Any Winter Riders? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Any Winter Riders?

WestBrantKid

WestBrantKid

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I've prep'd my bike to ride through the winter this year. This is my first time riding through winter.
I think I've prepared pretty well, but I'm wondering if there are any other winter riders out there. Maybe we can share experiences and tips/tricks for a better, safer, ride.

Good winter gear:
Helmet with heated shield
Balaclava
Gryphon double layer coat and pants
Insulated boots
Sleeves with thumb hole
Gauntleted gloves
Hockey tape for inner pant legs

Bike alterations:
Heated grips
Bark Busters
Denali power system
Denali Soundbomb
LED headlights
Anlas Winter Grip Plus tires (not available in North America)

I store the bike in my garage and installed a smart plug to control a ceramic heater aimed at the oil pan. I turn on the heat remotely when I wake up so the oil is warm when I'm ready to leave an hour later. I also picked up a portable booster pack in case the cold ever made the bike hard to start, but that hasn't happened yet.
 

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Prepped my bike for winter rides back in the '70s when at 16 yrs old I had to go to my gas bar job every day after school for $1.75/hr. I used my Yamaha 250 Enduro all the 12 mos of the year and it never let me down. Learned to watch for icy road conditions in that time. No fancy electronics in those days just lots of bundling up. Not one of the smartest things I did back then but I had to find some way to get around.

That Enduro never let me down but I did find it interesting that I was never rear ended cuz no one tail-gated me and as a matter of fact no one even wanted to drive behind me for some reason.
 
Merkid said:
Prepped my bike for winter rides back in the '70s when at 16 yrs old I had to go to my gas bar job every day after school for $1.75/hr. I used my Yamaha 250 Enduro all the 12 mos of the year and it never let me down. Learned to watch for icy road conditions in that time. No fancy electronics in those days just lots of bundling up. Not one of the smartest things I did back then but I had to find some way to get around.

That Enduro never let me down but I did find it interesting that I was never rear ended cuz no one tail-gated me and as a matter of fact no one even wanted to drive behind me for some reason.
Click to expand...
The knobby tires of an enduro would be great for snow, but, yeah, those icy roads would have been scary.
I found out early when I slid on a turn on just a cold wet road that large treads are not sufficient. That's when I hunted down the Anlas tires.
So, no heated grips back then. Did you at least have some kind of wind guard for your hands? They'd be common on an enduro. How long was your commute?
My commute is 30 minutes so I find myself driving my car on a lot of Mondays to scout the road conditions when there's been snow over the weekend.
 
I actually found that a couple of inches of slush was the worst for me one morning in the mid-60s riding my '56 Harley into the high school parking lot wiped out and sent my geography teacher on his ass to avoid me. ....and it all went downhill from there.
 
I got to ask. Why?

You just said you scout the roads on Mondays with your car... so you do have a car.
my .02c
Bike is for pleasure.
Car is a box with a heater for commuting.

At first I thought, why do that to your bike, but its a Can-O-Tuna. If it hits pavement, meh... you'd be worried about yourself and likely not care about the bike.

I say this as I also owned one, years ago. Same bubbly sea creature, underpowered, heavy beast. Its not like a little salt will diminish its value.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk
 
matt365 said:
Bike is for pleasure.
Click to expand...

If you have proper gear riding a motorcycle in the winter isn't much different than riding a smowmobile...which people do for pleasure.

I find it quite enjoyable going for a winter ride when the temps and road conditions allow. Some of us are just hardier I guess...

OP, go dig up the "Who's still riding 2022/2023" thread, you'll find lots of winter riders in there and can probably get some good info in that thread.
 
PrivatePilot said:
If you have proper gear riding a motorcycle in the winter isn't much different than riding a smowmobile...which people do for pleasure.

I find it quite enjoyable going for a winter ride when the temps and road conditions allow. Some of us are just hardier I guess...

OP, go dig up the "Who's still riding 2022/2023" thread, you'll find lots of winter riders in there and can probably get some good info in that thread.
Click to expand...
As the O.P. stated, "ride through the winter". An occasional decent day is one thing, but if he has another mode of transportation...

I'm game for a fun ride out on a dry winter day, as long as I'm layered... but not commuting.

@PrivatePilot , I'm pretty sure you're not going to risk falling and taking a knock to the noggin on black ice... some of us are just hardier than others
43f75d10f48d6715aa6c0ac41741bd8b.jpg


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I've ridden highway speeds in -15C.

