Riding on snow tips?

[EJK]

OK, we talked about braking in wet etc etc etc

but how about on snow?

Any tips on safe riding in snow?

[Nagash]

Get spiked tyres..

Other than that.

Don't.

[fireball]

avoid the dark shiny patches on the road... black ice! but when it comes to snow well its an art to keep it upright, learn to ride on ice first snow is easy after that....

ahh childhood memories of the manoburn dam and the ct125 on the ice!

[Gubb]

Come to a complete standstill. Raise your right leg, and thrust it backwards over the bike. Push the bike home.

[EJK]

OK....

How about winter in Europe? Do they snow alot?

[Gubb]

OK....

How about winter in Europe? Do they snow alot?

:lol: Nah, ever since 'The Final Countdown' it's been pretty much downhill.

[heyjoe]

Snow is unpredictable and frozen or compacted snow is fucking unpredictable. I remember from many Brass Monkey Rallies back in the late 90's. Getting traction is virtually impossible in hard stuff. Too scarey.

Sorry - not much help.

[Jantar]

ahh childhood memories of the manoburn dam and the ct125 on the ice!

ahh childhood memories of the manoburn dam and the TS125 on the ice, passing a ct125 on the outside just before dropping it. :Pokey:
I thought for a moment that we might have been there at the same time, but my memories are before you were born.

Snow is easy to ride on, as long as it hasn't settled on black ice. Just treat it as you would riding on wet clay, very gentle throttle changes, very light braking (rear first), and smoothe, gentle cornering. Many times I roade the 64 km from Dunedin to Waipori Falls in relatively heavy snow on a two stroke, and a couple of times from Waipori Falls to Alexandra.

[Ocean1]

The Eskimo have 67 different names for snow. From the heavy pre-dawn dump to the light dusting after dinner, and snow which, in spite of all the best efforts at training, the Huskies have pissed on.

OK that's all crap.

But there is a huge difference in the traction available from different types. 4" of slightly compacted snow feels like damp sand, the same stuff after a couple of hours in the sun might as well be ice. The thing is it’s hard to see the difference, and if you’re riding over any distance it’ll change regularly. So I like Jantar’s advice, treat it all like greasy clay and you’ll only fall down occasionally. :scooter:

[onearmedbandit]

Snow isn't bad too ride on, just as others have said smooth throttle, brake and steering inputs and be aware at all times of ice, you just may not even see it.

Riding at night with snow falling is a completely different subject. It's not much fun, you have almost zero visibility (once caught out I could only ride when a car passed me as I waited on the side of the road, using their tail lights as my guide) and it's effing cold. Not advisable.

[oldrider]

OK, we talked about braking in wet etc etc etc

but how about on snow?

Any tips on safe riding in snow?

There are so many variables with snow and ice, the only way to get used to it is get out amongst it and try it.

Heavy snow at night is tricky because the big flakes stick to your eye lashes all the time and you cant bloody see where you "could" be going!

Even when you can see the snow reflects the light back at you in a great wriggly sheet of white.

Best to get in behind another vehicle and use their lights and tail lights etc, it seems easier to maintain your balance and get a better feel through your tyres from the road.

Good luck, it can be tricky and slow but not impossible, actually it can be a lot of fun. Cheers John.

[xwhatsit]

Where are you going to catch some snow between your house and AUT, EJ?

[Kittyhawk]

Practise riding on sand...not the hard sand but the loose stuff like where people walk in at the beach, itd give you an indication as to how much you can loose a bike on loose non gravel surfaces..

Id say let air down in tires like ya would on sand for better traction etc..

Avoid black ice its a bastard.

Remember antifreeze too if its in more harsher weather conditions. :cold:

[swbarnett]

OK....

How about winter in Europe? Do they snow alot?
In Europe where there is snow the bikes hibernate and come out in the Summer. I remember in Switzerland thinking summer must be well and truly on it's way when we'd see the first bike (not that there were many anyway).

[Mikkel]

OK....

How about winter in Europe? Do they snow alot?


In Europe where there is snow the bikes hibernate and come out in the Summer. I remember in Switzerland thinking summer must be well and truly on it's way when we'd see the first bike (not that there were many anyway).

Indeed! In Denmark everyone park their bikes up for 6 months... You would be hard pressed to find an insurance company that would be willing to insure you during the winter half of the year.


Riding at night with snow falling is a completely different subject. It's not much fun, you have almost zero visibility (once caught out I could only ride when a car passed me as I waited on the side of the road, using their tail lights as my guide) and it's effing cold. Not advisable.

As in fog, make sure you don't go high beam in the snow. It'll blind you and make your head spin...


Other than that I suggest at least a set of knobly tyres. Spikes are only good for ice. When you compact the snow under your tyre it's rather important to have some grip - without knobbles you won't have much of that.
I wouldn't even consider it on a sportsbike!

