Good day, dear readers! It’s winter outside, it’s snowing and the weather is changeable. Temperatures range from -30 to + 5. Snow sometimes gives way to weak nasty rain.
This is the most unpleasant time for a biker. After all, a motorcycle in winter is not very comfortable, and some people argue that it is completely impossible. Each side is right in its own way. Let's delve into this issue and draw a conclusion.
Is a bike a winter transport or not?
For many people, a motorcycle is the very vehicle that you don’t want to part with not only in warm weather, but even in cold winter. However, not all citizens use a bike in the frosty season. Most people just have their motorcycle sitting in the garage, waiting for spring to come. This is due to the fact that this vehicle is still not intended for movement in winter. Firstly, it is very cold to drive it, and you need to select special equipment, and secondly, it is very dangerous. These factors must be taken into account.
Is it still possible to ride a motorcycle in winter? The answer to this question is very simple. Currently, traffic rules do not prohibit the use of a motorcycle as a means of transportation, even in the frosty season. Therefore, you can drive it in winter, the main thing is to follow the traffic rules.
Equipment and clothing for winter motorcycle riding
As we discussed above, skiing in winter is dangerous. We must not forget that even if you are riding alone, and there are no other road users, then the motorcycle itself is at least three times your weight. You won't be able to catch it with your foot like a bicycle or stop it abruptly. Accordingly, if the fall is unsuccessful, then this is a fracture. Sometimes not alone. This is why it is extremely important to wear as much protection as possible. Neck protection, armor, helmet and knees. Also, don't forget about motorcycle boots. Only in this form of Viking can one guarantee relative safety. Now about comfort. Be sure to choose the right clothes. It should be warm, windproof and relatively light. It’s better not to hinder your movements. The most difficult thing will be with gloves. After all, thick winter gloves do not allow you to fully control a motorcycle. Ordinary insulated motorcycle gloves will freeze. Therefore, it is definitely worth installing heated grips. Under the helmet you need to wear a balaclava or a mask that covers your face.
Operating a motorcycle in the cold season
Here it must be said that a change in temperature greatly affects the operation of a given vehicle. In winter, the motorcycle engine starts much worse than in summer, and the battery drains too quickly. Therefore, any experienced motorcycle owner can say that operating this vehicle in the cold season is much more difficult than in the summer.
After all, if you do not pay attention to the improper operation of the motorcycle engine in winter, this can lead to serious damage. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that this vehicle always starts easily.
A few rules
Is it possible to ride a motorcycle in winter? The answer here is yes. However, you need to take care of your vehicle. When using a motorcycle in winter, you need to remember a few important rules:
- Every week you need to fully charge the battery (in cold weather it runs out much faster than in summer);
- you need to choose motor oil of lower viscosity (because it thickens even more in the cold), in the summer you need to replace the oil with regular oil, because winter oil is no longer suitable for using a motorcycle in the warm season, it will be very liquid;
- all cables must be well lubricated, otherwise the possibility of them freezing cannot be ruled out (it is best to choose a silicone-based lubricant);
- You need to put covers on the carburetor; if they were not included in the kit, you can buy them or make them yourself;
- a shield should be installed to protect the engine from strong winds;
- tires must be studded, because this is the only way to ride a motorcycle in icy conditions and snow;
- It is also necessary to install special spark plugs (so-called hot ones).
Method No. 5. Travel!
Well, the very last way. Get away from our cold climate. If it turns out in your life that work in winter doesn’t really hold you back, and at the same time you have enough money to travel, why not see the world? Collect wonderful moments, because adventure is something that will be remembered for a long time! Many of my friends went to India in the winter, rented the legendary Royal Enfields there, and then spoke with delight about their trip. Visit Indonesia, Australia, Nepal, China, Latin America; Rent a motorcycle there and try to see as much as possible!
And by the way, it is not at all necessary to leave Russia. The southern borders of our country are beautiful, and there are rarely sub-zero temperatures, so the season practically never stops. Visit Sochi or Crimea, there is something to see there.
In general, friends, have fun riding, have a year-round season! So which method will you choose this winter?
Recommendations
Some people are sometimes surprised that after storing a given vehicle in a garage for a long time, they cannot start it, although there is gas in the tank. This is due to the fact that if the fuel is not used for a long time, it can stagnate and the motorcycle will not start. There's nothing wrong with that. You just need to fill the tank with fresh fuel.
Is it possible to ride a motorcycle in winter? This question is often asked by many fans of fast driving in this type of transport. Yes, the traffic rules do not prohibit riding a motorcycle in winter. However, many bikers are very cautious about this. After all, in winter, the possibility of a motorcycle skidding cannot be ruled out, and therefore, you can get serious injuries. But, despite this, many citizens drive such vehicles all year round, even on public roads, and not just in villages and towns.
