Who rides in the snow?

[Bumblebee]

In regards to the 'do you guys ride in the rain' thread and in deference to the fact it's snowing right now:

It's currently below freezing, snowing, the temp/dewpoint spread is closing up, I won't be back here until 11:00pm...and I did the chivalry routine and casually handed my cage keys to a friend who was in desperate need of transportation a few days ago. (Something tells me I'm going to get told off by said friend when I get to the theatre tonight)

So....Who, besides me, rides in the snow?

[skramer360]

Definitely NOT me.

[FAITHBIKER]

I won't ride in below freezing temps myself anymore.  Did it one too many times and hurt myself (thankfully very minor, but a broken bone still). 

[happycommuter]

I've ridden when snowflakes were falling, but not sticking.  It's really cool: it looks like the Flying Through Space screensaver on Windows.
Years back I had to eventually escape my iced over parking lot to get to the long-cleared roads.  Nice sphincter-tightening coordination/reaction/balance exercise and I didn't drop it!
One time about a year ago I rode to work and there was an expected (by everyone but me) slushy drizzle.  One geezer did a left turn in front of me causing an O-S moment, but otherwise keeping a visor free of fog and slush was the major problem. 
Otherwise, no.  There used to be a page advocating getting a cheap little old UJM and putting knobby tires on it for the snow, but I can only find this at the moment.

[RussellH]

I have seen a lot of bike trip pics on ADV with the white stuff on the ground so I know there are some ballsy riders out there 

[MrF]

I haven't had snow and my motorcycle in the same location since I started riding.  Now that I'm moving back east that may change though.  I'd probably still opt for the car in that case.

(You might say theres snow chance of me trying it.)

[Bumblebee]

I got back a bit ago. Almost an hour to make a 15 minute ride. Never touched the front brake once, was chicken on the rear and engine braking was seriously forbidden. It was like riding on ice except when it was ice under a slurpee. Dunlop 491's are great on pavement and dirt roads. They suck on cage packed frictionless ice.

This little ride was a lot easier than back in November when I put 510 miles on the bike overnight and got to have fun in a snowstorm for almost 200 miles.

Will it stop me? Not when I have to do it or the snow isn't sticking. I will say the awareness and alert level required to operate safely is seriously physically and mentally draining.

If your bike isn't setup for the conditions or freeze up and cages are involved, wimp out and take your frigging cage.

It is seriously time for the dualsport...and probably a bit better judgement too.

[DesignFlaw06]

Snow means no.

I'll ride below freezing if the sun is out and the roads are dry. Usually will just be a short ride or maybe into work.

[CraigF]

It is seriously time for the dualsport...and probably a bit better judgement too.

I think you mentioned ordering a GS in the future.  Is that still the dual-sport you have your eye on?

I'm not a dual-sport guy--I've never ridden off-road, and (on topic) I wouldn't ride (with my experience level) in snow.  But I like the riding position and look of dual-sport bikes.  There's a V-strom 650 at the local dealer in orange that I love to drool on.

[niteman]

Hell, get this...I've never driven a cage on snow! Been lucky I guess, because I've been everywhere from FL to OH to the East coast and in between, it's just never been snowing when I'm there even in winter times.

As bad as most cagers drive even in rain, snow and ice would scare the snot out of me 

[Bumblebee]

I think you mentioned ordering a GS in the future.  Is that still the dual-sport you have your eye on?

At this point I'm looking more at a GSA. The CB650 is great fun however each tool has it's uses and limitations.

Snow I can sort of deal with especially if I had real tires which I don't. Ice and patchy ice under snow is panzy out time for me.

nightman, What's wrong with you? Get up north and have fun in the snow for a change. You haven't lived until you actually have had to be in 4WD for 10+ weeks straight. Snow isn't bad at all. It's no worse than wet roads IF the flipping DOT would leave the snow pack on the surface instead of scraping it all off and leaving packed snow/ice in place of the high friction snow. Ice, well, you just wait until everyone else crashes then get on the road all by yourself. The real secret is to stay out of 4WD unless you actually need it..most people don't know when they actually need it though which is why they end up in the ditch.

[captamerica77]

  I may be too old, but riding on the snow sounds like a problem waiting to happen. I seem to like to have all my body parts attached and not broken. Riding 4wheelers on the snow maybe, dirt bikes kinda sorta, street bikes, no friggen way. I have ridden in temps of 29 degrees and the streets dry and the sun coming out (dark when I left the house). But that is my limit. Here in Colorado we have a somewhat limited riding season. We get a lot of ice and snow in Monument, but I can drive my truck. 2 wheel drive cars cannot make it up my cul-de-sac when there is ice and snow, so no way am I riding in it. Besides it takes me too long to thaw out as it is riding 22 miles to work. Maybe I should get chains? I don't think so. besides I would get tired of screaming all the way to work.

[Bumblebee]

Here in Colorado we have a somewhat limited riding season.

I'm about 50 miles north of you.

Street tires suck to no end on snow. Sometimes there's not much of a choice though other than not going at all..and even then it's generally bad judgement. Even being insanely cautious and riding seriously slow, snow riding is just an intentional waiting for a place to slam into the ground.

[Uncle Fester]

Generally, I agree, snow means no.  As you all know from my entry in the refridgerated rider contest, temperature is just a matter of the right clothing, but snow and ice are not good. I'll ride through the winter, but not with ice, snow, (basically any precip under 35 or so), and not at night if I can help it.  So I'm limited to short trips to the PO or store, etc.   

[Deadly]

I have not done any snow riding but, I have rode for 10 and 12 hours at a time in the rain.   

[IROCFST]

For going to work (20 miles one way) I have a 50 degree rule..............In MI the weather changes A LOT!

[bbrovold]

Well, it's happened when I got caught at work during a sudden shift in the weather but I would never intend to do it.

[cgage]

For going to work (20 miles one way) I have a 50 degree rule..............In MI the weather changes A LOT!

Same here, but mine is above freezing at 8 AM. If it's above 32 I don't get frostbite. I did 40 miles in 15 the other day with summer mesh gloves, took about an hour to get the feeling back in my hands.

Rode in snow for a few blocks that day and it was very difficult, esp with my old tires. Now that they are new i would like to try again, hopefully NEXT winter! I kept the bike in 2nd and idled with both feet out, worked fine.