#@%! Snow!

[thedrewski86]

Originally Posted by MrPulldown

I dont even drive a 2wd car if there is snow anywhere in the forcast.

Oh come on now!

I learned to drive in Chicago winters with a 78 El Camino with an open diff! Of course now I have a 4x4 for the snow so I see your point.

[dukedinner]

So how does one handle a bike in the snow?

Never found bikes and snow/ice to mix very well. I park it and take my truck....

[windmill]

Originally Posted by MrPulldown

I dont even drive a 2wd car if there is snow anywhere in the forcast.

Well a 2wd sidecar rocks in the snow.

[Ravyn]

Monsignore, great tale
Glad you made it

I have a similar story to tell. I had just traded in my bike into Ducati NYC for this absolute stunner - 2012 Moto Guzzi Griso 8v in the very limited addition Tenni green with spoke wheels. This happened to be the day prior to the snow storm, and because of scheduling just couldn't pick up the bike.
I'll just pick it up after work the day of the Noreaster. There's no way the snow is going to stick
I don't know about the next guy, but when you're picking up your brand new to you bike, the day couldn't go any slower. Then I look out the window at work around 3 o'clock and see blizzard conditions.
Something like this:

Needless to say it WAS sticking
I get out of work, and walk to the subway. I some how convince myself that if I stick to main roads I should be fine as I can still see black top.
My further Moto fever kicks in so hard that I actually take the subway TWICE in the wrong direction - two connections.
After finally getting to Spring street and 6th Ave the winds have kicked up quite a bit. It's still snowing, and I can no longer see black top next to the store. A normal person would have just turned around gone back into the subway and gone home to pick up another day.
Not me, I was in full blown, moto crack fever.
The salesman are frantically rolling all the bikes into the store.
I walk in with crazy eyes and look straight at Eric, the guy that sold me the bike. He doesn't even blink. He says you taking it tonight? I say yup. He says great it's ready to go. I'll roll it to the corner for you.
I suit up in my best sneakers, jeans, Roadcrafter, and lame ass fall gloves, and we roll the bike outside.
Hmm, sideways wind and sleet.
We get to the corner and Eric's shivering as he turns on the bike.
I forget everything - completely transfixed by the glorious sounds emanting from this amazing looking bike.
I mount up and quickly familiarize myself with the beast. Great center of gravity. Nice and low. Really comfortable riding position. I look to my right thinking Eric had split, but he was standing there as if he needed to witness this act of complete idiocy in real time.
Off I go down Prince street. So far so good. The wide tubular bar gives me great feedback and the torque carries me through most of the slipping and slidding.
Foxtrapper and windmill have described the technique that I was using. Very light touch on the controls. Keeping as vertical as possible, even when turning. Just like a shopping cart
Everything was going fine until I hit the approach to the Williamsburg bridge. I knew that it was going to be a tough crossing since bridges ice up first, but I didn't count on the bumper to bumper traffic all the way across.
Of course, that is also compunded by the narrow travel lanes on the bridge which make it difficult to lane split.
Plus, I had rigid saddle bags attached
After I get to the top of the bridge, my fingers like ice cubes, and my jeans are starting to get soaked from the snow, I can finally give my clutch hand a break.
Once I crossed the bridge, the streets seemed marginally better, but I wasn't seeing black top anymore. Visibility was the worst. Snow kept accumalting on my visor, until I just kept it open out of frustration.
Finally made it. I was wrecked emotionally, and completely frozen, but intact.
I will never do that again.
At least with this bike

[hipnotik]

You certainly chose a good day for picking up a new bike.
Glad you made it unscratched!
I wasn't as lucky a few winters ago, going down on ice with the GS in Harriman park. I was unhurt but got myself pretty scared, enough to keep me away from riding when the roads get dicey.

[bob393]

Originally Posted by Effervescent

"very similar to the tracks I leave when walking on a nude beach

ROTFLMFAO!

-Eff

I rode in that same snow, yeah the first one sucks.

But I will say we got less than you did.

[acejones]

There's a reason I don't live north of I-10.

[Monsignore]

Ravyn, Glad to know I wasn't the only idiot, er enthusiast out there. I can't imagine how pissed I'd be if I dropped a new-to-me bike as beautiful as that Griso, instead of my GS. And just think, what other ride is going to be worse than your first one?

YOUNZ, windmill: I have a copy of the yellow book sitting on my coffee table right now. I was certainly wishing for that third wheel while sucking down that restorative glass of bourbon.

[Barnone]

Sandy's snow fell in WNC so it was time to head to Floriduh with the bike in the back of the truck.
I know, I am a wimp.

[go2cnavy]

Originally Posted by Ravyn

I suit up in my best sneakers, jeans, Roadcrafter, and lame ass fall gloves, and we roll the bike outside.

Are you kidding? Jeans and sneakers + frozen roads =

[Ravyn]

Zactly. Moto fever stupidity in full effect. I was coming from work and couldn't double back to my place and pick up all my gear because the dealership would have been closed by the time I would have gotten back.

Originally Posted by go2cnavy

Are you kidding? Jeans and sneakers + frozen roads =

[DirtDabber]

Originally Posted by chasssmash

The snow in NY yesterday was horrible. Snow mixed with ice.

Oh, Oh, Georgia snow.....


We almost never get the fluffy stuff.

[Paulcet]

Yeah, we get the fluffy stuff down here. About 18 inches, ready for harvest.

[wiseblood]

Originally Posted by Monsignore

Ravyn, Glad to know I wasn't the only idiot, er enthusiast out there. I can't imagine how pissed I'd be if I dropped a new-to-me bike as beautiful as that Griso, instead of my GS. And just think, what other ride is going to be worse than your first one?

As I mentioned on the NYC Commuter thread, I dropped my Tiger 1050 in the snow Fed 2011. Not a scratch on me (one-piece Teiz MS suit ), but I landed on my right side with my arm tucked under, and I cracked a rib on my back.

I had almost made it all the way home that night. I was about five blocks from my house. About 1.5" of snow on the ground. I was pulling away from a red light, as smooth and gentle as can be. "Dammit, I'm gonna make it!" Go to short-shift from first to second gear, and I hit a false neutral.

The rear started coming around, and around, and around, and...

You really don't know what 500 lbs feels like until you have to pick it up in the snow with a broken rib.

[Effervescent]

All this plus the hazards on.

-Eff

Originally Posted by foxtrapper

I strive to keep the bike vertical. As in no leaning into the turns and such. I steer it like a shopping cart. Very gentle on throttle, clutch and brakes so as to not break traction, quick gentle action to regain traction if I do lose it. My feet are generally down on the pavement, sliding along to act as outriggers.

I will maximize traction wherever possible; from riding an unpaved shoulder to staying on an interstate where tires have melted snow. Whatever works best for the area and situation.

Increase the heck out of stopping distance, turning radiuses, slow acceleration, etc. This can cause problems with cars as they have more traction and tend to crawl up your backside to "encourage" you along.

Speeds are low, so should I go "woops" and wipe out, I hopefully won't get hurt badly.

If it ices up, I quit trying. I have not found ice riding on the streets with non-studded tires to be successfull in any fashion.