Packing the bike away for the winter.

For me, with winter closing in fast I will ride but just not as much as I would in the summer.....

I will ride to work if I know the car park will be full, its a busy time on the roads its quicker. Other than I will drive, if I poke head outside and see its a bad weather day if I can drive I will.

But when there is a break in the weather I will go for a ride. I mean why not? I always find it gutting when I see the weather is clear and I'm work ect...

My advice would to do some advanced training. I got talking some bikers at work, they will put in touch with IAM guy, so to me thats a prioity, getting my skills up there, to improve my riding.

Other people might disagree but riding in the wet does make you smoother, was talking with this about a friend work we agreed it did. I will get a charger for my bike but I have no plans to take thunder off the road.

I really think even if its only an hour it will great, you will of course that there is leaves, mud ice ect all over the roads this time year. I slow down, alllow extra time for a ride ect...Wear your bike gear and layer up underneath, lost of thin layers works best in my experince of camping, working, walking outside in the winter.

Safe riding dude, and enjoy it when you can!

Originally Posted by bluethunder

Other people might disagree but riding in the wet does make you smoother, was talking with this about a friend work we agreed it did. I will get a charger for my bike but I have no plans to take thunder off the road.!

To ride quickly/safely in the wet requires you to exercise smooth throttle/brake control in conjunction with good obs.

I wouldn't automatically say that wet weather riding makes you a smoother rider. Its just common sense to back off a bit and give yourself some more time/room. Of course if you want to go quickly, then being smooth is the best option.

At the end of the day you'll be less keen to brake/accelerate like a lunatic, when conditions are not at their best.

So to reply to your initial statement, i guess wet weather riding could translate to smoother overall riding. However IMHO wet/dry riding styles are completely different and i approach them individually.

Yeah we all have own styles and systems, end of the day what works for me probally won't for you, everyone adates a tecnique and makes their own style.

Originally Posted by Welsh_Wizard

Oh but I am a nancy..

this is true,


but


i planned on not using the sv over last winter, & TBH i was out almost every weekend, twas not much fun when it started to hammer down (& i do mean hammer down) with snow just past the story arms, twas about 2" deep, and you could see about 5ft in front of you. but twas all gone when we got to venny

I too will be putting mine away, I won't be going to too much trouble though. I have plugged the bike into a battery optimiser & put it on front & rear paddock stands. I am sure that the crap weather won't be with us for long (I Hope). If you do all the things that people are suggesting then taking it out for the odd good day of weather is going to be a nightmare.

Originally Posted by mattglavin

If you do all the things that people are suggesting then taking it out for the odd good day of weather is going to be a nightmare.

thats because once its away for the winter,its away for the winter.

unless extreme circumstances dictate otherwise.

as for the odd good day,once winter properly kicks in this is fairly unlikely before march(after all most of us live in england)

I'm struggling to get my head round this concept of having a bike that doesn't get ridden for 6 months of the year.

I don't lay any of mine up, I just use whatever one suits the conditions. SR for crappy weather days and general commuting, SV for other days/evenings and Triumph when I want to go long distance or have a hoon on dryish days.

I'm struggling to get my head around how you get to own 5 bikes.

It was almost bordering on too much effort just getting my 1 !!

Ill keep the petrol in mine topped up and the optimiser on just in case we get some good weather. Usually gets stripped in Jan for its winter clean anyway so can write off 3 weeks there

Originally Posted by graemepaterson

So because you dont pack you bike away means you dont take pride in your machine and your not bothered about corrosion, and black ice.

Corrosion - keep on top of it and wash the bike down with cold water to rid the bike of salt.

Black ice - Take it steady in conditions where there might be black ice.

I ride my bike in all conditions and take great pride in it .

There alot to be said for packing a vehicle of any description away for long periods without use.

I know someone who teaches all year round on a fazer 600 its 3 years old and done 50k+ ......its in better condition and running order than alot of 3 year old bikes that have been tucked away every winter by 'caring owners'

Whatever floats your boat though i guess

+1
Every time the weather turns to c**p I think "would I be happier in the car?" and the answer so far this year has been no. The cage is good for going to the shops though.
ACF 50, heated grips, good waterproofs and lots of tread in my tyres all help.