Todays query.... Riding in Snow and Ice

[lynw]

ok aside from taking it very easy, is there any advice anyone has for riding in the above conditions? not going out in it isnt really an option for me... :lol:

When I came out of my road this morning, where all the cars had driven down there were 2 tyre tracks of ice where the snow had been compacted. At this point I made a concious decision to ride on the remaining uncompacted snow figuring that would be better than riding on a track of pure ice... does anyone else do this?

I was also at a max of 10 mph and keeping relatively near the kerb in case I had to put my foot down - figured easier to balance and not lose my footing if I was against the kerb....

oh and I phoned work and told them I wasnt leaving til 9ish when the sun had been out for a while and was thawing the road a bit... so got a lie in too :lol:

but if youre caught in snow/ice, or have to go out in it, what do you do?
would be interested to know....

[mysteryjimbo]

On main roads this way, the snow is generally clear so thats not so much a problem. On the quieter roads like you mention with the compacted snow it is a bit more difficult.

First off, ride in as high a gear as possible without stalling the engine (or spluttering). This reduces the risk of wheel spinning. Ideally you want to be pulling off in 2nd too.
Second, in the more dodgy spots i generally keep both feet hovering just above the surface and go no more than 10mph.

Any more?

[nuntius]

Some *******s fitted stabilisers (tacked them on) to my bike as a joke when I crashed it. I honestly wouldn't go out in the snow, but as you say, that's not a choice. Have you though about asking the garage for suitable tyres?

[Iansv]

On main roads this way, the snow is generally clear so thats not so much a problem. On the quieter roads like you mention with the compacted snow it is a bit more difficult.

First off, ride in as high a gear as possible without stalling the engine (or spluttering). This reduces the risk of wheel spinning. Ideally you want to be pulling off in 2nd too.
Second, in the more dodgy spots i generally keep both feet hovering just above the surface and go no more than 10mph.

Any more?

seconded

[mysteryjimbo]

On main roads this way, the snow is generally clear so thats not so much a problem. On the quieter roads like you mention with the compacted snow it is a bit more difficult.

First off, ride in as high a gear as possible without stalling the engine (or spluttering). This reduces the risk of wheel spinning. Ideally you want to be pulling off in 2nd too.
Second, in the more dodgy spots i generally keep both feet hovering just above the surface and go no more than 10mph.

Any more?

seconded

Why, thank you.......... :wink:

Didnt someone mention some supermoto tyres a while back that would fit the SV? I'll go check the tyre section!

[lynw]

just to add complications I have an oversize tyre on the back of the cbr with possibly a slow puncture... :shock:

hence one of my questions on the tyre pressures thread as to how quickly does a tyre lose pressure with heavy use and how does the weather affect this....

so Im keeping a very close eye on the rear tyre...

Im fortunate that the main road is only a mile away... and the main estate road was well used this morning... part of my worry is my road onto that is on a slope :shock:

but will note the gear issue... didnt realise wheel spin could be a problem...

thanks guys... handy to know these things and usually this is the stuff you learn by hard experience...

[Patch]

Consider riding closer to the kerb. Cars etc push the salt away from their wheels and it collects where they dont travel so you are less likely to find ice there.

You've got to ride as if you are off road so throttle control has to be delicate and do not touch the front brake at all, the advice about using your feet as stabilisers is sound.

[Carsick]

and don't panic when it does slide, cos it will at some point.

[Amanda M]

Some *******s fitted stabilisers (tacked them on) to my bike as a joke when I crashed it.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Ceri JC]

A colleague of mine who is a very experienced biker (100K miles plus on his current bike and he has had several bikes before that) won't ride in snow and ice. He's far from a jessy- he regularly trogs cross country in storms, sleet, etc.

Last time he tried it in the ice, he kept dropping the bike, ended up chaining it up, ringing work to say he couldn't get in and came back when it had thawed ut. The bike was still there and he rode it back home!

