Riding in the ice
Discussion
Surely nobody's crazy enough to be riding in this weather with Black Ice all over the roads?
Just asking as I have have earlier today done a deal to sell a Kawasaki 650 on behalf of my son.
The buyer is so keen he wanted to come here by train immediately with his biking kit so he could ride it 100 miles home.
I have told him I'm pretty much not prepared to allow him to do that as it sounds like madness to me. It was - 6 last night and it is still -3 here and we live on a hill on a B road with ice everywhere.
I went out earlier in my Volvo and that was pretty sketchy but I wouldn't want to be riding these roads in these conditions on a motorbike of any description.
My fear was that he wouldn't even get to the end of our Lane and onto the main road before ringing me to say he had dropped the bike.
Did I do the right thing or should I have let him make his own decisions?
Just asking as I have have earlier today done a deal to sell a Kawasaki 650 on behalf of my son.
The buyer is so keen he wanted to come here by train immediately with his biking kit so he could ride it 100 miles home.
I have told him I'm pretty much not prepared to allow him to do that as it sounds like madness to me. It was - 6 last night and it is still -3 here and we live on a hill on a B road with ice everywhere.
I went out earlier in my Volvo and that was pretty sketchy but I wouldn't want to be riding these roads in these conditions on a motorbike of any description.
My fear was that he wouldn't even get to the end of our Lane and onto the main road before ringing me to say he had dropped the bike.
Did I do the right thing or should I have let him make his own decisions?
Edited by A993LAD on Wednesday 18th January 13:43
I don't think you did the wrong thing, says a lot for your character that you put some random person's safety before your own personal profit.
I've seen a couple out, had some nutter filtering through fairly fast flowing traffic last night. I'm not usually a subscriber to the "loud pipes save lives" speil, but will admit on this occasion I heard them well before I saw them. Took me a second or 2 to register someone was actually crazy enough to be out riding TBH
I've seen a couple out, had some nutter filtering through fairly fast flowing traffic last night. I'm not usually a subscriber to the "loud pipes save lives" speil, but will admit on this occasion I heard them well before I saw them. Took me a second or 2 to register someone was actually crazy enough to be out riding TBH
"when I was a lad".....My bike was my only form of transport, so I used it in all weathers, I can remember commuting and looking at snow drifts at the side of the road. Seemed a challenge and even fun.
Not for me now and no need but some still have to or choose 2 wheels, I spotted plenty of riders and a training school out in Bristol yesterday and some of the roads where very icy.
Not for me now and no need but some still have to or choose 2 wheels, I spotted plenty of riders and a training school out in Bristol yesterday and some of the roads where very icy.
You did the right thing given the treacherous conditions out there.. but ultimately it’s his decision if he’s paid for the bike. Is he a younger guy, less experience?
I remember picking up an FZR1000 in very similar conditions way back, I was around 21.. & it was a very sketchy ride home. I survived the hour ride back, but almost lost the bike just 2 minutes from my front door.. black ice all over the road! Had I turned, or braked even a tad I would have been off. I literally had to go straight, using engine braking to eventually come to a standstill. Never again.
I remember picking up an FZR1000 in very similar conditions way back, I was around 21.. & it was a very sketchy ride home. I survived the hour ride back, but almost lost the bike just 2 minutes from my front door.. black ice all over the road! Had I turned, or braked even a tad I would have been off. I literally had to go straight, using engine braking to eventually come to a standstill. Never again.
I sold my wife’s cbr 125 to a lad from London who got a train to Harrogate to pick it up. He paid, told me he’d only done his cbt last week on a scooter, and now had to ride it home, setting off at 4pm! I asked if he knew he was not allowed on motorways, he said he didn’t! But not to worry. He’d also never ridden a bike with gears!
Concerned, yes, did I stop him, he’ll no!
Never did find out if he made it!
Concerned, yes, did I stop him, he’ll no!
