Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: chuck peterson on December 06, 2025, 02:56:46 AM
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(https://i.ibb.co/ycgNXqBg/React-Native-Blob-Util-Tmp-yy30x9e3jmprq4qwtz1aqs.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ycgNXqBg)
Stolen from someone on the internet. Don’t tell anyone
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(https://i.ibb.co/6RVNcB9N/10392067-1201549314543-7497375-n.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6RVNcB9N)
(https://i.ibb.co/5mjQpJb/12376015-10207418670400612-46078967988327759-n.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5mjQpJb)
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Two weeks ago, woke up to this
(https://i.ibb.co/YBYmNb2D/IMG-20251123-WA0000.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YBYmNb2D)
In southern Tuscany!
(thankfully, it didn't stick...)
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(https://i.ibb.co/ycgNXqBg/React-Native-Blob-Util-Tmp-yy30x9e3jmprq4qwtz1aqs.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ycgNXqBg)
Stolen from someone on the internet. Don’t tell anyone
Frozen?!? (Yes....FROZEN!!!) :laugh: :grin: :wink: :rolleyes: :shocked: :huh:
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When I was a kid, we would screw hex head sheet metal screws into the raised lugs of knobby tires and ride with abandon in the snow and ice. Now? I can barely walk outside with ice and snow...... lol.
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And then there is some ice racing on Lake George, NY
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRbl8GlAGLSg6d5txbF8hAKeVikm1onXqLyrH2N9BjJHIyqsruNvhfwuMoC6Xw&s)
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Winter sucks; hard on the old bones!!!!!
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(https://i.ibb.co/5W0MMKbp/12-31-08-1355.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5W0MMKbp)
On the way home from work.
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C coli has a photo from returning to WI from Louisiana one November like these.
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(https://i.ibb.co/5W0MMKbp/12-31-08-1355.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5W0MMKbp)
On the way home from work.
Ron, you have a camera crew!?
Last night I rode back from a murder mystery party, 40 minutes from home in 28°F. My personal record for +30 minute cold weather riding is an hour’s ride in 24°F on the BMW rig a couple years ago. I can do better. Which reminds me, I need to change out this rear knobby real ‘soon!
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Closed up shop early because of incoming blizzard. We were a copier service company with techs out on the road. Sent them all home and closed up early. Service Manager happened to be following me home. Caught the photo at a Stop light. It's one of my favorite.
But for those who ask; I'm not doing anything beyond what snow mobilers do for recreation. I just dress like they do and have a grand time. Means I get to ride 12 months out of the year!
Actually more pleasant than riding in the rain.
(https://i.ibb.co/rG6VMj3d/20251207-144555.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rG6VMj3d)
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Closed up shop early because of incoming blizzard. We were a copier service company with techs out on the road. Sent them all home and closed up early. Service Manager happened to be following me home. Caught the photo at a Stop light. It's one of my favorite.
But for those who ask; I'm not doing anything beyond what snow mobilers do for recreation. I just dress like they do and have a grand time. Means I get to ride 12 months out of the year!
Actually more pleasant than riding in the rain.
(https://i.ibb.co/rG6VMj3d/20251207-144555.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rG6VMj3d)
Are those DB bags?
I actually like riding in the rain........... Warm weather of course............. ..
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Are those DB bags?
I actually like riding in the rain........... Warm weather of course............. ..
Best of my knowledge (no internal label) they are Wixom. I made the mounting brackets to put the bag tops lower than the luggage rack.
Warm rain is okay. Especially in the spring when I need to get the salt out of the riding gear. It has to get washed sometime.
Makes vision a bit of a challenge though. Close the shield and it fogs up. Open it a crack and raindrops splatter inside blurring vision. It's a no win situation.
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I have ridden my bicycle through 9 winters and motorcycles through 4 winters. I like the challenge of mastering the slick surfaces, but I hate the cold.
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I've never understood how anyone can ride a motorcycle in snow and ice (well, maybe those ice racers with spiked tires! :shocked:) Back when I was in high school in the dark ages I lived in the cold snowy mid-west. Suffering severe riders withdrawl one cold snow-covered December day, I decided to get my little Suzuki enduro out and give it a go. After dropping the bike in the snow at least five times in less than a block, I decided then and there that two-wheeled vehicles and low-traction surfaces were mutually incompatible. I also learned that, while picking up a 200 lb motorcycle in the dirt was relativly easy, it became quite a bit more challenging when your feet kept sliding out from under you! That was my first and time intentionally trying to ride in the snow. Notice I said intentionally. But that's another story. :wink:
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Agreed. If I had a motorcycle that weighed less than 400 lb, I’d be more inclined to stud the tires and ride single-track through the winter days when snow/ice is on the road. But all my bikes weigh more than 460 lb., and that’s where the blessings of a sidecar come in.
