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From: tgralewi@ti-csl
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Re: Cold weather (sux)
Message-ID: <3800001@ti-csl>
Date: Fri, 24-Oct-86 08:51:00 EST
Article-I.D.: ti-csl.3800001
Posted: Fri Oct 24 08:51:00 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 27-Oct-86 01:10:31 EST
References: <3523@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU>
Lines: 47
Nf-ID: #R:mit-eddie.MIT.EDU:3523:ti-csl:3800001:000:2253
Nf-From: ti-csl!tgralewi    Oct 24 07:51:00 1986


>/* ---------- "Cold weather (sux)" ---------- */
>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).  I'm
>worried about the effects the cold is going to have on the engine
>performance, and things like the battery freezing and cracking.
>There's not really anywhere where I can keep the bike inside,
>unfortunately.
>
>Questions: 
>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?
>
>adTHANXvance
>
>Random
Having grown up in Wisconsin (and by the way, looking get back, hint, hint), I
have ridden my motorcycle during many winters.  The one full winter I rode my
bike ('78 Honda CB750F) I had no problems with it, even during the coldest
days.  I did have a garage to put it in though.  I did not have any problems
with the battery freezing (even at 20 below).  The bigest problem I had
was going to school on clear roads and having it snow (hopfully without
rain/ice) during the day and having to ballet the bike home.

On my previous bike ('72 CB350), I never "prepared" the bike for winter
(in case there was a nice day :-) and when there was a "nice" day I tried
to take the bike for a ride but couldn't get it started 'cuz the battery
was frozen.  I took it in the house to thaw, put it on the bike the next day,
kick started it (took about 20 minutes), and took the bike for a
'charge-the-battery' ride.  I had the bike for two more years with that same
battery and didn't have any problems with it keeping a charge.

As far as block heaters, I know of none, but you may want to find a place
out of the wind to help keep the engine from getting any colder than it
has to.  Also, I would suggest getting a cover for the bike if you don't
already have one.  You may also want to rig up a set of jumper cable adaptors
for the bike just in case you need them.

And don't bother with the bus, the rides are exilerating (sp?) and 
refreshing, and you get noticed more than during the summer months (safer?).

Enjoy,
Scott Thomson
ti-csl!tifsie!sat