When Do You Ride?

I was curious to see who here was a fair weather rider and who didn't mind to suit up and get wet. I am not trying to create bragging rights or anything like that. And i don't know how to set up a poll...or if there could even be a way to set one up. I just wanted to know how everyone was using their Swings.

I ride in any weather except in below freezing conditions because of ice.

If it is raining when I leave for work, I'll leave the bike at home. I can always swap at lunch time if the weather clears up. We use the bikes as our primary means of transportation when we travel on vacation so we will ride in most any summer weather. I'm not too fond of riding in cold weather due to a brush with pre-frost bite tingling in my hands and fingers after a wintry ride.

My work demands have greater sway over my daily riding than I'd like them to. In spite of the enormous capacity of the SilverWing I often need the cargo room afforded by my CRV and that forces the transportation choice more than I care to admit.

Since I ride only for pleasure I ride unless it's icy, very windy or very cold - I don't have to work when I arrive wet and a bit cold.

As for pre-frostbite tingling, I can't recommend handlebar muffs enough, much as I hate them!
I had a longish trip to the UK last weekend and, in spite of sleet, rain, keen NW wind, wore summer gloves. The tips of my fingers began to get cold on Saturday night while on one leg of the journey but I was tired and tense so stopped for soup and a coffee to warm up. After that, my hands stayed warm.

I have the Givi Universal ones, slightly modified.

Incidentally, the Winged Express didn't miss a beat. It's filthy and needs a thorough wash all over - on the M25 there was so much salt-laden spray that the bike, including the dash, is covered with a white film.

When ever I get a chance .If the weather stays like this it will be soon .The snow is almost gone .

My Swing is my primary commuter transport. My commute is about 46 miles per day and since I bought it in July 2008 I have put on almost 15,000 miles. I will ride, rain or shine, as long as the roads are free of ice and the weather forecast doesn't include snow. Last winter I got caught in a snow storm one evening and it was a very hair raising ride home. I wouldn't want to do that again. My coldest ride was 13 degrees F (that was pretty cold). I have since added heated grips and they keep my fingers quite comfortable, but I don't think I would ride if it was colder than about 15F.

I am a fair weather rider. I work from home, so I don't have to worry about a daily commute. It just doesn't seem to make any sense to ride in the rain when it will probably be sunny in the next few days.

I took a ride last December when the temps were in the mid-40's. Had on a nice textile jacket (Fieldsheer Adventure Jacket and Mercury(?) pants), winter gloves and boots and my right hand still had problems. I rode for about two hours, and the last half-hour my middle finger tingled. When I got home, it was turning white! I ran it under some barely-warm water until some color came back. Until I get some heated grips, I need to shorten the rides in the cold, or wait til it warms up.

Bernardo gave a nice write up on the heated overwraps. I like my Kuryaken grips too much to trash them for replacement grips.

Difficult one.

I'm predominately a mood rider. I commute and generally ride 365 days a year if it's not icy, (we have had a very icy winter in the UK this year).

Not overly worried about if it's raining when I go to work, Mr GoreTex will keep me dry.

I will use the car if I have more kit to carry than the SWing can carry, not often these days. With a near 50 mile commute each day I find the SWing is very good at getting the work blues washed out of me before I burst through the door at home.

Typically I'm a fair weather rider. I have ridden in the rain, windy days, and temps down to about 25 F. My regular summer routine is that I will ride to work and back if the temps are 50 F or warmer. I have to wear business slacks and shirts, which means having to change when I get there, and change back for the ride home. The ride home is in the dark (for about another month) in heavy traffic.

To be honest, I'm mainly a fair weather rider too, but up until now, I've only had my Big Ruckus or an Elite 250 to ride. Those don't offer much in the way of wind/rain/cold protection. (whats a windshield? I used to say)
I've had the S'wing for only 3 weeks and its been torn apart for 2 1/2 of them....
Looking forward to a faster/warmer/dryer ride!!!!!

If the weather is cold or rainy I prefer the Goldwing. With it's big fairing, windshield and the hot air outlets it's more comfortable then. I generally don't do short rides in the rain but if rain starts while I'm already out or on a leg of a road trip then let it rain I'll still go.