Ever ride at winter?

[Arctic Fox]

Finns men riding into Sweden (Lapland) at winter time. At night it had been -27C (-16,6 Farenheits ?) .... BMW's engine needed some help to start up in the morning (0:29 - 0:39)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0ycSHKlsVY

[fotoguzzi]

Crazy!

[Lannis]

Crazy!

Anyone who thinks that I would ride like that on snow would have as many more thinks as they like.

I did see an Arctic Fox in there, though, so it might be worth a go..... 

[Dirk_S]

I mean, at SOME point, the road has to be so cold that rubber would stick to it like our tongues stolidly to frozen poles, right?

...

... right?

[Guzzistajohn]

Oh hell NO!

[sdcr]

The snowmobiles were being trailered....

[ozarquebus]

When I was ply-able and indestructable, I used to ride quite a lot in the winter even on ice when I had the BMW K100 with heated grips. With the fork tube gaiters in place it was like straddling a wood stove with that 4 cylinder brick down there. Ride on the dirty ice near the edge and slow down for corners. At -27 C the ice and snow has better grip than when closer to freezing.
 Those Flying Finns are incredible drivers and riders on any surface. Who said: "If you want to win, hire a Finn"?

[rschrum]

I used to wrap chain around the rear wheel on my ca95 and have a go at it. I was 14, outgrew that in a hurry.

[Cam3512]

That’s some hard core shit.  That’s all I’ll say about thaaaat.

- Forest Gump

[Lannis]

That’s some hard core shit.  That’s all I’ll say about thaaaat.

- Forest Gump

It IS hard core.   But humans are pretty adaptable.   Here's a fine day in Oymayakon, in Siberia, where it was -85 degF that day.   



People out on the streets, IC engines running, the lights are on ... the one thing they lose when it gets cold is running water, they have to chop up ice and heat it but otherwise life goes on, people go shopping, doing what people do.   HERE, if it got to -20 degF, it would be a deadly emergency like a pandemic.   Everything would be shut down by law, every mechanical system would fail, and people would swear that you would die like being exiled to the surface of "Gulag Rurapenthe". 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc_jYAtfDis&feature=emb_logo

So the Finns are used to it, and there's nothing else to do, so ... off they go!

Lannis

[cliffrod]

It's so cold even the subtitles look like they're  ccccchhhaatterrring g...!!!  Very cool.


Seriously, when that's where you live that's what you do.  -16F at night, especially when it's clear like that, means it's probably at least 15-20 degrees warmer during the day if not more.  After it's been -20F or lots colder during the days for days or weeks on end, temps around 0F is often warm enough to unzip your jacket.   If you're wearing your "good" winter gear when it's not cold enough,  having to unzip  so you don't sweat up & get wet is normal.   

Then the same people melt when it gets to 90F.  Different kinds of normal.

There's nothing like riding in winter.  It beats sitting in the house, missing your bike and waiting for riding weather.  When you hit the right patch of ice, it sure slaps you on the ground in an instant.

[Tom]

Wot's dat white stuff.....mahnnnnnn n???   

[Ratso88]

Yeah, I ride in the winter. That's what the Made in Ukraine Soviet POS sidecar rig is for, right. Used it as a daily ride year round. Although work was only 5 miles from home at -15F it seemed a lot longer. Better winter riding gear and it would have been no big deal. Still not bad. Walk out, knock the ice off, tickle the carbs and kick. Usually started on the first kick. You wouldn't believe how many people will snap a photo at the stop light. That was three wheels. Those guys get "extra credit" for two wheeling it and for greater distance and speed 

You wanna ride, you'll figure it out. Somehow.

[oldbike54]

 The sky is the color that only happens in really cold temps . Fun video , thanks .

 Dusty

[s1120]

That looks cold!! 

I used to ride year round when younger. Granted if it was snowing, or freezing rain the bike stayed in the garage. But if it was going to be in the upper 30's I would be riding to work. Granted I was younger.. and work was only about 3-4 miles of intown riding but still. For me its the salt and sand now that keeps me off of it. Dont want the bike to rot away under me. That being said, it would be great to have a nice small bike that can get salty, and dirty and take that odd ride out in the winter.

[JJ]

Yes, growing up in the Mid-Hudson Valley in upstate NY, we always rode in the winter when the roads were clear.   However, that would have been ages 14-21, when I was much younger and stronger...

These days "temperate" is the key word for the seasons - not too hot...and not too cold year round, which is why I retired in northern AZ.  I can't take severe cold winters anymore...and neither can my body...

[e.cleven]

At 72 I still ride year round, but we spend the winters in Florida, that helps a lot. 

ride Safe

Earl

[s1120]

Yes, growing up in the Mid-Hudson Valley in upstate NY, we always rode in the winter when the roads were clear.   However, that would have been ages 14-21, when I was much younger and stronger...

These days "temperate" is the key word for the seasons - not too hot...and not too cold year round, which is why I retired in northern AZ.  I can't take severe cold winters anymore...and neither can my body...

Ya, as I get older the dreams of warmer seasons become more clear....  I do enjoy the seasons... I just want the shitty ones shorter. Ive been lucky the last few years, and we have had mild winters... We are way over due for a whopper!  It was like 3-4 winters ago that upper 20's was a nice warm day, and almost all nights were sub zero...  Ya, im done with that thanks!