Never did find out if he made it!
poo at Paul's said:
I sold my wife’s cbr 125 to a lad from London who got a train to Harrogate to pick it up. He paid, told me he’d only done his cbt last week on a scooter, and now had to ride it home, setting off at 4pm! I asked if he knew he was not allowed on motorways, he said he didn’t! But not to worry. He’d also never ridden a bike with gears!
Concerned, yes, did I stop him, he’ll no!
Never did find out if he made it!
Oh jeez! That's nuts. Must've been some journey back! Concerned, yes, did I stop him, he’ll no!
Never did find out if he made it!
I thought I was mad buying my Honda CBF 125 in Newport and riding it back to Bristol with no experience apart from my CBT
duncs said:
When I were a lad I used to ride in all weathers - not a chance now 
Indeed!I can recall falling off my 400-4 (back when everything was black and white, and the dead sea was alive and kicking) twice on the way into work (a journey of circa 3 miles) in the snow/slush.
Now my 900 Ninja is tucked up in the garage by mid-October, and will come out of hibernation in April.
Old bones chill quickly.
I've commuted twice this week so far, and will be again tomorrow. Tonbridge to City, so about 35 miles each way. Heated grips/vest, plus a good neck tube and it's been fine - I'm riding with a good deal of caution of course.
Literally only the first few meters of my route is ungritted and it's done the job well.
Literally only the first few meters of my route is ungritted and it's done the job well.
Freakuk said:
That's rideable if he wasn't so absurdly close to the kerb. You can see after he turns left at the light he's almost in the gutter where the ice is: if he'd got into the outside lane and stayed there he'd have been OK. Obviously my argument presupposes his intention in going out wasn't to crash and generate clicks...
Back in the late sixties I used to love going out in the thick snow and ice on my Honda 90 sports, (Must have been mad)
Anyway, one night in winter with my mate on the back we were going to have a ride over the Woodhead pass to Sheffield for a bit of fun but the road was blocked off in Tintwistle.......POLICE ROAD CLOSED
I thought bugger that, went round the barriers and struggled to the very top of the pass in the deep snow, not a car in sight, and then the engine cut out
I thought we were going to die, it was snowing, freezing, pitch black and the nearest house was miles away,
Then, in the distance we saw some headlights coming towards us from the Sheffield direction....it turned out it was a bloke in a flatbed lorry heading over to Manchester.
He saw us and stopped, we explained my bike had conked out (The spark plug was soaked) so he said "Hop in the cab",
I said "What about my bike", so he picked it up over his head and threw it on the back of the lorry.
He was only 5ft 6" but built like a brick s
thouse,
I learnt my lesson that night, snow and motorbikes are not happy bedfellows.
Anyway, one night in winter with my mate on the back we were going to have a ride over the Woodhead pass to Sheffield for a bit of fun but the road was blocked off in Tintwistle.......POLICE ROAD CLOSED
I thought bugger that, went round the barriers and struggled to the very top of the pass in the deep snow, not a car in sight, and then the engine cut out
I thought we were going to die, it was snowing, freezing, pitch black and the nearest house was miles away,
Then, in the distance we saw some headlights coming towards us from the Sheffield direction....it turned out it was a bloke in a flatbed lorry heading over to Manchester.
He saw us and stopped, we explained my bike had conked out (The spark plug was soaked) so he said "Hop in the cab",
I said "What about my bike", so he picked it up over his head and threw it on the back of the lorry
.He was only 5ft 6" but built like a brick s
thouse,I learnt my lesson that night, snow and motorbikes are not happy bedfellows.
Rode in today, will do so again tomorrow. Probably much warmer here than up north though and the roads were 95% gritted.
Popped my balaclava on, poured some hot water over the various locks and I was off.
The only really sketchy bit were a couple of burst water mains - had slush lapping at my boots before it turned to sheet ice.
Popped my balaclava on, poured some hot water over the various locks and I was off.
The only really sketchy bit were a couple of burst water mains - had slush lapping at my boots before it turned to sheet ice.
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