FJowners.com

Seeing how the snow storm is rolling accross a lot of places right now, I'm curious.  What is the coldest weather anyone has ridden in (for more than 10-15 minutes)?
I rode to work this morning (about 30 miles each way) in 18*F weather.  I'm sure someone else can easily beat that one, but for here that's pretty damn cold.  Good thing is the FJ fired right to life and performed excellent as always.  Several people commented on me being a mix of crazy, stupid and thick headed.  I just love to ride, no matter the weather.  If the bike starts, moves and the road is able to hold me, I'm on it.

What about you?   (popcorn)

I think you've got me beat. Just be careful, hypothermia is a bitch. I went for a ride one sunny winter's day temps in the low 30's. Long story short I lost track of the time and was a couple hours from home when the sun went down. It took me an hour to stop shivering.

 As far as street bikes 40* is about it.Around here when it gets much colder you start dealing with snow and ice.As far as off road the teens work out fine.When it gets warmer the snow just turns to oatmeal and sucks to ride on.
A few years ago the guy that worked in the body shop next to my house rode to work all year round.He had a 900 ninja that he rode when it wasn't snowing and a xl600 that he road in the snow.That was before water based paints.

I've ridden in the low thirty's when I had to commute a long distance to work. It was a matter of need and it was back in my early 20's. I was bundled up enough but my face was always stinging from the cold.

Now days I don't ride when the weather is that cold, unless there was no other choice. Mid to low 40's is about my limit now days, although I've been caught in colder climates. You just got to get though it. 

Quote from: Fred on February 02, 2011, 09:58:40 AM
I think you've got me beat. Just be careful, hypothermia is a bitch. I went for a ride one sunny winter's day temps in the low 30's. Long story short I lost track of the time and was a couple hours from home when the sun went down. It took me an hour to stop shivering.

I am originally from Chicago, so unfortunately I'm well aware of the risk of hypothermia.  Luckily this cold spell has justified with the wife me being able to buy some new gear to deal with it.  I got some really thick snow-ski bibs that I wear under the tripple layer riding jacket, along with a hood under the helmet, neck gaurd, and heavy duty gloves.  I can honestly say that I wasn't that cold with all that on, even though the wind tried to blow me off the road.

Quote from: RACER111V on February 02, 2011, 10:05:47 AM
As far as street bikes 40* is about it.Around here when it gets much colder you start dealing with snow and ice.As far as off road the teens work out fine.When it gets warmer the snow just turns to oatmeal and sucks to ride on.
A few years ago the guy that worked in the body shop next to my house rode to work all year round.He had a 900 ninja that he rode when it wasn't snowing and a xl600 that he road in the snow.That was before water based paints.

I ride year round also.  I have the emergency option of a vehicle (cage) but I rarely choose to use it.

Bob,

It was pretty cold here in Scotland last December -10C (14F) I don't commute far or fast (6 miles each way through town) so with lots of layers and heated grips it was ok. The main problem was some roads were not cleared of snow and ice. My commuter – a Honda CBF250 weights 300lb so it's easy to handle in slippery conditions. The coldest I ever rode was in December '95 -15C (5F), this is as cold as it ever gets here. When I hit 55mph I felt the wind chill sucking the heat out of me! 

Stuart

16 degrees F.   my motoport kevlar suit ,  tourmaster synergy electric jacket liner , synergy pants liner and first gear carbon electric gloves..... on MEDIUM heat level!

just as warm as riding in a car  but have to be careful of grip and lean angles   :good2:


KOokaloo!

Quote from: Scooterbob on February 02, 2011, 09:41:36 AM
Seeing how the snow storm is rolling accross a lot of places right now, I'm curious.  What is the coldest weather anyone has ridden in (for more than 10-15 minutes)?
I rode to work this morning (about 30 miles each way) in 18*F weather.  I'm sure someone else can easily beat that one, but for here that's pretty damn cold.  Good thing is the FJ fired right to life and performed excellent as always.  Several people commented on me being a mix of crazy, stupid and thick headed.  I just love to ride, no matter the weather.  If the bike starts, moves and the road is able to hold me, I'm on it.

What about you?   (popcorn)

Went out on my birthday this year Jan 14th,it was 19 deg and I was ok.I had some layers on no heated gear.I did have a problem with my throttle cable coming lose from the carb linkage so came back after about 45 min.I have had my waverunner out when the air temp was under 30 deg  and that was colder because of the water spraying on me.I will be going out again as soon as I get a good enough day weather wise.

Dunno what the temp was, but it was snowing pretty hard.  Not fun on a `87 CBR1000.

