Sad day yesterday

[Chris09]

Although I still can, I'm planning for when I can't. I won't centre stand the ST unless I have someone on the other side of the bike. I don't have any problem getting on and rolling it off the stand [so far at least].
In between I tether my bikes to the wall when they're side stand and unattended mainly to protect my dog in case he goes after a rat or something.

 

[ST Gui]

Got it back into the garage and tried 5 times to get it on the center stand before i was successful.

The full tank is probably the straw that broke the Red One's back. Figuratively speaking of course. Regardless of one's preference filling the tires (stock size?) to the universal answer helps get the bike on the stand. Yeah it's disappointing that we sometimes struggle at that which we never gave a whit to eons ago.

Good quads and that 3/4" board mitigate the centers stand issue. Lifting the bike (or trying to) is the problem. Pushing the stand down instead of lifting the bike is the key.

 

[Williamson]

Hibernation? Don't know of anyone in AUS that would hibernate their bike for winter, perhaps not ride much through the coldest month, or two months, but no need to prepare your bike for winter here, it doesn't get too cold, for too long.

Centre stand? My ST1300 probably hasn't been on the centre stand in 2024, may be in 2023 when repairs were being carried out in my mate's garage, and then put on the centre stand with his help (I was still stiff & sore from my "off", actually I still am a bit).

I was a youthful 61yo when the ST1300 arrived, even then it was often a mixture of technique, luck and elbow grease getting it on the centre stand. As luck and elbow grease started to run out, top box and panniers would need to be removed, and as a 73yo (next month) I think I'd even have to remove the saddles to achieve centre stand status.

The ST1300 will sit idle for up to a month at a time so when it's parked in the garage, it'll rest on the side stand with the side stand resting on a 19mm thick piece of hard wood. This just enough to reduce pressure on the side stand, make the bike a little more upright, slightly and conveniently less width for storing in our downsized (smaller) garage. A 90mm x 90mm piece of the hard wood usually sits in easy reach in the RHS storage box for the times the ST1300 needs to be parked on grass or other soft surfaces.

 

[the Ferret]

After 13 years with the ST and the FJR, the first time I put my 495 lb NC 750X on the centerstand, I almost threw it out the garage door. It jumped up on the stand like a border collie thru a hoop.

 

[Sadlsor]

The 1300 always goes up easily onto the center stand, with either stock motorcycle rubber OR the Vredestein dark variety.

The 1250 GSA only goes up readily, if i have hard soled shoes or boots. Soft shoes are sometimes a struggle, I guess because it is taller, and it wasn't designed as well as the ST.

 

[st11ray]

I have no problems getting my ST on the center stand. My Yamaha Super Tenere is a different story! I just got it in August and I still haven't figured out the trick to getting that beast on the center stand.

 

[Lee T]

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.

I'm with you. In Colorado Springs last week we had Snowmageddon - snowed for 4 straight days, and 3' in some places. But this week it is 55 or better. I fire mine up every few days and let it idle a bit, and take any random good day to go for at least a few miles. We have had 70' in Feb, and snow in May in the same year. I'm fortunate to have access to aircraft hangars, so if nothing else I can do figure 8's at 70 degrees pretty much any time.

 

[Lee T]

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

Used to call those "hippo hands" way back in the 80's. Had them on my 750 through GL1100. I think I still have them around somewhere...

 

[Upt' North]

Red 1......update.
Heavy frost and the roads have been gritted.
That's definitely time to park it up, I have no desire to turn The B into a ferrous oxide breeding receptacle.
Pffffffftttttt.
Upt.

 

[rwthomas1]

I put mine away yesterday. We've had a wonderful Fall, its been pretty warm and the riding conditions have been excellent. Its not the cold, although that is coming, that made me put the bike away. Its the DEER. No less that 4 carcasses on the road this AM. They are everywhere, had a fairly close call last week and I see them on the side of the road all the time. The Rut is in full swing. By the time its over cold weather will be here with reinforcements. So I park it.....

 

[red one]

34F here today and I say a guy on a crotch rocket. Cold here this morning.

 

[red one]

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

 

[the Ferret]

Supposed to be 34 in the morning here too, I'll wait until about 1 pm to ride, hopefully it will make it into the upper 40s or low 50s at least

 

[Mellow]

Yup, getting close to time to break out the winter shorts....

 

[red one]

Supposed to be 34 in the morning here too, I'll wait until about 1 pm to ride, hopefully it will make it into the upper 40s or low 50s at least

When I ride to my monthly RTE with my guys I usually leave at 9:30 am to ride 100 miles and make it there at 11:am for lunch. So too cold to ride it. It gets worse in the winter when we hit a warm spell and I see guys riding but it is what it is.

 

[Whisperquiet]

When I ride to my monthly RTE with my guys I usually leave at 9:30 am to ride 100 miles and make it there at 11:am for lunch. So too cold to ride it. It gets worse in the winter when we hit a warm spell and I see guys riding but it is what it is.

Yeah, we were wondering where you were today…about time for a whiskey run? I’m still rehabbing a replacement left knee and had to drive my truck. I should be in the heated gear on the bike in a couple of weeks.

 

[Whisperquiet]

I have no problems getting my ST on the center stand. My Yamaha Super Tenere is a different story! I just got it in August and I still haven't figured out the trick to getting that beast on the center stand.

I put 20mm raising links on my Super Tenere to compensate for the soft rear spring sag. It made the bike better all around…….quicker steering, better ground clearance, and much easier to put on the center stand.

 

[st11ray]

I put 20mm raising links on my Super Tenere to compensate for the soft rear spring sag. It made the bike better all around…….quicker steering, better ground clearance, and much easier to put on the center stand.

Did your Tenere have electronic suspension?

 

[Whisperquiet]

Did your Tenere have electronic suspension?

Yes, it is the ES model. I used the links from Lust Racing…they have kits for the standard and ES model Super Tenere.

Jack-Up Kits

Lust Racing motorcycle jack up kits lift the rear suspension and increases the ride and seat height of your motorbike. We provide ride height adjusters for a wide range of motorcycles. Please select the brand of your motorcycle below.

shop.lustracing.com

 

[red one]

Gla

Yeah, we were wondering where you were today…about time for a whiskey run? I’m still rehabbing a replacement left knee and had to drive my truck. I should be in the heated gear on the bike in a couple of weeks.

Glad your doing ok with your surgery my friend. I will be there next week in my car. I can get way more "contraband"in my car than my bike