Anybody ride a motorcycle?

jen31889
jen31889 Posts: 121
edited September 24 in Chit-Chat
Today it is close to 60 degrees and windy. I work 4-10 tonight. It is supposed to be 43 tonight with only about 10mph wind. Would I be crazy to ride to work tonight? I don't have chaps and the only gloves I have are either thinsulate winter gloves, or my offroad dirt bike gloves. I figure the adrenaline will keep me warm?
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Replies

  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    How long is your journey, and what sort of roads, traffic etc?
  • emrogers
    emrogers Posts: 328 Member
    My husband does and rides his majority of the time unless icing of course. He does however have chaps and all his gear. I say since you don't have any not too but try it and maybe you'll know for next time. :)
  • Hunbun72
    Hunbun72 Posts: 14 Member
    It depends on how far the ride it. I know that it can be colder riding a bike that late at night. Unless you have a good pair of chaps.
  • Psychosian
    Psychosian Posts: 2
    I ride in any weather!! I was riding in -9C over the winter. I have a 40 min ride to and from work each day. I did have lots of layers though!!
  • vzepol
    vzepol Posts: 131 Member
    You are tougher than me. I have a hard time going out below 60 degrees.
  • ocsurfmama
    ocsurfmama Posts: 127
    I guess it depends on how well your body handles the cold and the distance you have to travel. Keep in mind that 43 degrees during the day when the sun is out feels warmer than 43 degrees at night with a wind chill. If I am not wearing chaps, I try to wear under leggings beneath my jeans to help with warmth. I can only handle temps of 50 and above when riding any distance over 10 minutes.
  • 10swampdonkey
    10swampdonkey Posts: 10
    I am jealous of your opportunity. If you lived where I do, you would have a solid 7 ft of snow in the yard. I won't be riding my bike for a while yet this year. I am going to Vegas in April and will be renting a bike for a few days to help with the cabin fever.
    The last few days I have been shoveling several tons of snow from my roof. Good for the exercise goals. LOL
    Add a second pair of track pants maybe?? Wear the winter gloves if they don't ruin your dexterity.
    Signed,
    Green with envy
  • Deucette
    Deucette Posts: 2 Member
    I have a motorcycle but don't ride when its cold. My friends say Im not a "real" rider but I dont care. I hate cold weather! LOL! Toy runs during Christmas time is the only time I tough it out.
  • BillyC96
    BillyC96 Posts: 7,560 Member
    I ride all winter, and sometimes it's very cold. I do have winter gloves and my hands still get really cold. My commute is 20 - 25 minutes.
  • jen31889
    jen31889 Posts: 121
    My ride is about 25 minutes, 15 minutes of very rural land and 10 minutes in the city. I think I'm gonna try it. Wish me luck....or warmth!
  • rgfor40
    rgfor40 Posts: 79 Member
    I do, I do! Mostly for fun tho. i'm looking to take a ride to the grand canyon this spring. Hopefully i can.
  • dmoses
    dmoses Posts: 786 Member
    If it's 50 or lower, I have to wear my chaps and gloves.
  • jen31889
    jen31889 Posts: 121
    It actually wasn't that bad of a ride home. :) I wore my thinsulate gloves and a fleece under my riding jacket.
  • jen31889
    jen31889 Posts: 121
    I ride all winter, and sometimes it's very cold. I do have winter gloves and my hands still get really cold. My commute is 20 - 25 minutes.

    They make heated grips and heated gloves. Since you ride frequently, I would look into it. Do you ride in the snow too?
  • jen31889
    jen31889 Posts: 121
    I ride in any weather!! I was riding in -9C over the winter. I have a 40 min ride to and from work each day. I did have lots of layers though!!

    You are CRAZYYYYY!!!! lol
  • RockaholicMama
    RockaholicMama Posts: 786 Member
    Since we're basers when we ride we wear full protective gear. Gloves, chaps, leather coats, helmets. We stay pretty warm.
  • BillyC96
    BillyC96 Posts: 7,560 Member
    I ride all winter, and sometimes it's very cold. I do have winter gloves and my hands still get really cold. My commute is 20 - 25 minutes.

    They make heated grips and heated gloves. Since you ride frequently, I would look into it. Do you ride in the snow too?

    No, we don't get a lot of snow on the Isle of Wight. I leave the bike at home if it gets icy. I should look into heated gloves though.

    When I lived in Toronto I once came out of work on a Friday to find nearly 6 inches of snow on the ground. I wasn't leaving the bike at work over the weekend, so I rode home in it. Even though traffic was a nightmare and moving really slowly, I hated every second of it. I rode with my legs stuck out like outriggers.
  • hallekj
    hallekj Posts: 6
    I used to ride my scooter to work in those same temps, but I wore my ski parka and gloves. Even with that it was a pretty chilly ride and that was only for a couple of miles. If you are hardy, go for it, but if not you may wish you had driven or taken the bus.
  • jen31889
    jen31889 Posts: 121

    No, we don't get a lot of snow on the Isle of Wight. I leave the bike at home if it gets icy. I should look into heated gloves though.