On the subject of winter weather I found a photo from about 1985 when I lived in a tenement and the bike lived in the street. I actually tried getting it moving but the rear drum brake froze on.

Stuart

(http://[url=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/5411086088_6d9f5b72f3_z.jpg%5Dhttp://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/5411086088_6d9f5b72f3_z.jpg%5B/url%5D)

What happened? try again

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/5411086088_6d9f5b72f3_z.jpg)

What temp does the battery freeze ?.Will keeping it on a battery tender stop it from freezing ?.

All this and only 1 vote?  I guess the real answer is "stupid" then.   :wacko1:

Quote from: Flying Scotsman on February 02, 2011, 12:15:11 PM
What temp does the battery freeze ?.Will keeping it on a battery tender stop it from freezing ?.

It varies with the state of charge... better charge = lower freezing point.

Fully discharged - 32F or thereabouts.

Randy T
Indy

Ain't got snow... but i do remeber riding down from QLD

DAMN FAT FINGERS!!!! yes riding down from QLD to nsw in the night in the rain.... had on....singlet ,shirt ,wallabies jersey, jumper then a dri rider, thermals, tracksuit pants and jeans and still got absolutly soaked... can sympathise with the shivering... aint it hard to hold a hot coffee? only good thing was i had my inflatable mattress and my hand knitted pink blanky...( gift from my mates wife.... its gold!!!!)... found out if you park up the old Gpz 1000 you can snuggle with your back to the collector box/headers.... slept for 4 hours next to the highway!!!!   whinged at the time.... great fun eh? :good2:

Bit nippy this morning, -4c but the roads were not slippy.I have an hours ride to work and sometimes I think its bloody stupid but if my fingers are not numb its bareable.I fitted MX hand shields to my FJ (they JUST touch the screen on full lock).One year I'll get that electric vest I've been promising myself.I think I'd better get engine bars first.The FJ runs great in the cold, better than me. Roll on the warmer weather
                                                      cheers
                                                           ian.z9

     Only one other brave soul at work rides in the winter.He is a 60years young (smaller than Pedrosa) grandad with a 2007 R1 (nice loud yoshi pipes too!)

Back when I was much younger and dumber I only had my Bultaco Metralla 250 for transportation.
I was working an afternoon (3:30 - 12 midnight) shift at the Utica, MI Ford trim plant and living in Oak Park, MI.  One night it was -17F.  After about 5min it didn't hurt anymore, everything was numb.  Back then, 45yrs ago, the gear we now have just was not available.
I hope to never see or have to deal with temps like that ever again.

Arnie

It's supposed to hit 19F tomorrow & Fri. mornings here in Tucson..... that's way TOO DAMN COLD for me!  I ordered a Synergy vest Monday, last one in the country for a normal-size human.... only ones left are XXXS and 4-5XL!

Where's the freezing, blue smiley when you need it?? 

Quote from: mz_rider on February 02, 2011, 11:51:22 AM
What happened? try again

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/5411086088_6d9f5b72f3_z.jpg)

That looks like a cb250rs, I remember riding mine to work for a week in -15C wind chill when i was a teenager in the UK with little more than jeans, an unlined leather jacket and an old Bell star helmet with no visor. Was only about 10 miles but had to chip off the icicles from around my mouth, nose and eyelashes where the breath had frozen. There were two places where black ice was always a problem in the winter, one was on a straight stretch of road and the back wheel spun up a couple of times on that journey before I figured out what the hell was going on, the other was a very slow 5mph junction, where I eventually had my undoing, it must have taken me about 4 attempts and five minutes to get myself and the bike upright again on the ice, much to the amusement of the car drivers queueing up behind me. The result of that little off was a smashed gearchange lever. The following day I'd borrowed a mates XL185, it had snowed overnight, the journey to work was relatively uneventful until I pulled into the factory car park. The snow had covered the concrete bollards that marked the carpark entrance, and well, result of that little off was a smashed gearchange lever!
Gave up for a couple of days after that until the weather cleared and stocks of Honda gearchange levers returned to normal.
These days (in Adelaide) the worst I have to put up with is a few days of below 5C but mostly round about 8-10C, for the half hour commute to work in the winter, now though I can afford the warm gear and don't mind looking like a dick for the sake of comfort.

Quote from: RACER111V on February 02, 2011, 10:05:47 AM
That was before water based paints.

HaHA! I've known a few painters, seen similar behavior.

Quote from: Scooterbob on February 02, 2011, 12:47:59 PM
All this and only 1 vote?  I guess the real answer is "stupid" then.   :wacko1:

None of the above choices, Bob. Obsession plus stubborn.

Quote from: Arnie on February 02, 2011, 05:27:39 PM
One night it was -17F.  After about 5min it didn't hurt anymore, everything was numb.

