How low can I go

[toejams1]

Ok,
This is my first year of riding. My commute to work is nearly all back roads and is about 20 miles. It is an enjoyable ride, so I take my bike to work whenever I can. By trial and error, I am discovering how to stay warm in colder weather. I think I may have reached my breaking point today. It was 30 this morning (About 1 below zero for you Europeans and Canadians on here). Since I don't have a windshield on my bike, this was probably as low as I will be able to tolerate (i.e. the pleasure factor of riding the bike did not outweigh the discomfort of being frggin' cold). I am just curious, what is the coldest anyone on here has ever ridden?

 

[marvinsc]

I cut the ride off after about 30 minutes because my fingers were getting beyond cold to numb.

 

[DanTheMan]

My personal record was two years ago at 18 deg F. I've since added more things to keep warm with, really good heated grips, now I have a Widder heated vest, (oh, so nice!!!) and fairing lowers. Oh yeah, I've got a Windjammer fairing and windshield, an old sheepskin leather jacket on my saddle that retains heat, I haven't felt uncomfortable yet this year after getting the vest, just bought new winter gloves on sale at Motorcycle Superstore (PolarTex on sale and silk liners), I'm getting a new Teknics Stinger Textile jacket to wear next week when it arrives (got it on sale too). I wear a balaclava under my full face helmet, Carhart socks, nice and comfy. If the roads stay dry and I can get out of my driveway (it and the road in front of my house are iced when nothing else is), I'll continue to ride.

 

[Guest]

You can continue riding at these temps, with the right equipment. Get a windshield at the very least, and a couple layers of thin clothing under your riding gear. I often ride at temps just above freezing...below 0C the danger has more to do with encountering ice unexpectedly, but at that point, absent proper gear, as you've said, the lack of comfort outweighs the enjoyment of riding anyway.
Tony.

 

[kdo58]

hippo hands

 

[dpep]

My personal record was two years ago at 18 deg F. I've since added more things to keep warm with, really good heated grips, now I have a Widder heated vest, (oh, so nice!!!) and fairing lowers. Oh yeah, I've got a Windjammer fairing and windshield, an old sheepskin leather jacket on my saddle that retains heat, I haven't felt uncomfortable yet this year after getting the vest, just bought new winter gloves on sale at Motorcycle Superstore (PolarTex on sale and silk liners), I'm getting a new Teknics Stinger Textile jacket to wear next week when it arrives (got it on sale too). I wear a balaclava under my full face helmet, Carhart socks, nice and comfy. If the roads stay dry and I can get out of my driveway (it and the road in front of my house are iced when nothing else is), I'll continue to ride.

Dan, can I assume you don't have any electrical issues with the Widder vest? I actually have one but I have always been concerned that our meager GS charging systems might not be able to handle the extra drain of heated clothing. Do you leave it on when you are city riding and/or idling?
.

 

[Billy Ricks]

With multiple layers I've ridden in the teens and been plenty warm. Don, dpep, had a great tip a couple of years back involving the use of the chemical hand warmers you can buy for about a buck. Place them in pockets near your heart to keep your torso warm. You could also drop some in your boots to keep the extremities warm.

 

[will61310]

I would be concerned with frost/leaf combination on those back roads - be careful, could get slippery

 

[DMorris]

I once rode from Millington, Tenn. to Little Rock on my CB450 when the temp. was in the low teens and air was very dry.

I was a young and poor sailor so I tried to insulate with newspapers under my coat and pant legs. At first, I was FREEZING but then it seemed to let up a little. When I pulled off the freeway at the halfway point for a cup of coffee, I couldn't get my foot off the peg at the off-ramp stop sign in time to keep from tipping over. My legs just didn't want to move.

I managed to pick myself and the bike back up and proceeded to get some coffee. I had stopped shivering but the coffee brought them back - very bad sign.

When I got to my buddy's folks' house in Little Rock, it took me hours to stop shivering. I know now that I should have seen a doctor because I had hypothermia but at that time, I just suffered through it.

A freezing rain came through the area so I took a bus back to the base at the end of the weekend. The bus was the last vehicle through before the state police closed the highway.

The real point of this story is that it is easy to get too cold and get into real trouble. Dress carefully and pay attention to the signs your body sends you.

