Winter Riding ???

[emu]

I keep reading where people take their Nomads out for a ride during these winter months. They mention ice and snow ... so it must be cold. So that gets me to thinking ... Do they not throw salt on the roads in these areas where people are out riding. Back in the 1960's I rode all year long here in Toronto. Had a Honda 305 Superhawk, rode her every day, even in blizzard conditions for fun. But the salt got into everything and the bike rotted a an accelerated rate. Salt got into places you can't get at to clean it out. The engine cooling fins looked like crap ... and they were easy to wash clean. Or so I thought. Anyway I learned my lesson and Have never put a motorcycle in the salt ever since. I ride right up to when the first spreading of the salt each year ... Which was right up into December this year http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif . Anyone else suffer from Saltaphobia ...

[novijoe]

I snuck a ride in a bit back but it had rained and washed all of the salt off the road. That is the only way I will ride in the winter if conditions are right and temps are in the 40's. Used to date a gal who rode a Harley in the winter and she's had nothing but trouble with the electrical system.

[darthvulcan]

Emu,

We also get tons of road salt used on our roads out here. The only time I used to get out for a mid-winter ride is during those bizarre few days where it suddenly warms up and rains - washing the road salt away. Once the roads dry off, only then will I take a bike out. That only happens a few times each winter.

On my old Interceptor, we used to do a Christmas lights tour around the city at night. Always fun to do, and watch the reaction from cagers.

[jasperboy]

Yup, lots of salt and cinders on the roads here as well. Like the others have mentioned, if it warms up and rains real hard for a few days, followed by warmer and dry conditions, I'll try and get out. Buddy and I did 200 miles in late November, and 100+ miles in late December on just such days, but so far January hasn't provided any such days.

[jayc]

Gotta rinse surfaces with cold water after the ride.

[groundbean]

previous bike was a 2001 honda shadow 750. short rides every winter, every couple of weeks if the roads were dry. 7 years and never any problems with salt. my mechanic says as long as the salt is dry and not wet there is no problem. also have a wash area in underground if needed.(Toronto)

I just try and ride when the roads are clear, but in Idaho there isn't a lot of salt used. Mostly sand. Currently they are using a de-icer that has not damaged any of my vehicles. We havent used salt here for years.

[schoeney]

No salt out here. De-icer on the interstate but I only take Miss Ruby out when the roads are dry in the winter....not often.

[ells]

What Yridehd said above except substitute Colorado for Idaho.

[skeeter]

No salt here so I rode today. Good Lord was it cold. Got down to 30*. Might have to visit CJ.

Won't ride on ice.

[landman]

nothing buy sand used in wyoming.

[dhomoney]

I snuck a ride in a bit back but it had rained and washed all of the salt off the road. That is the only way I will ride in the winter if conditions are right and temps are in the 40's. Used to date a gal who rode a Harley in the winter and she's had nothing but trouble with the electrical system.

You sure that just wasn't because it was an HD? :)

[Top Cat]

Couldn't get the bike out in the winter here if I wanted to and believe me, I don't want to.
I rode it back from the painters, 40 miles in 38 degree weather, NOT fun.
I wait in the spring till I think the road salt is all washed off the roads. You can tell because when the roads thaw and the sun dries them they are actually white if the salt is still present.
I will post a pic on this thread when that happens so you guys can see what I mean.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd308/topcat63/Garage.jpg

This pic was taken back in Dec. there's a lot more snow than that now :(

[dantama]

In Utah they use a lot of salt (come on, the capital is Salt Lake City) and it doesn't rain in the winter to wash it off, it dries as a white coating like a previous poster said.

I'd ride around the valley and up to Park City many times throughout the winter. I wasn't religious about washing it each time, but I washed it at a car wash a lot.

I had it for just over four years, and 63,000 miles and didn't have any corrosion or electrical problems at all. The chrome all looked great and all the fasteners too. I don't think any of you would be able to tell that I was riding it in the salt all winter.

Conversely, I bought a used on out of Texas with only 2,000 miles on it, and the underneath of everything (rack etc) had surface rust.

[poppy]

What is this salt on the road you speak of?? http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif

[ells]

What is this salt on the road you speak of?? http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif

Poppy, In your case it would be when someone slips in a crosswalk while carrying a full margarita - try not run over the broken glass http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

[waterman]

What is this salt on the road you speak of?? http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif

Darn comics from Florida!!!

Around here, not much salt is used. Just the bridges and streets in town.

[skeeter]

Dan, I wonder if less rain and therfore a drier climate contributed to better condition.

[dank]

I park mine because of salt also. Then again, the solid layer of packed snow and ice on the road in front of my house helps me refrain from riding until the salt is washed away. Were it to warm up enough to melt without rain, which basically never happens, I'd likely be riding in spite of the salt and cold temps.

[dantama]

Dan, I wonder if less rain and therefore a drier climate contributed to better condition.

Skeeter, I don't know what to attribute it to, maybe just washing it at the car wash with a good stream of water (always avoided the bearings like steering stem etc)?

Here is a picture of what many of the fasteners looked like on the 4 year old Texas bike with 2,000 miles.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/dantama/motorycle%20posts/Image028.jpg

Don't know if it lived next to the sea or what?



Here is typical of my 4 year old Nomad with 63,000 miles. I didn't have many close up pics, this was to show some lowers I made, but the whole bike looked like this.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/dantama/motorycle%20posts/signalfrombehind.jpg



In Salt Lake, they salt the roads good and plow often. The roads become completely dry, with 2-3 foot rows of snow lining the streets. If it stays cold, the streets are dry. If it warms, snow melt is pretty well contained in the gutters, but on the freeways it melts to whatever direction is downhill (mountain curves etc).

You have to watch out for cold days following warmer days.

It's colder in SLC than in Denver by 10 degrees on average each of the winter months, it also snows more. But a combination of salt and plowing made it easier to ride after a snow in SLC than in Denver.

Don't know why my bike fared so well riding winter after winter, but I didn't have any problems with corrosion at all. If you saw my bike and I told you it had 15,000 miles, you would have believed me. The Texas one was pretty rough rust wise.

[dhomoney]

What is this salt on the road you speak of?? http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif

Smart a$$. :)

[skeeter]

Dan it was probably a Gulf Coast bike and the previous owner didn't wash and dry very often.

[poppy]

What is this salt on the road you speak of?? http://s2.images.proboards.com/tongue.gif

Smart a$$. :)

everyone likes a little a$$ but no one likes a smart a$$.......D'oh!