But understated bragging…. that is going to require some personal reflection. Damn.

Methinks you might like complaining as a way of understated bragging. Most folks are complaining that they can’t get out of a chair because their joints get stiff when they sit a while. Or, when you ask how they are, they give you an organ recital. Not us!

It’s kind of cool to say that riding in ten degree weather and snow is a pain in the butt, isn’t it?

Geez…

I was excited about the snow. Just not in a positive way.

anonymous: Same here. When I get to work in the cold the most likely two-wheeled vehicle is another scooter. A Yamaha Vino most of the time. And another guy on campus rides a Vespa PX150 in everything — heavy snow, bitter cold, the works.

nigel: I only have 9600 miles on the GTS. No big rides this summer has kept me in the commuter mileage range. I would have thought when I hit the two year mark in January that I would have had about 16K on the odometer. Now I guess I will barely hit 11K.

I do ride year round commuting to work. I only ride when the roads are completely snow covered if I get caught on the road in an unexpected snowfall.

And my low temperature limit is 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Orin: My temperature reading is always about 2 degrees warmer than the bank sign temperature readouts. When I get close to freezing I just watch carefully and adjust my speed, especially in turns, accordingly. It’s an additional risk but one I am comfortable taking. And the roads I ride on are rural for the most part with far less traffic to factor than those of you riding in more congested areas.

paul martin: Frostybutt. That’s a good one!

The riders I work with have long stopped kidding me about the scooter or riding in the cold. Most are fair weather riders and I certainly understand the enjoyment they get from that. Riding in the cold is about something different and just not for everyone. And riding a big machine creates a different set of challenges if the chance for slippery surfaces exists.

chewy: A sound plan. Plenty of dry days here in winter.

demonio: Me too. No question despite my complaining at times.

bobskoot: I’m really careful riding on dark, cold, mornings. Once the temperature hits the freezing mark a whole new world of possibilities arise. Fogging visors just adds to the things that can distract a rider. Like you, I employ different breathing patterns, especially when stopped. Sometimes I think I might pass out as I try to slow my breathing way down…

And thanks again for the tip on the stitched images. It worked!

Ike: I’ve seen pictures of the GTS300 Super but I don’t think we’ll get them here in the US. Sounds like a great machine.

I’ve thought about a windscreen for my GTS but have never really liked the way they look. And since I am photographing the scooter all the time I felt it would affect my brain *grin*. Talk about a stupid decision making process.

So in the cold I just take the wind blast by wearing more layers. I’ve ridden motorcycles with windscreens and know exactly how beneficial they are. I’m afraid vanity has affected my decision to not have one and not any real intelligent consideration…

BTW Steve, my hat’s off to you. My lower temperature limit for riding is 35° F… at that point bridges and shaded areas could be at freezing or below.

How many miles do you have on your scooter? Do you usually ride year round, or just until it gets too cold?