 

[Steve]

OK, I cheat. :-\\\

Home-wired electric jacket, Widder gloves, wind pants and a MONSTER fairing (standard-issue on the Wing ) , 220 watts of lights out front (to heat the air and melt the snow) and a 90-amp alternator to drive it all.

Currently commuting 77 miles (one way) to work, have not touched a steering wheel for a couple of weeks now. Temps in the morning are ranging between low 30s and low 40s. Afternoons have been low 50s to mid 70s.

.

 

[officerbill]

Dress for it

Dress for it

I'm the last biker riding to work here. Temp this a.m. was about 30ish, dressed for it and was a happy camper. Tonight temps were a bit lower 28ish and I wasn't too happy, but it will be warmer in the morning.
The bike has a Windjammer upper and lowers, I have two pairs of pants, two jackets, a hoody, nice gloves and 3/4 helmet. I feel a bit like the Michelan Man, but warm.
bill

 

[kerrfunk]

If there's no snow or ice on the roads, I'll ride.
Lotsa layers is the key. And a windshield.
I just picked up some insulated coveralls to go over my normal clothes (long underwear and khakis, longsleeved teeshirt or two, overshirt, wool sweater). My leather coat fits over the coveralls.
Also just picked up some snowmobiling gloves and I'm eager to try them out.

 

[boathead]

last winter i was at a red light in my home town....right behind 2 big s/t bikes....it was -4F. me, i suffer from a thing called reynaud's disease, and struggle with anything below 60.

 

[gustovh]

Hippo hands, down to the teens for me if it is dry. Bit soggy out right now.
V

 

[bonanzadave]

Millington, Tenn.

BTDT. Lived there about a year. Airwing Jarhead.

it took me hours to stop shivering.

BTDT too. Got caught in the rain with no rain gear. About 50 degrees. Sucked the heat right outa me. Thats the coldest Ive ever been.

 

[DanTheMan]

Dan, can I assume you don't have any electrical issues with the Widder vest? I actually have one but I have always been concerned that our meager GS charging systems might not be able to handle the extra drain of heated clothing. Do you leave it on when you are city riding and/or idling?
.

I haven't had any problems with the Widder. I turn it and my heated grips on when I leave the house on a cold day, and turn them off when I park the bike somewhere ( I have forgotten to turn off the grip heaters on ocassion....somewhat embarassing). When the rpm is less than 4k, the voltage drops and wavers between 12 something and 13 something, extended idling would probably drain my battery, but overall it's been just fine. Running down the road at 4-5k, the system is always around 14 volts, it handles it well.

 

[DanTheMan]

BTDT. Lived there about a year. Gyrene Airhead.


BTDT too. Got caught in the rain with no rain gear. About 50 degrees. Sucked the heat right outa me. Thats the coldest Ive ever been.

There Dave, I fixed it up for ya!!!!!

 

[dpep]

I haven't had any problems with the Widder. I turn it and my heated grips on when I leave the house on a cold day, and turn them off when I park the bike somewhere ( I have forgotten to turn off the grip heaters on ocassion....somewhat embarassing). When the rpm is less than 4k, the voltage drops and wavers between 12 something and 13 something, extended idling would probably drain my battery, but overall it's been just fine. Running down the road at 4-5k, the system is always around 14 volts, it handles it well.

Thanks, good to hear. Of course it isn't quite the issue for me here in Florida as it is for you in Minnesota. Here in the Northern part of the State we can get a few days in Jan-Feb down into the 30's and even an overnight freeze or two. Your experience gives me the confidence to pick one of those snaps and try out the vest.

 

[madjack57754]

2X the heated grips. Can be had cheap by buying used snowmobile handle bars with the grip heaters still in place (usually about 5 bucks).That and cut down 2 empty antifreeze jugs and make wind deflectors, hose clamping them onto the handlebars, through the pour spout of the jug. If I wasn't at work I'd have pictures. Think big hand guards on bark busters to get an Idea of what they look like

 

[123repeater]

I was riding in Feb here in MI, layer upon layer and still pretty cold... I've found that ANY exposed skin is a bad thing!!! Oh! and that a hot bath after the ride is great..