyone know more about this?:confused:
 
Sold my car so its a Bike to work for me!!!! Use the T Max all winter as its easy to look after ,wont be moth balling any of my bikes ,if it snows I'll be Hooning to work on the EXC 450:thumb2
 
I always ride through the winter but usually not on my f800gs.
I have been using the XCountry when there is Ice and snow because it is much lighter and easier to maneuver when there is no grip. I used a DRZ for winter riding before that.
I use spiked tires during the winter,I put them on couple days ago because the season of "Black Ice" in the morning has started here.
 
On nicer Sundays I will probably go for a spin in the country and find a pub for lunch, will avoid real crap weather and tend to stop riding when lots of salt around.

Lining up all year biker treatment in Newbury before the winter sets in as well, will also get a can of ACF to keep exposed areas topped up.
 
Studs?

I use my F800GS all year round, even here in Norway.

In february I will go to the Dragon Rally in Wales, can I go legal on UK roads with studded tires? It may not be necessary with studs, but it's a hazzle to change and change back tires for this rally.
 
Thanks for all the advice regarding this thread...

I sold my car to get my f650gs which I used throughout the whole of last winter bar 2 days, and watered off any excess salt/sand from the gritters. I always use ACF50, but I only thought it came in a spray can...
I now have changed the 650 for my F800gs so I will give it a go this year.

my commute is only 20 miles per day but I always ride slow and easy when its below 3c. i also don't like the feel (all lack of feel) of winter gloves, so I will check out the muffs, if anyone knows which is a great pair, please feel free to let me know. I have also checked out the website for "allyearbiker" but there is nothing in the staffordshire area or northwest area, but I will keep my eyes open.
The sound of heated clothing sounds great, what is best...:nenau
 
Stop Stop said:
Thanks for all the advice regarding this thread...

I always use ACF50, but I only thought it came in a spray can... I will check out the muffs, if anyone knows which is a great pair, please feel free to let me know. I have also checked out the website for "allyearbiker" but there is nothing in the staffordshire area or northwest area, but I will keep my eyes open.
The sound of heated clothing sounds great, what is best...:nenau
Click to expand...

Ok pay attention :D :rob

Muffs.

post 3 above by Mr Monkey.... Val (C I think) is a fellow ukgser and a fine vendor of muffs here a p.m maybe. A lot buy from him from here.

Ok why not A C F 50 your self buy more of the product for future use like a job lot here. http://www.ruggedroads.co.uk/shop/category_46/Maintenance.html?shop_param=cid=& think of the DIY savings to go towards other things :thumb

As for heated stuff be a lot at the NEC next month vests are good :thumb2 if your core is warm your a happy chappy. do you get cold feet? insoles maybe :nenau


happy shopping :beerjug:





:D
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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