Turning Cool Here In The Uk

Just cleaned and SORNED my Speed Twin 900 until the spring. My 76 years old bones no likey the cold and my bike insists on being kept immaculate and will not tolerate winter grime.

 

We keep ours going all year

 

Mine will be SORNed by the end of the month.... see you in the Spring!!

 

I don’t think my, soon to be, 66yr old bones (and brain) could cope if I didn’t have something to ride all year round. People would start dying around me.
The ZZR will be SORNED at the end of December when the tax runs out. The Triumph is an all year rounder and the Berg is about to be retaxed ready for some Winter laning after being SORNED since May.
I agree, some Winter prep and subsequent regular cleaning are an absolute necessity but approached in the right frame of mind can be quite therapeutic.
Accessories like heated grips, hand guards etc and decent clothing can make the difference between just bearable and enjoyable.

 

All year round here; I only don't go out if there is a lot of salt on the roads. There was ice on windscreens in the early hours this morning when I was at work and very clear skies. Looks much cloudier and milder overnight tonight though.

 

Both mine are kept taxed all year but Speedy only comes out in winter if we have a half decent few days. Was going to nip over to our friends house on the Scrambler today but just got in from a miserable wet cycle ride so I think it will be the Defender

 

I ride through the winter, but only if it’s dry and the roads are free of salt. I like crisp sunny days, but it does require a few layers, neck rolls, heated gloves and heated grips.

 

My bikes are road legal year round though they dont get ridden as much. Cold doesnt bother me, HEATED jacket and gloves people, they are what the words "game changers" were invented for. I honestly think October is the worst month. Wet, windy, leaves and farmers winter ploughing mud on the roads make it a lottery. I reckon i ride more in December and January.

 

Both mine are SORN'd now till April. Don't fancy the runny nose and sniffing that goes with winter riding.
Maybe I'm getting old before my time, but just for me, going out for a ride while freezing your nuts off, doesn't appeal to me anymore. But for those that go all year round well

 

All year round too, there are still some days that aren’t too bad.

 

I agree with stinger, heated clothing is the key to comfortable cold weather riding. I bought a bikertek heated inner jacket donkeys years ago. It has heated elements in the arms and collar too. I plug it into the accessory socket for power. It's a game changer.

I layer up for the legs. Modern materials allow a double layer to be worn under a pair of decent bike trousers.

 

I am also riding all year long. I am just switching between my two bikes. On the bad days (some rain; without snow and salt) I take the BMW and my Rocket stays at home.

 

Since my registration is annual, I can keep one of the two bikes available if we get a nice day or two in New Jersey. The Trophy SE's wind protection makes it much warmer to ride in cooler weather. Layers and the heated grips keep me comfy. As soon as the salt gets deposited on the roads, I will park them for the winter, but that may be in January.

 

Going SORN at the end of October at 77 years old. My replacement knee freezes and arthritis in hands puts a stop to winter riding. Also the money I save on road tax buys me three tanks of fuel in the next biker season. Us OAP’s have to watch the pennies, now our pension is taxed.

 

All year round for me even at 69. Heated grips make the world of difference along with appropriate clothing. The Welsh mountains make for an exciting ride in the summer but a little more subdued in the winter.

 

Heated grips fitted to the Striple at the beginning of the month. Very pleased with them but can see in really cold conditions handlebar muffs would complete the protection.

Anyway, I have a few years on you youngsters and will be SORNing the bikes at the end of the month.

 

Even in the Scottish Highlands, I'm not giving up yet. I was told that Highland Council have started to pre-grit roads last week, so that will have a bearing on whether I venture out on the bike over everything else.
Nice dry sunny days are still out there, but there are no real bad days, just poor clothing choices. The bike is taxed until January 26, so anything between now and then, is fair game.
January is usually the worst for us up here, so it will be SORN time until the weather behaves again.
4°C this morning, so the shorts are off and I thought I better put a fleece over the tee shirt...

 

Reminds me of those jokes you hear when a storm is coming through -

When high winds see the rest of the country sheltering indoors, in the Highlands it's just a good drying day!
or....
When a storm has severe weather warnings and the rest of the country is thinking about barricading doors and windows, in the Highlands you put on your big coat.

You get the idea!

 

I am an all Year round rider and hopefully out this week with the Staffordshire Triumph guys on Wednesday......last week we did a ride from there shop to the Chain & Sprockets cafe in Ruthin....absolutely fabulous I think there was around 17 bikes....Every Wednesday meet up at 10.45 for an 11 am start and everyone is welcome whether on a triumph or Harley ....if weather looks dubious check on there Facebook page. I don't go Every week, but they normally put on there page on a Tuesday where they're going. I'm 72 and I'll keep winter riding as long as possible....riding is in the blood