Riding on ICE
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: US Hwy 66
What were you thinking?????? I go to club events and if the weather is inclement in anyway...I take my TRUCK......So what if they ask ...did I ride the bike.....I just say....NOPE.....cuz...nobody really gives a you know what....and my bike is still in one piece.....but as many before me have said....Just my .02 worth
Most of the hard core riders from our local chapters, that make it almost every weekend year round, regardless of the weather, are all in their mid to late 60's and have been riding our whole lives.
The main limitations we have is if it is pouring down raining when our ride is supposed to start and is expected to rain all day, we will go in cages. (Personally, I hate lightening, when I am on a bike. Have had too many friends killed over the years when they got struck by lightening while riding.)
We also take the cages when it gets down into the 20 degree range or lower or if the roads are COVERED with snow and/or ice.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: US Hwy 66
I wouldn't ride my bike on hardpack snow/ice. I would be really piseed at myself if I cracked a saddlebag or dented a gastank when I dropped it. However, If you need to transport your bike down a 1/4 mile long snowpacked driveway, I would look around for a cheapie garage sale riding lawnmower and attach a small flatbed trailer to it. Ride the bike onto the trailer and With the bike resting on the kickstand maybe use one tie down to hold it towards the kickstand side. I think that would hold the bike in place for a lawnmower slow ride down a 1/4 mile driveway. A used mower and trailer would probably be cheaper than a repaired and painted gastank.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Springfield, Ohio
I know riding in snow is a bitch. Done it 2 or 3 times.
First time it ever happened I was at work, walked outside afterwards, and it had snowed 2 inches. Used my feet as outriggers all the way home
First time it ever happened I was at work, walked outside afterwards, and it had snowed 2 inches. Used my feet as outriggers all the way home
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: US Hwy 66
Thanks MrMax. That's basically the technique I have used and it seems to work fairly well, so far. The only place I really had a problem was backing it out of my garage, on concrete with a downhill slope. I used a salt like product to melt a path wide enough for the tires, and left it in gear with the engine off, to control the downhill speed, but when I got to the bottom of the hill and had to back it up into the gravel area, I couldn't get traction with my feet, to push it back into the gravel. JUST NOT FUN.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,432
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From: FL
All I can say is "wow". I am always amazed at some of the stuff I read here. I could understand riding on ice if knew I was picking the winning lotto ticket or it was the only transportation availabel taking my wife to the hospital ... something along those lines. But because it was required to join a club, what will they have you do next? Drive off a two story building?! Real good friends you have there looking out for ya ... best of luck.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,212
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From: DFW Metroplex
So, looking at your pic....why ride on the driveway? Possible to ride on the grass next to the driveway for the 1/4 mile? It would be frozen too, but would have some give....unlike the hard pack of the driveway.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,200
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From: California
I won't ride if it gets below 50 and hardly ever ride between 50 and 60 but ice, no fricken way. Have a great time.
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From: FL
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Mesa, Az.
I've posted this pic before - but it demonstrates the ski technique.
Had rained all day and turned to snow after dark, we were miles from anywhere and no place to stop.
Couldn't see anything through goggles in the falling snow and was riding two up with the wife. Hit the rear brake lightly to stop and figure out where I was on the road at about 10 mph, bike slid out from under us in a heartbeat.
Picture was taken as she walked along the road while we tried to get four bikes to a gas station 1/2 mile away.
This one was at the gas station after waiting for the snow to stop for over an hour.
Had rained all day and turned to snow after dark, we were miles from anywhere and no place to stop.
Couldn't see anything through goggles in the falling snow and was riding two up with the wife. Hit the rear brake lightly to stop and figure out where I was on the road at about 10 mph, bike slid out from under us in a heartbeat.
Picture was taken as she walked along the road while we tried to get four bikes to a gas station 1/2 mile away.
This one was at the gas station after waiting for the snow to stop for over an hour.
Last edited by joe.1955; Jan 16, 2011 at 11:14 AM.