01-01-2018, 02:05 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Elburn, IL
Posts: 5,822
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Polar Bear Ride 2018
Let's just say it was cold.
Yes, that says -10F. This thermometer didn't help my confidence either. Dammit, it started. Gotta go now. Normally, this is supposed to be a 35 to 50 mile ride but I cut it short for two reasons. One, it was just too cold for a longer ride. And two, a longer ride would have required a fuel stop and, well, see reason one. As this was the coldest I've ever ridden a motorcycle, I was decked out in layers. Fleece lined base layer longies and long sleeved t-shirt along with polypro sock liners. Heavy wool blend socks over the liners. Jeans and a flannel shirt. Outer gear consisted of Wall insulated overalls, a Swedish Army winter motorcycle parka, old Sorels, a Bilt balaclava and a pair of mid range Bilt MC gloves. My winter MC gloves don't fit in the mitts. I wasn't all that uncomfortable on the ride to the donut shop, except for my wrists. Even in the mitts, I was getting cold wind up my sleeve. I've had that parka for over 12 years and never noticed I could button the sleeves closed. No problems on the ride home after learning that tidbit. The Ural wasn't all that happy, took a long time to warm up(duh). I was probably asking a lot of it with the extra cold temps. Anyway, I took the slow route to Crystal Lake to keep from getting too chilled. That was a six of one, half a dozen of the other, choice. By the time I got to the donut shop, the face shield on the helmet was pretty iced up. Had coffee and donuts and BS'ed for a bit, then made for home. Hit reserve fairly close to home, so I wasn't too concerned about having to refuel. Even though it warmed up a whole five degrees, the ride home felt much colder. Except for the wrists. They were fine. And electric grips are the catsass. At the donut shop. Just a bit of salt on the parking lot. See, it warmed up.
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Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts |
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01-01-2018, 02:08 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 547
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One would think the Ural would be happy in Siberian temperatures!
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01-01-2018, 02:32 PM | #3 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Elburn, IL
Posts: 5,822
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Quote:
The Keihan main jet is probably too lean, or the needle shimmed too low, for this kind of cold. Was fine in the upper end.
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Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts |
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01-01-2018, 10:37 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: George West, Texas
Posts: 4,097
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Wow, I will have to rethink my definition of cold down here. Surely I can manage 48 and higher for a couple hrs in a pinch.. Got this thing I committed to on the 20th dealing with the two wheeler. (No heated seats and coffee holders)
Making memories
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***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
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