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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbatt!ihnp4!ihwpt!niel
From: niel@ihwpt.UUCP (M. N. Ransom)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Cold weather (sux)
Message-ID: <1180@ihwpt.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 24-Oct-86 12:38:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihwpt.1180
Posted: Fri Oct 24 12:38:22 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Oct-86 06:00:39 EDT
References: <3523@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU> <2129@ihlpa.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 30

> Since I'm crazy (and don't own a car), I'm going to try to drive
> my bike ('83 Kawasaki KZ-750, 3200 miles) to work through most of
> the winter in Boston (I only have about 3-5 miles to go)...
> 
> Does anyone have any experience with doing silly things like this?  
> How cold can it get before the battery is in danger? 
> Are there things like block heaters for bikes?
> Should I forget it and ride the bus?
> 

I thought I was the only one crazy enough to ride all winter up north!

I have ridden various bikes through Chicago winters (RD400, CX500,
and currently a Honda Sabre 750).  I've never had much problem with
batteries except that their output is reduced at very cold temperatures
and, of course, bikes are harder to start at low temperatures (and hence
drains the battery more on starts).  This translates to regular
recharging to keep the battery fully charged.

The major problem I've found with the newer bikes at low temperatures
(say, 10 below or lower) is the crankcase ventilation tube.  They tend
to ice up preventing crankcase gases from being able to escape.  I've
not found any good solution other than disconnecting the tube from the
air cleaner intake.

Otherwise, riding in the very cold on good roads is no worse than riding
a snowmobile (which are ridden in the arctic at lower temperatures than
I'll ever see).

					Niel Ransom