I'm mainly interested in carburated air cooled MC engines, but any and all would be interesting as well. I'm wondering what is the coldest ambient temperature you have started/ridden your motorcycles at. Without electric gloves, vests, grips, etc.
Coldest start temp for your motorcycle?
- Thread starter gman2304
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Mid-low 40s is the limit for me. Anything below that just isn't much fun.
14f 20/50 wt oil No problem. It may not always be that cold, but we ride all winter long. Bike has 55k miles on it with no issues.,,
I once rode my ZX6E at 14F (a very short distance)...
50F for me.
In Germany i use to ride all winter up to about 19999-2000, i liked it.
The bikes i had over the years for around town and winter were smaller and lighter, the FJ600 was a good little all rounder as is the CB Seven Fifty, both use carburetors and are air cooled.
These are little bikes with skinny tires that can be thrown around easily and very easy to ride but with about 75 HP they had enough power to get going if they had to.
Temps down to about 20f and up to 2" of slush were okay. 10w30 oil, they they start right up, just let it warm up a little bit and no problems with the machine only from from the complaining neighbors.
No electric anything but good Held Arctic thermal Goretex gloves, Frey Daytona Goretex boots, Rukka outlast Goretex jacket and pants with Rukka thermal underwear did the job just fine, never cold.
Shoei full face with fog shield on the inside of the visor and Rukka thermal neck and chest piece completed my winter outfit.
You will not ride a HD with leather and a salad bowl helmet and goggles in the winter. LOL
The bikes i had over the years for around town and winter were smaller and lighter, the FJ600 was a good little all rounder as is the CB Seven Fifty, both use carburetors and are air cooled.
These are little bikes with skinny tires that can be thrown around easily and very easy to ride but with about 75 HP they had enough power to get going if they had to.
Temps down to about 20f and up to 2" of slush were okay. 10w30 oil, they they start right up, just let it warm up a little bit and no problems with the machine only from from the complaining neighbors.
No electric anything but good Held Arctic thermal Goretex gloves, Frey Daytona Goretex boots, Rukka outlast Goretex jacket and pants with Rukka thermal underwear did the job just fine, never cold.
Shoei full face with fog shield on the inside of the visor and Rukka thermal neck and chest piece completed my winter outfit.
You will not ride a HD with leather and a salad bowl helmet and goggles in the winter. LOL
I have ridden my BMW R65 with a factory windshield in the mid 40s, bundled up like the Michelin man. Castrol synthetic 10-50.
Back in the '80s when I lived in Milwaukee I had a Yamaha SR-500F that I would ride into early December if the roads were clear. The SR had a single cylinder 500cc kickstart only engine. I don't recall the absolute lowest temp, but it was certainly below freezing. I'd only put it away for the winter after the first lingering snowfall kept the streets covered with ice and packed snow.
Originally Posted By: Trav
You will not ride a HD with leather and a salad bowl helmet and goggles in the winter. LOL
Or any bike for that matter.,,
You will not ride a HD with leather and a salad bowl helmet and goggles in the winter. LOL
Or any bike for that matter.,,
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
Originally Posted By: Trav
You will not ride a HD with leather and a salad bowl helmet and goggles in the winter. LOL
Or any bike for that matter.,,
Right. Its just HD riders are the most common seen here with this style of outfit.
Originally Posted By: Trav
You will not ride a HD with leather and a salad bowl helmet and goggles in the winter. LOL
Or any bike for that matter.,,
Right. Its just HD riders are the most common seen here with this style of outfit.
I ride mine year round with such an outfit. Only I add a couple things to it. Those wrap-around the back of the neck earmuffs, and chaps of course. Sweatshirt underneath and gloves. Coldest I've ridden in was 25* through Colorado one year. I honestly stayed fairly warm.
[/quote
Right. Its just HD riders are the most common seen here with this style of outfit. [/quote] And what someone else wears annoys you?.If it doesn't bother them why does it bother you?.,,
Right. Its just HD riders are the most common seen here with this style of outfit. [/quote] And what someone else wears annoys you?.If it doesn't bother them why does it bother you?.,,
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I highly suggest everyone who has to shovel/work/whatever outdoors when it's cold to buy some ski pants. They are light, flexible and much more comfortable than Carhartts.
Years ago I rode a new Yamaha XS400 to work until mining season ended in November. Coldest temp I remember was 21 degrees at home after 20 mile ride. Had to park on a hill and bump start it as starter would not spin engine fast enough to start. I don't recall oil viscosity, as it was factory fill.
Oh my gosh I am way past the point of suffering for my art. Heated grips, vest and socks are always with me when I am sport touring. Why be cold?. My body is not as self heating as it use to be. Once you travel heated and toasty when others in your group claim to 'be fine', ha, ha, right. Hey, tougher than I am....when the fog turns to ice on your shoulders at 70mph, you know it's cold where you are....
I've wiped the frost off to ride but that was a dirt bike. It was below freezing but sunny.
With age comes wisdom these days No Snow day rides! Good warm gear is the key.
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