Advice for riding in slush and snow...

[altitudejunki...]

...just don't.

Right-hand junction at 5 mph on the way to work (I'm a teacher)... signal, quick shoulder check, I turn right...

...and the bike doesn't. Down we both go. Bollocks. Right in front of a crowd of students.

I'm fine, hit the kill switch, pick it up (not easy on the ice, have to do it backwards), walk round the stick it in neutral (again, not easy) and push it for 10mins or so to get to work.

Exhausted, I check the damage. Me: Severely dented ego, and moderately wet arse. Bike: Just seems like a bent rear brake lever and a scuffed rotor cover. Any ideas on where I can get new ones of these from? Crash bobbins now on Christmas list.

So, the best tip I can think of for riding in slush and melting snow? Take the bus.

[m0l0t0v]

Bent brake lever? Bend it back. Scuffed cover? Leave it as is. IF it's not leaking there's no point replacing it.

Brake lever you can most probably bend it back very easily.

Bus? Screw that. Bike all the time. Just be far far more wary of the road surface.

Only ever ridden on the ice/slush one winter and that was on my 125. Didn't drop it at all Did slide though

Haven't had the pleasure yet on the current bikes.
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'99 Hornet 600 , VFR 400 NC30 '92 , Kasawamasaki GT 550 , '98 Hornet 600
**\Tarmacsurfer/** said: It's that immaculately manly coiffure of yours isn't it. One glimpse of your virile locks and the punters can't wait to buy whatever it is you suggest, as it might let them be just a little bit like the Adonis that is our very own Molly Doovydoo said: Its not my fault I can't get it up properly, I just wasn't blessed

[Newbiker0507]

I've done it before. Just rode the bike slower than a muvver.

[SoND]

You need to get some heat into your tyres, don't be a pussy and wind that throttle open properly. Light the back tyre up and send it sideways every chance you get, it gives you +10 grip points.
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Go back to bed - You have no rights - "Streetfighters ~ Mainstream motorcycling's crackwhore sister."

[MarJay]

Don't... hmm. I could have told you that yesterday - or even years ago!

I'm currently in Oslo in Norway with a bunch of rock hard Norweigans. Despite them being rock hard no one is riding motorcycles at the moment. Basically because it is stupid.

HTH !
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[G]

Rock hard?.. I think you'll find the ones you actually talked to are equivalent to a fluffy teddy bear - the sort that has a hot-water bottle in it!

These people may be considered 'a bit hard'!..
https://bp3.blogger.com/_RVLfSMIB7K0/R6xpOLYNTqI/AAAAAAAAGDs/yIRNfKnNmrg/s400/001IceRacing.jpg

Riding on ice is generally best avoided.
Snow and slush is fine, but should be taken very easy and 'loosely'... use only gentle front brake and no harsh steering inputs. If anything does happen, don't react to it harshly.

[MarJay]

[LuckyDip23]

if your gonna bend your brake lever back make sure you heat it first with a blowtorch or youll probably end up snapping it in my experience

When it getsd snowy and slushy I just gotta take my time, be gentle with eveything and keep the bike as upright as possible (i.e as little lean as i can get away with).

If its icy - forget it. ive hit a patch of black ice once at about 5 - 10 mph (realised it was shit so was going uber slow) and there was nothing i could do to stop ending up on my arse.

hth
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I have misplaced my pants.........
Derbi GPR 125 Nude (sold) ~ Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat (written off) ~ Suzuki GSX-R750 K2 ~ Triumph Speed Triple 1050 ~ Ducati Hyperstrada 821

[The Disapproving Brit]

I was told this on my CBT: "How do you ride in snow? You don't, you leave it locked up and call a cab"

Yeah. Bollocks to that.

The bike evolved a touch of rear wheel steering this morning pulling out of my road, other that that it's been fine. SoND, are you serious about giving it a bit of sideways burnout? Does it actually help, or just annoy the neighbours while simultaneously being great fun?
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Current Bikes: 1983 Honda VF400FD / 2003 Honda VT750 Shadow
Bike Test Passed 18/03/09, Car Test Passed 14/05/13

[rotax81]

everything has to be really smooth. leave that front brake alone, just use engine braking and the rear brake (unless its slushy then the front brake very gently).
above all always remember your braking distance is going to be huge .
even a 50 will spin upon the ice (even my old FS1E used to lock up under engine braking )
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ZX636C6F road. ZX636C1H track. ZX7R redundant. ZX0.5R minimoto as ornament.
Audi A4 Avant 1.9TDi and VW Transporter 2.5TDi 888 Special (no mot and tax lol)

[SoND]

[kawakid]

I rode to work in it on Tuesday, it was mental, feet down on snow then slipping, absolute stupid. Bearing in mind the bike is 2 months old and I live on a fecking hill.

Today & yesterday i've come in the car, first time this year since February. Not to bad to be honest, realised how much I miss the radio on the bike.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Feasty]

I've come in to work on the bike again and jeez I've never been so scared of dropping the bike!! The adrenaline was seriously going as I'm knackered now - even managed to get up a big hill next to where I live that had 3 cars stuck on it! Thankfully the SLR has chunky tyres but I was still fish-tailing all over the place on the way up, I just knew if I stopped that was it.

So advice from me is definitely keep it as smooth as possible, I also suddenly realised whilst taking a corner of snow that I wanted to back brake whilst having both feet sliding next to me keeping me upright - uh oh! Manged to very gently use the front brake to slow a little before balancing and using the rear brake. Slush isn't so bad but look out for those bits of solid compacted snow, very slippy!


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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[doggone]

[cazkettles]

I dropped my bike this week, riding to school in the snow/slush/ice.. got into the carpark at school,going under 5mph and turned slightly, then the bike slipped on the slush/ice and we were both hitting the ground..
No damage tho <and i don't think anybody i knew saw >
Still riding in this weather, just being more cautious - and keeping my feet out more often lol..
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Bikes: 1990 Yamaha TZR125 (Sold), 2005 Honda CG 125 (Sold),1999 Honda VFR 800FI (Stolen and Burned), 1988 Honda CBR400 Babyblade (Sold), 2001 Yamaha Fazer 600 FZS (Sold), 2007 Triumph Daytona 675

[vt6]

I admit i pussy'd out of riding two days this week, stuff riding on ice, anything but. I'm fine for most weather i've realised there is a lot more grip available than you think, the worst thing i've found is to tense up and think shiiiiiiiit when your going through a corner.