The only intentional sub-zero riding I've done has been with my Ural sidecar, and I can assure you I would have been on my @rse in the first 1/4 mile on my Honda. Of course some are very capable on ice, with the right kit, but it does not come overnight.

Tyres:
Heidenau K60 SNOW is the only one that springs to mind. As far as I know it is not a studded tyre. You can always buy your own studding kits, but I do not know how permanent these are.

On the one hand I wish you luck: a great personal acheivement. On the other hand I find myself asking: are you sure you want to this? Would sidecar, Quad or simply 6 months later not be a better idea?

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Be dressed for the climate - as if you were to walk on foot and/or sit down.

Too much clothes is not a problem whilst you ride; too little is.

Beware to cover -all- skin; any portion exposed with get frostbitten in a flick of an eye; remeber -24'C is way below -70'C chilling effect at normal crusing speed!

* Handlebar muffs.
* Heated handles.
* Heated muffs.
* Heated seat.
* Windprotections of the whole body (R80-100RT is the best fairing ever built).
* Largest possible panniers you can find; preferably fiberglas. Saves the bike, makes it far easier to lift it up after dropping it, saves you legs from getting jammed.
* Get the Lindstrand army boots:
Jernbergs - www.jernbergs.se - Speedway, Isracing, Roadracing, Veteran, Motocross & Enduro, Touring, Snöskoter
Jernbergs - www.jernbergs.se - Speedway, Isracing, Roadracing, Veteran, Motocross & Enduro, Touring, Snöskoter
You will need to contact Eric Jernberg directly and ask for the armyboots - these are made exclusively for the Swedish Army, motorcycle divisions.


* Trelleborg Army Special fully studded; 13mm's soldered steel "spikes" - or 15mm. Do not use longer studds! Studd plate is to stand on the cord - less is does that you'll loose the studd and get no traction.
Optional tyre:
* Trelleborg Winter Friction. Excellent tyre.
There is only one (1) company in Sweden that really knows how to studd bike tires, it is situated in Alunda 20-30km east of Uppsala. You'll have to get back with me as to name and adress (can't remeber as I write... getting old I guess...).
* skiis does make the driving in snow and on ice-roads more fun -

I use Cheng Shin C-186 since Dunlop and Metzeler trials are off the productionline since 1988. Then my need is best traction on asphalted roads with little or no snow, black ice or packed snow/ice - and I do drive a BMW R80/100RT touring equipped (vastly different from what you are to use.

Brows:
- - - VÄLKOMMEN till F M C K - Frivilliga Motorcykelkårernas Riksförbund - - -
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
Look for Winter course in Älvdalen, or Vinterutbildning i Älvdalen.

Driving at winter is more fun than at summer - but places higher demands on preparations and equippment. Bring the right stuff, avoid bringing too much.

As for lubrications:
Distributörer av Omega olja och fett såsom smörjolja och smörjfett - Smörjteknik Norden AB Omega lubricationbrand have the products you need for extrem temperatures. Magna Industrial Co. Limited

+++++++++++
Almost forgot, thank you Alibaba for your good homesite on winter driving -

* You will have to have a heated visir! There is no way you can ride at really low temps without it. All the electrical demands posed on the vehicle, like Andy points out, really pushed the need to have a strong and reliable alternator... like a Bosch 55-120A from any car...
The load should be about 35-40W in BMW 1-3 helmets.
VW motoroil heater:
http://www.webstruktur.com/svea/board/messages/5/103.html?torsdagden18november19992306

Alternator:
http://www.webstruktur.com/svea/board/artik/bilgen.html

http://www.webstruktur.com/svea/board/artik/mont_bilgen.html

And... Odyssey batteries of cause.

__________________
Drive Safely,
Albert

Love the sump heater. I wonder how effective a heating coil wrapped round the oil filter cartridge would be? It'd be easier to install and could be removed in summer to prevent damage.

I've just been installing an 85AH deep cycle battery (details to follow). There is no practical way to up the Bonneville's actual generation capacity, but I figure the longer it can "hold it's breath", the more chance I've got of finding somewhere warm enough to switch some stuff off or get the battery plugged into a wall.

Dagj: If you need to knock up a heated visor, this could be useful:

https://sites.google.com/site/threew...ces/heated-kit

I came to the conclusion 15W was enough so long as it started warm and is kept turned on. 55W was enough to melt my first prototype! . Depends on the area the power is spread over of course and I'll bow to Alibaba and Alberts greater experience.

Andy

There are plenty of pre-made oil pan kits in Canada/America and I'm sure the Scandanavian countries too such as: Engine oil pan heaters, filter heaters & battery warmers. Designed for cars, diesel engines, more effective than block heaters, magnetic heaters. Suitable for Volkswagen vw beetle, Audi, Land Rover, Ford, Chrysler, GM,

I have long been interested in a winter trip to Pevek, 180 east or Uelen along the zimniks but it would be a huge undertaking on a bike but not (quite) impossible.

Most of this would not be on sealed roads and from what I know of this region it doesn't snow that much so "bottomless snow" might not be such an issue, just the intense cold.

Life support would of course be job #1 and custom designed clothing using polymers from some of the new UK makers (exo2) would be needed. Forget about currently used insulated clothing too, they are all obsolete; aerogels are where its at but to my knowledge no company uses this in their products yet. Camping at night would be similar to artic explorers and of course, food for two/three weeks would be needed.

Air cooled bikes would be required with an enhanced electrical system to power the heated clothing, maybe a re-wound alternator on a GS? and re-calibrated FI but the largest obstacle might simply be fuel capacity of a bike. You'd need well over 1,000km range. LCD displays would freeze but oils & greases no problem at these temperatures.

Given that you will be trussed up like a space man with zero exposure to the outside I might question if this is really biking though - you might as well be in a 4x4.

I bow to the experience of our Scandanvian friends with their cold weather experience but in a world with few challenges left in biking I think this is one that remains to be conquered.


On the other hand maybe we are just being wimps - they don't even feel the cold in Chukotka...

__________________