[Wildroamer]

I used to ride all the time in the winter!
Heated grips and the right boots and layers, I was all set!
The more snow, the better!

Oh, wait... you are not talking about snowmobiling...

You mean on a BIKE?!

No thanks!
😁

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I dont depart on the bike if it's forecasted to stay under 52F 

I have rolled out in the low 40's, if the weather is going to turn warm later in the day. I see no point, advantage, or joy to riding in temps under 45 degrees, and certainly not thru ice or snow. I will stick to the Subaru for those excursions.

I have a similar policy for rain-- I wont depart in rain, but where I live (temperate rainforest): I have come home wet or ridden for hours in the rain- many times- thats not a big deal. But starting out in the rain, knowing it will be pissing down the entire journey? No thanks.

Riding is supposed to be fun, right?

[Arctic Fox]

It's so cold even the subtitles look like they're  ccccchhhaatterrring g...!!!  Very cool.


Seriously, when that's where you live that's what you do.  -16F at night, especially when it's clear like that, means it's probably at least 15-20 degrees warmer during the day if not more.  After it's been -20F or lots colder during the days for days or weeks on end, temps around 0F is often warm enough to unzip your jacket.   If you're wearing your "good" winter gear when it's not cold enough,  having to unzip  so you don't sweat up & get wet is normal.   

Then the same people melt when it gets to 90F.  Different kinds of normal.

There's nothing like riding in winter.  It beats sitting in the house, missing your bike and waiting for riding weather.  When you hit the right patch of ice, it sure slaps you on the ground in an instant.

Sorry... I was not correct (my Finnish is not 100%). That -27C was actually in the morning.

So most likely at night time it has been even bit colder (-28C /-30C).
But not much. That has been filmed in January ... less than 1 month after Christmas time (then the day is shortest and the night is longest). So Sun already had risen up into sky ... but not very high (not even Noon time). Later late February/early March Sun would already influence much more at day time (bit like you said). By then Sun will rise already clearly higher (= Sun lights will warm more ... angle of the lights).


 

[n3303j]

Yeah, I ride in the winter. That's what the Made in Ukraine Soviet POS sidecar rig is for, right. Used it as a daily ride year round. Although work was only 5 miles from home at -15F it seemed a lot longer. Better winter riding gear and it would have been no big deal. Still not bad. Walk out, knock the ice off, tickle the carbs and kick. Usually started on the first kick. You wouldn't believe how many people will snap a photo at the stop light. That was three wheels. Those guys get "extra credit" for two wheeling it and for greater distance and speed 

You wanna ride, you'll figure it out. Somehow.

Sort of like this?



Coming home from work one day.
20 miles out. 20 miles home every day.

[PeteS]

One time I rode my Norton when it was 17F. I only had to go about three miles but in a shirt and unlined leather jacket. Frozen stiff. One other time I had to ride my 80cc Yamaha through 6 inches of newly fallen snow for about ten miles. It wasn't as cold but pretty much did the whole ride with both feet down in first gear. Middle of the night so little traffic thankfully.

Pete

[Shorty]

I used to take my little 2 stroke enduros out in the snow. Knobbies work pretty good in loose snow. I would pull my daughter on a snow globe with a length of rope. Not much damage if you fall, and much easier to "flat track" on snow. 

[Tom]

I've ridden in snow before moving back to Hawaii but I've also ridden in snow in Hawaii albeit 50yds to the Mauna Kea Visitor's Center & 1" (could I even use deep) but it was at the 9000 ft. elevation.     Yes, it was cold.  I was doing a sunrise ride. 

[Testarossa]

I'll ride whenever the roads are dry. I'm well-equipped for cold as long as it's dry and not too windy.

Right out of college I worked evening shift at a hospital in Cleveland. My only transport for the first year was my Aermacchi 350, with mud tires. When I got off at midnight, getting home often involved slopping around in the wet snow coming off Lake Erie, usually with ice under. Very sporty ride up and down some short but steepish hills. I slid thru any number of intersections, not always upright. Got wet and near-hypothermic.

The second winter I had the TR4, which was dry inside but not much warmer. I found a pair of used studded tires for the rear wheels and took it skiing.

[moto]

I rode my T3 all through the winter 10 years ago here in Madison, WI. I found out two things.

When the weather got extremely cold, below zero Fahrenheit, the road surface of ice became unrideable. While at higher temperatures I could navigate it successfully using a lot of care, when it really was cold I could no longer get the bike to stand up straight even when not moving! I had to sort of walk-ride it back to my house, with my legs extended like landing gear. I don't know if this would always be the case in such temperatures, since I stopped riding it in those conditions.

The second thing I learned is that salt will really ruin lots of things on your bike over a winter, assuming it's being used.

Moto

[Muzz]

When I was young, stupid and indestructible, yes.

Now I am older (72), STILL STUPID  but not indestructible, no.  I take four months off; coupled to that, the cost of registering a bike down here is eye watering so I hibernate (both me and the bike) for four months.

[JJ]

When I was young, stupid and indestructible, yes.

Now I am older (72), STILL STUPID  but not indestructible, no.  I take four months off; coupled to that, the cost of registering a bike down here is eye watering so I hibernate (both me and the bike) for four months.

Getting old and Geezerly, (...and I am right behind you!!), in an extreme winter climate.... is NOT for the faint of heart...

[Guzzi Gal]

Rode yesterday!