One last ride...

in the truck! For the first time since I turned 16, I am voluntarily without 4-wheeled transportation.

Sold my truck today, used the bike to get home. I've pretty much stopped driving it since I started riding, so instead of having a nearly new truck depreciating and not being used, I took the money and ran.

How did you get the ramp home?

I didn't, going back tomorrow with my roommate's truck for it.

How are you going to get around in the winter?

It 'a been a lot cooler if you'd a said "what ramp?". That bike'll get outta the truck, right?

suprf1y wrote: How are you going to get around in the winter?

Those bikes are pretty good in snow and there are heated grips available from somewhere I'm sure

Go for it!! I did it for 4 years on an XL350 and the weather around here (Frederick, MD) is about the same as Baltimore, MD. Don't need heated grips, I had some covers that went on the handlebars that covered my hands and the controls. I think they were originally designed for snowmobiles.

Get a snowmobile suit to wear over your regular gear and that takes care of the cold down to about 0*. Biggest problem I had was with my feet but I found some battery operated heated socks in a Cabelas catalog that solved that problem.

I did have an advantage in that I was a school teacher. So when the weather was real bad I didn't have to go to work.

OK, the heated grips will keep your hands warm, maybe. What about the rest of the body ? With those tires I wouldn't want to hit a patch of ice. I think you are riding for a fall. No pun intended.

I rode most of last winter and was fine with just layering and not riding stupid. When it gets snowy/icy, I can take the shuttle to campus, I walk to work anyways, and if necessary I can and have walked to the store. The knobbies do surprisingly well in snow/slush too. I'll definitely be going electric this winter too, heated gloves, vest, and probably insoles and getting a 1pc suit in hi-viz.

iceracer wrote: OK, the heated grips will keep your hands warm, maybe. What about the rest of the body ? With those tires I wouldn't want to hit a patch of ice. I think you are riding for a fall. No pun intended.

Back when I was unopposed to discomfort I wore a Carhart winter coverall like you see guys in the snowplow wearing with good ski gloves and ski mask under the helmet. I still got very cold at any temp below say 25F - but I suggested the heated grips because cold aside... you can't work the controls with frozen hands and thin gloves make it easier to push buttons.

walterj wrote:

iceracer wrote: OK, the heated grips will keep your hands warm, maybe. What about the rest of the body ? With those tires I wouldn't want to hit a patch of ice. I think you are riding for a fall. No pun intended.

Back when I was unopposed to discomfort I wore a Carhart winter coverall like you see guys in the snowplow wearing with good ski gloves and ski mask under the helmet. I still got very cold at any temp below say 25F - but I suggested the heated grips because cold aside... you can't work the controls with frozen hands and thin gloves make it easier to push buttons. Did I mention that I would never do that again - necessity was a bitch.

Are you going Aerostitch?

Despite frequenting these boards, I haven't owned a car in about 8 years. Granted my live-in GF has, so I can beg/borrow a ride when it was totally necessary, but it's surprisingly easy to go two-wheeled. You'll love it.

However, since my bikes have been broken and I've been borrowing a car from my folks' fleet, I'm finding it difficult to go back to that lifestyle. I've been spoiled by spirit-weakening little things like 'climate control' and 'arriving places dry.' [Somebody insert a Star Wars quote like 'the lure of the Dark Side is strong' or something here.] Pshaw.

So, I suggest you don't go back to a car. Two wheels for life!

DILYSI Dave wrote: How did you get the ramp home?

+1.

<---Intrigued.

Xceler8x wrote: Are you going Aerostitch?

I'm torn between a Motoport Kevlar suit, a Rev'It Infinity, or going cheap-ish with an Olympia Phantom. Roadcrafter's don't really do it for me, though I REALLY like the Transit jacket.