Darn wrote:
OK this is going to be funny for some of you "Southern folk" But when I ride and it's 30 or below here is what I wear..

Fleece T-shirt and long johns, jeans with chaps, toe warmers in my boots. Up top over the t-shirt I wear a thin long sleeve shirt and a fleece hoody and my leather jacket. Then I can put on the Balaclavas and pull the hoody up and put on my helmet and either my leather work gloves or if it's really cold, I put on my snowmobile gloves with hand warmers in them. I also carry some body warmers in the saddlebags just in case.

How many of you are thinking of the kid in the snowsuit on from the Christmas story? Yep,that's ME!


My step-father is from Wisconsin & he told me how cold it is to ride a motorcycle up there in the winter! You are a brave man, Darn! By the way, my brother-in-law from down here in MS just bought a chain of 9 Papa John's Pizza restaurants in the Green Bay area so if you ever get a craving for pizza, help him out! If I can, I'll get some free pizza cards from him & send them to you so maybe you can send him some business. I have a glovebox full of free cards he gave me, but they're only for his Mississippi locations.

I love Pappa Johns! I'd be glad to spread the wealth. You can put him in touch with me if you want, I frickin know everyone up here!

Darn wrote:
I love Pappa Johns! I'd be glad to spread the wealth. You can put him in touch with me if you want, I frickin know everyone up here!

Darn, I'm sorry. I just talked to my Bro-in-law, Trae, on the phone about getting you some coupons or freebies & I was mistaken. The locations he bought were in Milwaukee! At least I got the state right! I think that's going to be a bit farther north than Green Bay, isn't it? Do you ever get up that way? Does Milwaukee allow metric bikes in it's city limits?

Milwaukee is 150 miles south of Green Bay. I had to laugh when I was little and the first time I went down there someone said "Ya'll" and I thought I was down south!

I get down there now and again, I have some customers in that area for computers (I sell a lot of computers )

We have a HD Limit around here, we try to keep them to the south and away from our young'ens Truthfully, you can't shake a stick without hitting one up here, that's why I bought my Roadstar, I like to be different.

My ex-wife was from North Dakota & we sometimes had a "language barrier". She made fun of me when I said "y'all" & when I said I was going to "carry" her somewhere for dinner. I responded by poking fun at her every time she said "you guys" or said she's going to "take" and make dinner. I still don't get that last one; what's she going to "take"? Why did she have to "take" anything with her to make dinner, just cook! We also got confused on the whole "lunch, dinner, supper" thing. Down here in the South, "dinner" is your mid-day meal & "supper" is had at the end of the day. I don't know what where the Hell "lunch" is supposed to fit in, but an extra meal is always ok with me!

When I moved back up here from down south, my daughters were little southern bells. I remember my sister came over to pick up my daughters and take them to the mall. My oldest said "Ya'll fixin to go to da mall?" My sister couldn't understand why we would need to FIX the mall, it wasn't broken

Now back to the regularly scheduled thread...

Yeah, I forgot about the "fixin' to" phrase! Melissa HATED that one! She always asked me why something needed "fixin'" before I accomplished a particular task! What part of the South are you originally from?

I always try to gain a few pounds before winter really sets in , seems to help keep this old bear warm. BB

Big Bear wrote:
I always try to gain a few pounds before winter really sets in , seems to help keep this old bear warm. BB

That works for me! I think I might have to follow your lead there BB!!

Funny you should ask this, My 1st day THIS year riding with snowflakes. I ride Ohio Year round. What Darn says goes. Hypothermia is a threat when riding in real cold weather. have no idea how nasty you plan to go, but if it is anywhere near the zero mark going down is a lot more likely and anything but full protection gear is nothing less than stupid. Armor everywhere Full Face, Armor heated gloves. Dress like a Snow Mobile rider would. I would go with a Bib style Pants Better seal when sitting and against rain. Your top and trousers should have removable thermal liner. Down to 15 degrees I can ride all day with only heated gloves. Near 30 I would have vents open on the suit. I would go with Gerbing Heated gloves only because they have the best heating controller. Worth the extra money. You say BIG but you never say size. Try to buy local. The sizes are never what they say they are.
Wool socks and regular riding boots will do. I use the Tour Master because they are waterproof and have real protection. When I am dressed as pictured I can ride 1000 miles in less than 24 hours below freezing, Been there done that, In fact a year ago. Don't forget to get your bike ready for that ride, Winter riding requires special dry lubes and other preventative measures.

You can see by this pic I have ridden while it's a little frosty.

This Picture is used by Leader to advertise their Desert Dawgs I highly recommend.
http://tinyurl.com/MS1700-s-bike

I was caught in some serious side winds, as you can see by the snow that stuck,
It took some expert riding and lots of luck to do that 60 miles, and THE reason I
went to a car tire on the rear.

Road salt and gravel from winter roads will sandblast your frame as shown above.

THIS home made Mudflap will prevent that, It hooks into my Desert Dawgs in seconds.

And people are not going to be expecting to see a MC in such cold weather, so,
Reflective gear is a must as daylight hours are diminished in winter. Make sure they see you!
Leaver Yourself an out! Aim High in steering! Get the big picture!

And, You can't possibly get more traction than joining the Darkside! That's a Van tire there and a LOT more rubber on the ground I might add and no one is going to argue that! If your a serious winter rider, you might want to consider more traction, your going to need it!
Who wants to race me on snow covered roads this winter? I was going to get Makcap to do it but he cheated and went to the Darkside too! Looking for a new contender with an MC tire, Anyone?