Skinnier, knobby tires on a motorcycle and sidecar do a much better job in the snow than car tires. Last year during one particular snowstorm, I rode the rig confidently past multiple cars that were stuck at various intersections or facing nearly perpendicular on the uphill streets, trying to regain traction. I shook my fist, yelling at them to stay home and leave the driving to the folks who know how to properly handle the conditions. One of these pics is from that storm, can’t remember which:
(https://i.ibb.co/v4Gn9Vbj/IMG-6732-Original.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v4Gn9Vbj) (https://i.ibb.co/cSZm3B95/95-A4-FC3-C-F684-4-D59-80-F6-5-B20-FD71-A069-Original.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cSZm3B95)
Yesterday I rode a mile into the city to grab takeout. 12°F (-11°C). I ran my heated grips, but by the time I got home, my thumbs were pretty frozen, and I had to soak them in cool water. It’s time to bring out the handlebar muffs.
I’d rather deal with freezing temperature and snow than 40°F and rain. Good golly does cold rain suck.
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I have never used special tires on snow or ice on two wheels. The least grip came from the semi- knobbies on my 550lbs Virago.
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I have never used special tires on snow or ice on two wheels. The least grip came from the semi- knobbies on my 550lbs Virago.
I’d look at rubber compound as the reason for poor grip in that case. A soft compound and a trials type tire are recommended by most who ride and snow, including Ural and sidecar experts.
That’s at least what I’ve read (many accounts) and my own limited experience, but I also know I’m saying this to someone who’s probably got more miles in snow than I might ever reach.
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When I was a in my late teens and early 20 there were about 20 guys in my neighborhood which did cross country (trail riding) riding gatherings. We would meet every Sunday after church at the leaders house, which we all made him our president. He and his brother had inherited
A 200 acre farm and when snow was on the ground we would hit the pasture.
We all road dirt bikes, mostly Hondas, XL250 or 350s with full blown heavy knobby tires.
Riding two wheels ain’t much different than in a car. It’s still about counter steering and you’ll learn the technique pretty quickly. We ran about as hard in the snow as any other time.
Now riding o the street would be a totally different animal, I’ve never attempted that feat.
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I’d look at rubber compound as the reason for poor grip in that case. A soft compound and a trials type tire are recommended by most who ride and snow, including Ural and sidecar experts.
That’s at least what I’ve read (many accounts) and my own limited experience, but I also know I’m saying this to someone who’s probably got more miles in snow than I might ever reach.
It makes sense, but the Heidenau K60 Silica on the rear and the Mitas something up front both offered less grip on both snow and ice compared to what experience would indacte, less than the ordinary street tires I have used on the other bikes.
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After doing figure eights on the 550 lbs Virago. Combine poor grip, worse technique and lots of metal and I ended up a very sweaty rider!
(https://i.ibb.co/JWYmCwnS/virago-snow.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JWYmCwnS)
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I left the dreaded, wet, cold, LONG winters in upstate New York in 1978...
This is the kind of winter I prefer now... :wink: :grin: :laugh: :thumb: :boozing: :cool:
(https://i.ibb.co/DPZX5DXG/Screenshot-2025-12-10-at-6-18-17-AM.png) (https://ibb.co/DPZX5DXG)
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After doing figure eights on the 550 lbs Virago. Combine poor grip, worse technique and lots of metal and I ended up a very sweaty rider!
(https://i.ibb.co/JWYmCwnS/virago-snow.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JWYmCwnS)
Winter riding can be great fun.
A big flat frozen field or parking lot with 6-10" of fluffy snow, and power sliding at 30-40 mph a 75 foot radius curve while pretending to be a Mile Track racer.....
Less traction feels like more power....
And if you fall, it is painless...
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n3303j - I like the vertical lights on the back of the saddle bags! May look into doing that while this snow and blow is going on.
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n3303j - I like the vertical lights on the back of the saddle bags! May look into doing that while this snow and blow is going on.
No vertical lights.
Same bike before repaint.
(https://i.ibb.co/nsH6RLvT/IMAG0526.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nsH6RLvT)
Shiny vertical line is aluminum trim which comes with bag.
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Ah, when I blow the picture up to a larger size I can see that! In the small format it looks like vertical lights with a reflective glow around them.
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Yesterday I rode 1.5 hours up to the White Mountain Nat’l Forest to cut down a Christmas tree for the apartment. Riding back I hit 28°F, almost matching my PR of 27°F for hour+ rides.
