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Tigercub · 10-06-2006, 06:54 AM

I would add just one more tip. Strap your bike into the bed of your friends pickup truck and have him haul you into work.

I was in Chicago in March once and froze my ass off. It was colder than Philly in January.

OK, seriously, the biggest problem I have in the rain, other than traffic is visibility. My face shield fogs, followed by rain on the shield and once my glasses get fogged or wet, I'm blind. So, don't wear glasses. Find an anti-fog shield for your helmet. Buy a pair of gloves with the little index-finger wiper to clear off the water droplets from your face shield.

But, between rain, idiot drivers, pot holes, oil and other debris on the roads I'd leave the bike home and find another way to work. If you have covered parking at work and the weather is clear in the morning you can time the ride home or get a ride when it rains.

articulat_66 · 10-06-2006, 06:57 AM

I commute down to about 32 and have never had tire problems with my michelin pilot roads. I don't close the vents in my helmet in the rain and again haven't had any problems. Sometimes fogging is a problem. I don't know about the making breating easier.

longride · 10-06-2006, 06:58 AM

1) You don't need the vents open in cool weather anyway. Yes, rain will get in and get your head wet if they are open, but I doubt it will ruin anything.

2) First, winter temps are usually colder than 30-50F. December thru February can be brutal, and you won't believe how cold you will get no matter what you have on. Get something that covers your neck and face for sure. That cold air up the helmet will freeze your lips together. Watch out for black ice and accumilation of salt on the roads. The tire coice doesn't make much difference. You have to be careful when it's cold. There are plenty of days it's best to take the car. Learn which days those are.

3) Stay farther behind. What you will notice when it gets colder is water coming out the exhaust and freezing on the ground in front of you. Makes for lots of fun if you stop on one at the next light or your foot lands on one.

Ride smart and stay off two wheels when it's nasty out. I can tell you that from experience.

seruzawa · 10-06-2006, 07:07 AM

If your helmet gets wet inside just keep it in your domicile so that the heat will dry it.

I use a plexifairing on my bike and therefore I can leave my helmet faceshield open in the cold in traffic. Even with vents your faceshield is going to fog up at a stop unless you use some anti-fogging agent or leave it up. A plexifairing would be a good investment on a CB450 for winter.

If it gets cold enough to freeze don't ride. No tires will keep you up if you hit a patch of ice....unless you buy spiked ice racing tires.

You have to decide if commuting when its really cold and pouring rain is worth the trouble. Don't forget about all the people on the roads in cars and SUVs who will be hydroplaning near you on their bald tires.

robinson281 · 10-06-2006, 07:11 AM

I would avoid riding when the temp is below freezing unless the roads are completely dry. For warmth, try Gerbing.com. They have heated jackets, pants, sox, and gloves that work very well.

Dark8 · 10-06-2006, 07:43 AM

For the face shield fogging, use a Fog City shield. I ride year round and it never fogs up. And living in the PNW it rains a lot and averages around 40 degrees in the winter.

I also have found out the the Michelin Pilot Power stays soft in the lower temps and handle cold rainy roads just fine. Much better then Dunlop 220s and Bridgestone 020s.

I also have a set of waterproof gloves with a wiper built into the back of the thumb. Great little invention.

Tigercub · 10-06-2006, 07:56 AM

Mine leaves brown streaks on the face shield.

Steve781 · 10-06-2006, 08:02 AM

My recommendation would be to add heated grips to your bike. The parts only cost around $20 and it takes about an hour to do the install. Best mod I've ever made to my bikes, including my track bike.

You'll be amazed at how much of a difference it makes to have warm hands.

Anti-fog devices: Get a fog city. Nothing else compares. That doesn't do any good for your glasses. If I suspect it is a glass fogging morning I put in my contacts.

Oh, and winter comuting implies more riding in the dark. I have lots of reflective tape all over my helmet and bike. I may look like a dork, and probably did before the tape, but at least the cagers can SEE that I'm a dork.

YMMV

Holy_Kaw · 10-06-2006, 08:10 AM

Wrap grip warmers. Heated vest or jacket. I'd listen to longride, he's an experienced rider that lives in your area. If he doesn't ride I wouldn't.

Buzglyd · 10-06-2006, 08:23 AM

And you live there for what reason?

10-06-2006, 06:54 AM	#1
Tigercub Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,125	Re: Winter Riding Questions I would add just one more tip. Strap your bike into the bed of your friends pickup truck and have him haul you into work. I was in Chicago in March once and froze my ass off. It was colder than Philly in January. OK, seriously, the biggest problem I have in the rain, other than traffic is visibility. My face shield fogs, followed by rain on the shield and once my glasses get fogged or wet, I'm blind. So, don't wear glasses. Find an anti-fog shield for your helmet. Buy a pair of gloves with the little index-finger wiper to clear off the water droplets from your face shield. But, between rain, idiot drivers, pot holes, oil and other debris on the roads I'd leave the bike home and find another way to work. If you have covered parking at work and the weather is clear in the morning you can time the ride home or get a ride when it rains.