Here are some things that might help with warmth:

- electric heated vest/liner/gloves like Warm & Safe Heated Clothing the Warmest Clothing in the Universe
- hippo hands Hippo Hands: motorcycle hand covers for warm dry hands in any weather
- pinlock anti-fog visor What is a Pinlock Visor insert? | Pinlock

I've started dirt biking in the snow and what I use is an armored jacket like the ones MXers use and then wear a ski jacket over it. More info on this thread:

www.gtamotorcycle.com

Riding motorcycles in the snow

It's not even a month into winter and it's been waaaay too long without hopping on a motorcycle. We're suffering from severe PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome), so we decide to do this: BRAAAAAAaaaaaaapppppp! We studded up our tires and headed to the our local OHV park, where we usually go...
www.gtamotorcycle.com www.gtamotorcycle.com

Some others have chimed in on some good electrically heated visors/helmets in the same thread, as well as gloves with wiper blades on the back of them.

Look at what snowmobilers wear, and borrow some ideas from them, keeping in mind you still need extra abrasion-resistance and impact protection for the asphalt.
 
Last edited:
PrivatePilot said:
If you have proper gear riding a motorcycle in the winter isn't much different than riding a smowmobile...which people do for pleasure.

I find it quite enjoyable going for a winter ride when the temps and road conditions allow. Some of us are just hardier I guess...

OP, go dig up the "Who's still riding 2022/2023" thread, you'll find lots of winter riders in there and can probably get some good info in that thread.
Click to expand...
I have 3 kids and a wife. The wife has a minivan. I had a 2017 Ram Sport.
When Trudeau's gas prices first hit $1.60/L my commute was costing me just shy of $100/week. That's a $400-$450 a month bill I couldn't afford.
I decided to try the bike year-round for gas mileage, but realized I wouldn't be able to ride when the winter roads aren't dry, and I need to accommodate the kids. I sold the truck (still not happy about it) and put money into the bike's luggage, accessories, and winter gear. I also bought an older Mazda 3.
The Mazda is good on gas, and in decent shape, but the bike is great and feels like it'll last forever. I also bought a donor bike in case of repair, and to rebuild the motor to have on stand-by. The Katana is the best bike I've ever ridden. Comfort, power and handling in one, with a few easy mods.
I don't ride the Mazda daily in the winter for three reasons. First, it will ware faster than the bike and be more costly to service and maintain. Second, the bike is cheaper to insure as my daily driver. Third, in retrospect, the bike is just as great a ride in winter as it is in summer. Maybe more so because I rode today in -15ºC with dry roads and was not cold at all, but in the summer heat it sucks to be wearing the proper riding gear and sit at a red light for 2 minutes sweating my azz off just to ride another block and do it again.
So again, why I chose to ride through winter? To sacrifice myself to give more to my kids. Swim lessons, basketball classes, dance classes... I could afford these things if I didn't sacrifice my own comfort and wants. I'm already force to sacrifice more than 60% of my pay-check to Trudeau and get less and less in return as the years go by.
As for not caring for the bike because it's just a Can-a-tuna, as I said, it's the best bike I've ever ridden, and I spent thousands on the luggage which I had to fabricate my own mounts for because, as you may know, there is no mounting for hard cases available for Katana's. Never has been so you can't even look for used mounts. Strange considering it's classified as a sport touring bike. I would care very much if I dropped this bike, especially with all the work I put into it.
 
Lightcycle said:
I've ridden highway speeds in -15C.

Here are some things that might help with warmth:

- electric heated vest/liner/gloves like Warm & Safe Heated Clothing the Warmest Clothing in the Universe
- hippo hands Hippo Hands: motorcycle hand covers for warm dry hands in any weather
- pinlock anti-fog visor What is a Pinlock Visor insert? | Pinlock

I've started dirt biking in the snow and what I use is an armored jacket like the ones MXers use and then wear a ski jacket over it. More info on this thread:

www.gtamotorcycle.com

Riding motorcycles in the snow

It's not even a month into winter and it's been waaaay too long without hopping on a motorcycle. We're suffering from severe PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome), so we decide to do this: BRAAAAAAaaaaaaapppppp! We studded up our tires and headed to the our local OHV park, where we usually go...
www.gtamotorcycle.com www.gtamotorcycle.com

Some others have chimed in on some good electrically heated visors/helmets in the same thread, as well as gloves with wiper blades on the back of them.

