First winter for me (and others) coming!

[daifuco]

My commute consists of a a long trip (and return) once a week, and for a couple of days a week a short trip of 10-15 mins.
The long trip is a mixed bag with short 10 miles of single carriageway, then double carriageway A23 and M23-25.

For the last 2 years I did not even have a car, I have been using the train and pushbike. And when I was a car driver, you know, you only look at the road when the car is moving the wrong way.

I am of the adventurer kind, but I am not suicidal. I have kinda enjoyed riding in the rain. I fear ice.

I am not sure about what to expect of riding in the winter. Is it possible?
I live in the south, i move around. Eastbourne, Brighton, Surrey.
____________________
CBF125 - CB600F Hornet '12

[Minty]

It's like being on your bicycle, only quicker.
____________________
My fingers smell of your mum.

[Beehive Bedlam]

10 miles isn't far.

[zico]

I'm in a similar position, my first winter on a motorbike. What's the worst that can happen?

[nowhere.elysium]

Why would it not be possible? Only conditions to avoid are ice and heavy (settling) snow, and they're rare in the South/South East.
____________________
'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[pompousporcup...]

[RedPanda]

You will most likely need muffs. Last year when it was 3 and below I needed muffs and winter gloves. Without the muffs I was arriving at work cold and numb – that then turned into burning pain when inside the building.

Beware of windy days. If you’re on a small bike then you’ll get blown about when there are gusts of 35 and above. There will probably be days when you’re better off back on the train.

Ice… If you’re on main, treated roads then you’ll likely be fine. Being on the south coast you’ll have a lot less unrideable days than most people. If you know someone local and they go to work before you, ask them to give you a heads up if there’s ice in the morning. If in doubt, use public transport.

Also, buy some ACF50 and cover your bike in it to protect against salt corrosion: https://www.getgeared.co.uk/ACF-50_369g_Motorcycle_Corrosion_Protector_Spray_Can
____________________
CBF125 (2013) -> CBR600F (2001) -> 'Ninja' 300 (2014)

[bamt]

That's pretty much it. Muffs, layered clothing, ACF50, sense of humour.

I do a 90 mile per day round trip commute into the outskirts of London. There was one day last winter when I didn't ride due to snow on the local roads (the main roads were fine, I just wasn't confident of reaching them). The previous winter I rode every day.

[Rogerborg]

A mild damp night followed by a clear cold morning is an ice risk. Sunlight doesn't mean safety.

Absolutely muffs. Skip the excuses as to why you can't or won't use them, just do it.

Layers, layers, layers.

Have a backup plan.

Lead with the jab.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Carvel]

The best way to learn is to give a go. The biggest adjustment for winter is it getting dark early. Rainy commutes home being blinded by headlights takes some concentration. Watch stopping distances and white lines whilst filtering and you'll be reet.
____________________
2002 Aprilia RSV1000R, Cbr600Fs, Mk1 B12, Vfr400 NC30...

Matt B: I can deal with crushed nuts to beat Ollie.

[Undinist]

Deploy the ACF50 immediately, they've started gritting in London already.
____________________
Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S

[zico]

[Undinist]

It's completely different. It kills rust, helps you to remove it and provides a rust proof coating for months. WD40 is a solvent which prevents rust for as long as it stays there - but rain will remove it a lot quicker than ACF50.
____________________
Current bike: K1100RS. Previous: CD200, GSX250, GT550, VFR750, K100LT, K1100LT, R1100GS, R1150GS, ZZR1100, Hayabusa, RSV Mille, MV F4 750S, R1, ZX-10, KTM Adventure 950S

[Rogerborg]

<standard-picture-of-pristine-3-year-old-all-weathers-Chinese-bike-in-a-box.jpg>

Yes to ACF-50. It's expensive but cheaper than the parts that it's protecting.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[NJD]

Stay warm and ride for the conditions, you'll be fine.

[Teflon-Mike]

Lack of confidence in the winter, is probably showing an over-confidence in the summer.... If you are worried about wet and cold, in the witer, you would probably be better asking yourself why you AREN'T so worried when its less wet and cold in the summer.... I would say warm and dry, but this be Britain

Most bike accidents are in the summer... true, better weather brings more bikers out, so there's more of us around to have accidents, but, per rider mile, more do still cash in summer... warmer whether, less wet on the road, more hours of day-light, better viability, all perversely contribute to an 'over-confidence' and under-estimation of risks...

Winter.. roads wet, they are consistently wet; its the one thing you can bank on! In summer, its the when you ride into a tunnel of trees and find that the sun hasn't dried the wet off it, you crash! Its inconsistant. There's ore to take you by surprise. In winter? Well, its dark its wet its horrible, BUT the risks are more obvious, and more consistant, and more predictable...

There's no 'more' danger than in the summer, 'really', the whether has just shifted what the dangers are and where they lie, and its all swings and round-abouts.. them trees that shaded the road fro being dried out in summer, have lost thier leaves, so yu ca now see further up the road through them; all that rain on the road, has washed away the deseasil and crud, so the surface, is actually not so ungrippy as you'd think, and is consistant i its ungrippyness... at least until it gets icy.. but then? Its cold, and that offers some 'predictability' to when and where it may be more or less slippy.

So, apart from how uncomfortable it can get, vis being cold and wet and numb and miserable... I think its Stinks favourite "There's no wrong Weather, just the wrong cloths for whether!" winter riding shouldn't be much f any different to summer riding, in terms of risk, and how you cope with it; keepig your eyes open, using your head and avoiding trouble.

Which brigs us back... if worried about winter, why NOT worried about summer?
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Rogerborg]

Where might I be able to see those monthly accident statistics?
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[joncwl]

[daifuco]

[ADSrox0r]

Winter commuting on two wheels for me involves getting up early and going for a short walk down to the main road to see if/how icy things are. Then it's a judgement call, the main roads are always fine but our little village doesn't get gritted at all so it's a deathtrap.

Nine times out of ten, it's fine. You get used to it.
____________________
Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[joncwl]

[Polarbear]

I would seriously consider a cheap hack for commuting unless you aren't worried about your bike being dropped and damaged.

It is so easy to get caught out and however a good rider you are, ice doesn't care.

Others, some who do serious commuting will probably disagree, but I have a cat b 600 Fazer with a rattle can paint job that comes out if I ever have to use a bike in shitty conditions other than rain/cold.

My lovely Trophy can stay tucked up in her nice warm garage.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[bamt]

[Val]

[Northern Monkey]

I'd not want to ride more than 10 miles in winter without muffs fitted.

With muffs I can get to about 50 miles or so before I start to feel the cold on my hands
____________________
Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk