Road Glide in cold weather
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 465
Likes: 296
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Cold weather is coming up quick in your neck of the woods.Try renting an RG or RG Limited for the day or weekend and see how the cold wind is compared to the Bimmer. The wind swirls a bit more on the RG than the Bimmer IMO, but as others have said, with the right gear, it might be a non-issue.
great idea - i think i will do that. it may come down to what the new indian 108 with fixed fairing has to offer as well
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 447
Likes: 427
From: Midwest
I am a 30 year wing rider before my 2020 ultra so I am used to riding in cold. I had the ultra out today for a 70 mile ride in the high 30s low 40s and it was very pleasant. Thermals and then a lined first gear touring jacket and road master pants. Visor open, gloves, heated grips on 2. Left lower vent closed right partially open. Could have ridden all day. Only some wind on the knees. I am considering looking for those fork deflectors and then should have no cold air to deal with.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,542
Likes: 6,221
From: In your head rent free
Only thing that bothers me, is the small side fairing wind deflectors are too short. The put the air flow directly across the knee caps. That’s a good thing in the Summer, but when it cold, or rainy, they make things worse.
I was hoping the aftermarket would come up with something, but haven’t found any.
I was hoping the aftermarket would come up with something, but haven’t found any.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 449
From: Michigan
I don't have any issue riding down to about mid 30's. I have a 12" windshield and added lowers to my 2020 RGS. If i close the vent on the lowers I am good with lined jeans, chaps and most of the time black tennis shoes. For the upper body I have a heavy leather jacket and wear my vest so I have double leather on my chest area. I do notice some wind coming in from the open vents, and I put the Custom Dynamics lights with the screens there but they don't block much. My buddy who lives up norther says he stuffs sponges in the vents for the winter to stop the cold air. May try that, but since the weather has been in the 20's lately it won't be anytime soon..... I have several pairs of heavy leather gauntlet gloves but I may try out the shields on the grips also. Should for sure help with the june bug issue in the summer months.....
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 52
Likes: 13
From: Petaluma
A lot of rider poo-poo the heated grips. Especially on Harleys. I'm in Northern California. Even in the summer, I may start a ride inland where its 80-90+ degrees. But when you hit the coast and it's blanketed in fog, your hands get wet a and cold in a hurry. And from a safety standpoint, I feel numb hands are dangerous when riding twisties with a cliff off the side of the road. Well at least the ocean will break your fall.....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,493
Likes: 3,728
From: backwoods
Been thinking about sharknose. But cold hands has always been a concern, One of the reason I got a fairing, was to keep hands warm and dry. The standard and special with standard bars, look ok. But I wonder about the mini apes. Not sure why but FLTR riders seem to favor them more than FLH.
I want to try one for the lighter front end, but I am concerned about the Road Glide Ultras and LImited with high bars.
This is one of the more crazy things I have ever read on a forum. Then I saw you are in CA.
I don't know if I will ever buy another pair of steel toes. But even composite toes get cold and stay cold.
Knees are a concern for, I have arthitis. Sometimes I have wonders about just using neck gators or dickeys.
I hear this, and wonder. I ride my sled in the winter at high speeds with heated grips. The trend is to go to even lighter gloves and add wind blockers for your hands with the newer style sleds with risers. But I havn't done it. My sleds heated grips have multiple settings, and I keep towards to the lower settings.
I'd rather ride 40s than 100.
I want to try one for the lighter front end, but I am concerned about the Road Glide Ultras and LImited with high bars.
I don't know if I will ever buy another pair of steel toes. But even composite toes get cold and stay cold.
Only thing that bothers me, is the small side fairing wind deflectors are too short. The put the air flow directly across the knee caps. Thats a good thing in the Summer, but when it cold, or rainy, they make things worse.
I was hoping the aftermarket would come up with something, but havent found any.
I was hoping the aftermarket would come up with something, but havent found any.
Heated grips are awesome because of the utility of them, you can wear your favorite gloves on a crisp morning or cool night and not have to worry about the wires or planning ahead.
That said for long cold rides, you need heated gear. The grips will keep your palms warm but the cold air will still get to your fingers and back of your hands. d.
That said for long cold rides, you need heated gear. The grips will keep your palms warm but the cold air will still get to your fingers and back of your hands. d.
I'd rather ride 40s than 100.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 648
From: Saint Charles, Missouri
I put the Memphis Shields hand guards on my Road Glide Limited, and with heated grips, my hands don't get cold, still get a little wet in heavy rain, but no June bugs to the knuckles either.
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