[Kenneth_Moore]

For those of you awaiting the thaw, here are a few shots from a short weekend trip in Florida. Three of us met in Stuart and did the "around Lake Okechobee" ride Sunday. Although it was cloudy, the rain held off until the end of the day. The new Suzuki was just a blast to ride!

 

[longride]

Just in case you didn't know it already, I hate you! :-D

 

[sarnali2]

Yes, I agree..you totally blow.

I rode in this morning right at 33 degrees. The only problem was the carb icing up when I pulled off the freeway. My Bonneville had electric heaters in the carb throat, I surprised HD doesn't do that since the carb hangs out there like a dogs nuts. Everyone I've had has iced up in freezing or almost freezing and damp weather. I guess it don't get that cold in Wisconsin

 

[longride]

Yes, I agree..you totally blow.

I rode in this morning right at 33 degrees. The only problem was the carb icing up when I pulled off the freeway. My Bonneville had electric heaters in the carb throat, I surprised HD doesn't do that since the carb hangs out there like a dogs nuts. Everyone I've had has iced up in freezing or almost freezing and damp weather. I guess it don't get that cold in Wisconsin

I never had a carb ice up on me in 40 years of riding, and I ride when it is nasty cold and humid out. What exactly happens when a carb ices?

 

[mscuddy]

When a carb "Ices" it gets chunks of ice built up in the mouth of the carb, from the cold air meeting the even colder metal, and condensation causes ice to form that eventually seals up the hole and kills the motor. Just ask any Cessna 150 pilot who's flew too high in cold weather. Also watch "The Spirit of St. Louis" with Jimmy Stewart. He had to make the motor backfire to blow out chunks of ice in the carb throat. Ol' Jimmy flew B17 Bombers in WWII btw. That's when movie actors doubled as real heros.

 

[sarnali2]

I never had a carb ice up on me in 40 years of riding, and I ride when it is nasty cold and humid out. What exactly happens when a carb ices?

If it's near freezing and there's fog or frost out the moisture in the air coming into the carb can cool enough to cause frost to form inside the carb throat. In my experiance it's when you drop down to idle after freeway speeds, the bike won't idle and runs crappy for a few seconds. I didn't expect it to happen with mine because I still have the stock plastic airbox and I went back to the paper filter instead of the K&N. I figured that would keep the carb warm enough that it wouldn't happen. It used to be a real problem on my Shovelhead with the ham can because the carb is right out in the airflow, not so much with the bagger because that airbox like this one encloses the carb somewhat.

I'd say the reason it hasn't happen to you is probably differences in humidity to temps. I know it gets alot colder there in the midwest than here but we have a much wetter climate so we get fog and black ice that affects carburaters differently.

 

[acecycleins]

For those of you awaiting the thaw, here are a few shots from a short weekend trip in Florida. Three of us met in Stuart and did the "around Lake Okechobee" ride Sunday. Although it was cloudy, the rain held off until the end of the day. The new Suzuki was just a blast to ride!

All that and you didn't get snow like Bagdad. Must be gobal warming. ;-)

 

[seruzawa]

Somebody from Florida...

If it's near freezing and there's fog or frost out the moisture in the air coming into the carb can cool enough to cause frost to form inside the carb throat. In my experiance it's when you drop down to idle after freeway speeds, the bike won't idle and runs crappy for a few seconds. I didn't expect it to happen with mine because I still have the stock plastic airbox and I went back to the paper filter instead of the K&N. I figured that would keep the carb warm enough that it wouldn't happen. It used to be a real problem on my Shovelhead with the ham can because the carb is right out in the airflow, not so much with the bagger because that airbox like this one encloses the carb somewhat.

I'd say the reason it hasn't happen to you is probably differences in humidity to temps. I know it gets alot colder there in the midwest than here but we have a much wetter climate so we get fog and black ice that affects carburaters differently.

... is gonna get iced pretty quick if he doesn't quit rubbing it in.

 

[sachiwilson]

It's been in the mid-70s and sunny here in San Diego.

 

[Kenneth_Moore]

BTW: the one photo is from my seat, holding the camera while riding, pointing behind. The road is SR 714, from Stuart to Lake Okeechobee. My first time on it; it won't be my last. Gorgeous.

