Well sad for me anyway. It was cold and rainy yesterday here in Illinois so I said I'll make myself useful and hibernate my bike. Rode it in the rain to fill her tank up with Shell gasoline and red stabil gas treatment. Got it back into the garage and tried 5 times to get it on the center stand before i was successful.... I was 45 Y.O when i bought the bike when I could get it up easily ( the bike im talking about here) damn i hate old age. Filled it up with my $58.00 dollar oil change kit of 4 QTs of Honda 10w 40 and a oem Honda filter. After checking my oil installation I took the battery out and wheeled it into the coroner of the garage. So now im left with driving my old Corolla down to my monthly RTE or is it DTE when I see my motorcycle friends that I visit a 100 miles away. These guys are tuff old birds as some ride all year long. So now begins the count down come on March.
Sad day yesterday
- Thread starter red one
- Start date
Sad indeed Red1 but reality for many. The B is filled with 5% Corn Juice Special and the oil and filter are done. I'm hoping to ride it again yet, but I think there are probably two hopes, no hope and Bob Hope.
The Honda Pro Fuel stabiliser is on the shelf ready. It's only 5pm here but already around 38 f's and dark. Roll on spring.
I have no useful comment to assist in you getting it up.....
Upt.
It is a horrible feeling isn't it. Here in the UK I will ride throughout the year (albeit only leisure journeys) until they put down salt (and whatever that other horrible mush is they mix it with here 
), then the bikes sit in the garage until heavy rain washes it away! The only exception to this is a particular February Sidecar meet, when unless it snows, we break the rule and freeze to death for a 280 mile ride to meet old friends!
), then the bikes sit in the garage until heavy rain washes it away! The only exception to this is a particular February Sidecar meet, when unless it snows, we break the rule and freeze to death for a 280 mile ride to meet old friends!
Sorry to hear, but it'll fire right up come spring time. 40degF is about my limit for riding. I have heated grips but it doesn't keep the rest of my hand warm in the slipstream. And I don't like thick gloves.
We usually get a few warm spells during winter here, so my ST never really goes in hibernation. So, I'll add some Stabil 360 to each tank until spring.
We usually get a few warm spells during winter here, so my ST never really goes in hibernation. So, I'll add some Stabil 360 to each tank until spring.
Yes we had an old friend that died of cancer many years ago that use to ride from Decatur Illinois to Springfield Illinois and back a 80 mile trip on Newyear's day. Remember one day it was -5 degrees Fahrenheit when he showed up to the club house on his K75 BMW.It is a horrible feeling isn't it. Here in the UK I will ride throughout the year (albeit only leisure journeys) until they put down salt (and whatever that other horrible mush is they mix it with here
ReSTored
Site Supporter
There is an easy solution for your centerstand issue.............. I have the same problem with my Tracer GT as it was lowered almost an inch by the PO. I can get it on the centerstand, but I have a lower back issue that I need to be careful about. Put a small piece of 3/4" plywood on the floor and when you park position the bike so that the rear wheel is on the plywood, but the lowered centerstand feet will be just in front of the plywood. With the rear wheel higher than the front your lifting issues are resolved.
Start by raising the bike as high as you can, by cranking up the preload to max (release it once on the stand if going to hibernate). Same with tire pressure, Also remove box/panniers or any weight you might have on the bike.
With an aftermarket shock and proper sag, this bike will "roll" into the centerstand with minimum effort.
Tires can make a difference though. Easier to jack on the stand with new "pointy" type tires than old worn rounded ones.
It's not all because of age.
the Ferret
Daily rider since May 1965
Try some handlebar muffs. Keeps all the wind off your hands. With heated grips makes tiny heated caves for your hands. In the coldest weather you can wear summer gloves. I also run a heated jacket liner plugged into my battery tender jr pigtail.
I run them on my bikes and ride all winter unless their is ice or accumulated snow on the roads
I'm blessed to live in the Pacific Northwet. We have both mountains and lowlands leading out to the ocean. In the summer, I'll ride the mountain roads till they start sanding and the snow starts. When the snows start, I turn my head to the ocean beaches.
As @the Ferret said, there's ways to ride in the winter. It just takes some planning. I'll commute in the winter, because I'm riding the same roads, day after day. Joy rides...eh, not so much. When you ride day after day on the same roads, you learn where the water collects that'll turn to ice when it gets cold enough. Joy rides are on roads you're not as familiar with and that can lead to losing traction.
When you think about it, cold weather riding is not much different than the rest of the year. Like the Ferret, I wear a heated jacket liner and heated gloves. Handlebar muffs are great. The "secret" is to eliminate any place that lets cold air in...including inside the handlebar muffs. A neck gaiter feels like it adds 15 degrees of riding comfort.
