I am a cold weather wimp.

[Gliderjohn]

Okay I confess. Back about 10 years ago when Ruth (wife) could still ride we would ride in conditions where I would have a long sleeve pull over on along with a Hein Gurkie jacket all zipped up and still feeling  cool while Ruth's upper garment would be a T-shirt and she was quite comfortable.
Take today. I did a 35 mile one way ride on the Norge behind a medium Cal Sci windscreen with about a 45 minute indoor break before returning same miles in 49-50 degree temps with some high clouds mildly filtering the sunlight. Wearing Olympia Airflow jacket and pants with the rain liners in place and plus the insulated liner in the jacket along with Aerostitch long undies and a turtle neck pull over and by the time I got home I was on the edge of getting cold.
What are your all "cold" limits?
GliderJohn

[Sheepdog]

An old friend had his "40-40 Rule." If the chance of rain was over 40% or the temperature was below 40 Fahrenheit he took the car. I rode a bit in sub-40s this year. A little goes a long way. Heated grips, glove covers, and Firstgear winter base layers (top and bottom) help a great deal.

[normzone]

My cold limits ?

I live in San Diego, and I still shut the bike down three months out of the year.

Water here freezes at 50F.

[Blaufeld66]

My coldest ride was this year 3rd January, 35 Fahrenheit temperature (but sunny).

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I will ride into the high 40's but only short jaunts 1-2hr and try to stay along the river roads & around town. Problem here is that even if it's 52 in town, you can ride just a couple miles in the 'wrong' direction and be >5k ft elevation and it's in the low 30's. Also these mid-high elevation mtn roads are subject to icy patches and black ice in the shady areas, even after the temps have risen to midday highs.

I don't mind the cold, lived in MT for a bit and grew to enjoy it. Not on the moto tho. I'll leave home on foot and walk across town in any temps... 


Much like departing the house in the rain, I just dont see the point.  Maybe im insufficiently hardcore, but I think motorcycling is supposed to be enjoyable. I find riding in the cold to be uncomfortable and riding in the rain miserable.

[Two Checks]

Many moons ago I would ride in subzero temps and enjoy it. The older I get the warmer it must be.

[Ncdan]

The coldest temperature I ever rode was 9 degrees. It was a 20 mile round trip to meet some retired buddies for breakfast. The older I get the less I can tolerate ridding much under 50 or over80.

[JJ]

I've been a "cold weather wimp" since leaving the dreadful winters in upstate NY back in the late 70's...

My blood has definitely "thinned" since living on/off in Arizona for the last 30+ years. 

Now, if I want to experience "cold and frigid extemes", I just drive one hour north to Flagstaff.

[kirb]

Yesterday was safe enough to venture out...

Day started at ~40 deg F and made it to near 50. I took a ride to the weekly bike gathering 40 miles away. Being careful for ice in the spots not in sunshine...
Had to bring the bike to the local DIY car wash to spray it down from salt residue on the roads. All is good.

I usually avoid temps below 40 just because of the ice in the AM.

[s1120]

40deg for me if the day is nice. A nice sunny 40deg day can make a nice little buzz around run.  Now mostly the salt roads is my big issue. Might try to find a expendable POS to take advantage of those uncommon nice days up here in NY.

[larrys]

Much like departing the house in the rain, I just don't see the point.  Maybe I'm insufficiently hardcore, but I think motorcycling is supposed to be enjoyable. I find riding in the cold to be uncomfortable and riding in the rain miserable. 

This ^^^^. I have done all of the cold/bad weather riding that I am ever going to do. I don't tour on the bike anymore, just day trips. I rode my Commando through a whole English winter in the Midlands. Nuh-uh, no more. 50 Fahrenheit is lowest I'll go out for a ride.
Larry

[stonelover]

I have had my share of cold weather riding; but NO MORE!  My threshold of pain is about 45 degrees F and I simply won't set out below that temp.. There is a very fine line between strong and stupid!

[SmithSwede]

40, 30, 20 degrees F is fine with me.  I’ve done the teens a fair bit and that’s ok too.  I think my coldest was like -9. 

Below 40 I like to run an electric vest.    Below 30 I’ll add electric gloves.  This makes a HUGE difference. 

Of course, there are lots of variables.   I can do an hour or two of most anything.    But a 14 hour multi-state road trip is a different kettle of fish.

18 degrees and dry is a actually a whole lot better than 32 degrees and sloppy wet. 

To me, the main factor is likelihood of ice.  I can deal with cold temperatures, but ice spooks me. 

[Gliderjohn]

From SmithSwede:

To me, the main factor is likelihood of ice.  I can deal with cold temperatures, but ice spooks me.

  Then again it may be due to that cold lawyer blood.
GliderJohn

[redrider90]

My most difficult one that I barely made it home was a late Oct. 500+ miler after a Guzzi rally in Penn. North of Harrisburg in the mountains. I left in the sun and cold 40s. A front had come through and it was clear, cool and sunny. It never got above 60. Then sunset and I had 3+ hours to go. I had on full leathers, Hein Gericke full length jacket with liner, jeans underneath the leather pants and thermal underwear. Upper was heavy quilted Levi shirt with thermal under that. Winter gloves and balaclava under full face helmet. My weak link was my core was cooling as I had no wind protection. After sunset the temps plummeted and I made it home in the mid 30s. I had been on the road all day. I got off and pulled a hot bath and shivered for the next 20 minutes in the tub.  I think was hypothermic and probably just about done for when I got home.
My hands usually get to me first but my core was losing it and I never noticed my hands. A heated vest would have made all the difference.

