Riding on ICE
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,615
Likes: 31
From: Charlotte Area
No ride is important enough for me to risk my bike knowing there was ice waiting. I don't even like to drive my truck on ice . AS others have said, even the simple task of stopping can mean a fall. Just my opinion. Yours may differ.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
From: US Hwy 66
Been ON ice ON a motorcycle, and it ain't a good place to be. A big cruiser isn't suited for it...and if you have to stand it up at a stop (with one foot on the ice) it's generally going down. If you have to manuever or brake rapidly, it's going down. I've ridden on ice quite a few times...but never willingly...just caught out in changing conditions.
Bullshit artists, however, like to talk about routinely riding Harleys ON ice, when what they're really talking about is riding BETWEEN snowbanks on dry or wet road...which isn't a big deal. They conveniently forget to describe the actual conditions accurately.
Bullshit artists, however, like to talk about routinely riding Harleys ON ice, when what they're really talking about is riding BETWEEN snowbanks on dry or wet road...which isn't a big deal. They conveniently forget to describe the actual conditions accurately.
In the past, I have tried chipping a path in the ice, just wide enough for my bike tires, but since my drive way is 1/4 mile long, that just wears this old man out.
Another technique I have used, is to simply keep both feet down OFF the floorboards, so that if I start to slide or spin, my feet are closer to the ground. I have even let my bike idle down the entire driveway with my feet touching the ground and sliding, like I was wearing ski's.
All in all, this is my least favorite thing to do on a bike and I absolutely hate doing it on a full dresser, but due to the cold temps, I didn't want to ride one of my other bikes that doesn't have a windshield and was just wondering what techniques others have used.
BTW, I have two comforting thoughts. One is that normally we don't get an awful lot of snow here and the other is that once I make it to the end of the driveway, I will have dry roads for the rest of the day, until I get back home.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,235
Likes: 65
From: Joliet, Illinois
You just really can't ride on ice. I'd put the bike on a trailer, pull it to the nearest parking lot, then hit the dry roads.
You should have someone come out and run a plow down the drive when it snows. You'll still have ice and snowpack, but there will be enough of the gravel sticking through that you'll at least have a bit of traction.
If I had to ride on it, I'd ride alongside the driveway, in the snow. At least you would get some traction there.
You should have someone come out and run a plow down the drive when it snows. You'll still have ice and snowpack, but there will be enough of the gravel sticking through that you'll at least have a bit of traction.
If I had to ride on it, I'd ride alongside the driveway, in the snow. At least you would get some traction there.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,128
Likes: 51,461
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Got a set on you that's for damn sure , guess Ice isn't much different than mud slime . Pick a track and try to stay off the bare stuff to the side a bit , aim for anything with some kind of texture for traction if you have to do it . Got caught out in 4" of snow over ice patches one time in my life on a bike , had 21 miles to home @ 2 am on empty roads . I do not wish a repeat performance of that night .
Go old school and sand the drive on the curves and the glazed spots before you go .
Go old school and sand the drive on the curves and the glazed spots before you go .
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 539
Likes: 7
From: Indiana
My daddy told stories about how he used to ride year around. He said he rode with both feet on the ground, sliding his feet along the ice. My daddy lived to the ripe old age of 84.
Personally, I have never ridden on ice and never will. I quit riding long before the weather is cold enough to make ice. I ride motorcycles for fun; I don't find being cold any fun.
Personally, I have never ridden on ice and never will. I quit riding long before the weather is cold enough to make ice. I ride motorcycles for fun; I don't find being cold any fun.
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