Cold Weather is Coming
The lyrical autumn scenery has faded into the stark reality that winter is coming. The leaves have fallen and soon they’ll be raked, burned or forgotten as snow falls along with the temperature.
I have this motorcycle now and am wondering what I’ll do with it this winter. Will I keep it in service or put it to sleep until spring. Those questions have been on my mind. All depends on the cold weather riding limits of the BMW K75.
Cold Weather Riding on a BMW K75
Last week I awoke to 34 degrees Fahrenheit and clear blue skies. Perfect weather to gauge my riding limits with the motorcycle. The BMW K75c, the model I own, is a naked bike save for the small Parabellum windscreen. I have an idea of what I need at this temperature on the Vespa but with less protection, I wasn’t sure what to expect on the motorcycle.
I left the house with the following gear:
- Jeans and insulated overpants
- T-shirt, sweater and First Gear Kilimanjaro IV jacket
- Wool socks and Timberland boots
- Full face helmet
- Leather gloves that I use for cool weather
My only real concern at 34F is my hands and weather the gloves would be warm enough or if I would have to switch to the Gerbing Electric Gloves.
Pleasantly Surprised
Mechanically the BMW K75 runs fine at the colder temperature and I almost felt warm on the bike. Almost.
Granted, there is some heat thrown off the engine but most of the warm feeling was a result of the windscreen’s ability to keep the windblast off my body. And I was pleasantly surprised that my hands did fine in gloves I normally use at 60F. Pulling them off to make a few pictures with a cold camera didn’t even cause too much of a chill.
But then my hands got cold. After 15 miles I could tell that things were going to go downhill if I didn’t stop to warm things up or switch to the electric gloves that were in the pannier. Rather than fiddle around with the electrics for the first time on the road with cold hands, I wimped out and headed for Saint’s Cafe and a hot cup of tea.
Tea and Solitude
I love being the first one in the door to the cafe in the morning. It doesn’t happen that much anymore because of post-retirement slugdom which keeps me in bed longer than necessary. Sitting in my favorite corner with hot tea, a bagel, journal, and iPhone seemed perfect.
It’s the simple things that thrill me these days.
Life in Boalsburg
By the time I neared home the temperature had climbed to 40 degrees and the ride seemed perfect. I had traveled the valley, stopped at Saint’s Cafe, rode a little more and then stopped to admire the little village I call home – Boalsburg. In this little spot, there’s a candy store, wine store, financial advisor and a store that sells bras. And more enterprises just down the street.
Small town America.
Cold Weather Limitations of the BMW K75
I’ve crossed the first hurdle with the motorcycle and cold weather. I can easily ride down to the freezing point without any problem. The next experiment will be the electric gloves. There are two power outlets on the K75 so I just need to configure how I’ll manage the wires to the gloves. I don’t expect miracles though and would be surprised if they’ll be effective to 25 degrees without any sort of protection from the wind. At least that was my experience with the Vespa.
Perhaps I have no business riding the motorcycle below the freezing mark. It’s been suggested to me on the Motobrick.com forum that the bike has issues in cold weather — seals and such. I’ll need to revisit that.
For now, I’m comfortable with the cold weather riding limits of the BMW K75 until the snow flies. From there, who knows.
It’s the time…of the season: November has been my Invincible Summer-of-sorts: being on my own recognizance for the month (Ann is on an artist’s residency in Costa Rica) I gassed up Melody the weekend before last and rode to Philadelphia to her older son and his GF, while also planning to take in the Philly Bicycle Expo and stop by RevZilla to check their HQ out. Only managed two outta three: I left an hour later than planned Saturday morning, and got so enamored while at Zilla that I blew off the bike show for the sake of having more time to hang out with Zee Kids (and their rambunctious dog with an interesting story, starting with her being a street dog in Chile). Had a ball, had dinner in a crazy-good pizza joint, went back to their place to kibbitz some more, then, of course, left for home way later than planned, making my way out of Philly by night (a bit more challenging than by day, I’ll just say), made it over the Betsy Ross Bridge via 95, hit the NJ Turnpike and kept Mel dialed around 70mph for most of the way back. Bike was a champ all the way…the more I push it, the more I love it (and the better it seems to run, although it’s never exactly run badly.
This weekend: Ann had a photo shoot to do at a women’s shelter she volunteers at (teaching art) in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, and I offered to do the shoot in her absence, which also gave me the opportunity to take Melody into Brooklyn for the very first time. But not her first time in NYC proper: I’ve ridden her into Staten Island several times for dental work, which I’ve described in detail on Modern Vespa. The trip over the Verazzano Bridge was uneventful, coming and going. I met up with yet another MV alumnus (Baba12) at a fave watering hole and had a terrific time. Then I rode to a mutual friend of me and Ann who graciously put me up for the night.
Weather-wise, it was probably and opportune moment to do all this: the riding days were not what I’d call balmy, but with the exception of the night ride back from Philly, things were quite pleasant. (I could’ve done with an extra pullover for that one, especially with 80 miles to ride.) Got my share of sweet, fiery roadside foliage, likely the tail-end of it, which I somehow managed to enjoy in spite of my fierce-for-a-scooter velocity.
Very happy your cold-weather experiments with the Beemer are (mostly) working out. i now have a second pair of gloves for cold-ish weather, but still plan on getting bar-muffs. Also bought more of the thermals I loved last year while Costco still had ’em: won’t ride without them when temps go noticeably below 50.
It sounds as if your life is pretty busy right now. Riding, photo shoots, writing. Also much fun. Glad the ride across the Verazzano Bridge was uneventful. That bridge and the Golden Gate are the ones I hear most about from scooter riders. And then usually something dramatic just short of being blown off into the water.
