I agree with Fred. That's why I left Illinois for Georgia. But, I have to admit, it sure feels like Illinois down here the past two days. Boy am I a sissy now!

 

Par for the course.

 

YEP crazy people need a place to live also. LOL

 

My previous post aside, I do enjoy being able to ride my Harley more than 3 months out of the year in comfort. In Alaska he best I ever got was 11,000 miles on my bike a few summers but, that was pushing it hard.

Too early in the Spring riding and getting splashed with slush puddles from cars riding in the grooves of the lanes. And then when the dog excrement thawed and ran off into the street to be splashed on you also... that got to be too much. One time I got home and realized the smell was in my leathers. Fortunately I had worn a bandanna over my lower face but all that did was strain the particles out.

Late Fall riding and getting frost nipped with temps to -20°F not including the self induced wind chill. I figured if snow machiners got out in that kind of weather then I could too. Once when I got caught out during a snap cold spell (temp went from pleasant 42°F to -5°F in a matter of 2 hours) I got so desperate I bought a package of baby diapers to wrap around my face and chest for insulation.

Now I use some of my cold weather gear from AK to ride year round in OK. I get laughed at sometimes but then I just turn to them that laugh and ask; "Who's the one shivering?"

Basically if there's no ice on the roads, I ride!!

 

Hello from Northern MN. 58 degrees? That's shirt sleeve weather up here. We're at 1 degree tonight shooting for a low of -9 degrees. Snow is getting deep. Weather says -18 degrees by Sunday night. Good night to be inside searching for truck parts.



Dave
1953 F-250 Marmon-Herrington 4x4
1974 F-250 4x4
1976 Gran Torino LE 460 "Starsky & Hutch"
1979 F-100 4x4
1995 F-350 Centurion Crewcab Dually 4x4 PSD
2008 F-350 King Ranch Crewcab 6.4 4x4

"Plan for the worst, expect the best, accept what comes"

 

Basically, if it's above 60 and not going to rain, I think about riding-and actually do so about 1,000 miles per year...or less.

 

Why?It's just starting to warm up here! Was almost 40, t-shirt weather. Loving it.

 

I bought this 2011 FLHXSE2 on Sept 25th and already have over 3000 miles on it. The 2006 FLHXI I traded for it was barely 4 years old with 63,000 miles on it. MY previous bike to that one was a 2004 FLH which had 29,000 on it after 2 years when I traded it in. Prior to that was a 1987 FXSTC bought brand new in Sep 1986 which had over 195,000 when I sold it!!

 

Snow and wind all day. I went out late this afternoon to check my cattle. Head count was one short. Murphy's law--I found her up in the woods with her newborn calf which no doubt would have frozen to death if I hadn't found it. Carried it to the barn and locked them up with hay and water. Seems like they always drop those calves when the white stuff is on the ground. More snow tonight and tomorrow. But nothing like you guys up north have. Cabin fever is killing me.

 

I'm impressed! I'm up to 17,000 miles on my 86 Yam*^%$# Maxim X; your seat must be more comfortable than mine! I honestly don't have that many places to go to. But, I'm getting ready to install my second set of tires.

 

Since saturday night the windchill has not gotten above zero and right now it is zero out with a wind chill of -10. Lucky for me I work from home as I have not been out of the house since then and probably won't leave until weds. Yeah it is damn cold but I also have health issues so that gives me a good excuse to stay inside where it is warm... ;-)

Also the truck is inside a warm garage waiting for me. Can't wait...

 

I remember one winter back during the late 1980's. I was living in Anchorage and there was a nation wide cold spell. Temps were to -35°F there for three weeks.

I had to go to Fairbanks one week for training and to Phoenix the next week. While in Fairbanks the temp got to -75°F with a wind chill to -95°F and the dew point was at -60°F.

The week I was in Phoenix it was 60°F in AZ and I was in the outdoor pool taking a little dip one evening when some folks walked by wearing parkas and looking at me like I was weird until they found out I was from AK.

It's 19°F here and I am riding my bike to work this morning.

 

O/T for sure but a guy at work rides his '98 Heritage Classic everywhere, all year, and has 215k on it. Never had the heads or barrels off. That is just unbelievable compared to bikes of even the '80's, a real testament to modern oil and materials. He got his money's worth out of the extended warranty!

I could ride a lot more in the winter, but then I'd never get a chance to drive my other toys!

 

Now I get it, for you this is a snowmobile without the snow?? It was 9 degrees here this morning when I went to work and on the way I was hoping not to see anybody on a bike. But, in another 51 degrees, I'll be all over it!

 

Bingo!!! Give the man a cigar!! If snowmachiners can run in sub zero weather then all I have to do is dress warmly and Viola! Comfortable riding in almost any weather. I have a Columbia snow machine suit I wear that is bright Teal with Red and Purple on it and some call me a giant smurf when I wear it. To them I reply; "Who's shivering?" Lol!