winter riding - advice please
 

Avice please - as a novice rider, only passed test in july, should I be still trying to get out and about on my bike. I have a 600 monster which is a great little bike but dont feel I've got totally to grips with it yet. I live out in the country and all the roads seem to be covered in mud and wet leaves. Should I not be such a wimp? or stop beating myself up about it and hang up my keys till better weather comes?

call me a wuss but keep it in the garage until the first warm day of spring. you'll know when it is, the raods will be full of bikes all of a sudden.;)

if you want to keep it nice better hang up them leathers and put that bike on the garage.
otherwise it just down to taking it very very steady.
You choose

ok dickie.... you're a wuss. well, you did ask!

lynn, since you're aware of the hazards, that probably shows you're not such a novice as you think. If you do go out, and there's no reason why you shouldn't, i think the only hazards that aren't already there on a wet summers day would be icy bits. I try to avoid riding when there might be ice, but otherwise just keep it slow and smooth and you ought to be fine.

It's great fun riding in the snow, early in the morning before the cars get out to turn it to slush!

It's a tough one. You can chose to be a fair weather rider. No disgrace in that, lots of club members here are, and your bike stays nice and clean. Alternatively, you can get out there and skid about on wet leaves, wet drain covers, wet paint markings on the road, potter around like a real novice and learn what to avoid riding over in bad weather. Country roads are the pits in the winter, and an accident early on will probably dent your confidence. My advice is, compromise. Go out once or twice when it's a fairly nice day when, a bit chilly and a bit damp and see if you enjoy yourself regardless.

And don't think about whether you'll be considered a wimp or not. You're a woman riding a monster. You are definitely, categorically, not a wimp. ok? ;):D:sing:

i enjoy rideing in poor conditions, not as much as riding in the dry but i still enjoy it
the most important thing i find is to make sure that you are up for it.you aint gunna ride well if you is wet and shivering,wear the right kit
also riding in the wet taught me a lot about handeling the bike, like not botteling it when the back spins up,i dont ever manage it in the dry on my ickle st2),or when you get the front stepping out,it happens!and any experiance is good experiance, it all helps you ride well.

good observation,antipation and preperation(same as in the dry but more so)
and dont back of the throttle in the middle of the bend if you think you might be over doing it ride the rear brake instead. works for me

Sound advice Lynn from those that do and those that don't. Most people are more worried what the elements will do to there bikes than are worried about what the elements will do to them. Winter riding can be as much fun ,especially on a ride out with a few mates to share the numb fingers and frozen body parts. You are more aware of the dangers that winter riding brings, you have mentioned about road conditions and stuff lying in wait,even now there seems to be more road kill on the road laterly. I would find it very flustrating to have to hibernate my bike over winter Ive never done it yet. Some of the lads ride all year round especially those that commute, Id rather be on the roads that i now and can have some fun on,heavy traffic is no fun so I look forwards to getting out into the not so used roads around N Beds and Cambs. As a novice rider try to get out with some of the more experianced riders and tell them you are not ready for a mega blat yet,Im sure you can be taken under the wing and learn a few tricks and tips. Its more of what you and the bike are capable of which is a hell of a lot more than you think. You don't say what part of the world you come from,if its Herts Beds Cambs come and join us . 4D

But if you take it out mine will be in the garage on its own and get lonely.

I used to put mine away for the winter but as we dont really have winters anymore i dont bother becasue its a pain de winterising it when we have a nice day.

My real problem is that i dont have any decent winter kit and neither does Lynn. I think if you can keep warm then the state of he roads is less of an issue. When you get cold your concentration starts to go and its just gets really nasty.

On balance i think that as long as its not raining or snowing or icy then you should take it out. Stick to the bigger roads then leaves and mud wont be a problem. Just be aware that the wind chill factor will get you quicker than you realise and its horrid knowing you still have to ride 20 miles to get home and you can't stop shivering.

So then Lynn....Where the blinkin heck were you then on Tuesday.....sigh!???;):lol:

You know my views...rain, snow, hail, fog...Oh yeah and sunshine!
I just cant get enough of any riding conditions...Me personally? I think it's helped me improve alot in a year.

However...Depends how keen you are to get out there. It's fun to get out with a few mates like Fordie says, no matter what the weather. Some people on here prefer to ride in fair weather in the opinion that it cuts down the risk abit further and also keeps your bike smart and shiny...
Personally I think a bike is for having fun on and a couple of hours blat puts a smile on a grey winter face!:D

Ditto KB ;)

and go do some Advanced riding young lady!:)

giggle...giggle....AND get on the track at some point...It's NOT scary!:cool:

Track? Did somebody mention track??

:devil::frog::bouncy::burn:

A track day is very much on the cards for next year - just need to sort out a two bike trailer.

Lynn a couple of years ago someone asked the same question. I replied that if it was dry I went out. Most of the posts related to the effects the salt had on Ducatis. I ignored them and carrid on regardless. It was only durring the summer of the following year that I noticed while my bike was parked next to my brothers,both being the same age and milage etc. His looked prestine and mine looked, wel used:sniff:

Thanks for all the tips chaps, on balance think I need to rug up and get out there. As long as I wash down the bike after to minimise salt damage and take things steady. Observation is obviously the big thing.
KB-must make an effort to get to tues meets-soz. And where are we going for Christmas??? Jongleurs to expensive

Oh and Fordie, I'm Lynn we met at Snetterton, I was with Rockhopper, we live in the depths of Derbyshire

Lynn, I too have a monster:)

Tend to ride her all year round, tho strangely Late Oct to Xmas is more a local pootle at w/ends, rather than the mileage done the rest of the year. (we also catch up with non-biking mates about now)
I too hate riding with the wet leaves/frosty white lines etc - but if you can pick a route in the open - I find I relax much better.
Come January I'm starting to cover more miles again......regardless of the frost (as long as it isnt hissing down!)