And yes, black ice is a killer. You won't see it. You're likely to ride over it without even noticing, but touch your brakes and next stop after that tree at the roadside is likely to be the morgue.

General good advice for riding on slippery stuff - and this applies to motorcycles and cars alike - go for a high gear so you don't have much torque at the wheels to prevent loosing traction. Use engine braking as much as possible. Take it easy and relax. Go slow enough that if you start skidding you are unlikely to get badly hurt. Check your grip often by causing intentional lockups (rear on MCs) so you have a feel for what your current environment allows you.
Whatever you do, don't panic. Try to steer away from hazards in stead of braking - locking up is very very easy to do.

[Steam]

Snow! Are you planning on going to Elefantentreffen?
Coldest rally ever?
These hard men don't put their bikes away for the winter. Brings new meaning to HTFU.

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2179817740100706694sqOWJd?vhost=rides

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2666713990087904108bbRMnJ?vhost=rides

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2261573480100706694QEcXXu?vhost=rides

[swbarnett]

And yes, black ice is a killer. You won't see it. You're likely to ride over it without even noticing, but touch your brakes and next stop after that tree at the roadside is likely to be the morgue.
I can attest to this! Thankfully I was on a bicycle, not a motorcycle and going fairly slow. Travelling along nicely at about 20kph on what I thought was a dry dirt road with good grip and thought I heard someone behind me. The slight imbalance of turning my head was enough to have me on my butt. It happened so fast I didn't even have time unclip my feet from the pedals. Landed square on my hip and it was about ten minutes before I could walk again let alone pedal.

[Lil_Byte]

Have only ridden in snow twice.
Once - the first time was when it was very fresh snow and hadn't settled - visibility was crap and I was a nervous as shit - would not recommend it at all.
The second time was in a hail storm, was slowing down without touching the brakes, got down to about 5 kph and then fell over - no warning what so ever.

My recommendation after my limited experience is - don't. It cost me $1200 for the drop.:cold:

[westie]

Get a crashable bike. Something like a tard.
Go real slow but with lots of throttle!

Fun fun fun.

[James Deuce]

Ride in the gravel on the side of the road.

Or you could just do what I do and ignore the snow. It's worked for me so far. That, and riding in the deepest part of the grit.

[deanohit]

Interesting topic choice EJ, where you riding next bro?:cold:

[vifferman]

OK, we talked about braking in wet etc etc etc

but how about on snow?

Any tips on safe riding in snow?
Depends. If it's fresh, wettish snow, then just treat it like wet weather riding. If it's old, compressed snow, or frozen overnight, then you're better off walking unless you have studded tyres, as it's SO unpredictable. Just a wee bt of ice under yout tyres, and you're on the deck. I used to live in Chch, and rode the bike nearly every day, including a couple of times when it was snowing. The one time I deliberately didn't take the bike was when there'd been a heavy frost overnight, resulting in a black frost. Even then, I set out till I discovered the "clear-looking road" was nice, shiny ice. Even the 4WD was slippin' and a-slidin'.
One of the tricky things about riding when it's snowing is the snow build-up on your visor. If your ride with it closed, it fogs up and snow soon obscures it, but if you have it open, it gets in your eyes. Either way it's a pain.

[EJK]

Hmmm thanks for the advices guys... lol

[scumdog]

One of the tricky things about riding when it's snowing is the snow build-up on your visor. If your ride with it closed, it fogs up and snow soon obscures it, but if you have it open, it gets in your eyes. Either way it's a pain.

OR You can ride fast enought that when you turn your head to one side the wind whips the snow away - tadah! clear vision.:2thumbsup

Sometimes you have to turn to both sides to clear your visor completely.

Now I am older and more sensible I just keep clear of the snow.

[Freakshow]

I remember finding this a while ago Busa on Ice! (http://www.fresh99.com/street-bike-ice-ridin.htm)

[MIXONE]

I did 3 winters riding to work in Dunedin so snow isn't a novelty.I found riding down the Andy Bay hills was easier if sticking close to the curb as the gutter can help keep your wheels pointed in the right direction.:shit:
Back wheel often still beat the front to the bottom of the hill.:rolleyes:
Black ice?Avoid it at all costs as it is the worst thing I've even ridden in.

[EJK]

Just tell me... what IS black ice?


I remember finding this a while ago Busa on Ice! (http://www.fresh99.com/street-bike-ice-ridin.htm)

HAHA! Those tyres are lethal!

[MSTRS]

Black ice is either melted snow that refreezes or a hefty dew that freezes. Either way, what you have is smooth, clear ice on top of tarmac, which appears black (colour of tarmac) and is next to impossible to see. Nothing but spikes will grip on it, and it is too hard to crush under tyres. Very dangerous.

[crazybigal]

only ride on fresh snow that has just settled, forget hard pack snow as it will be like ice!
fresh snow has lots of traction.

[TOTO]

where are you taking the fxr this time EJ? Mt. ruapehu ?

[MVnut]

Never snows in europe