[Big Bad Al]

Let some air out the tyres to improve your traction but make sure you have the means to reinflate if the weather clears up.

Also check this won't damage the tyres - too soft and you will probably have problems.

Al

[Jabba]

Generally, it's a bit like a car...............you need to maintain traction.

Keep in as high a gear as possible to limit the drive through the rear wheel. IOW, short shift.

Try not to use the front brakes.

And smoothly with the throttle at all times, gently rolling on and off.

Try and keep the bike as upright as possible and use all the road's width that it is safe to to go as straight as possible.

[Ceri JC]

And smoothly with the throttle at all times, gently rolling on and off.


Bit tricky on the SV- the throttle seems to have 2 positions; on and off... :?

[Carsick]

And smoothly with the throttle at all times, gently rolling on and off.


Bit tricky on the SV- the throttle seems to have 2 positions; on and off... :?
A good trick if you have trouble like that (apart from sorting out the TPS and stuff) is to take the slack out of the throttle all the time, then when you come to apply it, you'll find that it doesn't lurch as much.

[lynw]

Glad to be on the honda -
started first time without choke on - never would have happened on the SV....
low seat height I can get my foot down better than the tip toes Im on with the SV...
easier to manouvre at slow speed than the SV I find....

do you know... Im REALLY starting to love that bike... :D

[wyrdness]

just to add complications I have an oversize tyre on the back of the cbr with possibly a slow puncture... :shock:

That might actually help! Wider tyre will give you more grip. As other people have pointed out, slightly reduced tyre pressure can increase grip in winter.

[Jabba]

easier to manouvre at slow speed than the SV I find....

And more gentle/softer/forgiving at low revs - exactly what you need in slippery conditions.

[Jabba]

just to add complications I have an oversize tyre on the back of the cbr with possibly a slow puncture... :shock:

That might actually help! Wider tyre will give you more grip. As other people have pointed out, slightly reduced tyre pressure can increase grip in winter.

Up to a point................. in ice and snow a narrower tyre can be better as it cuts through the top surface better. Same principle as knobbly tyres.

It depends upon the surface and the tyre's tread pattern.

[simon-temple]

I've ridden in snow once on the SV, dropped in twice. Once at the bottom of the hill second time at the top!

I found wheel spin to be a problem and engine braking. Rolling off the throttle could lock the back wheel and cause a slide.

If you are going to use the whole of the road then crossing the tracks could be an issue. Try to go over then with a closed throttle, open the throttle and you will find the rear wheel slide along the "rut" and kick out sideways. Then you'll be in trouble. It's the same as you would do on the dirt.

I don't think dropping tyre pressue will help. SV tyres don't have the tread pattern to bite through the snow and lower pressure will lengthen the contact patch and increase the floating effect over the snow.

Don't take this as gospil, but I hope it helps.

[X] You want a nice DR350 you do :D

[Ceri JC]

A good trick if you have trouble like that (apart from sorting out the TPS and stuff) is to take the slack out of the throttle all the time, then when you come to apply it, you'll find that it doesn't lurch as much.

When you say take the slack out of the throttle, do you mean physically tighten the throttle cable, so there's less slack or just adjust my riding style so I'm pulling the slack out when "off" the throttle? thanks

[BaggaZee]

I tend to adjust my hold on the throttle so that it never gets slack, keeps things smooth on tricky surfaces.
Of course it goes without saying, don't overdo it! :wink:

[lynw]

SV tyres don't have the tread pattern to bite through the snow and lower pressure will lengthen the contact patch and increase the floating effect over the snow.

Im really glad the more I read this thread Im on the honda :lol:
dont care if I drop it - may improve its appearance - short seat - easy throttle...

[Big Bad Al]

I just slip my clutch when engine braking on ice is likely to be a problem...... thought that's what everyone did :?:

Have done a lot of snow riding and hovering feet and keeping speed down real low is a necessity. I have it good authority that the only way to get up some icy hills is to let some air out. Makes sense really....

