Winterizing Our R1200R's

[Las]

It isnt our bikes that need to be winterized. It's us! I commute from the northern suburbs of New York City to the Finacual District of Manhattan every day, all year long. No need for Gerbings with heated grips and Lee Parks gloves on my hands, a balaclava on really really cold days, any of BMW's Streetguard3, or Rev!it Everest jackets and pants or Aerostitch one piece on top of my business suit (i have tried them all- they all keep me safe(er) and warm on the coldest days) and BMW's pro boots on my feet. No snow, it's a go!

[deilenberger]

It isnt our bikes that need to be winterized. It's us! I commute from the northern suburbs of New York City to the Finacual District of Manhattan every day, all year long. No need for Gerbings with heated grips and Lee Parks gloves on my hands, a balaclava on really really cold days, any of BMW's Streetguard3, or Rev!it Everest jackets and pants or Aerostitch one piece on top of my business suit (i have tried them all- they all keep me safe(er) and warm on the coldest days) and BMW's pro boots on my feet. No snow, it's a go!

Las - this is on an R12R? I find that my stitch is somewhat not wind resistant when it gets cold out, so the Gerbing liner provides both some wind blocking and needed heat. I can see on an RT not needing a Gerbing, but on a naked bike it makes a world of difference for me.

Which Lee Parks gloves do you have? I have the short ones, and they were fine last winter once I put my Wunderlich grip-muffs on (sort of like HippoHands, but a tad different.) The grip-muffs make a lot of difference.. keep cold off my hands, keep cold wind from going up my sleeves, and if it starts to rain, really help in keeping me comfortable.

And you're right - it's us that need winterization, not the bike. The bike seems perfectly happy to get used no matter what the weather is. No snow/ice - I'm usually riding.

[Las]

My 2012 r12r has a BMW touring screen; but before I purchased it last April, my daily ride was an f800r that had nothing but a silly little fly screen- so named because all it was good for was keeping flys from mucking up the backs of the gauges. For most of last winter, I rode with Rev!it's Everest jacket and pants. They are quite impervious to wind, even at speeds that I will not confess to ride at. I have both the short summer Lee Paks and the ones with tan palms, black uppers and gauntlets that fit over my jacket's sleeve cuffs; I believe they, or the technology that goes into them, are called "Outlast." or some such. The claim is that they adjust to the outside temperature,. I don't know how, or even if, they do it. I do know that they work well with heated grips, and keep my hands and fingers relatively warm on the coldest days. They are comfortable, easy to get on and off and work well with heated grips and electronic toys such as iPhones, gps's and scala riders due to the thin bottom half of the gloves"

[Lost Rider]

Sometimes it was tough to ride year round in Chicago, especially after the plows came through.
Still much easier than fussing over all the things one can do to store a motorbike for months on end and much better for the soul.

[abronzetiger]

Sometimes it was tough to ride year round in Chicago, especially after the plows came through.
Still much easier than fussing over all the things one can do to store a motorbike for months on end and much better for the soul.

Lost Rider: It must be a Chicago thing.

When I lived there (the mid 90s) I did the same thing. If the rubber could reach the road, I was good.
I just talked my landlord into let me keep it on the back walkway until the plows were done.

The plows are much better in those big cities than they are here in rural MA so, sadly, my wife no longer allows it. (but, I'm working on it.)

[mongoosekiller]

Just ride it over here, what the damned thing's for.

[BoxerSteve]

I have to draw the line when it gets below about 30 degrees, even if the roads are clear. I've ridden a time or two in 25 degree weather; definitely a tad chilly but perhaps if I had heated gear...

Lately it's been getting down to about 8 or so in the morning, way too dang cold for me to ride the MC to work. Not to mention the possibility of black ice on frosty mornings. I guess I'm just not as manly as some of you.

[Acpantera]

Over a foot of snow on the ground, looks like winter is here for a while. The R just got covered and plugged in. This is going to be a long few months.

[deilenberger]

Mounted my heated seat pad and controller.. and plugged the bike into a charger, with the hope that the prediction for snow in the AM is bogus.. Haven't missed my Jan 1st ride many times in the past 15 years.