1. Bring on the Cool Weather

Greetings, Cruisers,
As winter approaches, falling temperatures will ground a lot of motorcycles till spring. But plummeting mercury doesn't have to confine you to four wheels. For a little wise counsel on autumn and winter riding, I spoke with Cruiser Customizing Vice President of Operations Bill Perrin. Born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Bill has a sound knowledge of cold weather cruising. Bill's been a dedicated rider for some forty years now, and his collective odometer isn't too far shy of the million-mile mark. This father of three is a past and current MSF instructor who rides to work each day. Bill's wife of seventeen years also rides, and the Perrin family owns four big bikes: a newer 1800cc Gold Wing, a 1998 BMW R1100 RTP (that's the Highway Patrol "authority" model) and "his and hers" 1500cc Suzuki Intruders. Here are Bill's suggestions for…

Extending the Riding Season

When we ride we're exposed to the elements. When it's colder or rain threatens, we can't switch on the heater or turn on the windshield wipers. Jumping into the car or truck is an easy solution, but there goes our chance to ride.

CruiserCustomizing's VP of Operations, Bill Perrin, shares his advice on cold weather riding gear Memphis Shades windshields provide the necessary wind protection and are available in many styles and colors. First Gear offers excellent riding apparel. Milwaukee Gunslinger Chaps are perfect for cruiser riders. Protect your neck and face from the elements with the Schampa double-layer Neckgaiter The High-N-Dry 2-Piece Rainsuit by River Road is available in yellow or black, you don't want to leave your house without having a rain suit in your saddlebags. First Gear's Commander gloves with 3M Thinsulate insulation are waterproof and block the wind. One of motorcycling's best innovations: heated gloves from Widder. Batter Tender Plus trickle charger. Your battery will thank you.

Some of my best rides have been in cooler weather when there is less traffic on the road, the air is crisp and clean and there are fewer bugs. Being from Wisconsin, I'm familiar with cold weather. Actually, when I was young, I couldn't afford a car so I just road year round. Staying warm was far more challenging since high-tech riding solutions just didn't exist way back when. Sometimes in really cold weather I would don a bulky snowmobile suit, but shifting can be a real chore in Sorrel boots. (And I won't even touch on the four pairs of gloves I needed to keep numbness out of the fingers!)

For me it has taken a little trial and error to find out what makes cool weather rides truly enjoyable. But once I figured it all out, the basics for cooler weather riding became easy to understand. At Cruiser Customizing we've taken a hard look at the products out there, separating the ones that really work from the ones that merely have good marketing departments behind them. Riding in cooler weather means recognizing first and foremost it is the wind that causes your body to become chilled. It is the flow of wind or "wind chill factor" that removes the heat from the body, so a rider's first line of defense is a layer of warm clothing underneath an outer layer that does a good job at blocking the wind. Keep in mind that our bodies are all different, so what works for one person may not work the same for you.

Many warm weather riders could be cool weather converts if they would take the time to understand the vast array of products out there to facilitate autumn and winter riding. First, consider adding a windshield. Holding onto your body heat is difficult if you can't block the wind. A windshield greatly reduces the airflow to your torso, so you stay warmer longer. I recommend using a taller windshield in cooler weather and a shorter one in warmer weather. Cruiser Customizing offers popular models from both Memphis Shades and National Cycle that can be installed or removed in seconds. Also, both Memphis Shades and National Cycle offer lowers that keep the wind from sneaking under the windscreen.

The next essential is proper-fitting riding gear, protective garments that are neither too tight nor too loose. Leather is one of the better choices, but not just any leather will do. True riding garments, such as those we offer from First Gear or Milwaukee (read Newsletter #63 for a story about Milwaukee Motorcycle Clothing), are tightly stitched for riding, unlike fashion leather which may allow heat loss through stitching holes. Along with your leather riding boots and jacket, consider leather chaps or pants to keep cold away from your legs. Always dress in layers so as the day warms up you don't overheat. For the face and neck, think about the Schampa double-layer neck gaiter. And for another staff favorite, check out the Wicked Wear mask that's more than a pretty face. For your goggles or face shield, keep a supply of Scott's No Fog Cloths handy in the tank or saddle bag. If it looks like rain, Cruiser Customizing offers a great selection of rain suits and gloves to keep you dry.

Next, keeping the hands warm can be challenging. When we ride we place our hands in the full force of the wind and keeping them warm is not easy. But it's a lot easier today than, say twenty years ago. Check out the excellent riding gloves we offer from First Gear, Milwaukee and Heavy Duty. Gauntleted models which keep wind out of the sleeves are recommended for cooler and winter riding.

I once fell victim to exaggerated marketing claims and purchased a bulky pair of so-called "Four Season Riding Gloves" for over $150. These gloves earned me a mere ten minutes extra of riding before my hands became numb with cold - while they had great high-tech insulation, they didn't stop the wind from flowing through the gloves! Fortunately, I soon stumbled onto one of motorcycling's best cold weather innovations: heated gear like the dual heat level electric gloves from Widder. After I became hooked on Widder gloves, I decided to renounce looking like the Michelin man and I traded layers of clothing for a Widder heated vest. I'm considering adding heated chaps/pants and socks and will probably do so this winter. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the "toe warmers" from Tulsa and Big Bike Parts worked on the GL1800. Another solution to keeping hands warm during winter rides is installing heated grips, like the great EC grips for Gold Wings (available on our GoldwingCustomizing.com sister site) or BBP grips for cruisers we offer at Cruiser Customizing.