I've ridden down to 16F on my commute, but I didn't do it blindly. I have a friend who decided to ride in marginal conditions, well because Chris does it. He didn't do it smart though. He dropped his bike three times...lots of plastic damaged on both sides of the bike...and broke his ankle. All within three blocks of his house.
Chris
As @the Ferret said, there's ways to ride in the winter. It just takes some planning. I'll commute in the winter, because I'm riding the same roads, day after day. Joy rides...eh, not so much. When you ride day after day on the same roads, you learn where the water collects that'll turn to ice when it gets cold enough. Joy rides are on roads you're not as familiar with and that can lead to losing traction.
When you think about it, cold weather riding is not much different than the rest of the year. Like the Ferret, I wear a heated jacket liner and heated gloves. Handlebar muffs are great. The "secret" is to eliminate any place that lets cold air in...including inside the handlebar muffs. A neck gaiter feels like it adds 15 degrees of riding comfort.
I've ridden down to 16F on my commute, but I didn't do it blindly. I have a friend who decided to ride in marginal conditions, well because Chris does it. He didn't do it smart though. He dropped his bike three times...lots of plastic damaged on both sides of the bike...and broke his ankle. All within three blocks of his house.
Chris
the Ferret
Daily rider since May 1965
When conditions are poor I always head to the flat straight State Routes that see a lot of traffic because they get plowed first, the traffic's tires heat up the road surfaces making them less slippery, there's plenty of tree clearance so no shady spots, and the lack of curves are actually a bonus here, wheras in the heat of the summer I hunt for curviest, shadiest, traffic free areas to ride in.
My wife on the other hand is a fair weather rider, and her XMax 300 scooter has already been filled up, seafoamed, ridden to get seafoam in the injectors, tire pressures checked, put on the center stand, and plugged into the battery maintainer waiting for spring lol.
My wife on the other hand is a fair weather rider, and her XMax 300 scooter has already been filled up, seafoamed, ridden to get seafoam in the injectors, tire pressures checked, put on the center stand, and plugged into the battery maintainer waiting for spring lol.
I woulld love to fit handlebar muffs to my ST1300 but all the ones I have tried block the view rearward in the mirrors. How do you get around this?Try some handlebar muffs. Keeps all the wind off your hands. With heated grips makes tiny heated caves for your hands. In the coldest weather you can wear summer gloves. I also run a heated jacket liner plugged into my battery tender jr pigtail.
I run them on my bikes and ride all winter unless their is ice or accumulated snow on the roads
the Ferret
Daily rider since May 1965
I guess I just looked around more when changing lanes and stuff. Worried more about what was in front than what was behind. I ran them for 10 winters IIRC. I don't remember it being an issue for me. I no longer have the ST and it wasn't an issue on my FJR or current NC 750X which of course have higher mirrors.
Erdoc48
Site Supporter
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2009
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- 1,372
- Age
- 60
- Location
- Myrtle Beach, SC/ Sometimes Colorado
- Bike
- 94/00/04 STs, FSC600
I have exactly the same dilemma with my 2000 when raising it on the rowing stand so I did something similar so when I get back from a ride, I put a small piece of wood in front of the rear wheel, roll it up on that, put the rolling stand in position and it goes up very easily. You don’t want the wood too thick because then it’s a little more difficult to roll the back wheel up on it, but I think the piece I have is maybe 3/4 of an inch thick. it works very well for my needs.
I am 60 and reasonably strong these days however it does seem like an effort sometimes to raise the ST up on the center stand (without the wood board). If I’m lifting up the Silverwing, that seems quite easy to get it on the center stand. I think that weighs a couple of hundred pounds less.
- Joined
- May 30, 2006
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- 3,145
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- Pensacola, FL. USA
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- 06/ST1300 19/R1250RT
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- 049732
Yesterday may have been a sad day for you but luckily today can be a great day for you and all in the far north where motorcycles die err lie for the winter.
Just today I decided to start an new company. For the meager cost of a tank of fuel (currently around $20) and a picture of you on your bike I will ride a day with your photo taped to my trunk backrest. I promise you will "feel the breeze" with speeds up to 70 miles per hour! For an extra $20 I will make sure the wind blows up your skirt err shirt and hit 150 KILOMETERS per hour (93 mph) if you promise not to squeal. Can't beat this deal you can you?
I know I won't make any money doing this but I feel so bad that some of you suffer all winter away up in Nord land.
You're welcome my cold friends,
Raymond
Andrew Shadow
Site Supporter
If you want/need a thicker piece of wood use a slightly longer piece of wood and cut the trailing edge on a long low angle. Without the sharp 90° edge on the piece of wood the rear wheel will easily roll up.
Fleece neck gaiter is a necessity for me in the cold. And my VStrom hand guards help so much (in the rain as well) on the 1100.
I have a cheap version of snowmobile muffs but didn't like using them.
scootac
Will Ride for Food
Last day of riding is1st day of planning for next year!