Good layering kept me comfy up and back. Base layers from Klim. Mid layers = a really thin Nano-Air pullover from Patagonia, Amazon Basics packable puffy (my new favorite mid-layer), Carhartt vest, insulated pants, all under a snowmobile suit (thanks, Kev!). Aerostich Elkskin gauntlets, Klim balaclava that directs breathing down away from the visor, a thin sock liner with thicker wool sock over top. Danner winter hiking boots that I need to re-waterproof. Heated grips and finally the Hippo Hands Alcan models kept the hands toasty. I *think this setup might’ve been good for 10-15°F less yet.
Got the sidecar stuck on the snowy dirt road behind me—it was too powdery and deep, but the mini shovel came to the rescue. Maybe a 2WD Ural might’ve gotten me farther up, but I was sinking down to the mufflers.
This was the second longer ride I’ve done in two weeks, and I’ve begun experiencing gears slipping into neutral at higher RPM. Looking forward to a transmission swap after the new year. Not sure I’ll be doing my planned winter camping trip until then.
(https://i.ibb.co/CjcTtRz/66180-D77-51-C3-46-F5-85-F1-F91-C6-F0-AA67-F.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CjcTtRz)
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Takes awhile to get suited up. Doesn't it? Worth it though.
Meanwhile make sure your "hippo hands" are airtight at the bar. I wrap mine to the bar with velcro straps. I'm riding comfortably in summer mesh gloves most of the season. Have the bar heaters off most of the time. But it only works because no air is blowing in through gaps. Hand opening is loose and glove insertion is without effort.
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Elefantentreffen is one of the colder rallies you will find, but not the coldest. Still. 0F is not uncommon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi3cEqissSY
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Elefantentreffen is one of the colder rallies you will find, but not the coldest. Still. 0F is not uncommon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi3cEqissSY
I’ve seen it, and by dawg do I wish something like that were near! I’m pretty much on an island; even the other sidecar riders in my area don’t want to ride in winter.
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Always been fascinated by that event. I remember one video of a couple of fellows riding in on Honda 90 Step Throughs. They rode with lap robes that trapped engine heat and kept it on them. They carried a Bernz-O-Matic torch to preheat the engines for cold weather starts.
The whole idea charmed me but can't get there from here. So I ended up at a February Ural rally in New Hampshire. First time I ever shoveled out a tent site prior to setup.
(https://i.ibb.co/qM1BbVqg/20140221-151235.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qM1BbVqg)
(https://i.ibb.co/ymmDGskr/20140222-082837.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ymmDGskr)
It was fun indeed.
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When I was digging the rig out of the snow after it got stuck on the forest road last weekend, it got me thinking about my traction. I had JUST installed a brand new Duro HF307 onto the rear (called the “pusher” in sidecar lingo), and I was surprised the machine wasn’t doing better in the white stuff. My ground clearance is great—just about the same as a Ural. My front and sidecar tires have enough grip. The BMW R80/7 (bored out with 900cc pistons) has enough torque.
Sure, the HF307 is not a technical snow tire, but I still blamed it on the loose powder and the failure of the HF307 to grip THAT kind of snowpack. Then I remembered that I had all 3 tires inflated to peak pressure. There’s a lot of talk over tire volume and how it affects grip on dirt, sand, and mud, and when it’s beneficial to air up a little or down. In the back of my mind, I’ve been wondering if I should be airing down for riding on snow, and then I came across this test video of the host/tester carrying out experiments on a snowy track at 50, 40, 30, 20, and even 10 psi on his car with Pirelli (sponsor) snow tires. Results showed that lower pressure yielded better grip, and it confirmed my thinking. So, next time I get stuck in snow, I’m dropping from my usual 30 down to 20 psi and see how that fares before pulling out the emergency shovel or come-along.
Here’s a link to the video:
https://youtu.be/URU1HdV49S8?si=Fn6tDH0aeUoy_65n (https://youtu.be/URU1HdV49S8?si=Fn6tDH0aeUoy_65n)
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Also, I gotta share this photo a local photographer snapped as I was about to head home two days ago:
(https://i.ibb.co/cKPH8Phy/IMG-9324.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cKPH8Phy)
Here’s a link to his Instagram account if you want to see more of his photography. He does great work:
https://www.instagram.com/mitch_powers?igsh=MWJ4cGV0emd0anU3aA== (https://www.instagram.com/mitch_powers?igsh=MWJ4cGV0emd0anU3aA==)
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Take a portable air compressor with you so that you can get pressure back up when you hit the highway. Also be careful when riding with low pressure as you can dent a rim or actually break the bead and wind up with a flat tire.
kk