Todays query.... Riding in Snow and Ice

[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

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.

Originally Posted by Jabba-the-Hutt

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...

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

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.

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...

Originally Posted by lynw

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

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.

Originally Posted by lynw

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.

Originally Posted by wyrdness

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.

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

Originally Posted by 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