| Author | Message | ||
     Pnw_ulys |
Lucky enough to live in a climate where you can almost commute by motorcycle year round - - as long as you don't mind riding in the rain. . . Just kind of sucks when the rain turns to snow.  Rare at near sea level to get more than a couple of inches of snow per season in the Seattle area, odd that it's only the first week of November. Was 44 degrees when I left the house at 5:15, snowed for the last 20 miles and the temps hovered at freezing. Skirted around a few collisions, but was glad to make it to work without incident. Slushy. . .  I commute nearly exclusively by Uly - - any tips / tricks / stories from other winter riding enthusiasts ? ? ? Ride Safe. | ||
| Nillaice |
hippo hands are a must. I got some moose racing handlebar muffs for a snowmobile via ebay and fitted them around the stock hand guards. stitched in the metal pieces from an old set of windshield wipers to stiffen tehm up and keep the ends open and it's a good, safe set-up. I still know where the controls and switches are  ive never found a way to keep my boots/feet dry. I just gave up and keep a set of boots on the peet drier. beyond that, i'll just pack a change of clothes and change when I get to work. the good thing about riding in the rain is that once you are completely soaked, you stop getting any more wet. the bad thing about riding in the rain is that it isn't as fun as riding in the not rain. last winter a freind noticed my attitude changed towards the bike, which is usually a big/good thing of the day for me. it's nice to know hat I can ford a rainstorm, but its nicer to turn up the radio and enjoy the heated leather seats and a hot cup o joe | ||
| Ratbuell |
Heated grips, heated jacket liner, heated gloves. Fleece balaclava to fill the airgap between collar and helmet. To keep feet dry, get some good touring boots. I have a pair of Sidi's that are about 8 years old now, still going strong. If I keep water from going over the top, they stay nice and dry. To keep that gap sealed, get some overpants that have stirrups to hold them down. Same for gloves - the heated already have long gauntlets to overlap the sleeve cuffs, but that's the biggest thing - keep the clothing overlapped so you don't have open seams leaking air, snow, or water onto your body or base layers. I also have an analog meat thermometer zip-tied to my handlebars so I can see when the temp gets around freezing, so I can ice-watch. | ||
| Refurb |
I commuted in the Seattle area for 30+ years. In the early years my commute was East-West, so I generally did not have to ride through too much rain. Later on I had a North-South commute, which meant travel through the convergence zone. For those who don't live here, that means riding under the waterfall at the end of the atmospheric river fed by the Pacific ocean. The Ulysses gets excellent marks for traction, but the weather protection is marginal. After this weekend, you will probably be riding home in the dark. That means you will get to see the road grime flinging off the front tire, briefly illuminated by the headlight as it passes easily around the "beak" at the perfect level to be collected by your face(shield). The beak, in my opinion, is the only example of bad design on the whole bike. So you might want to put some kind of extension on there. I replaced the whole mess with the larger of the low mounted front fenders from American Sport Bike and it works great, but I wouldn't know where to get one now. A fender from the XT would probably work better than the beak. | ||
| Pnw_ulys |
Full disclosure, this is my eighth winter Uly commuting, but always open to new ideas or techniques - - especially since I missed last winter's commute due to reconstructive shoulder surgery. . . (Also Uly related) Seen the Hippo Hands, and have found the heated grips and jacket liner sufficient for this region, and a combination of Aerostitch and other gear keeps me dry (enough). . .  Snow on the commute home, but no drama. . . Thanks for the input and ride safe. | ||
| Etennuly |
My first line of defense for winter riding is my BAW. That is my Big Ass Windshield. I will post up pics when I get back to my computer. Add all of the gear mentioned above minus the Hippo hands I add wearing my HD rubberized rain gear over everything to resist wind penetration. If I did it much anymore I would be adding the Hippo hands. Did Knoxville to Daytona a few times at near freezing temps with snow along the highways. Left Knoxville one year when at noon it was 32 degrees F.highest temp I saw that entire trip down was 41. Camping in the infield wasn't much warmer. | ||
| Tootal |
Good boots are the key to dry feet. My Oxtar boots started losing their soles yet were still keeping me dry. I finally found a cobbler willing to glue them back together for me. Oxtar has been sold but they used to make boots for others like BMW. Sidi's are also great boots and both were made in Italy. When the Oxtar's start leaking I'll be looking again but so far I'm still dry | ||
| Sagehawk |
