What do I need for a long winter ride?

[gumby]

You'll need a mechanic for the valve adjustment, and a masseuse.

I second the motion to simply rent a trailer. You'll have a warm, worry-free ride home. Post pics when you pick it up!

[nhbubba]

You don't want to trash a bike like that with road crap in the middle of the winter..

Also an excellent point. You will NEVER get the salt and winter road crap off the engine and frame crevices. And worst-case you may prematurely rot out things like the wiring harness.

Pack a tarp or cover and some extra straps to secure the cover if using an open trailer.

[SRTie4k]

If you insist, I'd recommend full snowmobile gear with long underwear, a fleece balaclava with breathbox (Klim Arctic or equivalent) and heated gloves at minimum. I myself would skip all the armored stuff to keep from getting frostbite. I'd also buy a set of cheap bark busters/handguards and figure out a way to secure them to the clipons.

In all my sled gear, I was able to ride comfortably for hours in 20* weather on my Freeride (which had no windshield). It would definitely get a bit nippy blasting down trails at 60MPH for long stretches, but not unbearably so.

[MattR302]

I use these in the winter time, they make a huge difference. With these and my heated grips, I'm fine with my regular leather gloves to low 40s.
https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p...usk-Hand-Mitts
You do need some way of keeping the wind from pushing them back onto the levers. My DR has real handguards, my FZ6 I use some clamp-on powermadd Star handguards for the wintertime, then put the mitts over them.

[Garandman]

Got this used Olympia suit with insulating liner off Advrider for $250. I use snowmobile gloves and a Gerbing jacket, run the controller in through the pocket.


Twisted Throttle sells an SAE to heated gear coax cable for $13. It connects to the pigtail from a Battery Tender.

[RandyO]

there is no motorcycle gear that will work for that long of a ride out in the cold

look at snowmobile gear or extreme arctic Carhartts, Sorel or similar boots

[markbvt]

Listen to everybody advising you to rent a UHaul/trailer.

I do plenty of winter riding. I have a rusty XR650L as a result (even though I make a point of rinsing it off after rides when the roads are salty). Heated gear and heated grips keep me warm, but I still wouldn't even consider doing a multistate slab ride at this time of year.

First of all, heated/insulated gear only works so well. Eventually something will get cold.

Second, the bike will get filthy with extremely corrosive road grime, and you won't be able to get rid of it all after.

Third, you'll be taking a big gamble on weather. That's a long distance to have to hope for dry, clean roads. And if there's a chance of snow, you do not want to risk riding. Especially a sportbike.

Fourth, bear in mind the obstacles that this type of bike presents on top of everything else. If it were an ADV bike, cruiser, etc, it wouldn't be quite as bad, but a Ducati 998 is very likely going to be equipped with tires that only work well when properly warm. In freezing weather they'll likely be slick as hell. Add to that potentially slick road conditions and you're asking for disaster.

Look, I get the desire to go pick up the bike and just ride it home. That's what I would want to do. But it's just not realistic in the middle of January. Do yourself a huge favor and put the money you would spend on winter gear into renting a van instead.

--mark

[Garandman]

Second, the bike will get filthy with extremely corrosive road grime, and you won't be able to get rid of it all after.//

Here's a V-Strom used for year-round commuting into Boston. 38,000 miles at the time.



Bikes have lots of dissimilar metals and minimal, if any, anti-corrosion treatment. But if you are committed, I've used BoeShield T-9 with some success to minimize corrosion to metal surfaces. Pretty amazing stuff.

[Petorius]

I've used BoeShield T-9 with some success to minimize corrosion to metal surfaces. Pretty amazing stuff.

This is what I'm planning to use on my bicycle that sees ocean water. Glad to hear it works. May not be ideal for the OP, as I've read that it needs to sit for a while on any moving parts before use.

[jasnmar]

Pete... If your bicycle is in the ocean you're probably doing it wrong... :-)

[Stromper]

Hypothermia can kill you like having 5 beers

Electrics at cyclegear ?

