Since you guys up north have such severe winters, I was wondering at what stage do you pack the bike up for storage and say it's too cold?

Or better yet what is the lowest temperature that you've riden in?

 

I guess we're all "up north" relative to you.

I have ridden short distances in the low 30's, but don't like it at all. I say 50 degrees and up for comfortable riding.

The problem with the colder temperatures is that the tires don't get as good of traction. Of course, the problem with warmer temperatures, as I rediscovered yesterday on a ride through a local canyon, is that there can be lots of bugs flying around on the road. My wife looked at my leather jacket and asked if I rode through some mud. "That's not mud, those are squished bugs." "Eewwww!"

 

Ive ridden in the UK with the temperature just above freezing, you can still have fun but you need good gloves and a neck warmer as the windchill particuarly above 60mph is severe.

 

When I lived where it got cold it was never a question of temperature. Only snow and ice would keep me off the roads. Think thermal underwear, giant gloves, chemical heaters, and no-fog solutions.

 

I've ridden in 20 degree temps., but for me it's the duration of the ride that's the key. I can deal with a 20 min. ride at that temp., but an hour would be too much. Besides as is posted above, the bike doesn't handle that great and at 20 degrees speed is not as much fun.

 

It's never too cold to ride! It's a great time to fire up the dirt bikes! You can always work up a sweat riding them.

I've rode the Blue Ridge Parkway on my VFR in November and in the higher elevations there was ICE coming off the side of the mountain. I was very careful when the road was wet. It probably was in the high twenties.

 

25 years back I rode from the North of England down to London in freezing rain. Half way there I decided to stop for a quick coffee and as I got off I heard cracking sounds. Looking down I realised I was covered in 1/2" thick ice from head to foot. That was cold enough for me but I still had 100 miles to go to complete my journey. I thawed out in the coffee shop and left a big pool of water on the floor where I was sitting, it was then back on the bike to do it again.

 

I stop riding when it starts snowing. If you dress correctly you can ride at almost any temp. Think of snowmobiling. Plus you can get all of the 'Widder' electric stuff to be as comfortable as you wish. Of course the heated grips and seat on my new BMW help

 

i'm nowhere near full time rider status and nowhere near snow (los angeles) but to me, it's too cold to ride when my fingers go numb and being so cold makes me wanna go pee every 5 minutes. i couldn't stand it, especially if i was on a bike and you know....the tank vibrates and makes that "have to go pee" feeling 100x worse.

 

meZoom!

Your sig is awesome.

Such a tragic loss.