Salt bikes. What are you riding this winter?

madeouttaglass · 12-02-2012, 03:46 PM

Around here you don't want to ride any bike you plan on keeping once the salt trucks come out. Last year I wanted to get a crappy 2WD Ural to play with in winter. I ended up getting one that is way too nice for salt duty.

The salters came out a few days ago and my bikes are all tucked away in the driveout basement until the spring rains clean the roads.
I just came home with a $325 XS650 that needs a little work. I now have my salt bike and the occasional warm winter days will no longer torment me. I have my slipstreamer windshield and HippoHands ready to go on as soon as I get the top end reassembled. Come spring I'll probably sell it to a bobber or cafe guy. What bike are you destroying in the salt this year?

u wish u could ride · 12-02-2012, 05:08 PM

i figure if my wifes 25k car can be driven daily even when the salty liqiud stuff is wet and its still moving.Iwasnt gonna stop riding my 07 fjr on decent days been doing it for a couple of seasons(on differnt bikes) nothing fallen off yet!! I had A GOLDWING THAT NEEDED THE RIMS SANDED WITH 2000 PAPER ANFER ONE WINTER

madeouttaglass · 12-02-2012, 05:24 PM

I don't have the heart to put my FJR in it. I also had a goldwing in the salt. I had to beadblast the wheels because so much liquid salt got behind the clearcoat. It recrystalized into large pockets and threw the balance off. I've had two Toyota trucks with frame issues from this mess.

u wish u could ride · 12-03-2012, 12:52 PM

i hear you but it wasvery nice out today and i rode to work on the yammi gonna have to try to wash things off more often !!good luck with the winter rider!!

damurph · 12-03-2012, 12:58 PM

KLR does winter duty for me now. Saves the damage to the other machinery caused by salt. It crashes well and Rust Check is my friend. By the time spring comes i hate it but it has served me well for a few years.

kraven · 12-04-2012, 12:16 PM

Quote:

ural... way too nice for salt duty

wut? Does not compute.

I got an old Radian for salt duty.

JXBryson · 12-04-2012, 12:40 PM

Love my ST-1300 for winter riding. Lots of spare watts for heated gear, plus I finally have a use for that leg-cooking heat that it likes to throw out. Great 3-season bike!

madeouttaglass · 12-07-2012, 05:42 AM

Just picked up a $325 XS650 that needs top end work.

It should be running well before New Year's.

A $25 Vetter fairing will arrive shortly.

beeper · 12-07-2012, 07:46 PM

95 KLR 250
Pic from the day I brought it home.

Cut down discarded 70's era luggage rack for commuter duty..

Homemade wind guards from old plastic bedliner, cut down tall screen from my old KLR 650 and heated grips

Studded Trackmasters

Just put it into service today, they've started salting and sanding recently and snow is expected this weekend. The F800GS has been parked.
I rode a KLR650 in the winter previously, it worked pretty good but I think this lighter version will be about perfect.

kraven · 12-08-2012, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Just picked up a $325 XS650 that needs top end work.

Don't know if you know about Hugh's. http://hughshandbuilt.com/
XS650 specialists. They sell all kinds of parts, if you get in a bind or decide you want to rephase the motor, or whatever.

bart802 · 12-09-2012, 10:17 AM

I keep my 2009 Suzuki DR 650 ready to ride all year. The rest have their batteries pulled out and take turns on the trickle charger in the basement. Rode it around the block today but it was a bit chilly at 34.

themocksta · 12-09-2012, 11:19 AM

What snow???

madeouttaglass · 12-09-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themocksta

What snow???

Damn Texans.
No snow here right now which is a little unusual for this time of year. BUT we did have some a while back and they salted the crap out of our roads. I'm working on gathering the parts this week.

orangebear · 12-09-2012, 12:07 PM

i have got a van to use as a winter hack. as there was no cheap bikes on ebay.

plus just cover the bike in acf50 and wash off the salt after every ride

Nailhead · 12-09-2012, 01:38 PM

We don't have salt here, so I ride the 990 whenever it's warm & the mood strikes.

We also have skating-rink roads over and over throughout the winter, so it's definitely a trade-off.

12-02-2012, 03:46 PM	#1
madeouttaglass ^OP The AntiHarley Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol Hills in the Fingerlakes region of NY Oddometer: 2,190	Salt bikes. What are you riding this winter? Around here you don't want to ride any bike you plan on keeping once the salt trucks come out. Last year I wanted to get a crappy 2WD Ural to play with in winter. I ended up getting one that is way too nice for salt duty. The salters came out a few days ago and my bikes are all tucked away in the driveout basement until the spring rains clean the roads. I just came home with a $325 XS650 that needs a little work. I now have my salt bike and the occasional warm winter days will no longer torment me. I have my slipstreamer windshield and HippoHands ready to go on as soon as I get the top end reassembled. Come spring I'll probably sell it to a bobber or cafe guy. What bike are you destroying in the salt this year? __________________ Our ride across the USA on a Ural Gear Up- http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781149