Call around and see if you can rent a van or pickup

Even a minivan with the passenger seat out might hold a 998

[Dmitry]

minivans are very versatile

[AEG]

minivans are very versatile

The rear bumper is strong enough to withstand the weight of the bike on the ramp, or you are using something else for support?

[gixxer72]

Passed a guy on my way to work this morning on a big shiny ADV/nerd bike all decked out in one of those yellow suits. It was 6 fucking degrees. Why???

[MattR302]

minivans are very versatile

My parents' old grand caravan has fit my ZX6R, my FZ6, my DR350, and my naked F4. The DR350 and the FZ6 were the worst, since they're taller and the bars are wider. Sport bikes with clipons are fairly easy to load in and out with 2 people.

[island boyeee]

Just reading your post has me feeling frozen. I'm on board with the "tow it" crowd.

Do you have a way to tow a trailer? If so, I'll gladly let you borrow mine.

If not, I may be willing to work with you to borrow my trailer AND car...

[RandyO]

Passed a guy on my way to work this morning on a big shiny ADV/nerd bike all decked out in one of those yellow suits. It was 6 fucking degrees. Why???

cold air = free horsepower


dressed properly it's no different than riding at 80°

[jasnmar]

dressed properly it's no different than riding at 80°

There is one other difference...

[gixxer72]

cold air = free horsepower


dressed properly it's no different than riding at 80°

Except for the bulky gloves, jacket and shit for clumsy control, the abundance of traction on frozen pavement, fogging/frozen face shield...otherwise just like 80 degrees.
I'll take the free HP in my truck. With the heat on.

[SVRACER01]

you can rent a pick up from enterprise
or find a friend with snowmobile gear and get some of the hand/feet warmer baggies things
one of my techs wears this
Walls Blizzard-Pruf® Insulated Coverall | Walls
my brother wore one when he worked the flight deck at pease. said he could wear a tshirt and shorts under it in the winter if he wanted to. usually a shirt and jeans though.
hit a ski shop and pick up some base layers like hot chilis and the like. keep you warm without adding bulk

no matter what its gonna suck in one way or another. SOMETHING is gonna get cold and youll hate every agonizing minute of it. or nothing will be cold but youll be so bundled up that youre uncomfortable and then you hate every agonizing minute of it.

i say you go down there and ride it as far as you can then find a storage unit and leave it until spring.

[island boyeee]

you can rent a pick up from enterprise

also a good option. I believe I rented one for $50 or $75 years ago when I picked up my bike in PA. I made the trip there and back in about 14 hours with stops.

[RandyO]

Except for the bulky gloves, jacket and shit for clumsy control, the abundance of traction on frozen pavement, fogging/frozen face shield...otherwise just like 80 degrees.
I'll take the free HP in my truck. With the heat on.

not if you have the proper gear, not all winter gear is bulky, snowmobile helmets have heated shields and the right tires at the right pressure stick just fine, your ignorance of winter riding is showing

[gixxer72]

not if you have the proper gear, not all winter gear is bulky, snowmobile helmets have heated shields and the right tires at the right pressure stick just fine, your ignorance of winter riding is showing

Ha! It's my vag that's showing old timer. I know that it CAN be done, and I know some people might be stuck with a bike as their only transport. What I don't understand, or just don't have the properly sized cajones for, is why anyone would CHOOSE to do so.

6 fucking degrees.

[RandyO]

Ha! It's my vag that's showing old timer. I know that it CAN be done, and I know some people might be stuck with a bike as their only transport. What I don't understand, or just don't have the properly sized cajones for, is why anyone would CHOOSE to do so.

6 fucking degrees.

don't need cajones with proper gear, I don't ride in winter cause I have to, I ride for pleasure, no different then someone going for a ride on a sled, or going skiing

[Kurlon]

don't need cajones with proper gear, I don't ride in winter cause I have to, I ride for pleasure, no different then someone going for a ride on a sled, or going skiing

In this specific case while the rider may be able to gear up, he won't have much of an opportunity to prep the bike for the task. No new cold weather tolerant tires, no chance to do something with the low output stator for working heated gear, etc. This is why everyone is saying trailer it.