Always nice to meet a fellow MV alum. I’ve had the pleasure a few times. Good people though I’m not sure if it’s the forum, Vespa or both!
Night rides. I fear my aging eyes have robbed me of the desire to ride at night. A high speed run from Philly to your home would seem an ordeal. I suppose I can see alright but I don’t feel I can peer into the darkness as well for those groups of deer waiting to cause trouble…
I’m good with the BMW to the freezing mark with the gear I have. Will just have to pull out the heavier gloves. Before I invest in Hippo Hands or some other wind buster I’ll have to think hard if I’ll retire the bike for the winter or not.
As I write this it’s 5:30 a.m. and 65 degrees. Florida Fall I suppose. The high today projected to be 84 degrees. I wish I could check out the VTX1300 cold weather capabilities but that won’t happen until January. Your “life in Small Town America” sounds and looks wonderful Steve. Wonderful photo taken in Sant’s Cafe! I was there mentally but with coffee.
84F. I’ll take if for a few days. Yesterday morning it was 18F here. I’m not ready for that.
I need to get to Saint’s Cafe more often!
Your K bike has such classic lines, not as classic as an R bike of course 😉
I’ve tried heated gloves, didn’t like the wires. I prefer grip covers, heated grips and summer gloves within. I’ve found once my hands get cold, the fun part is over for a ride. Can’t imagine the K bike would have major issues with riding in the cold….
Your R bike does have classic lines. And perhaps has the classic edge because it’s older. I’ll give you that.
I don’t like the wires on the electric gloves either but will put up with them to stay warm. If any part of me gets cold the ride begins to suck. I’m surprised how often I’m able to ride most of the day sometimes with temperatures in the teens and not get cold. But that was the past. Not sure my body is as cold tolerant anymore.
Admire your cold weather riding enthusiasm Steve. Suitably garbed and equipped, clear roads with a sunny disposition and I’m willing. Once the roads have been brined and or salted though I am pretty much done for the season. I have Gerbing gloves and though a bit cumbersome they have been most effective at keeping my hands comfy, more so than the heated grip option. Truth be told, the ease of the heated grips do make them the go to. My R90/6 is Parrabellum Windshield equipped and I love it. Stay warm eh 👍
Well, let’s say my cold weather riding at the moment with the BMW is experimental. Not sure how much enthusiasm I have yet. In past years I didn’t seem to break stride riding as the weather got colder. This year I sense a wall. Will likely take more time to adapt or come around mentally. Where I used to get up, feel it’s cold, and say to myself, “I’m going for a ride.” Now it seems the morning conversation is, “I’m going to turn up the furnace.”
No salt or brine yet. Probably won’t subject the BMW to that. The Vespa has been punished with the stuff from the start so that won’t change. I’ll put the bar muffs on and the apron and will be ready for winter. And will likely put the snow tires on as well.
I like the heated grips on the Vespa but they aren’t much help when the temperature drops below freezing. The bar muffs are magic though. At 20F with them and the heated grips I can ride all day with my thin, summer leather gloves. One toasty body part and winter evaporates.
It takes a certain level of motivation to ride in the cold. It takes a pile of fussing to dress with the additional gear in the cold. In the regular work day I focus on work so I can’t take 20 minutes to prep for riding. You know what I mean. On the other hand it’s sunny out right now and its very pretty riding I’m sure so I know I should stop
work and ride my motorcycle before the ice arrives. Paul
Once I get all the gear laid out and ready I can get put together in about five minutes. Still, it seems unbearably long at times. It’s been pretty cold this week. And some snow in the air. I think the ice won’t be far off now.
I also like the Saints Cafe photo.
I have a lot of opinions on cold weather riding, as you may expect. The Gerbing heated gloves are nice though the wiring is fragile. Not the thin heating wires but the connecting wires. Wind blocking items such as Hippo Hands work well especially when paired with a heat source. Heated grips keep the palms warm but not the back of your hands. Heated gloves keep the back of your hand warm but without something to block the wind, that heat is quickly lost. But at only freezing, the Hippo Hands, or something similar to block the wind, is enough even with summer gloves. Or use the Gerbing gloves. There were times I would use the Gerbing gloves and the Aerostitch rain over gloves. That combination works pretty well especially if there is moisture involved. Add heated grips and you’re fine down to about 0°F. Add the heated gloves and you’ll have toasty warm hands well below that point.
The heated grips and the Hippo Hands have the advantage of no additional gear is needed though the Hippo Hands do make it impossible to see the controls.
Nothing as compelling to me as an empty cafe. When I walk in there during the day it’s packed. I just turn around and move on.
I’ve been lucky with the Gerbing gloves. No connecting wire issues but I did have a failure with the heating wires in the gloves themselves. Gerbing stood by their warranty and sent me a new pair. That was nice.
I agree with you about the need to block the wind to keep hands warm. The Tucano Urbano bar muffs are excellent at that. With the heated grips inside light gloves work for all but the coldest days. And if I have the heated gloves on things can really get hot when the wind isn’t sucking away the heat.
On the Vespa the controls are simple and I can see everything because the controls remain outside of the muffs. It would be a different story on the BMW. Another reason I may not try to ride in really cold weather.
Cold weather….I can’t even comment when the temperature drops below 67 in the blog.
I would love a few 67F days to ride Ken. It was 18F yesterday morning. I went to breakfast with a friend and he was shocked I arrived in the car. In the past, I would not have blinked at riding at that temperature. Now I can’t imagine it. Yet. Time will tell.
I’ll try and post some things that don’t reveal the temperature so you can imagine a comfortable ride!