We (five motorcycles) Spent last Friday and Saturday night at Stations Inn in Laurel Springs, NC. One rider had never ridden in the mountains, he said he had a blast. Awoke Saturday morning to 19 degrees thanks to heated gear we had a great 245 mile ride on Saturday. Only saw two other motorcycles in all of our travels riding in NC, VA and TN. Rode some on the blue ridge parkway, 16 (back of the dragon) VA-80, US 421 (the Snake). New rider kind of hampered our normal distance for a day, but well worth seeing the smiles on his face. Good time had by all.

 

Great riding up there. Heated gear is worth its weight in gold. While others are home saying it is too cold. We left Saturday morning from near Nashville with frost on the bikes and 29 degrees. I was worried the bikes would not start, although a little slow, they fired up.

 

I don’t own any heated gear, so 40 degrees is my lower limit, for the most part. If I haven’t been on the bike in a while, I might stretch it a bit...in fact, I rode home from work in 38-degrees on Friday evening. Fortunately, Mid-Atlantic winters tend to be mild enough that it’s possible to ride throughout the season. February can be a bit dicey, to be sure, but mostly, if you bundle up, you can ride.

 

Brrrr!!!! You NEED heated gear!

I have heated grips, seat, gloves and jacket and 45 degrees (or so) is my lower limit.

My main concern (in addition to hypothermia) is an icy road.

 

Absolutely nothing like heated gear. Can not say how negative I was about it before I bit the hook back in '05. Without it I could not be a year round rider.