WARNING! All winter riders should watch this video

[FastDoc]

You can skip to 1:30.

http://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272382

It looks like a paradise ride until this guy went down on some ice.

As you know I ride all winter long but my rules are it has to be above freezing and dry. I will ride if it's above 20 and sunny though. I am always vigilent for ice, sand, gravel, slippery leaves, and other winter hazards.

I very much know how this guy felt. It hurts. Lets be careful out there!

The Victory Vision sure is a nice bike. As I understand it neither it nor the rider were seriously damaged/hurt, thank God.

PS: If anyone knows how to improve that link please feel free.

[Weldangrind]

8O

Here's the direct Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD3MuL99r9U&feature=player_embedded

[mizke]

damn he almost made it through the ice.. looks like he lost it about the 3/4 way through it..

That's one of the reasons I love riding in florida. hehehe

[MICRider]

Ouch! Thank goodness he wasn't going faster, and that nobody was coming in the other lane when he laid it down. If I was that guy I would have rushed out and bought a lottery ticket!

Cheers,
Stew

[lego1970]

I enjoy riding in the winter, but that ice ain't no fun. I almost did the same thing that guy did several years back on a sportbike but my ice patch was about half the distance and I hit dry pavement before it completely slipped out from underneath me. Glad him and the bike are ok.

[FastDoc]

It was sunny and 32 degrees when I rode into work this AM. That video was on my mind to be sure. It's good to see things like that sometimes to make sure we are always aware.

[JTCAndrew]

You got that right Doc - Sometimes Just a damp road can end up being almsot as slippery as ice. I laid my 74 RD350 Down Trying to stop for a car that decided to turn in front of me about 20 yrs agao. I was lucky. Din't get hurt just shaken a bit and Bike fired right back up and I drove her home. Parked it for a day - got back on her and went for another ride. I also used to race motocross but the dirt is alittle softer then the pavement! lol This guy was lucky. Bike didn't look to bad. I think those ground savers saved alot of the damage. The weather here is pretty much like this vide right now. So yeah I will be thinking of this when I fire up my XF - Thanks for posting it to keep us reminded of the everyday dangers we face on Motorcycles.

Andrew :)

[Weldangrind]

I laid my 74 RD350 Down Trying to stop for a car that decided to turn in front of me about 20 yrs ago.

That's only because your back tire had been smoking for blocks and you didn't notice. I remember those bikes. :lol:

[FastDoc]

Heck of a collector's item now. I had it's decendant, a RZ350.

I rode home from a church meeting tonight. High 40's and it rained while I was in there. Riding wet pavement at night will really get and keep your attention. Better than a car though. 8)

[TeamCheap]

Riding on a road with ice on it would be a bit more difficult than when I used to ride on a frozen lake I think.

The road has a crown and a lake is flat so keeping the bike up on a road with ice would almost be impossible.

when I rode that yamaha dt250 out on the frozen lake I had to keep my feet out but I could just blip the throttle break traction turn it by sliding the rear end a little pull the clutch in and carefully apply power it was fun.

the dt250 was a much lighter bike also.

I wont ride in the winter, the salt attacks the bike.

[Reveeen]

Just because the motorcycle, in the video, had some visual resemblance to a snowmobile, did not make it have the handling characteristics of a snowmobile.

In my youth, in Canada, I used to operate a motorcycle 12 months of the year, on the road. As with a car, you will ALWAYS find ice in the shady sections of the road, count on it, and ONLY be surprised if you don't find ANY ice there.

About the best ice bike I have ridden was a Norton Commando.

The only reason I can see for attempting to ride a top heavy bike, with fairings and luggage compartments, in the winter, would be to sell ice cream out of them, on my arrival, at my destination. Operating such a piece of equipment, on ice, would resemble taking a knife to a gun fight.

[FastDoc]

The bike I think is a Victory Vision. Made by Polaris, the snowmobile company. Kind of ironic there.

FWIW obviously I never ride my Gold Wing on ice but it is the best cold weather ride around. Heavy tourers nowadays have heated seats, foot and leg warmers, heated grips and powerful electrical systems to run heated clothing. That may be why that guy was on that particular bike.

[Reveeen]

That may be why that guy was on that particular bike.

I have my own ideas why that guy, complete with helmet video cam, was on that particular bike, but I am fairly certain you can guess what they are.

You could do a gold wing (less the ice cream equipment) in the winter, though I am not sure how the water pump seal would like it, you would have to be physically strong/big enough to muscle it around a bit though, and not afraid of it.