I'm thinking that's our winner right there. Congrats Arnie, your suffering finally paid off!

 
i have ridden my RZ350 in a snowstorm back in 1985 .. 2 strokes and snow are great fun! (not) 

Had on a one piece ski suit but wasnt really that cold.... i might have even been sweating after all the times i had to pick the bike back up.


i think the poll is limiting on the voting.....

what about heated gear?
weather along with the cold ?

just too many variables to try and gain anything from the voting results..... how about..........

I Kookaloo anytime i can and am prepared for it!     :good2:


KOokaloo! 

Martin,

Well spotted – yes it's a CB250RS. This was originally my girlfriend's bike that carried us both to work for many years. For those who didn't get this bike it was a 250cc 4 valve single (XL250 engine?) popular in the UK at the time due to the 250cc learner law. It was a great little bike and fun to ride.

Stuart

A few weeks ago, early January, took off when the temp was 17F to meet a buddy for breakfast after which we headed out to the mountains.  Highest temp for the day was about 41.  The cold never bothered me but the sandy salty roads were not that fun either.

Got enough heavy heated gear, heated grips and seat, big windshield, etc that I don't actually get cold but it takes 20 min to suit up and get plugged in..  Feel like the michelin man gearing up for a moon walk.  It's way too much trouble for a commute to work.  Then there's the matter of stowing all this gear when you get where you're going.  Basically.. I'm too lazy to ride in the cold. 

Rode the FJ in the snow, during a surprise snow storm in June in the high country in CO.  Scared the hell out of me.  but I did not wreck.  Temp was not that bad though, maybe 20F, but I was not dessed warm enough and the threat of hypothermia was real enough for us to get off our bikes and sprint up and down the side of the rode to get/ keep our core temps up.  Bet it looked funny, two dudes sprinting up the side of I-70 with their helmets on, in 2" of snow -but I was beyond caring at that point.

When we finally made our way down out of the high country to a coffee shop in Golden, it took at least 30 mins to stop shivering, and a couple of hours huddled around a hot cup of coffee just to get to the point where I felt warm again.

I marvel at the fact that many of the stupid things I did in my younger years did not kill me as they should have, by all rights.

Dan
 

Quote from: Dan Filetti on February 03, 2011, 09:43:44 AM

I marvel at the fact that many of the stupid things I did in my younger years did not kill me as they should have, by all rights.

Dan
 

Yes.  Amazing how much smarter you become with age :-)  (or not)
Arnie

on the opposite end of the spectrum it hit 43 deg C today. definatly too hot too ride....

Anyone remember this guy ?

By the looks of those outriggers, he rode in the snow regularly !

(http://www.ratbike.org/photos2/y597fj.jpg)

I used to ride a 75 honda XL-250 elsinore back and forth to work about 26 years ago when I was young and crazy  :wacko3:

rain and hail and ice didn't matter to that 2-stroke enduro that just kept on going.

of course the short cut to work was jumping the railroad tracks through the farmers field over hill and dell.

I was using amszoil 100-1 mix back in 83 and the honda loved it. :bomb:

Quote from: Mark Olson on February 05, 2011, 12:42:55 PM
I used to ride a 75 honda XL-250 elsinore back and forth to work about 26 years ago when I was young and crazy  :wacko3:

rain and hail and ice didn't matter to that 2-stroke enduro that just kept on going.

of course the short cut to work was jumping the railroad tracks through the farmers field over hill and dell.

I was using amszoil 100-1 mix back in 83 and the honda loved it. :bomb:

MT 250?    :unknown:

Randy T
Indy

So far, 16 deg F is my record.  Once last year, once this year, although it was reading 13 on the garage thermometer.  I go by what it reads on the bike gauge on the FJR.  Use Gerbings gloves and the heated grips. 

I rode from Orlando Fla to Pawleys Island SC on Christmas morning this year and it was 28 in Orlando when I started at abt 4am. It was frosty cold all the way,abt 9 hrs,including many coffee breaks. I was wearing a leather and cordura riding suit,and although chilly,it was not unbearable. My caloric intake that day was insane and I still arrived hungry. I can see how I might have been very cold without ingesting all those calories. BTW,this was my first long trip on my fj and it was a real hoot,hardly any traffic and plenty of room to open it up a couple of times.I love this bike.