There's no doubt that correct gear can enjoyably extend your riding season. Riding in colder temperatures means being constantly aware of how your body is handling changing temperatures. Let the cold weather get the better of you, and your ability to handle your motorcycle can be seriously impaired. When out on a late season group ride, it's a good idea to keep in mind how much protective winter gear your fellow riders have. When cold becomes intolerable due to lack of proper protection, reaction times will be seriously compromised. Talk to members of your group about cold weather riding gear that will enhance their experiences as well.

Winter safety does not end with personal gear. Any discussion of cold weather riding must include amps and viscosity. Cold weather impairs a battery's ability to turn over an engine. Most internal motorcycle charging systems are marginal at best-and usually will not fully charge a drained battery very well. Some charging systems can't recharge a battery once it falls below the 70% charge level. It is a wise idea to set aside a minute to place a Battery Tender on your battery when your bike is parked at night, or longer. A Battery Tender slowly "trickle charges" your battery, keeping it fully charged and ready to go. It is estimated that a battery maintained by Battery Tender may have its life span doubled, from two to four years. I carry the portable waterproof Battery Tender for traveling in colder climates. And, yes, I also carry jumper cables.

When caring for your battery, double check all the connections to be sure they are corrosion-free and tight. And for preventive maintenance, I clean each connection and place a dab of electro-static grease on each one to help prevent corrosion and oxidation.

The next consideration is oil viscosity or "weight". Engine oil comes in different weights and the rating system of oil viscosity measures how it flows at ambient or running temperatures. Take a look at your owner's manual and you'll find a table delineating which viscosity to use at which operating temperature. An oil that is formulated for the higher temperatures of summer cruising may run like refrigerated honey in winter thereby denying your moving internal parts the lubrication they need when you start your bike.

Still not interested in extending your riding season? That's perfectly OK. Just don't forget to hook up your battery to a Battery Tender and pour some fuel stabilizer in the gas tank before you cover your bike for the winter. These two simple steps will help insure that your bike will be ready to go next spring when you are. So if you are one of those who prefer your car in the winter, please keep an eye out for those of us who enjoy a little cold-weather riding. Or gear up and join us!

-Bill Perrin
VP Operations, Cruiser Customizing

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2. Backfire: When Riders Rule the Streets

Highways and streets are pretty much oriented for cars and four-wheeled traffic. Motorcyclists are often placed in the position of riding through traffic wherein people act as though we don’t exist. At least in California, lanesplitting is legal, a law that was enacted when riders of air-cooled bikes complained of overheating and motor shut-down in long highway traffic jams. Moto-commuters have taken advantage of the lane splitting law to shoot through gridlocked freeway traffic. I wonder how many politicians out there are motorcyclists. Not just poser movie types, but real riders. With the blossoming popularity of the motorcycle as a practical vehicle, as well as a pleasurable one, the time has come for more moto-friendly roadways.

At a local event, I recently met an out-of-town rider who introduced himself as Hamilton Bologna. Hamilton says that, in an effort to woo motorcyclists, his town has enacted a number of motorcycle-friendly changes in street signs. Since there are no trains in his town, the RR signs do not mean “Rail Road”. RR now means “Race Replica”, and designates roads where bikers can cruise at whatever speed they like. LANESPLITTING OK signs have been posted throughout the town to keep the cagers aware that they will be passed from all sides. At the DMV, signs are now posted which read:

“ALL CAGERS ARE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO MOTORCYCLE FRIENDLY SENSITIVITY TRAINING INTENSIVES BEFORE RENEWING YOUR LICENSE.”

Inside the DMV the Chubby Checker 1960’s hit “Let’s Twist Again” is continuously played to remind cagers that “stepping on the gas” means “twisting the throttle.”

Further, the words on auto-specific signs have been sensibly rewritten to reflect a more motorcycle-friendly point of view. For example, SEAT BELTS FASTENED? signs have been changed to STRAPPED INTO YOUR CAGE? Here are a few more:

A line has been added to highway speed limit signs to respect our two-wheeling community’s sensibilities:
SPEED LIMIT 65
TRUCKS 55
MOTORCYCLES 85

A politically-correct line has also been added to all TUNNEL AHEAD signs:
TUNNEL AHEAD
Downshift and Twist Your Throttle

COMMUTE LANE ONLY now reads
MOTORCYCLE LANE ONLY

ROAD DIPS DANGER is now changed to
ROAD DIPS YIPPEE

> ONE WAY> signs now read:
ONE WAY> But motorcyclists are welcome to use the sidewalk

CURVES AHEAD, now reads,
TWISTIES

STOP, has now become:
STOP wasting gas, ride a motorcycle

Other STOP signs have been changed to:
STOPPIES (Just to inform the cagers that one wheel moto-stunts may be in progress.)

YIELD, is now:
YIELD to your inner voice and become a rider

WRONG WAY signs now advise:
Gas guzzling SUVs are the WRONG WAY to preserve the planet

NO U-TURN signs have been modified thusly,
NO U-TURN, but circle wheelies are OK

Hey, you don’t suspect that Hamilton Bologna might just be a ham full of baloney, do you? Still, Cruisers, he makes a point. With the price of gas going up faster than the speedo needle on Arlen Ness’ Big Red dragster, our world’s communities better become more motorcycle-friendly pronto. A lot of riders spell the word “future” as m-o-t-o-r-c-y-c-l-e. How ‘bout letting us at Cruiser Customizing know what sort of signs you’d place roadside it you were some burg’s Honcho of Signage. All it takes is a little imaginative venting. And, as always, Cruisers, ride happy, but…

Ride Safely,

-Miles Davis
Editor Cruiser Customizing Newsletter

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