11-11-2023, 02:35 PM
The day I brought my air-cooled 2014 CB1100 home from Honda, it was a 40 minute ride home at -25C. The CB behaved normally once warmed up to operating temperature.
Until very recently, I rode without heated gear. Now I ride with cordless heated riding gloves. The finger tips have never been a strong point all my life riding in the cold.
The other key area to focus on in southern Ontario, Canada winter is ensure to cover-up the neck. On the freeway you will know quickly if you don't.
The coldest I've ridden was lower than -50C on the freeway with windchill. It was on a liquid-cooled (or perhaps liquid-warmed) 650. With no heated gear my limit was 45 minutes before I needed to hold a hot coffee in my hands. I almost froze my right eyeball.
I stopped winterizing my motorcycles back in 1988. Since I rode during the winter, I was just wasting time with storage prep and throwing money away on fuel stabilizer.
Today in the 21st century, fuel stabilizer in my region is not required whether you ride or not during winter. I would, however, try to keep your tank topped-up otherwise while parked.
All my bikes are stored in outside air-ambient temperatures - no heat. Sometimes it is tricky starting a bike up below -20C, but start they do even if it takes 10 seconds.
My CB1100 drive chain and rear fender took hits from road salt. I never replaced the [orange] chain, and my fender never looked as bad as The Ferret's. The chain I would eventually just keep more lubricated.
During winter riding I avoid my favourite rural routes, especially those that experience daytime shade. I do not ride purposefully in snow, but have been caught a few times. I do not purposefully ride on wet salted roads. I prefer salted roads when they are at least dry. When wet, it is just an overall bloody mess on everything.
Until very recently, I rode without heated gear. Now I ride with cordless heated riding gloves. The finger tips have never been a strong point all my life riding in the cold.
The other key area to focus on in southern Ontario, Canada winter is ensure to cover-up the neck. On the freeway you will know quickly if you don't.
The coldest I've ridden was lower than -50C on the freeway with windchill. It was on a liquid-cooled (or perhaps liquid-warmed) 650. With no heated gear my limit was 45 minutes before I needed to hold a hot coffee in my hands. I almost froze my right eyeball.
I stopped winterizing my motorcycles back in 1988. Since I rode during the winter, I was just wasting time with storage prep and throwing money away on fuel stabilizer.
Today in the 21st century, fuel stabilizer in my region is not required whether you ride or not during winter. I would, however, try to keep your tank topped-up otherwise while parked.
All my bikes are stored in outside air-ambient temperatures - no heat. Sometimes it is tricky starting a bike up below -20C, but start they do even if it takes 10 seconds.
My CB1100 drive chain and rear fender took hits from road salt. I never replaced the [orange] chain, and my fender never looked as bad as The Ferret's. The chain I would eventually just keep more lubricated.
During winter riding I avoid my favourite rural routes, especially those that experience daytime shade. I do not ride purposefully in snow, but have been caught a few times. I do not purposefully ride on wet salted roads. I prefer salted roads when they are at least dry. When wet, it is just an overall bloody mess on everything.