Parking up for the winter, who's done it yet?
Discussion
GSXR is away until next year, but the Uganda Twin and I did 100 miles yesterday via St. Mary's Loch. I'd have had the sports bike out for longer if it wasn't for the novelty of the new "Ewan-Charlie bike", despite the alleged terrible weather we have (I don't think we do personally, that map is just one of many variable) I won't be putting the bikes away for a while yet.
Honestly the amount of whinging people do about the weather, I'll never understand it. Do you guys only enjoy yourself if conditions are perfect? Do you never go out on a crisp, dry, winter's day with your North Face jacket on and just take 15mph off your speed? You're missing out...
Honestly the amount of whinging people do about the weather, I'll never understand it. Do you guys only enjoy yourself if conditions are perfect? Do you never go out on a crisp, dry, winter's day with your North Face jacket on and just take 15mph off your speed? You're missing out...
Prof Prolapse said:
Honestly the amount of whinging people do about the weather, I'll never understand it. Do you guys only enjoy yourself if conditions are perfect? Do you never go out on a crisp, dry, winter's day with your North Face jacket on and just take 15mph off your speed? You're missing out...
I spent years living in the tropics, thus I hate hot and sweaty. I far prefer chilly but clear riding weather. It is easy to put on more layers.Midsummer is just a pain, dress up for protection and speed, then stop in traffic for a few minutes and have sweat dribble down your face and armpits.
I ordered a good quality jacket, with zipped ventilation and removable layers, but that was six weeks ago in summer and it is still stuck in transit somewhere......
I’d like a suitable ‘dirt bike’ for winter, something lighter, more nimble than my current Boxer 1100r. It is grand for touring around, but heavier than I really like, and far faster than I need.
In fact, I’d like something like that for normal riding. I never did see the point of the massive Charlie Boorman BMW touring bolides, 1000lbs+, five feet wide, to go travelling sandy rough roads....
In fact, I’d like something like that for normal riding. I never did see the point of the massive Charlie Boorman BMW touring bolides, 1000lbs+, five feet wide, to go travelling sandy rough roads....
King Herald said:
In fact, I’d like something like that for normal riding. I never did see the point of the massive Charlie Boorman BMW touring bolides, 1000lbs+, five feet wide, to go travelling sandy rough roads....
I think the idea of a segment which is biased towards distance, with a bit of a "greenlaning", is a bit niche. I agree, probably more so than most people would admit if we're being honest. Having just bought my Uganda Twin, my logic was that the dual sport segment (i.e. no van required with light off road use) has the problem of getting to these fabled roads. You can go light and get something like a CRF250L (which I considered), but the reality was that on the roads it would be very tiresome with only 25 bhp, limited range, and low levels of comfort.
Like everything though, horses for courses, it doesn't make much sense to use any motorcycle outwith what it was designed for... But some of us do enjoy it anyway.
King Herald said:
Something in the 600cc range would probably be the better ideal for me. Enough power to do 70 on a motorway, and climb hills, and do some off-roading, and heavy enough to be a bit comfortable, and a comfy seat. 
Well they make those too. Something like a super tenere 660 would seem to fill that particular niche! In addition to easier overtaking, I think it's just once you start wanting to go further, riding two up, with luggage, (or add extra weight from things like a shaft drive, crash bars, centre stand), you start needing more power. Even with 100bhp the Uganda twin I have would clearly be asthmatic for 50-80mph overtakes if you were fully laden, but then again if you want to go faster you buy the BMW GS. Faster still, the BMW XR.
You pays your money, you makes your choice. Anyway I digress...
Biker's Nemesis said:
I just hate the winter months, s
t for riding road bikes in. I just do other stuff.
I don't stop riding in winter, but it's drastically reduced. I don't mind the cold but most of my riding is taking the scenic route to/from work. When it's dark each way it's not much fun.t for riding road bikes in. I just do other stuff.Used the bike yesterday and today, it was 20c here and will be like this all weekend too. As long as the weather is good I'll use the bike, once it gets bad here I'll use the Landy.
The winters here in Belgium have been harder than when I used to live in Wick, the temps generally are a lot colder in winter with the coldest being -28c a couple of years ago, summers on the other hand 30c + most summers
The winters here in Belgium have been harder than when I used to live in Wick, the temps generally are a lot colder in winter with the coldest being -28c a couple of years ago, summers on the other hand 30c + most summers
Triaguar said:
This is why you should never ever put it away. 18 degrees warm wind keeping the roads dry, there isn't even a single wet leaf let alone wet road..I have had worse days in July! Out all day today and tomorrow and Sunday. Next thing you know it's nearly Spring again..
You obviously don't live anywhere near me then, we have had severe flooding, gale force winds and the roads are covered in all sorts of ste, mainly leaves, trees and mud, I need to move from the Lakes 
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