Look at what snowmobilers wear, and borrow some ideas from them, keeping in mind you still need extra abrasion-resistance and impact protection for the asphalt.
Click to expand...
I was planning on trying the heated vest, but I haven't felt any cold so far so I don't think I'll need it. I did buy a heated car seat cover on clearance though. I plan to keep it in my top case for when I pickup supper. Should work to keep it warm.
My Gryphon suit is looking like a really wise purchase. If I get 10+ years out of it, like I did from my Joe Rocket suit, I'll be very happy.

What's this about wiper blades on the back of gloves?
 
Wow! That's a great idea! Gloves with a wiper blade sewn into the thumb for wiping the water off the visor.
I wonder if I could make my own...
 
WestBrantKid said:
As for not caring for the bike because it's just a Can-a-tuna, as I said, it's the best bike I've ever ridden.... I would care very much if I dropped this bike, especially with all the work I put into it.
Click to expand...


As long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters.

I poured a bunch of money and parts at mine trying to make it something its not. It isn't a sportbike. By the time I realized that, I'd likely wasted $5 grand, and that was back in 2003.

You might like an older oil cooled Bandit 1200 if you like the engine characteristics of your Katana. That'd have far more punch. You could even make a Franken-bike if you had a donor bandit. Everything is the same as the old oil cooled 1100 gsxr.
If and when money allows.

I don't mean to be rude or insulting, but if you think it has power, ride some different bikes as a comparison.

Good on you for making sacrifices for your family.


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matt365 said:
As long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters.

I poured a bunch of money and parts at mine trying to make it something its not. It isn't a sportbike. By the time I realized that, I'd likely wasted $5 grand, and that was back in 2003.

You might like an older oil cooled Bandit 1200 if you like the engine characteristics of your Katana. That'd have far more punch. You could even make a Franken-bike if you had a donor bandit. Everything is the same as the old oil cooled 1100 gsxr.
If and when money allows.

I don't mean to be rude or insulting, but if you think it has power, ride some different bikes as a comparison.

Good on you for making sacrifices for your family.


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Click to expand...
No problem, Matt. As I'm sure you can see, I like open dialogue. lol
I bought this bike thinking, as you said, that it was a sport bike. I had two herniated discs in my lower back and was just recovering. My logic (or lack of) was to ride a sport bike for one summer, just to experience it, before having to retire to a cruiser because of my back pain. I quickly found out that it wasn't a sport bike, but also that the seating position was great for my back. I could sit upright at times, and lean on my handlebars to relieve the weight on my lower back when necessary. I fell in love with it after that. It is far more comfortable than a cruiser. I'll admit I don't have a lot of experience with other classes of bikes than cruisers, but this Katana is perfect.
I got my first '03 Katana back in '08. I didn't know it at the time (I still have it as a parts bike) but recently discovered it has a GSXR front end (forks, and wheel). My current bike is an '01 that I bought for parts, but it runs better that my '03 so I switched to the '01. The guy that had the '01 before me says he modified the carbs and exhaust to match the GSXR 750 which he claims is the only difference between the two bikes when it comes to power. I don't know if that's true, but it does run much better than my '03. The '03 was also modified but I don't know the specifics.
Because luggage is not available on Katanas I almost bought a '17 CB500X fully dressed. I put a downpayment on it, but I was VERY disappointed in the power. I ended backing out and instead spent the money to upgrade my bike to have all the same features that it had. Bark Busters, heated grips, and luggage. I have a little skill fabricating so I was able to modify mounts for a different model bike to fit mine.
As far as power, I can pass anywhere, anytime. Yellow line, double yellow, doesn't matter because I can easily pass a car in about 3 seconds. That's all I need. And the insurance on a 750 "Sport touring" is pretty good, relatively speaking.
I've heard the bandit is a nice bike, but I'm not sure you can lean on the bars like you can with a Katana. I'll remember that thought if I'm ever force to replace my bike.
 
Mine was a 600. Stats say 86 hp, but I highly doubt it. Yours is a claimed 92 hp.

500lbs wet weight.

I have a hard time believing those power numbers, as on paper, they're quite respectable.

I'm glad it works for your purpose.

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I hate that they brought back the Katana name. It very difficult now to find info, part, etc.. for the original Katana. Most results point to the new model.
I've been searching for that "actual" hp for the 1998-2006 Katana. The only thing I found was a Youtube video of one being Dyno tested at a bike show in 2021. It doesn't specify 600cc or 750cc. The tester also doesn't take it out of 1st gear. I don't know anything about Dyno testing, but the newer model Katana I saw tested was run through all the gears and tested 133hp. The older model likely had engine trouble because it tested at 45hp.

