when will winter end.. need advice

Hi got a silly qiestion.. newbie rider.. iv riddin a bike b4 plenty of times but in nice warm weather.... but i cant wait no more... its been no snow for 2 weeks and roads are clear but temps are only -10c to -5c... i know to bundel up to keep warm and check tire pressure... but what id like to know is if the cold will harm my bike.. 83 750 maxim... just cause everythin will be cold i wasnt sure if it would be hard on the seals or anythin

 

My only input here is this.
I rode my bike once or twice with temps near 0 celsius and had issues with the carbs freezing. Actual frost developing outside and I presume inside as well. Bike ran like crap and stalled often.
Being an air cooled engine i believe they are not really designed for cold weather use.

 

With proper weight oil I shouldn't think there is any harm, except to your fingers, toes, etc.

My XJ550 owners manual lists proper weight oil down to zero celcius, so must be ok to run that cold. 10w-30.

 

My only input is this. I'm 200 km down the 401 from you and it's -18. Winter will NEVER end.

 

Ummmm...... you're GONNA HAFTA wait.

Ayuh

 

The bike won't care. Airplane engines are air cooled, and run at far colder temperatures.
The carbs may ice if there is enough moisture in the air though.

 

if the bike will start you can ride. myself I do not ride under the freezing temp of water, got no spikes on my tires.

 

Sand and crud on the road do not make for good traction. Also, tire compounds for summer use begin to lose grip when temperatures drop below 5 degrees Celsius. It's best to wait for warmer weather and a good rain to rinse off the road.

 

Like I said, the BIKE won't care.

The wind chill at the low speed of 60 KPH will be deadly without a good set of heated gear and a windscreen.

 

The only thing I'll add is hosing the salt off when it's below freezing will be difficult. The roads may look clear but for sure your bike will be dusted in salt.
Don't park it like that.

 

I too was thinking the rubber might be an issue under extremely cold conditions... I don't winterize mine as there has always been spikes of temps above 40 (f) throughout our (NY/Long Island) winters that allow for riding. While my 30 mile, one way commute to work is too far when it gets really cold, I'll still zip around town on the weekends.

Today is annoyingly cold (high 20's with pretty good wind gusts). I went out and put some fuel in the car. It was painful to even stand there while I filled the tank. On the way home, some dude whipped by on a Ducati Monster. That guy had some stones... though he probably couldn't feel them! LOL!

 

Tiny, retracted stones. Cold. as. ice.

 

Hi twenties is cold???? That is almost spring jacket weather here..

 

Does it count if we get the teens at night?

 

20's is about 6 celsius. So yeah thats balmy compared to the -20 celsius it is right now.

 

As your body temperature drops, signs and symptoms of moderate to severe hypothermia include:

• Shivering, although as hypothermia worsens, shivering stops.
• Clumsiness or lack of coordination.
• Slurred speech or mumbling.
• Confusion and poor decision-making, such as trying to remove warm clothes.
• Drowsiness or very low energy.

#2 and #4 can get you hurt on a bike

 

I've had several nights out with friends that resulted in many of those symptoms...

 

Could also get you hurt on a bike.

 

They ALL can

 

Ok guys thanks for the input... i myself am used to workin outside in -15temps lol... but i will take all that into consideration... i might just ride it at my shop... got a huge lot there.. that way if i get chilled i can just park it and go home... my concern was the bike... but sounds like it should be fine... thanks guys... hope it warms up soon.. callin for +5 tomorow.... common spring lol

 

+5 C is riding weather to me.

 

First week of March we are riding on west coast. Madness, today 2" of snow overnight....and more to come over next few days

 

Yeah, but you have a hot tub. That has to count for something!

 

Yes I does help after a day of work out in the cold and wet

 

If its above 40 degrees F when I get up and suppose to be high 50's or warmer when I leave for the day I will ride. The only difference I notice is that I have to leave the choke on for about 3 minutes before I ride or else she runs alittle rough. So far I have riden the Bike 3 or 4 times to work this year, might be alittle chilly in morning, however the ride home was awesome!

 

Freezing rain again last night... everything is wearing a crystalline shroud. Scrape scrape scrape. Slide slide slide.

 

him and his XJ soaking after a long ride, Treats his bike real nice

 

Ya Know... I can just see it now... I like to combine my favorite things as well...

 

It's that how you get an XJ time machine?

 

Ahhh, if only my XJ skills equaled my Photoshop Skills.

 

I'll be driving back into winter for spring break. Have I mentioned that I'm an idiot?

 

Canadians,
Nothing personal, but-
Will you PLEASE close the back door! My peach crop is already toast, and after tonight, I might as well forget the local strawberry/blueberry crops. Going to be one of those freezing to frying springs I am afraid. Some years we only have 2 seasons. Looking like this is going to be one of'em.

Through whining now.

 

47"

 

We gotta leave it open for all of you that are trying to get in!

 

Rotflmao

 

But back to the discussion about the cold:

I usually ride right into late November, even early December but rarely go riding in sub-freezing weather. As asphalt temps drop to near freezing, traction becomes a concern, with or without road salt. Special precautions are needed for cold weather riding, and proper attire tops the list. Snowmobile suit and ski gloves or equivalent will usually keep you warm on long rides when its only 2 or 3 degrees C, neck protection is important (high zip up collar on the ski jacket works).

Having said this, my Seca 550 does not seem to mind the cold, provided it has enough juice to crank with the thicker, colder oil, and is properly warmed up. My coldest ride on it (coldest ride ever, actually) was on a bright sunny February morning when it was -18 C. That's zero Fahrenheit (!). The bike ran fine at highway speeds once warm, and didn't seem to be affected by the cold. So, it can be done......

 

its not getting in that concerns me its getting out

 

We had 50 degrees F on Monday, sand was getting worked off the road.

Snow today, and tomorrow mornings commute gets Ice Pellets in the forecast. Certainly means more sand on the roads . . . . f'n crap this is like the winter that won't go away.

 

Well, uh--- MY drive this morning......

 

Now that's a proper temperature for early spring. I have already had enough of the 90+ degree BS we got earlier in the week.

 

you needed to press the warm AND outside temp button at the same time to fix that

 

Oh! I didn't know I could do that! Lol

 

Thanks Dave, I feel better now!

Still can't ride. . . . .