Well I’m approaching my first winter riding and one of the main questions that I have is about traction and power.
When it’s really cold but not snowing, can you still use full throttle and corner almost as much as in summer time or is it a case of very slow and steady. Granted that I wouldn’t rde after a rain in fear of the black ice. I don’t wanna bin my pride and joy due to pushing it hard in adverse conditions. Any helpful info would be much appreciated on this subject and any others for that matter.
The real need is nice smooth throttle control. You’ll lean less and exit more slowly, but you will get to be smoother in your riding. Your tyres are colder too, so you increase your braking distance a bit, your give yourself more response time and read the road more carefully for potholes, manhole covers and lines/overbanding. Anything that will upset the bike more easily as you will have less grip over all. Roundabouts will feel more greasy.
Just a case of being smooth and steady. It pays off and come summer again, you have a better degree of throttle control and that pays off when getting faster entrance/exit speeds to corners/roundabouts.
Agree, throttle control is important - even if the roads seem dry. Its VERY cold.
Also, i tend to use it as practice for my body position. As someone said, lean angle is also critical, so it makes sense to try and keep the bike as upright as possible and practice using your body to hang off. Come spring, you will be a MASTER
Also, just the fact that you will get cold, can be just as dangerous. Proper clothing and whack on the heated grips!
Left Livingstone at 10 am at it was +9, by the time we got to Killin and up by Loch Tay it had dropped to -3 -4 so wind chill at 70 ish would have been way lower.
I remember a few times approaching the lights when they had just turned red. My options where try to stop for them or just jump the feckers.I just had to full throttle and jump them because I didn’t fancy the chances of (a) over shooting them into emerging traffic (b) dropping the bike trying to stop. But a light weight 125cc (not scooter) is better for winters. I recall doing 10mile commutes when London was snowed in. I wouldn’t fancy it much only my heaviers bikes. Especially after I saw that guy dropping his nice VFR while stationary at the lights.
Jaime, glad you’ve decided to give it a go rather than putting the bike away for the winter, well done.
this is my 10th winter riding, TAKE IT EASY is the best advice really, its better to look a bit too careful on your bike than look a complete idiot in the ambulance, lol
it would be easier to get a scooter for the winter, but then again it really builds up your riding skills to ride a big bike in the winter.
as others said, remember tyres are cold roads are greasy and look out for ice on smaller roads as they are less beaten. on popular roads and in central london you’re usually fine, hopefully the winter will be nicer than last year as i had to leave the bike behind for 5 weeks…
I just take things easy, kept an extra vigilent eye on the road for ice patches and ride in the highest gear I can… as this will help with traction, I also tend to ride on the inside dry line left by the car tires too.
As ive found out this morning.
Was going down a hill (not a steep one) and i had to brake from about 12mph to stopped and locked the rear.
Made me jump as the rear swung round and i was barely even braking hard.
+1 on that… I locked up my front wheel when a pedestrian stepped out. Cold, dry tarmac and cold tyres and I was only doing around 30. Fortunately let go the brakes before anything happened…
I’m wondering if we’re reinforcing a mental fear of it being a bit cold outside? It’s not really that much harder to ride in the cold, but if you convince yourself it is you’re likely to be less smooth, more hesitant, and make it a problem. Common sense and take notice of what the bike is telling you. Chill. Ba-bum.
Agree on brakes- especially on any downhills. It doesn’t need to rain for there to be ice on the road -particularly if you have an early commute.
Last winter I was following a big van down Sydenham Hill, we were only doing about 20 to 25mph. I was a tad close I guess as I didn’t have great vis so was caught off guard when he hit the brakes due to cue of traffic in front. what would normally be a gentle but firm brake resulted in both wheels locking up and me sliding at an angle straight for the back of the van. luckily kept calm and managed to release and re-brake which allowed a swerve past his tailgate. thankfully no oncoming traffic as I would’ve had head on… yikes.
smooth throttle control, and a bit of common sense helps massivley!
this is my 5th winter on two wheels, i rode my Thou through two winters, at times i did forget my self and get a bit happy with the throttle-cue the back spinning up and reminding me no tto do that!
the one other thing in winter…never…ever SLAM your front brake on, your tyre will let go before you know it, plan ahead and avoid hazards.
i’ve got my brothers scoot for a couple of weeks, so much easier to ride in these poo conditions.
