Bike Road Louis
Motorcycle trip in 30-40 degree weather?
I am debating if I should ride my motorcycle from St. Louis to Chicago next week. I Would be stopping at a friends about halfway through the trip, so it would be a 2 day trip. Supposed to be about 40 degrees the first day in St. Louis, and about 32 degrees the second day in Chicago. 10% chance of rain both days, with rain/snow probably occurring a few days earlier over the weekend. If I am dressed warm enough, are these safe riding conditions? I mean are the roads safe enough to ride on in these cold temperatures, or will tire traction be a problem? My bike is a Honda rebel 250, if that helps.
You must dress warmly, and it is essential to keep dry--wet stuff has NO insulation value. Problem areas will be hands, knees and neck area; feet should be okay. Stop often for warm food or drink. Cold has a way of sapping your strength and make a rider less attentive. An electric vest would be a great idea, but I don't know if the Rebel's charging system could keep up with the electrical demand. I would be worried about traction if the temperature drops to freezing. And remember that ice may remain on the road even after the temperature has gone up, especially in shady areas such as underpasses. This is of special concern with the Rebel: It's a bike that doesn't give much feedback from the front tire, due to the low overall weight, raked front end and narrow front tire.
I wouldn't worry about the size of the bike in terms of performance--people used to tour all over the US with small bikes years ago. There was a time (in the 70's) when I did 250-mile trips with a 60cc bike on interstate-type highways--but, admittedly , that was really pushing things a bit too far! I made it, though.
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December 14th, 2009 in
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