[Carsick]

A good trick if you have trouble like that (apart from sorting out the TPS and stuff) is to take the slack out of the throttle all the time, then when you come to apply it, you'll find that it doesn't lurch as much.

When you say take the slack out of the throttle, do you mean physically tighten the throttle cable, so there's less slack or just adjust my riding style so I'm pulling the slack out when "off" the throttle? thanks
What Bagazee said, use your hand.
If you do the TPS mod on the FI bikes alot of the snatchiness disappears.

[Baldyman]

Quote - I just slip my clutch when engine braking on ice is likely to be a problem...... thought that's what everyone did - Quote

That's exactly what I had to do this morning to get out of my overshadowed, hence VERY icy, cul-de-sac. What normally takes 30 seconds, took over two minutes! but once on the main roads it was no prob.
Only reason I chanced it was in order to get me first new tyres (Metzeler Z6s) fitted before my second adventure to the "glow in the east" known as Londinium. VERY impressed, even after 30 odd miles.

I now understand the term "planted" :-)

[Jabba]

I now understand the term "planted" :-)

Where I come from it means "buried", as in "he was planted in the far corner of the churchyard back in '76" :shock:

Actually, I can see how the two uses are not miles apart :thumbsup:

Those tyres are on my shortlist, but Hornet riders only seem to recommend Bridgestone and Avon. Guess I might have to be a guinea pig :D

[Baldyman]

-Mental picture - Guinea pig on a Hairnet............yeah go for it :-)

[Warren]

Glad to be on the honda -
started first time without choke on - never would have happened on the SV....
low seat height I can get my foot down better than the tip toes Im on with the SV...
easier to manouvre at slow speed than the SV I find....

do you know... Im REALLY starting to love that bike... :D

ditto :)

basically i personally wouldnt adjust tyre pressure as this can affect the way water is displaced from your tyre.

and beware of the strong engine brake on the SV as this may cause the rear wheel to skid a bit.

keep a massive distance between you and the car in front.

basically what everyone else has said.

if it gets really bad - stick it on its centre stand. lean back so the rear wheel touches the ground and slide along the road on the centre stand*

basically id opt for public transport when the snow and ice sets in.

*dont take this seriously , please.

[Jabba]

-Mental picture - Guinea pig on a Hairnet............

As opposed to a slug, you mean? :lol:

[chutz]

I read an article on tyre pressure recently that said in the wet , and I'm assuming it may be similar on snow , lowering the tyre pressures actually lowers traction because the tyre is less "stretched" and the tread pattern closes as a result therefore not dispersing water. I assume that a closed tread will be more like a slick on snow then a nice tready tyre too.

Just an observation , not backed up by any experience. :lol:

[MrMessy]

I personally would not ride my SV in the snow, sports/touring tyres do not have a good enough tread pattern for clearing snow. Even my XT 600 struggled with road pattern trial tyres, you need an enduro/trial tyre for the best grip.

[Junior]

just to add complications I have an oversize tyre on the back of the cbr with possibly a slow puncture... :shock:

That might actually help! Wider tyre will give you more grip. As other people have pointed out, slightly reduced tyre pressure can increase grip in winter.

Living in Canada I can tell you that wider tires have the exact opposite effect to what you want. Ever notice the tires they use in WRC for the Swedish Rally? Narrow tires distribute weight over a smaller area, thus increasing traction (this only applies to snow and ice I think) The tire pressure tip is right on. The only advice I can add is that when it comes to movements and corrections less is more. Don't panic if you get into a skid. Be extra vigilant about blipping on downshifts (can't stress that one enough) and leave a ridiculous amount of space and time for reaction to unexpected obstacles. Safe riding.

[RandyO]

motard tires come in SV sizes

http://www.mawonline.com/photos/pirelli_mt60_tire_rr.gif

I run Pirelli MTR60s in winter