Cold weather riding

I rode the bike today with the Upstate NY temps hovering around 50 degrees F. This is my first year owning my 74 Commando but have noticed a significant difference between riding in Summer temps compared to the cooler Fall temps. The bike just runs so much better when its colder out, the bike seems like it vibrates less, idles better, and obviously pulls harder with heavier air entering the engine. In Summer don't get me wrong it runs ok but I have really noticed a difference in how the bike runs. It actually makes riding in cold weather a much more enjoyable expererience. Plus, it's funny having people look at you like your nuts with a bit of admiration mixed in.

I have noticed this on any of my bikes. The only problem I have had in cold weather is batteries. A weak battery will rear its ugly head when the temps go south.

Don't forget it comes from cold dreary England, when autumn comes around it is like summer in the UK :mrgreen:

Jean

Yep, my bike seems to like it cool and damp. A bit of the homeland I assume. I ride in nearly anything above 40 degrees F otherwise my season would be too short, but below 50 I rarely ride farther than my work which is 6.3 miles. The bike doesn't come up to temp well in that short run. I became concerned about the oil running too cool when I started measuring the temps in the oil tank. So I installed a heating pad on the back side of the oil tank so that my oil is preheated. The bike seems to like that too. Not nearly as cold blooded and I can hope that it is treating the motor a lot better. I wasn't real concerned until I read that ZDDP has to reach 176 degrees before it provides any protection for the cam! OK, don't want to turn this into an oil thread!

Russ

Cold air is denser than hot so this gives more compressed oxygen molecules to any motor. Oxygen helps burning.

That, and it means that bikes jetted hog rich begin to run a little better as the air gets denser. YMMV

Oxygen good. NOX better. Wer'e all after the same funnage resultage.

cold day riding for me today, was nice and I have the same thoughts. Both my bikes seem to like running in the cold weather better. I am sure in Juneau its a differnt story! That place gets REAL cold. I was in Denali a while back and it was really cold, windy too.

I also notice when I run out to Ventura its really foggy there and on the beach and around 60 degrees. It is by far the best place to run the bike, sea level, misty, cold.... Perfect!

At the land speed events its literally a case of the early bird catches the worm as by lunch time and afternoon there are some really really pissed off runners, mostly being the ones who'd tweaked up for a better run than they did earlier in the cooler moist air. Too much humidity displaces oxygen and lowers density as ski jumper know. Some have invented intercooling to carry cool days with them. Too bad the best cold hurts the fingers and toes and nose.

My 850 has always liked 50 deg F. Been that way from the day I rode it off the dealer's lot.

iceteanolemon said:

cold day riding for me today, was nice and I have the same thoughts. Both my bikes seem to like running in the cold weather better. I am sure in Juneau its a differnt story! That place gets REAL cold. I was in Denali a while back and it was really cold, windy too.

I also notice when I run out to Ventura its really foggy there and on the beach and around 60 degrees. It is by far the best place to run the bike, sea level, misty, cold.... Perfect!

Click to expand...

Wow, riding in Denali would be awesome, forget about the wind it's always windy on a Commando, riding in the cold I don't mind either, just bundle up and I'm usually good to go. I am willing to ride in temps as low as 40 but fortunately for me it hasn't gotten to that point in the NY riding season yet. Although I having nothing compared to Denali, I do have the Adirondacks just to the North and the Green Mountains about 45 minutes to the North East, good times to be had!

Decemberist said:

iceteanolemon said:

cold day riding for me today, was nice and I have the same thoughts. Both my bikes seem to like running in the cold weather better. I am sure in Juneau its a differnt story! That place gets REAL cold. I was in Denali a while back and it was really cold, windy too.

I also notice when I run out to Ventura its really foggy there and on the beach and around 60 degrees. It is by far the best place to run the bike, sea level, misty, cold.... Perfect!

Click to expand...

Wow, riding in Denali would be awesome, forget about the wind it's always windy on a Commando, riding in the cold I don't mind either, just bundle up and I'm usually good to go. I am willing to ride in temps as low as 40 but fortunately for me it hasn't gotten to that point in the NY riding season yet. Although I having nothing compared to Denali, I do have the Adirondacks just to the North and the Green Mountains about 45 minutes to the North East, good times to be had!

Click to expand...

I wasnt riding in Denali though, but I did see a few "adventure riders" there... With those BMW's with boxes on them etc.... I was there on business, but damn it was cold!