Hi Everyone

In the middle of December I'll have to to go San Francisco for a conference for work. Since I'm from Europe, I'm planning to take one or two weeks extra afterwards as holiday. I was thinking I could perhaps rent a motorcycle and do a tour. I have always been intrigued by the long desolate roads through the deserts between the mountain ranges like in Nevada and Utah. I would love to do some roads in the style of Route 50, or Death Valley or Monument Valley or some smaller, lesser known roads.

Of course, the big problem, like I said before, it will be winter. And I realize that Nevada and Utah are quite elevated. So what is the state of the road there in winter? And how is the temperature? Cold is not necessarily such a problem for me. I can take some cold and I can dress warm enough, and if I rent something with a good wind shield and heated handles ... (not what I have usually :P) But it should not be too extreme of course, I would like to enjoy it still.
But most importantly, how about snow or (black) ice on the road? I only ride a year so far and don't know if I feel sure enough yet to ride long distances on snow and ice, on a rental, far in the dessert, on a different continent ...

So any information on this?

And if you would advise against it, is there anything you would suggest as alternative which is somewhat similar, but better in summer? Is southern Arizona less snowy/icy? But is it not just flat deserts. Anything else?

Thanks very much