Last Ride of the Year

[LenB]

The weather here has is unusually good this year. I don't remember the last time I could ride this late in November. (10 C (50 F) on the 23rd) Invested in a really good riding jacket that's made all the difference. Although I've got the matching Yama-Vetter fairing and lowers, it's not a small job to bolt it on and remove it due to storage space limitations for the short time I'd need it. Going to invest in some handlebar muffs, something like what Deebs has, as they don't seem too expensive. After quilted jeans, decent boots and the great jacket, fingertips are what takes a beating, even with snowmobile gloves on. The bike doesn't care - seems to run great when it's cold out. But without a 3rd wheel, my season remains limited.





Adventures in oil-changing - The large oil filter housing o-ring seems to be always bunched up in the box with the filter and never wants to lay down nicely in the groove for installation. So, being in a bit of a hurry in the cold garage, I just layed it in some oil in the groove, expecting it would play nice and stay there. No such luck. Thinking all was well, filled it with oil and started it up. As I was working the throttle to keep it going, I wasn't able to bend over far enough to spot the oil pouring out of the bike until I was standing in it. Good thing I bought the 5 litre jug as I lost at least 2 litres on the floor. Just before shock hit me and I shut it off, I heard some interesting metal-on-metal noises. With music going in the garage, I thought "I haven't heard that in this song before..." Upon fully realizing what was going on, the fear set in - OMG I've cooked the motor! I then stole a replacement seal from another filter box, as I could see where the first one got pinched, and filled the groove with grease which held the seal nicely for installation - always a little tricking wiggling it past the 4 into 1. Re-filled with oil, listening very closely on startup. No interesting noises and was running great. Now time for the REAL test. Dressed up and went for a ride long enough to include a highway blast @ 110 km/h (about 70 mph). If anything got damaged, it sure doesn't seem to affect how it runs. Seems bullet-proof!





Couldn't quite bump the odometer over 100,000 km this year - still 145.7 km short. 40 years ago, I wouldn't have batted an eye and sucked it up and kept riding to get there. So, does it magically revert to showroom condition @ 100k like a pumpkin at midnight or am I just believing what I read on the interweb again? We'll have to wait and see....


P.S. To those who can ride year-round - I hate you all. (spelled jealous)

[LAB3]

Having lived a good part of my adult life in Northern lower Michigan I can sympathize with the idea of parking the bike for the winter. I'm in the Florida panhandle and the temperature has dropped all the way down to only 62 this afternoon, a hearty "Ha-ha" goes out to you on that one.

Comically the stories that get remembered most are by the Floridians that have parked their bikes for the winter, they put them on trailers so they'll be ready for that first long, arduous road trip to Daytona the first week of March.

I'm not going back to that little show again. Pulling in with just a bike instead of a tow rig and a toy hauler style camper makes me feel too much like a poser. After all, who shows up at a trailer rally riding a motorcycle these days?

[DiverRay]

Yeah, like Sturgis, best T shirt I saw on my way there,"Nice trailer pussy". Worn by a guy on a Harley who was RIDING to the site. This was back about 2006? I was on my way home to California from Cleaveland on my 1979 XS1100.
Oh, and now that I live in Idaho, the bike is parked for the season. Ice on the road is not good riding weather.

[DEEBS11]

I have not stop riding in over 15 years. I'm too addicted. I look at the Harley guy with the "Nice Trailer Pussy" shirt in his pickup in January and say "NICE BIKE".

[DEEBS11]

Here are the tools needed for comfortable extreme winter riding. I travel many, many miles in the winter (mostly with my wife on the back of the bike) and we have specific equipment not unlike snowmobile gear. But for me personally, this is my gear that works and keeps me alive in the most brutal conditions. My record cold ride is -11°F. And believe it or not, I don't ride with gloves but I carry them for when I get off the bike for stops.

#1 Craig Vetter Hippo Hands. Do NOT buy some knock off brand. They have to be quality original Hippo Hands from the 70's. They are indestructible and very warm. They keep your whole torso warm. I sometimes pick these up at swap meets in new condition for $20.00 because nobody uses them and most are in new condition.

[DEEBS11]

#2 Carhartt Arctic Jacket. Simply the best. Very warm and extremely durable canvas material. Never wear a hood riding as it sucks in cold air on your neck and you will die quickly.

[DEEBS11]

#3 neck protection. This is very important. Keeping cold off of your neck makes a huge difference in extreme conditions.

[DEEBS11]

#4 Thin face mask. The thicker ones that are very common will not fit comfortably under your full face helmet (the full face helmet is also required of course). You put this on first. Then the neck gaiter. Then your helmet. Toasty and dry for many hours of riding.

[DEEBS11]

#5 thin rain jacket. This keeps the wind out and keeps you waterproof. You buy the largest size available and wear it over your Carhartt Arctic jacket. With this combo, you will never be cold.

[DEEBS11]

I must ride every day

[DEEBS11]

Way back when I was a young man. I joke the sh*t talking Credit Card Harley guys (You know, the ones that hate Jap bikes) that I have pushed my bike backwards in the snow farther than they have ever driven forward. They don't like it but I don't care what fake pussies think.

[DEEBS11]

I almost forgot the pants. Very important to staying warm & dry.

[cajun31]

You know the older I get the more I despise extreme weather.

[LenB]

REAL cold weather riding still remains a fantasy up here in the great white north. Winters can be pretty severe (-40) with roads caked with packed snow/ice ruts - dangerous for anything with 2, 3 or 4 wheels. When you hear "Exposed skins freezes... " with no time-frame attached it's time to pay attention and dress up properly if you have to go outside. Never mind the "Wind-Chill factor" either naturally or by moving through the frozen air.

A local police legacy was the use of Harley trikes all year-round.





They were kitted out with buffalo hide coats and parked their rides in a heated garage.




Only flirting with extending the season when weather allows. Not hard-core like you, Deebs.


P.S. - I'm sure Flea-Bay appreciates your continued support, Deebs.

[DEEBS11]

I guess you are right LenB. I do hang out on Ebay quite a bit. I wish you and everybody here a good & extended riding season. Keep the dream alive!