    When I lived in Toronto I once came out of work on a Friday to find nearly 6 inches of snow on the ground. I wasn't leaving the bike at work over the weekend, so I rode home in it. Even though traffic was a nightmare and moving really slowly, I hated every second of it. I rode with my legs stuck out like outriggers.


    I ride like that in the rain. I couldn't even BEGIN to imagine riding in snow or ice.
  • RoadDog
    RoadDog Posts: 2,946 Member
    Been riding for about 44 years. Dirt bikes for the first 5 years. Been on a street bike since 1972. Won't ride on Ice or snow. Try to avoid the rain. Otherwise ride year round.
  • CasperO
    CasperO Posts: 2,913 Member
    32 years, otherwise ditto. Heated grips rock.
  • BillyC96
    BillyC96 Posts: 7,560 Member
    Riding in the winter here means riding in the rain. I don't mind it all that much as long as it's not cold. I have all the kit to stay dry, and my route is mainly rural without a lot of traffic so it's not too bad.
  • bouldert
    bouldert Posts: 225 Member
    It will be alot colder at night .dress really warm and take two pairs of gloves keep one close to warm motor and switch too keep hans warm and good luck .
  • chadrau
    chadrau Posts: 1
    Heated grips are the way to go. I have them, but still usually wait till the streets are clear of snow and maybe a bit of rain to wash the excess salt away, otherwise ride.
  • 10swampdonkey
    10swampdonkey Posts: 10
    Holy Crap! We had full on winter until just a few days ago, then the melting has begun. My 6' fence has been out of sight seems like forever, and now I can see 18" of it in half my yard. 19 ft of snow in town this year, and 80 ft (not a typo) in the pass this year. Avg 60'
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Revelstoke_National_Park
    I was thinking I would not be able to get the bike out until maybe June this year. Best ever has been Mar 21. Things are looking up.
  • SirKevin
    SirKevin Posts: 4 Member
    I had several bikes when I was a newlywed in Long Beach and usually rode to work. My wife had a wee small bike that she rode a lot until the obstetrician made her stop. It's just not safe to ride here in Borsetshire: bad drivers come here from all over the world and there are too many loonies texting or talking when driving to make me feel safe. I do have a bicycle for exercise which I never ride in the street. The last bike I had was a year-old 1977 Suzuki GS550-4 when my wife was the dealership owner's secretary and assistant parts manager. If I went back to living in northern California, I might buy a bike, take a course and ride again. I would like a Ducati Monster, would settle for a Triumph Bonnevile.
  • milehighcritic
    milehighcritic Posts: 199
    I am motorcycle rider. I tend to ride when the temperature is above 55.

    Temperature is one thing to consider when deciding to ride. What are the road conditions right now? Is there allot of sand on the road? If they use sand in your area. Sand and gravel they use in Colorado reek havoc riders.
  • Stefani74
    Stefani74 Posts: 448 Member
    I am just a "passenger" only because my dear sweet husband is terrified of me having my own! And he says he'd rather me be riding behind anyway. But he doesn't even get the bike out until it's in the 70's. He's not a "true dedicated rider". If he needs a coat and gloves, forget it. And definitely not in the wind. He says he's going to ride it to work this summer, but I don't see that happening. He leaves around 3am and the mornings are pretty cool and he's got a good 40 minute ride to work.

    I would LOVE to have one of my own...and I would only have about a 7 minute ride to work.
  • Nucleartiger
    Nucleartiger Posts: 29 Member
    I am just a "passenger" only because my dear sweet husband is terrified of me having my own! And he says he'd rather me be riding behind anyway. But he doesn't even get the bike out until it's in the 70's. He's not a "true dedicated rider". If he needs a coat and gloves, forget it. And definitely not in the wind. He says he's going to ride it to work this summer, but I don't see that happening. He leaves around 3am and the mornings are pretty cool and he's got a good 40 minute ride to work.

    I would LOVE to have one of my own...and I would only have about a 7 minute ride to work.

    Sounds like you might just have to take his for a ride or just go get one of your own.. ;-)
  • Nucleartiger
    Nucleartiger Posts: 29 Member
    I don't have any chaps or anything for my legs but my jacket that I have keeps my upper body pretty warm down into the mid 30s. I ride with my jacket, long johns (top and bottoms) Balaclava, winter gloves, and full face helmet during the winter time and the only part that really gets cold is my legs.

    Living here in the Southeast does have some great advantages for sure. I have been able to put on about 1200 miles on the bike in the last 2 weeks. Ride safe everyone.
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