The second photo is from a high bridge along the shore of the lake, you can see a group of bikes heading up onto the top of the dike (NO, that's NOT a sexual reference!) to take the scenic ride.

 

[The_AirHawk]

BTW: the one photo is from my seat, holding the camera while riding, pointing behind. The road is SR 714, from Stuart to Lake Okeechobee. My first time on it; it won't be my last. Gorgeous.

The second photo is from a high bridge along the shore of the lake, you can see a group of bikes heading up onto the top of the dike (NO, that's NOT a sexual reference!) to take the scenic ride.

What's all that "green stuff" alongside the roads? Everything here is just shades of brown, black, and grey.......

 

[sarnali2]

Well from 34 and damp this morning to 44 and a gol' dang sideways monsoon this afternoon my trusty 'stitch kept me warm dry and comfy. I ought to be a spokesman for them guys, I really don't think you can get a better piece of gear for this climate anyway. Pretty tough to beat...the ol' Dyna soldiered on as well, lots of standing water, pourin' ass rain and strong gust's and it kept chugging along, tracked nice and straight and the 501 Dunlops stuck in the corners and through deep puddles without loosing grip. Of course it's to be expected of a modern bike but hard rain like that is always dicey, it's nice to be able to focus on riding and not trying to fight the bike as well.

 

[sachiwilson]

Good stuff! I like riding in rain - I miss that down here.

 

[longride]

Good stuff! I like riding in rain - I miss that down here.

Well come to Chicago. You can not only ride in rain but unf&ckingbelievable cold too. Of course, the 'year round rider' stuff would go down the tubes.

 

[sachiwilson]

Think so? I'd probably just spike the tires and head out!

The Rounders include a lot of folks who ride on snow and ie, properly equipped and attired.

 

[sarnali2]

I don't mind rain. As long as it's above freezing I can stand the cold too. What I don't like is the morning commute at o-dark thirty with everyone half asleep and in a hurry, plus rain. If it's raining when I leave I drive, I don't care if it rains the rest of the time like I said my 'stitch keeps me warm and dry so it's really a non-issue. It's just that the risk factor goes through the moon when you add rain plus dark plus major traffic that's half asleep, in a hurry etc..

Realistically if you only ride when no chance of rain around here you'll be parking your bike for about 8 months out of the year. I know what you mean Sachi, I couldn't stand to live somewhere that hardly ever rained. One year we went 4 months of 80's and 90's and no rain, when it finally did I sat out in the lawn chair in my shorts and just soaked it up.

 

[55028]

Think so? I'd probably just spike the tires and head out!

The Rounders include a lot of folks who ride on snow and ie, properly equipped and attired.

So have the "Rounder" got any good techniques for protecting the bike from the corrosive effects of ice melting stuff, what ever it is that they put on roads these days. Sand is a big enough pia.....

 

[longride]

Think so? I'd probably just spike the tires and head out!

The Rounders include a lot of folks who ride on snow and ie, properly equipped and attired.

Funny, but I never see one riding here when it gets nasty. Not even one. I guess the chance of getting run over by an 18 wheeler if you go down kind of dampens the spirit a bit. I guess if you were in the middle of nowhere it would be ok, but here it would be suicide. Someone else mentioned the salt too. Wait till you see what your bike would look like after one round on salty roads.

 

[sachiwilson]

So have the "Rounders" got any good techniques for protecting the bike from the corrosive effects of ice melting stuff, what ever it is that they put on roads these days. Sand is a big enough pia.....

Hmm, I'm not sure. I know there's a thread over in the BMWMOA forum about riding with salt - lemme go find it.

Do you ride with salt on the road??? - BMW MOA

It seems that the advice is to wash the bike with cold water after your ride, and then dry it thoroughly. I imagine a good wax job, plus a protective oil spray before the ride (such as SS100), would help as well.

 

[sarnali2]

I dunno' I've got caught in the snow a few times and it's no dam* fun at all, I sure as hell wouldn't do it buy choice. You know how it is with black ice up here Sachi, that's why I stick to above freezing, realisticaly it can be below freezing and dry air and it's not much trouble, my gear keeps me warm for the hour long commute. The problems start when it's foggy or damp and at or below freezing, the moisture in the air freezes on the road way leaving an invisible layer hence Black Ice. You can't see it until you're sideways in the ditch wondering WTF happened.