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preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 9:37 am
by ross46
Right, just got into college this morning in the coldest day so far, and it got me thinking.... what can be done to make it easier and warmer e.g. went to look behind me and all I got was glare from the low sun, could you get something to stop this? uv reactive pinlock comes to mind. I already have a pinlock, windjammer 2, neck tubes, spada enforcer gloves and heated grips. what else can you guys think of to put on a Christmas list? mine so far is motorcycle cover so I don't have to dry the seat every day and a new pinlock as mine is past its best, a visor cleaning kit and some of the water repellent spray for visor and mirrors, though the cover will stop the mirror problem. any and all contributions welcome, though ude ones will just be ignored

Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:12 am
by banner001
my helmet has an integrated sun visor, it wasnt that dark so ive stuck a bit of darkened visor film on it...works very well.
UV reactive stuff is not quick enough for what you want, it might take 5 seconds to react fully...you will only be checking behind you for 1-2 seconds max.
if you do long distances im told that heated gear is really nice, so boots, trousers and jacket.
ive got my bar muffs and thats all im using at the moment, unless i was doing constant long distances i dont need a neck tube or heated grips, its just not cold enough here, although i do bust out my held rain suit if its very cold - excellent wind protection, im sweltering after 5 minutes.
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 11:19 am
by CaNsA
To college I wear my badass scary as f*** you in the face dark visor, but i keep my boring clear visor in my bag.
As for the cold, get some decent textiles and wear a neck buff.
I do need new gloves though, I've had the same pair for about 3 years.
Handy hint.
Keep a spare pair of dry clean socks in a water proof bag and change into them when you reach your destination - Instant toasty toes, I guarantee it.
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 4:19 pm
by ross46
I'm liking this, got a set of waterproofs, will get a tinted pinlock rather than shell out for a new visor, I always wear a buff, though will keep a spare pair of socks in a bag, wet socks normally isn't a problem, but found my inner gloves this morning

will also get rid of the 3 screens ive got and get myself a double bubble, helps alot, and looking at a pair of spada textile bottoms, though they only seem to have XL, XXL or ladies medium or small, might have to get a pair of scissors and get rid of the label

Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:08 pm
by ross46
anything else you guys do? change anything on the bike, was previously thinking about upping the front sprocket to calm the acceleration and using organic pads that aren't as aggressive (though apparently toad), I need a double bubble screen to keep the rain of my chest. any other mods you guys do? need to keep a towel with me to sort wet seat etc, Thanks, a cold and wet Ross
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:35 pm
by CaNsA
you could try growing a penis.....
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 2:52 pm
by KwakKwak
CaNsA wrote:you could try growing a penis.....
Katy Perry, ultra growth, guaranteed.
Years and years ago I pulled up at a set of lights and was so cold and tense I just fell sideways with my LC, it was tremendously cool, the car drivers around me must have been pissing themselves, the sheer embarrassment soon warmed me up. I find some gentle movement and stretching to wake the old body up helps, alot of the problems are being tense and thinking about how miserable you feel, mind over matter.
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:50 pm
by ross46
Which would you rather hear of someone doing? making sure that i'm warm and dry, or riding around on codeine,tramadol, diazapam, gabapentin, buprenorphine and morphine because my back has gone into spasm due to the cold. i also see no point in having to take a load of extra clothes because your soaking wet, or crashing because your hands are so cold that your reflexes aren't fast enough. And i'm no longer changing the sprockets or pads, just having fun with the back spinning up and seeing everyones shocked faces as i exit the school sideways.
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 2:14 am
by KwakKwak
Bad back and cold, bad mix, full agreement. Warmth is in the base layer, Berghaus do some great base tops, ecstatic range from memory, I hike in them, you can wear all the top layers you want, but without the correct base layer, they won't work nearly as well.
Also keep moving your hands about, like I said, one tends to tense up and grip too hard, the clench tension from the cold will be aiding your spasm, gritted teeth etc, horrible. Think of something warm, a lovely black coffee and a ciggie, served up by Katy.

Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 4:02 am
by CaNsA
ross46 wrote: And i'm no longer changing the sprockets or pads, just having fun with the back spinning up and seeing everyones shocked faces as i exit the school sideways.
If the back wheel spins up then you need to improve your clutch control.
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 11:45 am
by ross46
Not pulling off, just accelerating, still running a rosso 2 on the back
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 3:29 pm
by KwakKwak
KwakKwak wrote:Berghaus do some great base tops, ecstatic range
Xstatic is the range, buy one and be warmer. Mine spins up nicely in the wet, easy cure, less throttle

Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 4:18 pm
by cargo
I started a race at the MGP on my ZX6R.............it was sunny....................SuperCorsa Pros or whatever...............
On the way up the hill out of Union Mills 2 miles into the lap I ran into a wall of rain it was torrential................flat out.
There's a small crest near the top of that hill and as I came over it the rear wheel spun up the revs jumped and I made a mess in my leathers....................throttle pinned throughout
did the same next lap too
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 5:59 pm
by KwakKwak
Leathers for sale, almost mint and really really cheap
Just realised that means there was some yellow on the 6r, consistency, good job.
Re: preparing you and your bike for winter
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 9:19 pm
by ross46
Pretty much sorted now. Ride to Luton yesterday to donate blood for the interval study. Was pissing down with rain. Wore my waterproofs, got some textiles for Christmas. Had on my thermals so was nice and toasty, and in the back, another thermal top, inner gloves and spare socks (thanks Cansa). Only thing I need really is one of the muc-off visor cleaners to get the dirt and stuff off the visor when you stop