South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

I was forcefully reminded why I tend to fall into this category today. A 50 mile round trip this afternoon with a 45 minute break in the middle in a frozen church, meant it took nearly an hour for full feeling to return to my finger tips - and that's wearing my winter gloves!

I think the bike can stay in the garage again for a while, till nature's central heating ups the thermostat a bit

You have a Bike ??????

I know what you mean. I have just brought some overshoes for tonight's ride.

I can't bring myself to fit heated grips, I'd rather just wait until it warms up..
I also SORN as I don't think its fair to have to pay a months tax if I don't use the bike, or just use it once... but that is principle thing... road tax should be on the fuel so it's charged as per use and not as a fixed payment.

Where's my soap box gone....

I quite agree on all counts

Fair comment but for about 23p a day I can justify the tax. It's insured so why not keep it ready to go - just in case.

We done all but 200 miles today, heated grips are on the shopping list! Lovely day to tour cornwall tho

I was actually wishing I still had tax so could ride today... that was until I went for quick drive.
Although the air temperature is not at full brass monkey alert levels it is still cold, and the roads are still damp. especially where the sun hasn't reached... the roads have that greasy mud coating look about them (around here anyway), not to mention the very low sun...
I think my bikes will stay safely in the garage for a couple of months yet..

I've done my time as an all year round rider when I didn't have a car. I still remember making 40 mile journeys to work through freezing fog and being coated in a layer of ice when I got off the bike, and the incredible pain when feeling finally came back to my hands. I'm older, softer and have the use of a car now, and the bike is purely for enjoyment so I don't do cold or wet / greasy roads as I just don't enjoy the experience. I do keep the bike taxed and insured all year round though because we do get some unseasonably mild days where the roads are dry and it's good to use these to remind yourself of why you love biking and of the great rides to come.

I used to do a lot of cycling. Came home after a training ride unable to pull the brake levers. Father sat me down in front the coal fire and went to make some tea. He said 'DON'T put your hands in front of the fire...I did...aaaaarrrghhh

I had a run out on my bike today. Only nipping about here and there. Rear Tyre was trying to pass me on more than occasion.
It was nice to get out but it's still pretty dangerous out there.


But then it is January.

had to go to work for a hour today so I took the bike got to agree Simon a bit on the greasy side need a good days rain to wash the salt away

Yeh, I reckon winterising and sorning the bike is a bit too much faff for me.

I have found a lovely day to go out on the bike every week, in between the grim days.
In my experience vehicles do not like to be sat around (flat batteries, tyres etc) and nor do I

bring on the sun though, i'm too soft for long runs at the moment.

hillbilly wrote:Yeh, I reckon winterising and sorning the bike is a bit too much faff for me.

What's this "winterising" you speak of?
We're in the south west of England not Alaska.
Fairplay if your bike lives outside but if kept in a garage or shed I really don't think it needs more than maybe a service and a battery charge every now & then.

SORN - 1 minute on the PC, cheque arrives a week later.
Hardly any effort to it TBH.

It depends on how long you are leaving it, my bike lives outside because I don't have a garage or shed.

Riding it every once and a while negates the need for battery tenders, fuel stabiliser to stop carbs blocking, flat spots on tyres.....the list goes on and none of them are probably that much of an issue.

I just reckon if I sorned it, I would be umming and arhhing about whether it is warm enough to re-register it. In which time I could be half way to Happyville razzing around devon with a grin on my face.

Insurance has to be paid, so tax doesn't add much more.(If I had loads of bikes i'd probably have a different opinion)