Riding motorcycles in the snow | GTAMotorcycle.com

Riding motorcycles in the snow

Lightcycle

Lightcycle

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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:

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BRAAAAAAaaaaaaapppppp!

We studded up our tires and headed to the our local OHV park, where we usually go dirt-biking, to try out our new shoes.

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Well hello there!

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Neda is looking all sorts of studly!

These should help with traction in the slippery stuff?

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Or not...?

LOL!

Nice thing about riding in the snow is that when you come off, it's like falling into a pile of pillows. Noice!
 
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Good thing we're out on a weekday, when nobody else is around. This gives us a chance to figure out how to ride in the snow without being laffed at.

We've had a real deep cold spell last month where temperatures hit -30°C for a couple of weeks straight. Thankfully, the weather has normalized a little bit and we picked a day where the temps are hovering just above the freezing mark.

However, we totally overdressed for the weather though and we were sweatin' bullets trying to muscle the bikes around:

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Strippin' off some layers

We also learned what these tires/studs are good for and what they aren't good for.

For example, that deep snow above?

No bueno...

The front wheel gets buried and it becomes hard to make any forward progress if you're going too slow. Reminds me a little bit of riding in sand, where you gotta keep the front end light if it gets gnarly, blip the throttle to get the nose up.

Other things we learned: always start in 2nd gear. The 500cc enduros have so much torque that our rear wheels spin up furiously and threaten to dig a hole to China when starting in 1st.

We did get the hang of it once we were out of the deep stuff.

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YAHOOOOO!!!!
 
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For our first outing, we stayed mainly on dual tracks. Didn't want to chance getting stuck in the middle of the woods!

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Ohaiguyz!

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I love the area we're staying at, the scenery is so beautiful all four seasons. With these studded tires, it should allow us to stay on two all year round!

We just need to work on our stamina. Only lasted about an hour before our arms and legs started aching. We made the mistake of turning back when we got tired, but realized that we had to ride all the way back again even though we were toast at that point!

That second hour was brutal.

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Goggles were useless because they fogged up instantly. Gotta look at the snowmobile goggles to see if they're any good with the anti-fogging.

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Finally made it back to the truck just as it was beginning to snow. Not bad for our first day

Was a very slippery outing! I think we need to find trails that have a bit less snow on then, or at least that have been packed down by traffic.

But so happy we're back on two wheels again for the season!
 
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Please, don't fall off a cliff.
 
That might be the first time I've seen you pictured without a helmet. You have more hair than I thought!
 
Looks like a great spot for a sled.
 
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Nice! Was always curious how good studded tires are, I’m still riding everyday all over here in the lower mainland, feels like spring lol
 
Have you given up on the snow bike idea (track conversion) or is it still a potential in the future?
 
GreyGhost said:
Have you given up on the snow bike idea (track conversion) or is it still a potential in the future?
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Still a potential, but the limiting factor right now is garage space. An extra set of tires takes minimal space vs two sets of rear tracks and front skis.

Also, there are other incoming toys we need to squeeze in there before snowbikes, so we've got to figure out the storage situation...

Get so jelly every time @Hardwrkr13 posts up pics of his spacious garage. :(
 
Lightcycle said:
Goggles were useless because they fogged up instantly. Gotta look at the snowmobile goggles to see if they're any good with the anti-fogging.
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As far as anti fog goes there's Pro Grip and everything else. They make a double layer lens for cold weather. Never tried them, but I did the Mini Pine in 4 deg + sleet with single lens and they didn't fog up, even when stopped. Their transition lenses are super fast, too.

Lens 3235 light sensitive anti-fog | Progrip

progrip.com progrip.com
 
The one winter I drove I had a small UJM. I think light and low has a lot of advantages, riding like a flat tracker but with less power. Low lets you correct more easily. Goldwings aren't a great idea IMO.
 
nobbie48 said:
The one winter I drove I had a small UJM. I think light and low has a lot of advantages, riding like a flat tracker but with less power. Low lets you correct more easily. Goldwings aren't a great idea IMO.
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Light is key. Low is okay as long as you're not bottoming out on terrain hidden beneath deep snow.
 
My C3 helmet is very good for anti-fog .... one reason I'm considering selling my Shark as fogging can be a serious problem if I get caught in one of the deluges despite it being 30 degrees.

••••

Was thinking a colder riding day might offer better traction than near freezing. That looks very wet - excellent snowball/snowman material

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We were surprised in Iceland...the temperature never went below -5 and swung between +5 and -5 in January ....building up ice layers so thick could not be walked on without serious boots.
We had to be rescued after a 500m trek to a restaurant that turned out to be closed....even supporting each other we could get no traction at all with our boots.
Same happened driving to the volcano flight....studs and ABS and we were still sliding towards the fjord...think little layer of water on top of the ice. Butt clench moment....even put the car in reverse and that finally stopped the slow slide....and we were going like 2kph.
Took a different route. Noticed a local had turned around before he got to the problem section....should have done the same.
 
crankcall said:
I use smith ski goggles , they fit over my glasses and have yet to fog sledding or skiing . Not the cheapest , but you can see the tree your about to hit .


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Yup.... I was thinking a pair of Rurocs would be perfect.
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