Sad Days

I think this the case in most places. I live in Southern California and it is a problem even here. I'm not in the sunny, coastal climate everyone sees in the movies. It gets below freezing here every winter and well over 100°f. in the summer. I didn't get much riding in this past summer due to an earlier illness. Spent most of the summer playing catchup on all my chores. Just this week it is starting.to turn cold. I plan to use the cold months to get my equipment back in riding order. I have two bikes out of commission. Just had my old America all summer, the little bit I got out there. I DID plan ahead. I had a gas heater installed in one of my garages so I can work through the winter. My America has been in fine form all year, so when we get a nice day I can take it out. Maybe by next spring all three of my bikes will be back in shape. At least that is the plan. ...J.D.

 

That depends on where exactly you live. If it is in the mountains, then it can be quite cold in winter. In San Diego, for example, it never freezes during the wintertime, temperatures are always well above freezing (9.4°C - 18.8°C in January).

 

I ride all year.
I just can't abide sitting in traffic in a car

My 'other' bike is a winter hack I bought cheap, a 2001 Yamaha Fazer 600. Ride in the frost, rain and all shyt weather. Very reliable and has a bit of a kick at 7,000 rpm. Quick wash each weekend, top up the Scottoiler chain oiler and wipe the lenses each evening and that is about it
The Speed Triple is still ready for rising, but it will have to be when the salt is gone

 

Ducky, could this be why you seem to always be repairing your bike??

 

I just ride when I feel like it. Besides the bikes, I have 2 cars and a crew cab pickup. Winter here is not as severe as a lot of places. But the roads are crummy and when it gets wet they don't drain well. Lots of sand and large puddles. I leave the bikes inside. Today we are getting our first rain of the year. Spent the morning in the garage cleaning up and organizing things. ...J.D.

 

Hey, Wire-Wheels, out of curiosity, where in southern Cal do you live?? I moved to California from Minnesota and I spent ten years there (eight in San Diego and North County) before moving to Arizona). I don't really miss the congestion and costs but I surely do miss the ocean.

 

I liked your video, BoredFish! Good for you for getting out there and riding in spite of gloomy and wet conditions. I'm not a wimp (grew up in Minnesota in the U.S.). However,I would suffer mightily from SADS (Seasonal Affective Disorder) if this was my riding life (or life even without riding!) during the fall, winter, and even early spring months. I guess I wound up in the right place--Tucson, Arizona. When I first started riding, my husband told me that southern Arizona was one of the best places in the United States (in the world, even?!) to ride a motorcycle. He was--as he often is--correct.

That said, my husband sometimes suggests we move back to the farm in Minnesota where I grew up and where my youngest brother still farms. I always quickly shut down that idea by reminding him that we would only be able to ride half as much for the rest of our lives as we can by staying put in Arizona. No, even with the best gear you just don't ride when the temperatures are -10ºF (-23º C).

 

Sandi T. ...You are centainly right. There ARE too many people here. Everybody bashes California, but they all sure want to live here. ...J.D.

 

Whire-Wheels, I'm always sad to see the natural disasters that are hitting California, especially the fires. Having lived in California for ten years, it's still near and dear to my heart. But my heart is now smack dab in the middle of the Sonoran Desert in Tucson, Arizona and I love it. Where do you live in CA? Maybe you could ride this way and join us for some riding through the deserts and mountains of southern Arizona!

 

There is another aspect that should not go unmentioned, the dry desert air of some states inhibits the rust formation of motorcycles quite enormously. On the other hand, the supply of drinking water is always a problem in these areas. As far as the Pacific is concerned, the Gulf of California is only 318 km away from Tucson, Arizona to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. Such a trip over the weekend should be possible without further ado.

 

The little community I live in (that shall remain unnamed) had a population of 16,000 when I moved here. Last count I've seen it now over 93,000 ! Not a fun place to ride anymore. I shall not mention it's name for fear it will go up another 20% ! Crazy people. Between the sun seekers and the people renting thier homes out to the Air B&B trade, California has become a mess. I have been all over most of Arizona. (Even fought fires over in the Gaddson Purchase area back in another time in my life) A lot of open land. It will have the same fate. Look at Suprize, Az. A whole new community. Mostly strays that were once in California. The problem is they leave more houses behind that get filled up by more strays. (end of rant)...J.D.

 

The Tiger will be in use all year round unless there is actually snow on the ground. When there's salt on the road a hose down with cold water after a ride is enough followed by a good spray of scotoiler 365. Gets washed once a week.
Too many nice dry winter days to stop riding, will even get the bonnie out provided that its dry.
Heated grips and keis heated body warmer - sorted.

 

I also ride year round,yes bike is dirty but I just give it a good scrub up every couple of months.
A 500 miler coming up in February (dragon rally)
Being able to handle wet and icy conditions certainly keeps your riding skills up to scratch!

 

I used to ice race when I was in my teens but now winter is just pheasant season -

 

Oh fer gawdsake.
Each to their own and all that but bike's aren't water soluble.
Anyhow I'm off to Belgium on the Tiger 955i on Thursday.

 

No they are not, but in the States salt is used for ice on the roads. The salt will attack exposed aluminum or metal with a vengeance. Just not worth it to ride street bikes in the winter. Now dirt bikes in the winter, that is fun.

 

If we worried about the weather and salt on the roads we would not be able to ride for months in the UK. For me I pick the best days through the winter and then I can ride all year round. Ok not as much time on the bike as during the summer, but it satisfies some of the withdrawal symptoms ....

 

I live a little south of Manchester and it's reputation weather-wise is world famous. Didn't stop me taking the Bonneville out for an hour yesterday. The roads were wet but no rain. I'm not an all-weather biker by any means (don't even own wet-weather gear) but I can't wait months for the sun to appear, I'd rarely get out at all if that was the case. I try to take each bike (3) out at least once a fortnight all year round. Bikes need to be used. If it gets mucky I get the hose out (not the jetwash..don't trust it), wash it down, dry it, stick it in the garage and bring out the cleaning stuff..I like cleaning bikes! No, I'm not offering to do yours . The Bonneville is quite an easy bike to clean, my other 2 have full fairings so take much longer but I still enjoy it.
We do get the occasional sunny day through the winter months, even up north and for you southerners it's sheer luxury! Get out there (when the rain stops)!

 

Exactly!

 

I did the Wild Atlantic Way a couple of years back, nearly 2000 miles door-to-door, on my T595. It was absolutely beautiful but it did rain, at some point at least, every single day I was there. Now, obviously being the West coast of Ireland, I'd expected "some" rain so I was kitted out in my leathers plus a wet suit. Not enough! I simply put my wet suit on every morning as I knew I'd get wet at some point. All the B&B's I stayed in had excellent drying facilities and the pubs were always warm but it still turned from a pleasure trip into an endurance challenge. My bike looked like it had been through a swamp by the time I got back home. One thing I really like about riding in Ireland was that nearly all motorists seemed to treat a biker with great respect and were always pulling to one side to let you pass. On busier two-way stretches it was often like the parting of the seas, great.
As for "normal" winter riding, I do keep my bike insured all year and if there's a nice dry day I'll take the bike out for a wee run. My main issue is with cold fingers as I have quite short, stubby fingers and can only ride with summer gloves but a hot mug of tea at the café warms them back up.