Only idiots ride in the snow. Or so I’ve been told.
It was running through my head this morning when Junior and I headed out the door for a morning romp with the temperature hovering just below the zero mark. We found enough ice and snow here and there on the road to convince me to take the truck into town for a late morning meeting. I could have ridden but couldn’t summon the adventurer. I had to be content hurling a tennis ball for 45 minutes while I got cold and Junior got warmed up.
Made the portrait of Junior with cold hands and the iPhone.
Not to say I haven’t been on the road trying out the new Heidenau K66 LT Snowtex tires. They are everything I hoped for and more. For loose, unpacked snow they are pretty amazing. Almost no feeling of the front tire about to slip out. Just a solid, confident movement.
Keep in mind movement at a slow pace. If you think snow tires will let you race through snow on a road with traffic, well, think again. Or think, “Only idiots ride in the snow.”
I got the tires to reduce the risk of sliding during the winter when the roads are mostly clear but cold, at temperatures where conventional tires loose traction. In that regard they’re great. No idiocy here.
I also wanted to have the tires for those times when I unexpectedly am faced with snow on the road. The beginnings of a snowfall where I still need to get home. Times when the road is wet, slushy, or just beginning to be covered with snow. A temporary ride to get to shelter. Again, these tires make a big difference.
While they help in this sort of snow I have no illusions of their performance on ice, or even hard packed snow. The scooter isn’t heavy enough to dig in and there is no magic in the tires. Any riding in those situations (and I’ve done it) is a fool’s errand. You need to assume a lot of risk.
Unless you have one of those motorcycles with a sidecar.
But I like being out in the winter and for long periods of time the roads are largely clear. So why store the Vespa away to wait for spring. Careful planning, riding, technique, and the right equipment can make this time of year pretty nice.
Now I just need to work on getting my butt off the couch and ride. Maybe tomorrow morning. It should only be a few degrees below zero…
Steve,
Sometimes this idiot gets caught in a situation where riding in the snow happens. Like you, I don’t seek them out, but still they can happen. I’m glad to hear that the Heidenau tires are working. I don’t like that “feeling of the front tire about to slip out.”
Be safe and watch out for that pesky gravel I hear they spread around in PA to help traction 🙂
~Keith
Idiot? Crazy maybe. I didn’t know that others made tires with carbide bits in them. My son has a set on his car and they seem to really help.
I’ve only been caught twice in falling snow and slick roads. Managed to stay upright until I stopped in front of the garage door. I forgot to put it in neutral before releasing the clutch…
Richard
Dear Scooter In The Sticks (Steve):
I’m delighted you’re out playing in the snow. I can’t believe you put snow tires on that scooter for this season. It is so damn cold in the garage that I sent Leslie out to check the battery tender on the Beemer.
My friend and moto mentor Brian Curry showed up in my driveway yesterday on a 1994 BMW K75 RT. It was the coldest day of the winter here (so far), the driveway was covered with icy patches, and the street was inches deep with gravel. I would take my bike out in this stuff if I needed a liver transplant and the K75 was the only way to get it.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Circle Blue: Almost got caught today in a bad riding decision. Had checked the weather forecast on my phone but had not looked outside. Was all ready to go until I saw snow falling. So the Vespa stayed in the garage…
RichardM: I used to run studded tires on my 2WD truck in the winter. They make and amazing difference on snow and ice. But not so good on dry roads for the studs or the road.
I hope you didn’t ride through your garage door!
My dear Mr. Riepe: I don’t think I have ever asked Kim to check my Battery Tender. Or anything else on the Vespa for that matter. Perhaps I need to change the situation…
I would never want to be on a snowy road on a motorcycle. Too heavy, and too hard to get away from if the bike has to go down.
A scooter is a more rational alternative for irrational plans.
Don’t know how you do it! I tried riding cold weather and just feeling the way the tires were cold and hard and NOT sticking to the road scared the bee jeebies outta me.
I could feel if I leaned just a wee bit more, the whole scooter was going down.
Mind you there was no snow, just cold. So add in the snow… and I can’t imagine that challenge. Of course a BV500 is a taller scooter so maybe center of gravity has something to do with it. Keep riding and keep blogging.
steve..sometimes an idiot has to go to work..at 5am in snow ice and fog”all good fun ..mark ,grimsby,england.and we had a bad winter this year.
i rode a BMW R50 for 10 years every winter in a town along the Ohio river
in western West Virginia 1974 to 1984
one wrap of dog chain helps on hills but bumps a lot if you go to fast on a bare road
it is a first and second gear ride.
Car drivers get there knickers in a twist when you go up a hill they all get stuck on
i have rode across a parking lot that was so slick you had to crawl to get in the
building i was going to 🙂 no sidecar the 3rd wheel hold you back and makes it hard to go
unless its powered
Dave
I’ve daydreamed about passing cars on a snowy hill. Chains. Hadn’t thought of that. I did consider studs on my winter tires on the Vespa. But chains… how exactly did you wrap a dog chain?
small length of number 9 chain and a piece of garden hose
a short 1/4 -20 bolt and 2 flat warshers 2 nuts
hose protects the rim chain around tire bolt on side away from chain or driveshaft
the nuts are jamed tight aginst eatch other to hold it
only 1 chain loop to much thump if more that 1 loop
Hmmm, I’ll have to think about that…