[fotoguzzi]

I have an Aerostich air vantage heated liner, it has air pockets you blow up to snug it up to your body. It's luxurious in cold weather.

[SmithSwede]

From SmithSwede:   Then again it may be due to that cold lawyer blood.
GliderJohn

Reptiles don’t shiver.  Just saying

[oldbike54]

  Have ridden in 10 F for short distances , now arthritis means my fingers and hands start hurting below 30 F , even with gloves on . Then the cold air means a headache , damn , this getting old thing ain't fun .

 Dusty

[Testarossa]

I grew up in Chicago and bicycled to school right thru winter, played hockey in flooded lots after dark under lights, raced sailboats on Lake Michigan until Thanksgiving, bailing ice water. In the winters of 1971 and 72 I rode my Sprint to work the night shift at a hospital, thru the miserable wet snow off Lake Erie.

I teach skiing in all weather, and don't get cold. I'd ride the Mille, behind the SP fairing and with heated grips, all winter if the roads stayed dry. But there's always ice patches on the shady side of the road. That's the only reason to park a bike.

I have no special powers. I know how to dress. Winter clothing is another form of ATGATT. You can learn what works and what doesn't.

This is January in Longmont, Colorado:





On the other hand, I hate hot weather. A trip to the beach means just sweating in the sand. Won't go unless it means lots of salt spray or deep immersion.

[John Ulrich]

Before I purchased Gerbing wear I rode in the snowmobile suit!

[Two Checks]

Early morning cold weather riding spooks me, too.
I bought my SPII from a gentleman who crashed on his way to the AR rally when he hit a patch of ice. The bike had some damage but he was left paralyzed from the waist down. It serves as my reminder.
Cold weather riding gear? A Janesville 2000 firefighters turnout suit. You will sweat in it if not careful.

[Goose]

An old friend had his "40-40 Rule." If the chance of rain was over 40% or the temperature was below 40 Fahrenheit he took the car. I rode a bit in sub-40s this year. A little goes a long way. Heated grips, glove covers, and Firstgear winter base layers (top and bottom) help a great deal.

That's a pretty sound rule if you ask me. My limit might be a little higher than 40 though.

[Moparnut72]

I did a weekend trip this fall with my son and grandson. I t was just over 260 miles one way. Most of our riding was done in the low 40's. I had full leathers on but wished for a little more underneath. I wasn't cold as such but I wasn't terribly comfortable either. I was on my Audace, a naked bike, they were on a rented Harley Ultra Classic with a batwing fairing. They were good. BTW my son has a Kawasaki, I think Concours or something similar. He hated the Harley and said he would never buy one. He said he had trouble keeping up with me on the grades etc. I told him I was cruising pretty easy, not getting on it. My hog riding buddies don't think I can keep up with them on my puny MG. Little do they know. I don't want to embarrass them and make them feel bad.
kk

[ampm7]

Just went out the other day and did 115 miles (one of my loops that I do) in the low 40's to mid 50's here in SoCal up to 3000 ft. It would have been colder up at the 5000 ft level. It was a bit nippy especially because I was wearing mesh gloves because the new ones with gauntlet I bought would not fit over my leather sleeves. Time to go back to the Lee Parks gloves. It can get chilly during the winter here in SoCal but unless it gets really cold you don't have to worry about ice which is no bueno. But I echo what all you guys have said that are getting older, that extremes are not on the menu anymore.

[rschrum]

I ride for fun. When its below 50 or above 90, not fun for me, so I take one of the 4 wheeled toys with heat and air.

[Green1000S]

Yes, motorcycling should be enjoyable. Coming from Finland I have very little hesitation to ride in cold weather.
I have never owned any heated gear and enjoy rides of multiple hours in 30's and 20's. Not an issue with me, almost as enjoyable as in +95F.
Just matter of how you built your layers under the jacket and pants.

Then again, I do have a habit of cutting a hole in my swimming pool ice dip in or make snow angels in snow after sauna..., so what do I know about cold weather...

[MMRanch]

I used to go by the 50/50 rule .   

Now that I have Heated Vest and Gloves , the 40/40 is in play .   

I run a windshield and matching hand-guards year around .   

At 66 I get chilled easier than those days when all I had was a bike in the early 1970's .

[JJ]

 

[Siamese]

50F is a fairly firm low point for me.  No windshield or fairing on my V7III Special, and no heated garments.  I'll wear long underwear, ski bibs, full coverage helmet, and as many layers as I can reasonably fit under my winter jacket to remain comfy. 

Seems like once I get chilly on a bike, it ends up in my bones, and that ain't fun.  I don't like to be a hour or so away from home and find myself getting chilled, as that will cause me to ride faster than I should just to get it over with. 

As long as I follow my 50F rule, it's an enjoyable ride.   

[Perazzimx14]

September 50 degrees is call for electric gear. March 50 degrees is t-thirt weather.