Tootal used the word cobbler! I'm a thinking peach or apple and he's describing a worker of shoe soles. Nothing in the middle there! | ||
| Tootal |
I prefer Blackberry! MMmmmmm! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
One little naggy thing I can think of to say: Remember that bridges freeze before normal paved surfaces. | ||
| Tempest766 |
I won't ride on two wheels if there's a chance of ice on the road. Not worth the chance. | ||
| Pnw_ulys |
TCX/Oxtar Infinity boots - - had them since 2009, also re-soled. Guess Buell minded riders think alike... Agree on not riding with potential ice - -that's what was surprised me about the temperature plunge on Friday's commute. But most of the ride is multi-lane, so ice formation not as likely. Embracing the meat thermometer idea... | ||
| Motorfish |
I’ve got a pair of Oxtar Matrix boots that are great. Probably close to 15 years old. Waterproof and comfortable, with good protection. I would buy them again. | ||
| Tootal |
That's what I have but Oxtar sold to TCX so we will both be getting them next! | ||
| Pnw_ulys |
Few other random thoughts. . . 1. New rubber. I get awesome mileage out the Michelin PR4's, but after wringing out most of the traction this summer, swapped on a new set after the first rainfall here a few weeks ago. Wet roads equate to about a 20% traction loss, so worth it to me. 2. Marine Layer / Hoarfrost. Although relatively warm winters for a northern tier state, winter fog can produce ice crystals that can freeze once settled on the asphalt. Always a concern when I run into fog from now through March. Here's my boot of choice: TCX Infinity with aftermarket Vibram sole...  Thanks for the input and ride safe. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
How about a foam block to stop air flow through the oil cooler? | ||
| Sagehawk |
You would just have to try and see what blocking oil cooler would achieve. Take a temp of oil , swingarm, motor at whatever point you choose and then what sensor is reporting to ecm. Track all 4 along with your ambient temp at where you live. I bet it's possibLe under certain conditions that you may not be able to even get your engine temp up to 160 to 180 c much less oil temp to a proper temp. Data log a bit along this line as well. That will tell the truth. What is the lowest temp that you are equipped to ride at for a particular distance? | ||
| Ourdee |
I always stuck a rag in the oil cooler at below 26 degrees. Never checked the oil temps. Throttle body iced shut once and open on another occasion. I put hand warmer pads on the engine case while I was at work on the really cold days and carried a second battery to run in series to get it started. Used a TW200 that would start at 22 degrees below 0 when the weather got too nasty for the Buell. I think the TW that went to the North pole had the fins broke off the engine to help it run warmer. Skinny tires are better in the snow on pavement. | ||
| Sagehawk |
ourdee: do you think that the buell would get up to what we would call a normal temperature? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Funny you mention it but back when I was a teenager, I used to ride my KLR250 in the snow. It was pretty cold blooded below 40F as I recall. The little temp gauge would gradually climb to the middle and then nosedive to "C" when the thermostat opened up. It never occurred to me at the time to cover the radiators with something. I used to have to kick that thing over for 20 minutes straight when it was 20 and below. The tiny battery would die from the headlight being on. Luckily, the ignition on those was separate from the 12V system. | ||
| Tootal |
Back in the early 70's I had a paper route. It had snowed 14" and nobody was getting their paper except for my clients because I used my 100cc dirt bike to make deliveries. I would ride through the yards and drop it on the porch and everybody was so happy...until the snow melted and they all had a trail through their yards!! Doh!!  | ||
| Pnw_ulys |
"No rider ever complained about XB heat issues between November through March. . ." Another thing - - the Uly "Maximum" heat shield comes off. | ||
| Dan_m |
@Pnw_ulys: what hand guards are those from your Uly? | ||
| Ourdee |
Paul, Not moving down the road. My concern was the cold oil in the gear-box side of the house. I always worried I was making a milk-shake. Rag in the cooler was probably just a placebo as low as the temperature was. I know the XB engines make power in cold temps. | ||
| Pnw_ulys |
Dan - Acerbis "knock-offs", got the idea from a fellow BadWeb member. Linky: https://www.amazon.com/TMS-Motocross-Enduro-Alumin um-Inside/dp/B004BOXKN0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=151 0239337&sr=8-5&keywords=motorcycle+handguards Not as good weather protection than the OEM guards (especially if fitted with the Touratech extenders), but definitely more protection for bouncing off cars or parking mishaps. Ride Safe. | ||
| Dan_m |
Thanks! I like the looks of your Uly with those hand guards. |
