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Author Topic: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?  (Read 2320 times)

ambrose78

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What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« on: March 08, 2010, 09:10:04 PM »
Sometimes one wants more than 8 choices but here are some common forecasts anyway.

Basically what conditions or forecast conditions will affect whether you will continue to ride or seek alternative plans or modes of transport. If caught out with weather then one just rides on through or preferably puts a rain coat or whatever on and continues on.

I will still set off rinding in most conditions except:
*Above 40 degrees because hydration is a real issue. I won't ride without my jacket so if it is too hot to wear it I wont ride.
*Heavy rain forecast
*Rain - as in consistent rain forecast
*High winds I'll think twice depending on the trip.

Darwin_R65

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2010, 03:29:03 AM »
I wonder what your definition of rain forecast is?

Darwin can sometimes get 200mm in an afternoon during monsoons. :)

Offline dav

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2010, 05:29:33 AM »
Iam with you Pete about the heat, thats why i HATE summer. Heavy rain does't bother me at all but if hail follows it it's time to pull over & watch the show. High winds are different (to me anyway) it all depends where you are, in the city, open country etc..  
BMW R65 ?1981
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Hunsta

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2010, 06:42:38 AM »
Up here in Sunny Queensland................. ;D Sorry I just have to gather myself again. rain is to be expected this time of year so if youve got to ride somewhere, you just ride. But if your a sunday ride the sweepers to the bikers coffee stop then rain is just a put off. I mean who the hell wants to go out and trundle along just to buy a coffee and get wet.
I agree that you could have more than 8 choices, but the choices given  for the hot or cold conditions are the extreme limits.

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2010, 10:29:02 AM »
I wear my deerskin leather jacket, up until the overnight lows are about 65F. (18C), then the Joe Rocket jacket comes out for the 'hot season' .

Temperatures here in Phoenix on average reach 100 F (38C) by early to mid May.

Then settle into a predictable 105-110 F (41-43C) temperature range .

There's the occasional temperature 'spikes' to 115-120 F (46-49C), in June and July .

The hottest I've ridden my R65 in, is 128 F (53C), that was in Lake Havasu City, Arizona ( the new home to the London Bridge), in June 1994 .

When the temps get above the 105 F (41C) mark, I only ride to and from work, no long rides, unless you get out by 0500 and are home by 1100 .
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
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Offline Barry

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2010, 10:42:05 AM »
If it's dryish in the morning and showers are forecast I will still use the bike for work and put the cover on when I get there. Last place I worked at there was a proper covered bike shed which was great. I'm lobbying for one at the school but its not likely to happen.   During the school holidays I can always get it under cover.  
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45

Aristotle

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2010, 11:20:54 AM »
I personnnaly like to ride in rainy-type of weather. I even ride in thunderstorms simply b/c I have this all-weather type of suit that I purchased for about $650 bucks CAN.
It's proven to be quite worthwhile in using.

I recall one time, I was on the highway and all of a sudden it started to hail.
The hail, for the 1st few seconds or so was fairly light, and then it started to hail down fairly hard. So hard in fact that the road was covered in hail. Like it was snowing or something.
Man, did I have to pull over pretty quick.

I think I had to wait for about 1/2 hour or so before I figured I could continue onwards.

The only thing while riding with this all -weather type suit is that during the summer, you have to take the inside liner out and just wear your shorts instead...the thing keeps me nice and comfy throughout the ride.

ambrose78

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2010, 04:02:55 AM »
Gee Bob,

53 degrees C! Bet you don't want to do that again in a hurry.

I though my ride on a 45-46 degree day in the blaring sun in January 2009  about a week after buying my r65 was crazy enough! But 53!

On that day the original clutch cable snapped at the edge to the royal national park on the way into Sydney.  I can assure you it is not pleasant pushing the bike though intersections in that heat to get going again after copping another red light.

Still I became very skillful at riding along at idle in 1st for as long as possible to mitigate the chances of actually stopping.

After that experience, I question riding any day above 40 degrees. I'm not sure the bike likes hot temps either.

Darwin_R65

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2010, 06:07:14 AM »
Pete haven't tried it with a motorbike, but the old HG Kingswood I used to own did a clutch once. I'd put the brake on coming to an intersection and the car would stall. Then put it in first, and when the lights changed take off on the starter motor until the engine kicked in. Then pick my revs for gear changes. It got me home, and I didn't have to push. Was very grateful I didn't have to push.

For non-ozzies Kingswood was a car made by Holden

SCJJR65

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2010, 07:29:13 AM »
Since I commute Mon-Fri and don't own a car or truck, I ride regardless of the forecast.  The only exception is if there is already ice on the roads around where we live, and then my wife will either let me drive her car to work, or take me and pick me up (which she doesn't like to do so much, since I work from 3-11pm).  Fortunately for me living here in the south, we get only a small amount of snow and ice!   ;)

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2010, 10:53:57 AM »
Quote
Gee Bob,

53 degrees C! Bet you don't want to do that again in a hurry.

I though my ride on a 45-46 degree day in the blaring sun in January 2009  about a week after buying my r65 was crazy enough! But 53!

On that day the original clutch cable snapped at the edge to the royal national park on the way into Sydney.  I can assure you it is not pleasant pushing the bike though intersections in that heat to get going again after copping another red light.

Still I became very skillful at riding along at idle in 1st for as long as possible to mitigate the chances of actually stopping.

After that experience, I question riding any day above 40 degrees. I'm not sure the bike likes hot temps either.


I was with another rider, we made the decision to turn back, we only got about 10 miles from Lake Havasu City, and according to the thermometer the other rider had on his bike, it was getting hotter !

We left the next morning at 0330, it was still above 100 F. (38C) at that time .

It was my first summer riding in the desert, I have learned a lot in the last 17 years of living in Phoenix .
« Last Edit: March 10, 2010, 10:55:00 AM by Bob_Roller »
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline Ed Miller

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2010, 11:48:19 AM »
Quote
Since I commute Mon-Fri and don't own a car or truck, I ride regardless of the forecast.  The only exception is if there is already ice on the roads around where we live, and then my wife will either let me drive her car to work, or take me and pick me up (which she doesn't like to do so much, since I work from 3-11pm).  Fortunately for me living here in the south, we get only a small amount of snow and ice!   ;)

I had ice this morning and yesterday, so I took the car.  If it's not raining I can run this afternoon and ride tomorrow.
Ed Miller
'81 r65
Falls City, OR

azcycle

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2010, 03:05:03 PM »
Rode home in the rain yesterday.  I'm not sure about other places, but when Tucson's roads are wet, it seems peoples' brains leak out of their heads.  Their driving (which is not that great to begin with) just becomes irrationally stupid.

Offline Motu

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Re: What weather 4cast conditions will you still ride?
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2010, 11:34:37 PM »
If I was commuting,I'd ride every day regardless of weather....I commute on pushbike,so ride that everyday regardless.

Sometimes I will ride in the rain,even stormy weather....but prefer nice days.