Biking in the snow

[EDBANGER]

It may be stupid but I've never let any weather conditions what so ever stop me form ridingi my bike. Given the choice between death and public transport I choose death. Worse case scenario has seen me leave the drive sideways and ride 6 miles to work with both ffet on the floor going no faster than 5 mph (this was still 5mph faster than the cars that were going nowhere as they couldn't even get away from the curb due to the camber).

This year however I have a Honda VFR which has linked brakes. Would I be right in assuming that attempting to ride in snow with linked brakes is absolutley certain death? Before I would never touch the front brake as it would more or less be a guarented off. At least if the back begins to slide you stand some chance of riding it out. I don't really have a choice with this one though do I?
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[Barry_M2]

Just get some stabilisers on there!

Couple of old trolly wheels will do the job!

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/209808/images/CIMG1364%20(Large).JPG
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ZXR750R (M2) - For the road.
CBR1000 RR4 - For the track.
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[EDBANGER]

Haha is that serious? That would take away the ability to filter but I do like what he's done there.
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[chris-red]

Bottom line IMO is don't, obviously if it is abit of snow in the stix but the main roads are fine go for it but when the main roads are snowed in too don't bother. It's far too dangerous and just not worth it.
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Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
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[TQ]

I've done the old "both feet on the floor and stick to 5mph" thing before. If you can unclench your arse it can be almost fun!

Have to say I'm not sure about the linked brakes thing. I would have thought if you only feather the back it wouldn't apply enough front to have any effect (don't normal linked breaks apply the front at a ratio of about 3:1, e.g. if you're breaking 100% on the rear the front is only breaking at 25%)? If it is a problem you'll just have to go slow enough to rely on engine breaking!

[Feasty]

Of course I haven't got linked brakes, but I remember last year biking it in through all weathers. A few of those were thick snow days and the adrenalin certainly kicks in when I'm climbing the steeper hills slightly sideways.

The worst bit was trying to filter through standing traffic feeling the bike flicking left and right as I went over the snow shored up in the middle of the lanes. Still, they'd never have caught me even if the bike had glanced off the odd car side or 2!
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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).

[EDBANGER]

Hmmmm didn't realise that was how it works. Problem is finding out could cause some damage.
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[stinkwheel]

Don't use the brakes at all.

If you're going downhill, kill the engine and use the clutch as a back brake.

VFRs aren't very good on snow (bike on left). They're much better than SV650s (rider behind camera, bike abandoned about a mile back) and nowhere near as good as MZs (bike on right).
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/IMG_2545.jpg

In fact. Buy an MZ for snowy days Cost about the same as two sets of tyres for a VFR.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

^^ and judging by that MZ front wheel tyre track, you be slighty faster walking

Good fun tho


Pat
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[SamJL]

Why would anyone ride a bike in the snow? Just seems a bit silly to be honest!

[Feasty]

[27cows]

Haven't seen much (or indeed any) evidence of gritting lorries out today. Which, given we're due about 6 inches of snow tomorrow, is a bit worrying

[cyberglass]

I ride a dl650 vtwin its scary enough in the rain so feck riding in the snow HAHA

A couple of years back i had a hondou gy125 crosser chinky bike (Ive posted how it fell apart) but i have gotta give it its due it got me to work and back in the snow for a good couple of weeks.

As for riding it out if the back goes in the snow... in a decent slide there's not a chance in hell.
If the back goes the front usually follows you try to compensate and end up face planting the deck and most of the time its happened so fast you don't even have the time to say BOLLOX.
My left knee cap is proof of that.
Less than 5mph nice light ls125r bike and a shit load of compacted snow by the lorry's you can barely stand on the stuff let alone ride on it. By the time i realized what had happened i was laying in the middle of the exit slip road for the m58.

Putting your feet down does fuck all as soon as you start to slide your foot slides to and you either break your pelvis doing the splits or just snap your ankle or smash your knee as the bike lands on it. Then your left laying in the cold wet soggy fucking snow thinking i should have stayed at home.


At least with public transport if you crash your in a giant steel cage.
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DL650 Vstrom 2004
DRZ400S 2003
Yamaha R1 2005

[c-m]

Well i just rode back from work. It was that or sleep outside work freeze and die.

I didn't have too much of a problem, and was able to go quicker than many of the cars as I wasn't limited to a particular line.

The worse bit was the winds which blew snow all over my visor, add to that, by the end of the journey I couldn't feel my hand on the clutch and couldn't pull it in all the way.

I don't know how i'm going to do the 17mile commute tomorrow into the countryside.

[Skudd]

[27cows]

I remember a few years ago when it was so cold, my visor actually froze open. The snow on my face wasn't melting by the time I got home - the other half looked at me and said 'My God, you're purple.' And I was I hope to feck we don't have another round of that. It's never a good sign when you sit on the seat and it's like a plank of wood, with the foam frozen solid

[Paivi]

Can you get winter tyres for bikes in the UK?
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My other bike's a Monster...

[BlackStallion]

I'm doing a 70 mile trip into Norfolk tomorrow, it's basically A47 all the way, but anything anyone can point out to me, which i should no?

Dual carriageways should be fine, they'll just be wet, but i've never ridden in the snow before, it's gonna be fun!

Rain has never bothered me, so should be a doddle (hopefully)

Got some handlebar muffs off eBay, fitted them today, but don't no what they're like? They're fleece lined, and look nice and toasty. A match made in heaven when you've got a warm pair of gloves already and an thermal inner pair to add to it

I'll be wearing my textiles, and possibly my rainsuit, depends on the weather. I'll be warm though, so that's a positive

Any tips for riding in the snow? As far as i know, i've got to take it easy and ride slow.

Just read the last line, it ryhmes, never knew i had poetry skills

[tatters]

[Mark65]

Bollox its snowing here in sunny wigan, i really dont want to use the car, lets hope it rains later.

Mark
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[27cows]

[salty21]

i do love a bit of snow to hone the biking skills, i hate the cold part though, nothing worse than bein so cold u cant feel your hands at all and it makes you cry tears of pain

edit; out of interest, what do you think would work best..... a pan european or a 600rr?
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[stinkwheel]

[tatters]

Also out of interest what would be better.

The bigger contact area of a road tyre on a sports bike or runing offroad nobblys at a low pressure on a two-stroke offroad bike with rim locks?
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[mistergixer]

I've ridden once in snow, 20 miles on a 125cc Italjet Dragster(ped). It was pretty much feet down and 5mph all the way, at times it was fun sliding around, and at times it was buttock-clenchingly terrifying, but generally it was so cold that i had to keep stopping every few miles to thaw my numb hands out over the spannie, and because i was wearing so many layers of clothing and my hands were so numb, it was a titanic struggle to try and find my tiny, cold-shrivelled penis so i could go make pee-pee without messing myself.
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