10-06-2006, 06:57 AM	#2
articulat_66 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 37	Re: Winter Riding Questions I commute down to about 32 and have never had tire problems with my michelin pilot roads. I don't close the vents in my helmet in the rain and again haven't had any problems. Sometimes fogging is a problem. I don't know about the making breating easier. __________________ Pastafarian Proselytizer www.venganza.org

10-06-2006, 06:58 AM	#3
longride Super Duper Mod Man Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Anywhere they let me Posts: 10,484	Re: Winter Riding Questions 1) You don't need the vents open in cool weather anyway. Yes, rain will get in and get your head wet if they are open, but I doubt it will ruin anything. 2) First, winter temps are usually colder than 30-50F. December thru February can be brutal, and you won't believe how cold you will get no matter what you have on. Get something that covers your neck and face for sure. That cold air up the helmet will freeze your lips together. Watch out for black ice and accumilation of salt on the roads. The tire coice doesn't make much difference. You have to be careful when it's cold. There are plenty of days it's best to take the car. Learn which days those are. 3) Stay farther behind. What you will notice when it gets colder is water coming out the exhaust and freezing on the ground in front of you. Makes for lots of fun if you stop on one at the next light or your foot lands on one. Ride smart and stay off two wheels when it's nasty out. I can tell you that from experience. __________________ I'm a knucklehead

10-06-2006, 07:07 AM	#4
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	Re: Winter Riding Questions If your helmet gets wet inside just keep it in your domicile so that the heat will dry it. I use a plexifairing on my bike and therefore I can leave my helmet faceshield open in the cold in traffic. Even with vents your faceshield is going to fog up at a stop unless you use some anti-fogging agent or leave it up. A plexifairing would be a good investment on a CB450 for winter. If it gets cold enough to freeze don't ride. No tires will keep you up if you hit a patch of ice....unless you buy spiked ice racing tires. You have to decide if commuting when its really cold and pouring rain is worth the trouble. Don't forget about all the people on the roads in cars and SUVs who will be hydroplaning near you on their bald tires. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.

10-06-2006, 07:11 AM	#5
robinson281 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 9	Re: Winter Riding Questions I would avoid riding when the temp is below freezing unless the roads are completely dry. For warmth, try Gerbing.com. They have heated jackets, pants, sox, and gloves that work very well.

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10-06-2006, 07:43 AM	#6
Dark8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2	Re: Winter Riding Questions For the face shield fogging, use a Fog City shield. I ride year round and it never fogs up. And living in the PNW it rains a lot and averages around 40 degrees in the winter. I also have found out the the Michelin Pilot Power stays soft in the lower temps and handle cold rainy roads just fine. Much better then Dunlop 220s and Bridgestone 020s. I also have a set of waterproof gloves with a wiper built into the back of the thumb. Great little invention. __________________ \'06 VFR800 A friend will bail you out of jail. A GOOD friend will be sitting next to you saying \"Man that was fun!\"

10-06-2006, 07:56 AM	#7
Tigercub Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,125	Re: Winter Riding Questions Mine leaves brown streaks on the face shield.

10-06-2006, 08:02 AM	#8
Steve781 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 148	Best Mod My recommendation would be to add heated grips to your bike. The parts only cost around $20 and it takes about an hour to do the install. Best mod I've ever made to my bikes, including my track bike. You'll be amazed at how much of a difference it makes to have warm hands. Anti-fog devices: Get a fog city. Nothing else compares. That doesn't do any good for your glasses. If I suspect it is a glass fogging morning I put in my contacts. Oh, and winter comuting implies more riding in the dark. I have lots of reflective tape all over my helmet and bike. I may look like a dork, and probably did before the tape, but at least the cagers can SEE that I'm a dork. YMMV

10-06-2006, 08:10 AM	#9
Holy_Kaw Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,230	Re: Winter Riding Questions Wrap grip warmers. Heated vest or jacket. I'd listen to longride, he's an experienced rider that lives in your area. If he doesn't ride I wouldn't.

10-06-2006, 08:23 AM	#10
Buzglyd Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 10,137	Re: Winter Riding Questions And you live there for what reason? __________________ Jay Leno: "President Obama released his tax returns. It turns out he made $900,000 less in 2011 than he did in 2010. You know what that means? Even Obama is doing worse under President Obama."