Edit: It shows 600cc at the start of the video.

 
I never understood why they called that bike a Can-a-tuna... should have been calling it Can-a-Trudeau all along.

I rode all winter long for around 10 years until I moved to a street that always seems to be the last one to get plowed and have ice on it. Your list is pretty good. Some other things that might help:
  • If you use Hippo Hands or something similar, cut them a little short on the sleeves and they are really easy to get on and off. With the Barkbuster metal frames they will always stay in place too.
  • If you end up ever getting heated gear (which I will use sometimes into June on long rides up north), use a thin windproof layer on top, but under the armoured moto jacket to trap that heat next to the body.
  • Taller windscreen
  • Chin guard on your helmet if any cold air gets past the balaclava
Ride safe!
 
shanekingsley said:
I never understood why they called that bike a Can-a-tuna... should have been calling it Can-a-Trudeau all along.

I rode all winter long for around 10 years until I moved to a street that always seems to be the last one to get plowed and have ice on it. Your list is pretty good. Some other things that might help:
  • If you use Hippo Hands or something similar, cut them a little short on the sleeves and they are really easy to get on and off. With the Barkbuster metal frames they will always stay in place too.
  • If you end up ever getting heated gear (which I will use sometimes into June on long rides up north), use a thin windproof layer on top, but under the armoured moto jacket to trap that heat next to the body.
  • Taller windscreen
  • Chin guard on your helmet if any cold air gets past the balaclava
Ride safe!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips!
Looking at the Hippo Hands, which I'd never heard of before, that look much more effective than the bark busters. I'd seen a similar product but worry is would be a hazard if I were to pull my hand out for any reason and had trouble getting it back in. A shorter version with a wider opening seems like a good idea. So far, though, my coldest ride has been -15ºC and my hands were good for the 30 minute commute, although I had to put the grips to the highest setting. If it gets colder and the hands become a problem I will remember this. I've been lucky that it's been a mild winter. Next winter I think I will implement this product, though, if I don't this winter.
I don't think I'll need heated gear. At -15 I had no problem at all from my toes to my shoulders. My chin, however, is a little bit of a problem. I took to wearing two balaclavas at about -7º which solved the issue, but it ads to the prep time before the ride, trying to align two balaclavas and flatten them on the head, neck and shoulders. Are you referring to a "chin curtain", or is there another product I'm not familiar with? I do have what they call a breath box which includes a chin curtain.
As for the taller wind screen, I desperately wanted one but they are no longer available for this bike. the best I could get was the double bubble. I've thought about making my own using a piece of acrylic or plexiglass and a heat gun. I'd just have to create a mould to help shape it smoothly and symmetrically. I have a spare double bubble I could use as a template, or create a bolt-on extension. I think I like the idea of a one-piece better though for a professional look.
 
WestBrantKid said:
Thanks for the tips!
Looking at the Hippo Hands, which I'd never heard of before, that look much more effective than the bark busters. I'd seen a similar product but worry is would be a hazard if I were to pull my hand out for any reason and had trouble getting it back in. A shorter version with a wider opening seems like a good idea. So far, though, my coldest ride has been -15ºC and my hands were good for the 30 minute commute, although I had to put the grips to the highest setting. If it gets colder and the hands become a problem I will remember this. I've been lucky that it's been a mild winter. Next winter I think I will implement this product, though, if I don't this winter.
I don't think I'll need heated gear. At -15 I had no problem at all from my toes to my shoulders. My chin, however, is a little bit of a problem. I took to wearing two balaclavas at about -7º which solved the issue, but it ads to the prep time before the ride, trying to align two balaclavas and flatten them on the head, neck and shoulders. Are you referring to a "chin curtain", or is there another product I'm not familiar with? I do have what they call a breath box which includes a chin curtain.
As for the taller wind screen, I desperately wanted one but they are no longer available for this bike. the best I could get was the double bubble. I've thought about making my own using a piece of acrylic or plexiglass and a heat gun. I'd just have to create a mould to help shape it smoothly and symmetrically. I have a spare double bubble I could use as a template, or create a bolt-on extension. I think I like the idea of a one-piece better though for a professional look.
Click to expand...
Universal Motorcycle Windshield Extension Adjustable Spoiler Windscreen Extender for Kawasaki Yamaha Harley Suzuki Buell Triumph Ducati Aprilia(210mm Transparent) https://a.co/d/fAlXi2p
 
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