yeah muddy leaves, theres a new worry. went round a blind corner the other day, nice and slow, but not slow enough to be prepared for the van on the other side, parked up 'in' my side of the road. had to break sharpish and went skidding on some leaves. no offy but a mild coronary.

As the ultimate bad workman I did indeed change my tools (got the sidecar). I know people who do the elefant and such like every year with nothing but a set of decent knobblies. It's just practice and possibly some mutation of the inner ear that lets 'em stay upright.

Andy

Spent 10 years racing motocross, as they say it's like riding a bike you never forget :thumbup1: I've been on the start line many times with 6 inches of snow on the ground and frozen solid, that is the best way to get rid of the Sunday morning hangover, tends to focus the mind

Rain, hail, wind, snow -time to get the bike out. (Bike Magazine, 2000+something)

50 mile trip into London as I do everyday at the mo, only two saw 2 other bikes on the journey another 650GS and a KTM Adv. not one scooter all the way through town either, seemed really weard. I would have been one of the missing ones until I got the GS, no way I'd ride my shiney Superduke in this shite

Albert, you really are a smug git :freezing: haha

Thats my only worry about riding through winter, i.e. the damage the road salt does to the resale value of my bike.

Am still riding and looking at buying some kind of rat bike, maybe an ER5, so I can take the Aprilia off the road for winter. Can't be doing with 6 months off like some of my mates do. Besides, taking the car means a 2.5 hour commute or 35 minutes max on the bike. Easy choice.

Acf50
 

Hi Craig76, an Aprilia in winter really needs ACF 50 applied to it to protect it from corrosion. Some say old engine oil is effective and cheaper, but old oil isn't used by airlines or air forces. ACF 50 is essential for all UK riders riding when roads are salted--my belief. Regards, Linzi.

I agree. BTW, mine's an RSV1000 sportsbike, not a 650 Pegaso so not exactly the perfect winter bike. Used my old ZX6-R all year round and the fasteners have faired a lot better than the RSV.

Going to strip the RSV and give it a through clean over winter or it's going to look a state by March. Local council have just started putting grit down so looking for a winter hack to take it's place.

The Tiger is just serviced and fitted with a set of new boots. It'll probably sit in the garage all winter now under a cover waiting for the spring sunshine.

The Serow on the other hand will have to brave the weather until then. I use the car for work though and pick sunny dry days for riding in the winter.

Guess which bike's got heated grips fitted? DOH!

This winter I'm going with the "Muffs" You can't beat a bit of muff! Hopefully they'll be enough.

I first took charge of a bike 2 years ago pretty much exactly. In Scotland. Turning up to lessons and you get greeted with "Ah, you haven't ridden in the rain/wind/dark/all of the above yet have you? Guess that's what we'll be learning today!"
Turned up to my CBT on a grey day in October and there was me and 2 guys, both of whom looked at my waterproof trousers and said "I didn't think of that"...

Tee hee.

I have always fitted Avonaire touring fairings to my bikes, except for teh bmw RT that came with a good fairing. On teh move it keeps you dry and prevents wind chill. I really do not understand why so many riders go without. The collection of dead bees/wasps/hornets and beetles alone on my windscreen should be enough reason to get one.

I decided to try the "muff" idea and went out and purchased one from a local antique shop, fine so far but can anyone tell me what to do with the small yappy dog at border crossings? Ride safe.

Well it was sunny this morning so I thought I'd take the bike to town and not drive. Did just fine on the way there although it was a bit chilly round certain parts. On the way back though I'd just stopped at the lights when the beavens opened, and the hail started drumming on my helmet. Boy was I cheesed off, but I happened to glance across into the window of the house right by the lights, and caught the eye of the old lady in there. Next thing I know I'm invited into her front room to drip and squelch on her tiles, I've got a fantastic hot chocolate pressed into my hand and had a great chat till the rain/hail passed.

I think I'll have to go out more often this winter.

i go without because i think they look awful & i much prefer riding a naked bike. the feel of the wind etc etc is a plus to me as it adds to the experience. if i want a warm dry windless place to sit i'll take the car.
oh & the only faired bike ive ridden have been evil in sidewinds compared to naked bikes. but that obviously could just be the bike.

The handlebar fairings are evil.
There is a world of difference being on a faired bike to being in a car.
The full fairings are all frame mounted and take sidewinds and disturbed air much better. When I started riding I was in the forces and had to ride to and from the base summer and winter each weekend. 435 miles each way, before we had motorways. The winter of 63-4 was really cold and I blessed the fairing then. These days I avoid that sort of cold if possible, but it is surprising how it chills when you go up the mountains in the pyreness or the alps even in summer.