Attempted ban
Deputies proposed banning motorcycle riding in the winter season. This was due to the fact that recently road accidents involving this type of transport have become more frequent. After all, riding a motorcycle in winter is not only cold, but also unsafe. According to the proposal of deputies, the ban on driving this vehicle should be dealt with by local authorities, based on the weather conditions of the region. Because in some regions of the country, climatic conditions allow you to ride motorcycles not only in summer, but also in winter.
However, to date this issue has not been resolved. Therefore, when answering the question of whether it is possible to ride a motorcycle in winter, you need to give only a positive answer. But despite the absence of a direct ban, it is better to refrain from such trips in the cold season and use the bike only in the warm season. This must be taken into account.
Ruts, snow mounds and ice
In winter, even with snow removal, ruts form on the roads. While this is unlikely to be a big problem for a car, it can be a problem for a motorcyclist. “Dangerous ruts: why do motorcyclists dislike ruts so much?” Ruts will fray your nerves at intersections, when the direction of your maneuver does not coincide with the car driving before you.
Potholes and other unpleasant gifts can be hidden under the snow, and black ice is simply a master at sending pilots to rest on the sidelines. And yes, there are still rails! They are already slippery, and in snowy or icy conditions they pose a serious danger. Regarding ice: try to follow cars. Where the car has already broken through the ice edge, it is safer to drive through - it is not so slippery and there is no risk of falling sharply due to a cracked coating.
Some nuances
So, nowadays lawyers are often asked questions regarding movement on a vehicle such as a motorcycle. In particular, this concerns the management of this transport in the winter season. Is it possible to ride a motorcycle in winter? Traffic regulations currently do not prohibit this. In other words, from the point of view of the law, riding a bike in winter, like driving a car, is allowed. But is it safe? Unfortunately no. Because the motorcycle does not have good grip. Despite the fact that stores now have a large selection of studded tires for this vehicle, it is better to wait until spring. It's safer this way.
Is it legal to ride a motorcycle in winter? What documents are required for this? As it was written earlier, traffic rules allow riding a motorcycle even in the cold season. The main thing is to follow the traffic rules. You must have a driver's document with you that allows you to ride a motorcycle, and insurance. This should not be forgotten.
Is it possible to ride a motorcycle in winter in Russia? Yes, according to traffic rules, driving such a vehicle in cold weather is not prohibited. However, operating a motorcycle in winter will cost significantly more than using a car. Therefore, it is worth considering whether this is necessary. After all, to use a motorcycle in winter you will need to purchase special equipment and, moreover, install new parts on your “iron horse”. All this is quite expensive. For example, in winter you will need to install a windshield on your motorcycle, heated steering wheel grips, and also purchase studded tires. Therefore, driving a bike in the cold season is not a cheap pleasure; not everyone can allocate funds from the family budget just to experience the pleasure of extreme driving on an icy road. Moreover, it is unsafe.
Rubber.
Perhaps the most important issue in winter operation of a motorcycle. There are many options here.
- Petroshin. The most inexpensive and quite decent in terms of results is Petroshin. This St. Petersburg plant makes the softest rubber compounds that adequately hold snow and ice even without spikes. For wealthier motorcyclists, we can recommend Heidenau with silica up to -12°C or branded studs with a racing stud. The latter are unreasonably expensive and exclude movement on asphalt.
- Cut. This is for those craftsmen who are not afraid of dirt. Almost any motocross tire can be used (preferably soft). A thin circle of “grinder” makes three lamellas on each checker, 5-7 millimeters deep. At the same time, the work is accompanied by hellish smoke and sticky rubber crumbs on everything nearby. It is advisable to put on overalls, which you will not want to wear a second time. But the result is worth it. Even on an icy road you can maintain a decent speed, and when it comes to working in snow there is no difference from the classic cross-country bike.
- Self-thorn. There are two options. The most popular, but short-lived, is tenoning with construction dowels. You will need a drill and a welding machine, as well as a fair amount of patience. As in the case of branded racing studs, movement on asphalt is excluded, and the dowels work very quickly. There is a lot of information on the Internet on exactly how to spike.
- And for a snack there’s a palleative - spiked with a cargo spike. Its effectiveness is comparable to a branded spike, but does not exclude asphalt. You will need a drill with a 6.5 mm drill bit, a tenon gun that can be rented, and a source of compressed air. You will also need high-quality cyanoacrylate glue to ensure a secure fit of the tenon. The weight spike has a length of 12-14 millimeters and it is necessary to drill checkers for it; one drop of Sekunden-Kleber glue goes into each hole. Glue consumption is approximately 1 bottle per wheel. About 200 spikes are hammered into the wheel, more in the rear, less in the front. Particular attention should be paid to the fit of the side studs of the front wheel. For such an event, hard tires are desirable, for example Pirelli. Such studded tires can last for a couple of seasons, because knocked out studs can be restored.