12-02-2012, 05:24 PM	#3
madeouttaglass ^OP The AntiHarley Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol Hills in the Fingerlakes region of NY Oddometer: 2,190	I don't have the heart to put my FJR in it. I also had a goldwing in the salt. I had to beadblast the wheels because so much liquid salt got behind the clearcoat. It recrystalized into large pockets and threw the balance off. I've had two Toyota trucks with frame issues from this mess. __________________ Our ride across the USA on a Ural Gear Up- http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781149

12-03-2012, 12:58 PM	#5
damurph Gnarly Adventurer Joined: May 2012 Location: The far east of the far east of North America Oddometer: 426	KLR does winter duty for me now. Saves the damage to the other machinery caused by salt. It crashes well and Rust Check is my friend. By the time spring comes i hate it but it has served me well for a few years. __________________ R1150 GSA, KLR650, K75s(x3), RD350, PS250 (Big Ruckus) R65 If i was rich i would be an eccentric...but alas i am poor so i am just weird.

12-04-2012, 12:40 PM	#7
JXBryson Looking for clues... Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Sharpsburg, Maryland Oddometer: 319	ST-1300 for Winder Riding! Love my ST-1300 for winter riding. Lots of spare watts for heated gear, plus I finally have a use for that leg-cooking heat that it likes to throw out. Great 3-season bike! __________________ Jim 2007 ST-1300 1991 KLX-650 I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...

12-07-2012, 05:42 AM	#8
madeouttaglass ^OP The AntiHarley Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol Hills in the Fingerlakes region of NY Oddometer: 2,190	Just picked up a $325 XS650 that needs top end work. It should be running well before New Year's. A $25 Vetter fairing will arrive shortly. __________________ Our ride across the USA on a Ural Gear Up- http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=781149

12-02-2012, 05:08 PM	#2
u wish u could ride SHELTON CONNECTICUT. Joined: Oct 2007 Oddometer: 126	i figure if my wifes 25k car can be driven daily even when the salty liqiud stuff is wet and its still moving.Iwasnt gonna stop riding my 07 fjr on decent days been doing it for a couple of seasons(on differnt bikes) nothing fallen off yet!! I had A GOLDWING THAT NEEDED THE RIMS SANDED WITH 2000 PAPER ANFER ONE WINTER

12-03-2012, 12:52 PM	#4
u wish u could ride SHELTON CONNECTICUT. Joined: Oct 2007 Oddometer: 126	i hear you but it wasvery nice out today and i rode to work on the yammi gonna have to try to wash things off more often !!good luck with the winter rider!!

12-07-2012, 07:46 PM	#9
beeper Badger tickler Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Wisconsin Oddometer: 672	95 KLR 250 Pic from the day I brought it home. Cut down discarded 70's era luggage rack for commuter duty.. Homemade wind guards from old plastic bedliner, cut down tall screen from my old KLR 650 and heated grips Studded Trackmasters Just put it into service today, they've started salting and sanding recently and snow is expected this weekend. The F800GS has been parked. I rode a KLR650 in the winter previously, it worked pretty good but I think this lighter version will be about perfect. __________________ '12 F800GS '00 Bandit 1200 '74 Honda CL360

12-09-2012, 10:17 AM	#11
bart802 Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: Michigan Oddometer: 36	salt bikes I keep my 2009 Suzuki DR 650 ready to ride all year. The rest have their batteries pulled out and take turns on the trickle charger in the basement. Rode it around the block today but it was a bit chilly at 34. __________________ Motorcycles , Much enjoyment in my life for over 40 years 2013 KTM SMT 990 2009 Suzuki DR 650 gone -99 zrx1100, 08 ST 1050,03 cr250r, 03 sv1000, 05 ultra and about 22 others

12-09-2012, 11:19 AM	#12
themocksta Lost in this place Joined: Aug 2010 Location: West Texas Oddometer: 85	What snow??? __________________ Carpe the shit out of the diem. -Unknown "That beaver cowboy hat may not have said anything disrespectful but you have to quarantine it if it starts chewing on the furniture or building a dam in the living room" -jamespowers

12-09-2012, 12:07 PM	#14
orangebear Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2010 Location: dumfrie scotland Oddometer: 705	i have got a van to use as a winter hack. as there was no cheap bikes on ebay. plus just cover the bike in acf50 and wash off the salt after every ride __________________ bmw r100gs i ride it all year round bmw r100/7 sold bmw r1oo/7 sold road legal stomp pitbike sold

12-09-2012, 01:38 PM	#15
Nailhead Painting by numbers Joined: Apr 2003 Location: Glendo, WY- Pop. 230 Oddometer: 5,387	We don't have salt here, so I ride the 990 whenever it's warm & the mood strikes. We also have skating-rink roads over and over throughout the winter, so it's definitely a trade-off. __________________ -Chris '04 GS Adv- A fond memory '07 990 Adventure- still bonding... How hard can it be? - Jeremy Clarkson

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