how cold is to cold?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 8
From: General Sherman's Christmas Location 1864
MEMORIES!!!!....When I bought my 73 Sportster in January ( back in the 70's) I rode it 65 miles home...temp was -10F...had to stop and get in the car every 10 miles or so...finally figured out I'm freezing at 55 mph...so cranked it up to 80
Probably never do that again ...but i can say I did it
Now if it's under 45 it's uncomfortable....
Probably never do that again ...but i can say I did it
Now if it's under 45 it's uncomfortable....
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 910
Likes: 304
Last Friday morning (1-16-09) RDU airport said low of 15 but the rural areas I rode were down to 13 degrees. Left home at 6:00am and rode 126 miles just to see how well the Gerbing gloves and Jacket liner works..... absolutely marvelous. Anything below 25 degrees is not fun without the Gerbings stuff. You know you have the correct gear on when you stop at a red light/stop sign and not wishing it would stay red longer.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,051
Likes: 50
From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
Last weekend I saw at least a 1/2 dozen Harley other riders out in it. And it was Cold! Probably a lot of us just like you. Can't get it out of our systems. And long winters create Cabin Fever and "Must Ride Regardless" attitudes... Electric Gear is the Bomb! That's not to say you still don't need some mental health assistance. They're two separate issues.....
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
+1 Cold weather riding keeps the pms (parked motorcycle syndrome) at bay.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 804
Likes: 105
From: Charlotte, NC/Greenville, SC
It's all in your head.
I was a young boy back in '73. I really was. Anyway a friend of mine and I were sitting by the fireplace with nothing to do in Greenville SC during February of that year when we decided to go for a little ride. It was after dark so we strapped on our sleeping bags and a bottle of Tequila and headed for the Blue Ridge Parkway. The temp was 26 when we left G'ville so we have no idea how cold it got. We stopped at a rest area once and warmed our hands for what seemed like an hour under the hand drier. The Parkway was closed but we found a gravel road which went across the mountain and passed underneath the Parkway. We slept off the side of the road purched on the ground above the base of a couple of trees to keep us from sliding off the mountain. It's amazing what Tequila can make you forget but I don't remember it being that cold. But of course we were a lot younger way back then.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta, GA
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: gorham maine
Back in the days of my misguided youth I rode dam near year round. I live in Maine.
I rode with a pair of Walls Blizzard Proof overalls {Part of a snowmobile suit} a tee shirt followed by a chammy shirt and a sweat shirt then my leather. Boots and long gauntlet winter gloves and a full face helmet. My secret weapon against air infiltration was to insert a newspaper in front of my chest before zipping the leather. {I figured if it worked to keep the park bench homeless warm what to hell} There were many nights at the end of my work shift [11PM] that I would need to scrape the frost off my saddle so I wouldnt slide off! Ah but that was many years ago now I put the pony in the barn after Turkey Day and dont get her out till April
I rode with a pair of Walls Blizzard Proof overalls {Part of a snowmobile suit} a tee shirt followed by a chammy shirt and a sweat shirt then my leather. Boots and long gauntlet winter gloves and a full face helmet. My secret weapon against air infiltration was to insert a newspaper in front of my chest before zipping the leather. {I figured if it worked to keep the park bench homeless warm what to hell} There were many nights at the end of my work shift [11PM] that I would need to scrape the frost off my saddle so I wouldnt slide off! Ah but that was many years ago now I put the pony in the barn after Turkey Day and dont get her out till April