Riding in adverse conditions

Being new to motorcycles, is there any advice to riding in cold weather rain stuff like that. Im good on clothing warm colths and leathes. but as far as the machine goes is their any advice other than not to ride in bad conditions. My bike is the only transportation i have. I have noticed that it does not like to start in the cold and i have to play with the idel screw when im about half way home or to work. is this normal. I have to wait untill it gets warm to take the MSC class. Have any of you guys driven your bike in the snow? Thanks for any info you give

 

No - it's not normal -- If you've got to fiddle with the idle screw, there's something wrong in your carbs. Dirty, out-of-synch, mixtures, or jetting -- something's wrong.
Sounds like you need to attend a carb clinic! Get those things cleaned, synched, and mixtures checked at the very least.

Other than our engines being a little tempermental in the cold (air cooled and all), the most important thing about bad weather riding is your tires! You absolutely HAVE to have really, really good quality rubber if you're riding in cold and/or wet alot.

As for the last question - yes, there are several who are year-round riders both here and abroad. And they all say the same thing - riding in icy or snowy conditions is a bad idea, even for experienced riders. You can do it, but it takes a LOT of skill, patience, and experience.
Carlton in Saskatchewan has even taken to installing a sidecar and chains on the tires in winter - but he's nuts

 

Im lucky I bought the bike with brand new rubber. I do need the carbs sync up wich im doing in the next few days. Is there any thing that i can put on my visor of my helment soit wont fog up in the cold.

 

If you check a sporting goods store they sell a product that hockey players spray on their visors to keep them from fogging. Works like a dam on all faceshields (except wire)

 

Rain X makes a anti fog stuff, works good on glasses from going in and out of the cold.

I've heard( not brave enough to ride in the cold myself) depending on the temp change you may have to rejet, so it runs a little richer in cold weather, not sure if true or not but that's what I've heard, You would think leaving the choke on a little would do the same but not sure.

dirt bikes aren't bad in the snow, but a heavy bike is hard to keep up when your sliding, wouldn't reccommend it

 

ya got to do what ya got to do

 

now im part of the droppers club .I just put my bike down on a patch of black ice. Thankfully i was not going that fast, like 5 to 10 mile an hour, needless to say that it was not fun and im going to try not to ride the day after an ice storm. Bike is okay still running and i did not even scratch the tank.

 

Ouch - sorry to hear about the lay-down

Clear dry road is the big thing - even if it's cold, as long as you've got clear dry road, you should be ok.

Good luck, and keep the rubber bits down!

 

dress to stay warm & dry, watch out for potentially icy spots, GOOD tires (New doesnt neccessarily mean good)
I use a "fog city" fog shield in my helmet, doesnt fog up even in the coldest or dampest weather. They are about 20 bucks if I remember

 

dress to stay warm & dry, watch out for potentially icy spots, GOOD tires (New doesnt neccessarily mean good)
I use a "fog city" fog shield in my helmet, doesnt fog up even in the coldest or dampest weather. They are about 20 bucks if I remember

 

I don't remember this "riding" you speak of. We're on day 21 of below freezing temps here in central Ohio. They are saying we'll be warming up by next weekend, but we'll see. by warming up, I mean 40 degrees. *sigh*