Winter in the Pacific NW

Generally speaking, motorcycling is a year round activity in the great Pacific NW. This year has been the exception! We have had at least 3 storm systems come through that has dumped a LOT of snow on Seattle and the surrounding areas. Seattle is not well equiped to deal with snow and ice removal - so even a couple inches of snow brings things to a halt. I had 26" of snow at my house!

Having to cage it meant that I have been kind of slow posting here. A new dear friend reminded me that I should post soon. Thank you S!

I thought I would make up for it by posting some suggestions on prepping your bike for winter riding.

If you are like me, your bike is a cherished possesion - something that possibly gets more attention than the family dog! Because of this unnatural affection, many of us would prefer to not take our babies out in the wet, sand covered streets. It doesn't have to be this way.

Note that everything is on top of normal maintenance. Your ride should be up to date on all services.

Tires: Slippery roads require more grip. Sporty rubber is great - but must be warmed up to provide optimum grip. Sport touring tires tend to have a wider range of operating temperatures. No matter what is on your ride, ride extra carefully while your tires are warming up!

Lights: In this part of the world, days are often overcast. Yet another reason to make sure all lights are in proper working order. Clean the lenses after EVERY ride! If you have been thinking of upgrading your lights, LEDs are great for turn signals and running lights. HIDs are great for increasing your visibility! Be sure to check with your local LEO on the HIDs - not all areas allow them.

Weather protection: A decent windscreen/windshield can redirect a lot of the rain and cold air without having to bend in unnatural ways. Fortunately, these are relatively inexpensive aftermarket parts.

Cold Hands: Hands are probably the most exposed part of your body while riding. Fitted hand guards will help deflect some of the cold/wet. I highly recommend heated grips! I have heated grips on all my bikes.

Mudguards: I saw these at the Internation Motocycle Show in Seattle this year. Basically, they work like a trucks mudflaps work. A small piece of plastic or rubber like material minimizes the spray from your front wheel on to your engine. My Harley has a full front fender - but my sport bikes don't. I suspect these will keep a lot of crude from the "delicate bits".

Coolant: For water cooled bikes, make sure you are running with antifreeze! I know I often will run distilled water on track days (depending on the track). Riding a water only bike in freezing temps is a fast way to ring up some big mechanical problems!

Chain: For bikes that are chain driven, proper lube is essential! I recommend the silicon based chain lubes (especially in the winter time).

Reflectors: Habor Freight sells a very cheap (~$10) reflective vest that will help you be seen. Cagers seeing bikes is a problem all the time - but even more pronounced during the winter season. A cheap reflective vest makes the bike (ok - the rider) more visible.

Storage: Obviously, best is to store your bike in a covered space that won't be subject to freezing temperatures. You may want to consider getting a cover as well. The cover will help keep the seat from freezing and will also keep dust and dirt from soiling your ride while it rests in the garage. If it must be exposed to the elements, an all weather motorcycle cover is highly recommended.

After the ride: If possible, rinse your bike with cold water after the ride. Especially true in areas that use salt for snow control. Rinsing will help get rid of any salt that has found its way to the metal bits. Even if you live in an area that doesn't use salt (like Seattle), rinsing will flush away some of the grime that is very hard to clean when you are ready for that springtime detail cleaning you will do.

Ride safe!