My low was 26 deg heading to Calvins place. No heated gear @ the time and yes I was in pain. Funny how ones pace follows the temp. I think I was doing 35 in the cold stuff and when the sun came out and it hit a high of 40 my speeds increased. Cold makes the mind slow. Not sure what the temp was @ my first rally but on the way home a buddy and I got caught in a hail storm around the Mt Mitchell area. Absolutely no gear on that ride. Jeans baby. :flag_of_truce: Had to stop 4 times to warm the hands from engine heat.  :dance2:

Now I roll with heated grips, heated vest, and tons of waterproof stuff.

My record is 23 degrees without any heated gear on the I-15 just a couple of weeks after I bought the bike in Utah. Put on some of my ski gloves and jacket and hoped I didn't get hypothermia while on my way to visit a friend. I love the bike, and still ride it every day come hell or high water. (though now I live in AZ so the heat makes it more hell.)  :diablo: The bike has never let me down regardless of the weather!!! Not bad for a bike only three years younger than me. :good2:

Had my 85 out today went about 50 miles.It was hot today 36 deg.It was good to crack the throttle.I dont ride much under 30 deg although I have on occasion.Not worth the time to get all the layers on lol.

I saw someone riding a Concours on my way to work yesterday.It was 6* when I left the house.

I always told my co-workers, "If it's not raining or snowing, I'm riding."

I have ridden regularly at about 25 - 30 deg. F. I rode to work one freezing, foggy morning and arrived at work with literally a thin sheet of ice over the front of me. Man, if I only had a picture of that. You've got to be careful, especially on bridges. I go over 2 bridges (both in a turn) on the way to work. Once, I slid BOTH tires there slightly at about 60 MPH. THAT makes you panic a little!

I've got an Alpenstars leather jacket, Hein Gericke winter riding pants, and those nice sleeves you put your hands into that attach to the handlebars. I feel no cold. It just sucks to crack the visor open so it doesn't fog up.

Quote from: Lotsokids on February 13, 2011, 05:24:51 AM

I've got an Alpenstars leather jacket, Hein Gericke winter riding pants, and those nice sleeves you put your hands into that attach to the handlebars. I feel no cold. It just sucks to crack the visor open so it doesn't fog up.

i've been using a pinlock shield on both my Arai and shoei helmets for years and they completely eliminate fogging... good stuff!

http://pinlock.com/ (http://pinlock.com/)


KOokaloo!

Just got back from a quick spin.  Bank said 37F on the sign!

VROOOM brrrr brrr VROOOM ehehehehhehe...

Gotta do what you gotta do :)


I will give a word of advise though.  If you're going for a ride in cold weather and you store your earplugs in the garage, bring them in and warm them up first.  It's like sticking an ice cube directly into your brain.

The last winter I was riding the FJ daily to work, we got hit with an ice storm.  I left a little early and beat most of the traffic and most of the ice.  Storm literally shut down I-95 for hours as the plows were stuck on the ice and nothing moved.

Freezing rain was pelting my faceshield.  Wasn't too bad most of the way.  About 10 miles from home, I took the exit.  It has a tight bend and an overpass.  I was crawling.  There was a two-car accident on the overpass and I had both feet down and was skating all over.  Faceshield then froze shut and started really fogging.  Didn't have the pinlock then (+1 on pinlocks!).  One more bridge to cross, which also had a 1-car accident and a cop, with both of them looking at me like I was an alien.

When I put the bike in the garage, I finally realize how big that bullet was that I dodged.  Had a 1/4" of ice all over the bike (should have taken a pic) and over most of me.  

Another guy at work on a GoldWind went down in VA, but was lucky.  He went across three lanes on I-395 and didn't get hit or hit anything and made it home.

ABS saved my butt this year in some slush.

I've ridden in low-20's-F (-5C) but not recently. 

The first time I ever went to Boone was a December motorcycle trip with John The Beer Scientist in 1987 or 1988.  We camped with my college girlfriend and her roommate, and froze our asses.  His Maxim X fired right up, but it was a struggle for me to kick-start my KZ750 twin.  We each took a walking-speed spill in some snow the first day; nobody hurt, a bit of damage to my Bat Girl fairing, and some luggage to re-bungee.  (Not much luggage, though - we were all wearing pretty much everything we had brought.)  It was colder than we expected it to be.

After I had bought my first FJ but before I had riding gear beyond "helmet," my car was a 1968 Benz sedan that didn't like the cold.  It didn't start one morning and I was supposed to be there by 8, so I rode the FJ.  It was in the low 20's there, too.  I was still cold at 10:30.  I bought a brand-new car that night.

Insane!   :shok:
coldest Canadian contest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZdqUUV9BAQ#)

Yep.  That Canadian gets my vote for stupidest cold biker award.
At least he'd have had good traction at those temps.
I don't understand how he was able to avoid freezing his hands, especially as I could see no gloves or even wind deflectors.
Total madness.

Arnie