Riding In Winter

I've done the same years ago in my 20's.
Back then I had a TY250 for green laning and been out with mates in several inches of snow for some "fun" I remember many a time getting home and my knees were so cold I couldn't fully straighten my legs but a few minutes in front of the fire and back to normal.
Similarly working on the car with snow on the ground, in jeans and an ill fitting T shirt which would ride up my back when bent over, exposing several inches of bare flesh and a sizeable builders bum but never really thought much about it! Oh the foolishness of youth!

 

I've ridden to school in the snow in the 60's - I had a pal on the back and we fell off at the last corner into the school gates! We were 16 or 17, and just burst out laughing!!

I used to commute on the bike in the early 70's, and in the winter my hands would be so cold I'd hold them under the hot tap to thaw out.

Now I like it to be a sunny day.

 

If the temperature is above 35 degrees Fahrenheit, I ride. I have a heated jacket and gloves by Gerbing. They work great. I also wear insulated leather chaps.

 

Many riders wonder, "Can I ride a motorcycle in winter?"
The answer is Yes! No one will stop you from riding it in the winter.

However, you need some preparation, both pre-ride and after-ride:
Pre-ride:
01. Check the motorcycle tire, battery, fluid, lights moving parts before your ride.
02. Wear layers up, heated gear, boots, neck warmer, full face helmet
03. Add hand warmers, thermos, lowers and windshield, etc.
04. A bottle of hot water, snacks(if long ride)
05. Get your phone fully charged

During rider:
Ride smartly, slow down if there is rain/ice/snow, increase the following distance, consider stopping the ride in extreme conditions.

After-ride:
01. Clean up the dirt and mud on your motorcycle throughly
02. Pay attention to check the oil, tire, and fluids
03. Store it proper location, add a cover

These are what I usually pay attention to during winter ride.

 

@StephenMotoFun Yes do agree with you. Two things i would add is cover the metal work with AC50 or similar. If riding in snow take around five pounds of air out of the tyres as it makes them bite better.

 

Fresh snow can be surprising grippy but hard packed snow or ice, forget it unless you have studded tyres.

 

When I was running my Thundercat, it was a year round thing and you just took it canny in snow. I used it for my work commute all year and the only thing that would have me phone in, was ice and frost which are abundant in a North of Scotland winter. I used it every year to nip in to Inverness for my Christmas shopping, with a quick hose down once I was home. That was when I was in my forties.
Nowadays, yeah, on a good dry day, I'll have the Bumble Speed out, but I'm well aware that one wrong move on it, with that kind of power in shit weather, could be serious.
I'm 64 this year and I broke my leg on ice 20 months ago walking the dog. It was a harsh reminder that we are not unbreakable, like we thought we were at 17.
Yes, I'll ride it, but a lot more thought will go into how and when...

 

I do ride all fall and most of the winter months,