Charlotte:)

Lyn, just to add to other peoples comments, winter riding can be great fun on dry but cold days, no to bad in the rain either, but the key issue is good warm waterproof riding gear so you can concentrate on riding rather than freezing.

Riding in bad conditions will probably do wonders for your confidence when/if summer ever arrives, and also means that you won't feel rusty (though the bike may:lol:)

Personally unless you got access to a cheap winter hack bike/dirt bike at the first sign of salt on the roads i wrap the Ducati up in an electric blanket and it only reappears after heavy rain has washed the salt away. Jons comments about his and his brothers bike say it all. Road salt makes a right mess.

ride it dont hide it....keeps your skills up to scratch ready for the winter so when it is nice and warm at least you dont blast it after not riding for a few months and forget what you used to know!!!...and buy some hot grips !!!

Lynn, Yes I realize now DOOOOH . You are the Good looking one. Track day,s the way to go Lynn. Regards 4D

When I had a road Ducati, I rode it all year round except when it was snowing, but to be honest, I couldn't disagree more with comments which suggest that it teaches you good riding!
It teaches you to stay on in the wet, no bad thing of course, but you spend far too much time looking at the road directly in front of you for mud, leaves, wet bits, tractors etc. Both myself and my husband would then always have a lengthy conversion period when the sun came back, to get out of that habit!!
But it is nice I think to go to the bike show on a bike and to get out for a blast with your mates when the suns out, just make sure you have some warm kit! I rode 150 miles back here yesterday and the sun was shinig, but boy was I cold! :D

Well, Just been out. Invested in very sexy old ladies thermals and put on more layers to beat the cold and did ok. Lovely sunny day. Coffee halfway to warm up the fingers. I really feel I need to keep riding to keep my confidence up. This was the first time in a month due to a Holiday and general stuff getting in the way. Enjoyed it and Rockhopper, I really do appreciate all your comments and Observations. Give me time and I'll get there

You're already there hun, just need a bit of fine tuning. Considering you've only ridden the thing five or six time you're doing exceptionally well.

Well done, Lynn. Was a great day for riding, wasn't it? The real plus about winter riding, when the sun shines and the roads are dry and frost free, is the lack of Sunday drivers. The roads are so much clearer. And those people who are out in cars seem to notice bikers and move over for them.

Today was a v. good day for being out and about. How dirty did your bike get, Lynn? It's like dust. After a while, it can't get any dirtier. Clean in the spring, is my advice. :sing:

You've changed your Avatar. Are those the thermals? :o:lol:

Simple Lynn - DON'T. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Leave the bugger in the garage till it warms up. Been there, done it, froze me borrox off, got several T shirts. It's not worth it - in MY opinion.

I was thinking about this the other day mainly, in terms of keeping any 'sharpness' on a bike up to speed.
How about getting off-road???

For example - going to an off-road centre for either a go of - trail / trials or even (god-forbid) some gentle Supermoto if anywhere is daft enough to do it!

Indoor mini-moto also sprug to mind but I just know my hips/back/knees/wrists would never cope for more than 3 minutes - LOL - much the same as some other activity really!!! :o

Franko

Not the gear in your avatar then?!;):D
I invested in one of those EDZ undersuits.Great for keeping out the draughts.Available in one or two piece.
Good quality jackets like Hein Gerickes Voyager are great in winter,and their Pathan gloves keep the fingers warm.Not too bulky either.
Its great to be out and about on a day like today,I think I only came across six cars on my 30 odd mile ride home.:D
Oh and to keep the salt at bay,spray the bike with Scottoilers anticorrosion treatment.

winter riding
 

Lynn
I dont know about any other members but my first bike was my only transport and being in construction I commuted all around the south east all year and the only thing it taught me was how incredibly durable the human body is.
there is no benefit to your confidence slidding on blackice towards an on coming coach.
there are certain times of the year when you just dont know whats lying round the corner and once the front goes its only a bulls...r that can pick a bike up from that.
unless your a speedway rider?
ride till it gets frosty then put it away.
ian

Exactly what my dear old Dad told me :lol: 4D (Sorry Lynn):lol:

I would agree with a lot of the posts here. I try to ride all year and watch for leaves and ice. The nasty thing about ice and leaves as well is that the drop time is so instantaneous. You are up and boom, down. Never did it on my Duke thank god, but on everything else. ALmost went over a cliff, a bridge, an embankment in the woods. You never know what is around the corner and when that back tire will go south. One thing that saved me other times though was a certain amount of experience on dirt bikes. In your situatio, I would suggest going out on dry winter days and watching the road surface real carefully. Not too often though. Then go out and do some dirt riding as someone mentioned above. Does wonders for automaitic body movement. But, as so many have noted, winter riding is exhilirating! Enjoy:ninja: