Couldn't wait any more. Went for a run this afternoon. -3 C (-16C wind chill at 120 kph). It was actually pleasant. Grip warmers and a heated vest (no sleeves ) + my riding gear was all I needed. My new Heidenau K76 worked well on the frozen road (no black ice). The Vee enjoyed sucking in all that cool fresh air.
I am not the jealous type but when I read the reports from the riders down south I do get kind of greenish.
If it's nice out and the roads haven't been sanded or salted in recent weeks and above freezing I will go ride with my Warm-n-Safe on but not after dark. Another forum I patronize has a "Coldest Ride" topic and last year's winner was -25°F. Criteria is a ride of at least 10 miles and a picture of your bike and a thermometer to prove it (bank, personal one, etc.). Not sure how low the Vstrom one goes... haven't looked that up cuz I'm not desperate enough to undertake that challenge.
It's been on and off weather wise in Idaho - i got about 5 commutes and two wknd rides in during January - mornings were all 26-30 and afternoons were all pushing 40F on the way home. As long as the roads are dry that is doable for me.
Next week looks like a good one so far - sunny with lows around 30-32 and highs approaching 50 every day!
It was 15C (60F) here in GTA Ontario. Definitely record for February 3rd. Sunny but unfortunately wet roads (salted water) after all night of heavy rain.
3 inches of snow yesterday, 14 C and rain today, 8-10 inches of snow tomorrow.. What is a rider to do..... So I took another ride today. The snow melted overnight so the roads were wet not frozen. Again a pleasant trip. I did rinse it off afterwards to slow down the salt gremlins.
I just want to add that here in New York the best thing that I have added to the bike is the Oxford heated grips. I actually prefer to wear thin gloves for better feel and I can do that with the heated grips and even at 50% or 70% setting it's awesome. Highly recommend the heated grips.
I like when I can use light gloves with the heated grips. I did 150mi. last Friday mostly in the dark, about 16deg with a bad crosswind. It was fine without the crosswind, I was layered up for sure (not a light glove day), but when I hit that wind it found every gap in my gear.
I used to ride in the cold, until a friend went around a sweeper and put the bike down and into the guardrail, it was frost on the road. He could hardly walk on that stuff.
I shat myself once nice warm (45°) sunny winter day, hit a smooth stretch of road that musta been rebuilt the previous summer cause there were no frost heaves, and suddenly, my speed is "elevated" I entered a nice left hand sweeper about 70-75mph, when I saw a glacier sprawling all the way across both lanes for about 100 feet from a gravel side road that was on the right
I didn't even have time to panic (probably a good thing) I held my line at a moderate lean and made it thru the icy curve without even slipping, this was on my SV650 before I ran studded tires in winter
I have discovered, you don't need a whole lot of traction if you do not make abrupt inputs
with studded tires, I can ride on stuff I can't walk on
I was out a few days ago when it was almost 45 degrees. weather was great but the problem here in Pa is there are sections in the hollows that never see the sun, came across some frost covered roads, and some frozen run off. No issues just had to be careful. I usually ride no matter how cold it is as long as I can get out my icy driveway.
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StromTrooper
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