One word: Gerbings Jumping out of airplanes and abusing my body is starting to take its toll. I don't handle cold like I used to. So I rode up to the Gerbings factory in Stoneville NC a few months ago to see what all the hype was about. Needless to say, I was impressed. So I threw some money into an American business and got back into riding all winter again. Heated gear changed my life.
Can't remember ever being that cold here,..was 28c today and 30c tomorrow. Oh the pain... ..The current US weather looks psychotic. Poor bastards.
So I sold my car back in mid december and have been on the Terra ever since. I can now put my coldest day as 7 degrees with some wind chill factor in the negatives. I learned that below 25ish, the ignition will freeze. Couldn't turn the key or remove the key until I poured a bit of boiling water on it, then promptly hit it with wd40 to displace the water. Been having to go through that routine every time I leave work.
This same exact thing happened to me when my Terra was not covered. I don't have this issue when I use a bike cover.
I've been on mine in the sub-25 days several times, and never had an issue. I do park it under a carport at night though.
Mine's totally fine in my basement. By the time I get to work (15 min ride through downtown atlanta) the key is guaranteed to be frozen stuck. If you manage to get it out, the pins in the tumbler will probably be frozen in place so when you re-insert it, they won't engage properly and you can't turn the bike on. Even if the darn thing isn't wet prior to riding, it will freeze. I think I'm on a week straight of that happening now.
I can't or won't or just don't take most things as I did when younger. I think I can feel laziness now and understand why so many like it. With that said and understood, after a life of responsibility and busting my buttt, I'm too happy to just let the world go right on by and I'll catch up later -- When I rode in WA, I knew almost the exact temps I could street ride or dirt bike ride and still be somewhat comfortable ... Street riding was about 50 degrees or so and no rain of course. Below that 50 number and it was getting a little brutal ... Dirt riding allows a lot lower temps as you keep warm moving around on the bike and not so much direct head winds...I would draw the line at above 32 degrees ... It just takes too much away from the riding out there when the weather was such a factor. -- Wasn't a total puss back in the states due to the weather ... My cool 02 CR250 and my supercab Ford 4x4 at Wilkersons in WA state. Just a little hole in the wall place to go ride.
This baffles the crap out of me. I ride 30 miles to work, most of it at 55-65mph. I did it twice this week at 10 degrees. My ignition has never even felt close to freezing. I ride in the rain frequently, so if water could get in, it certainly would.
