winter elements - can we still ride?

[kkattan]

Hey Guys, this is my first winter up in Michigan, man its cold.

the roads have already been salted and lows dip down near 10 degrees farhenhiet. with much colder predicted

couple quesitons:
1. can we ride with the salt on the ride. what do you have to do? clean it very well after every single ride to get the salt out and lube the chain every ride?
2. can we ride when there is snow and black ice using regular tires, this includes highway driving and accumulations of 2 or 3 inches on the backroad.
3. Temps! i dont have the heated suit/glove/boot.. but how well does that work in subzero windchill..? highway driving with windchills around -10?

thanks.

 

[jwcfbd]

1. Yes, clean it very good after every ride.
2.  Only if you're nuts.
3.  I have riden in temps down in to the 30s and the bike ran great.  It loves the cold air but I'm not to crazy about it.

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[Charlesbusa]

I live in L.A., but I'd never ride in any wet if I can help it. And definately not in salted roads. Very corrosive!

 

[bronc3]

Keep it dry & salt free.

 

[Relsek]

2.  can we ride when there is snow and black ice using regular tires, this includes highway driving and accumulations of 2 or 3 inches on the backroad.

Dude, I don't think I'd try that one. I feel a need to take it easy in a new rain, especially if the tires are cold. I wouldn't think of taking it on ice.

 

[Charlesbusa]

If you're serious about riding in snow, look for studded or knobby tires.

Otherwise you're nuts riding in snow and ice with run of the mill street tires...

 

[stkr00]

1. Yes...but you need to clean the bike VERY well. This could be hard to do unless you have a heated garage to wash the bike in to keep it from freezing.

2. If there is snow/ice on the roads, or if there's the possibility of ice, then I wouldn't risk trying to ride. I hit a patch of ice once when I was in high school 20+ years ago, and trust me...You will be sliding along the pavement before you can realize what happened.

It's really NOT worth the risk to you or your bike.

3. With proper thermal protection...Yes, you can ride in the cold. A very good insulated suit, heated gloves, and insulated boots are about all you need. A fleece neck warmer/hood is always nice to have also.

 

[Turbo-Torch]

1. can we ride with the salt on the ride. what do you have to do? clean it very well after every single ride to get the salt out and lube the chain every ride?[/QUOTE]

Aluminum corrodes and pits. Find any car that's spent 2 or 3 years in Michigan and look at the under carriage...you want your bike looking like that?

2. can we ride when there is snow and black ice using regular tires, this includes highway driving and accumulations of 2 or 3 inches on the backroad?[/QUOTE]

You can't be serious?

Have you ever driven a car through 3" of snow? Have you ever driven a car across black ice? Have you ever tried to WALK across black ice?

Put it away till the roads thaw out otherwise you'll become a Darwin Awards candidate.

 

[rob t]

ive never put mine away for winter, and get plenty of it.just be careful on you throttle. and give it 3 or 4 days between storms for the roads to clean up.i use snowmoibile suit over my vanson. been doing it for 25 years (only way to get you rides in )you just have to ride with caution.and live here i guess!!!!you riden a smaller bike in this stuff before your move?



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[frisbee]

Never ride on salted roads !! And if you ride with ice on the roads use studded tires!

 

[SAMBUSA]

I have ridden with a temp of about 20 last year but never in the snow. Thats just stupid. No offense. Guess I love my baby too much and dont want to endanger her. Got cabin fever though and wont be able to ride until april. OHIO SUCKS. But the buckeyes dont.

 

[kkattan]

thanks for everyone advice..
one of the reasons i want to ride is i dont have a car. .so its the Busa or the Bus.. city transportation..

ive seen some guys riding a week ago and i know there was salt on the road.. i think it must be bad for the bike.. but i am thinking April before the salt is washed away.. cant afford a car right now..

and honestly.. too lazy to do the winterization for the bike :-)
maybe its gonna be the City Bus for a while...

Camaro what you think.. i know your still riding up there in Flint. what about the salt



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[Guest]

you can ride, no problem. just rinse the bike because the salt tends to eat aluminum. lucky for me flint is too cheap to put salt down lol

 

[Churchkey]

Having liived in northern Illilois most of my life I can tell you that a 4X4 truck is useless on black ice. Be sure your health insurance & will are current, wear all your gear & good luck. You should be able to find some POS beater car for a few bills. Make sure the heat works & put a new battery in it so it will start.

 

[N2O5O]

Id buy a dual sport if I was this crazy

 

[FloydV]

1.  can we ride with the salt on the ride.  what do you have to do? clean it very well after every single ride to get the salt out and lube the chain every ride?

Aluminum corrodes and pits.  Find any car that's spent 2 or 3 years in Michigan and look at the under carriage...you want your bike looking like that?

2.  can we ride when there is snow and black ice using regular tires, this includes highway driving and accumulations of 2 or 3 inches on the backroad?[/QUOTE]

You can't be serious?

Have you ever driven a car through 3" of snow?  Have you ever driven a car across black ice?  Have you ever tried to WALK across black ice?

Put it away till the roads thaw out otherwise you'll become a Darwin Awards candidate.[/QUOTE]
LOL. EXACTLY! My dad had been riding for 30 years. A lot of years as a motorcycle cop. He was doing a funeral escort and hit some ice and fell. Fractured a leg, and died a week later from a cerebral hemorage in spite of a helmet. Stay away from ice and water for that matter!

 

[FloydV]

Never ride on salted roads !! And if you ride with ice on the roads use studded tires!

What does that thing feel like when you are riding it?

 

[CCbusa05]

Besides the obvious danger, those winter elements that you mentioned will ruin your Busa, period! If you truly love your baby, keep her dry, clean and safe in the garage until spring!

 

[paineless4u]

39 degrees here today, just got back from riding (getting estimates) I seen a couple bikes out but here they put sand down for traction. Salt just melts the ice and then it refreezes again in a few minuteswhen its really cold. The sand was a little tricky but I would not recommend riding when the roads are wet at all. last week it was -20 degrees and today it hit 40 plus. This weather is goofy out here in ND thats forsure.

 

[BA BUSA]

The salt will ruin your Busa....buy a $500 beater car for the winter....you'll spend 10 times that in repairs if you try to ride your Busa through the winter.