Winter Scooting

[Doc]

Just started using the Zuma to get to work, seems like a bad time to start but I love it and its not a long commute. (16miles one way- northern colorado) Took it to work the other day and it was in the low 30's. Not bad, dressed well and stayed warm except my poor hands took the majority of the cold. Is there a good, GREAT/WARM, type of glove I can get to scoot in the 30 degree weather? As long as the roads are good, I don't want to park it for the winter.

[mikal]

I've seen heated grips(like snowmobiles have)that could probably fit.
You could also try the Canadian rally kit for the BW's sport(US ZUMA) that has the
brushguards that would deflect wind.

Otherwise I have some Mountain Hardware Gore-Tex gloves that are pretty warm.

[yamaha2626]

It's been pretty cold this week in Northern Colorado lately...I tried riding on Tuesday and was very cold. Maybe next week will warm up so I can break in my new Malossi MHR rep cylinder.

[Doc]

Tuesday was cold for sure, though I did scoot to work. The afternoons have been better than the mornings. I hear of people "winterizing" their scooters, is there any need to do that if you are taking it out atleast once a week or so? Mine gets parked in a garage that seems to stay a bit warmer than outside.

I will for sure check out some Gore-tex gloves!

[JustMe!]

heated grips will suck way too much power out of that scooter battery.

Your battery is most likely a 4ah battery, and with a 12v battery, you are looking at running a max of 48 watts at any one time. Add up all your light wattages, and then figure out how much you have left over. Not much I would think.

I have heard that handlebar mitts are the way to go. I don't know how safe they really are in the event you get into an accident. I wouldn't want my hands stuck inside there when it could be bracing me for a fall instead.

Even with windproof gloves, the cold still gets into the fingers.

I do have portable battery heated gloves (not hooked up to the scoot battery), but hooked up to 2AA batts. Originally it was supposed to work off one D cell, but that didn't give enought heat, plus whatever heat it did give off only heated up a tiny section of the palm.

I eventually did a diy of a heated glove using the 2AA batts in a battery holder, some 30 guage wire, and then sowed it into my inner glove liner.

I am running off a prototype and tried it out for the first time yesterday, when it was -2 Celsius )about 29F.

Mmmmmm toasty.

[Carlson]

If you are going to continue to ride your scooter, even once a week, there is no logical reason to winterize it. The only things that you may want to do is go to a winter weight motor & trans oil, keep the battery on a battery tender, and be sure to give it additional time to warm up when you start it.

[yamaha2626]

Just buy a battery tender to keep up your battery voltage and start running a little fuel stabilizer so the carb doesnt get gummed up.

[mikal]

heated grips will suck way too much power out of that scooter battery.


OOPs. I forgot that you would need to power them. :dork:

[Ahrenv]

I am hope i understand this correctly... today i took my 1999 zuma out... it was pretty cold. I think it was about 12 degrees. I am a collage student. I don't want to park my zuma. I dont have a heated garadge or a place to put it, but i do have a grill cover to protect it a little. I do have a bike and a truck i could use through the winter, but the scooter is just so much better. should i park it and put in some sta-bil, fill the tank with gas and a battery tender. or is it possible to do a little work to it and run it all winter??? what do you more educated and seasoned riders recommend.

[Carlson]

I think the posts have already answered your questions. You can put Sta-bil in the gas, but if you run fresh gas through it every few days I am not sure the Sta-bil is necessary, gas doesn't go bad in a week or even a month. A lot of scooters sit for periods longer than week during other seasons of the year without Sta-bil. But, it won't hurt anything to use it. You may want to keep the gas tank full to prevent condensation forming when the temp drops suddenly. Extreme cold will drain the battery unless you run it more than once a week, so keep a battery tender charging the battery when not in use. Other than that, I'm not sure what you are looking for.

[ThaSteez]

Does anyone go as far as putting different tires on their scoot? I just took mine out and seemed like the littlest trace of snow on the road would make it slide around (stock tires w/alright tread), I would think trying to ride anywhere during winter (especially in busy traffic) wouldn't be pretty

[keith]

Gloves...Look for some Welding Gloves. Some are lined and they come up
your forearm maybe 9 or 10". I got some at Harbor Freight (Less than $7.00 a pair.)

[dwsracing]

Most dirt bikes shops sell wind gaurds that clamp on the handle bar ( like a bark buster) it stops the direct hit of the wind. Look in the hunting section say walmart and the have 6 hour warmers for hands and feet.

[yammybws]

Load up on lots of bullets to in the hunting section too, the Zuma's have amazing snow performance, and can haul your game home in style. Don't be stupid, if there is snow or ice on the ground the scoot stays home. Nothing dumps easier than 2 wheels on a slippery surface. I used to ride my scoot around in a field in the snow in Northern BC and traction was horrible. Lots of wheel spinning and rear wheel sliding, while it was a bit of fun, I didn't have to worry about other vehicles running me over when I bailed. I live in Victoria now, and we have maybe 4 weeks where it's too cold to ride due to icing. No need for anything special for the scoot in the winter other than to let it warm up nicely, and to let the tires warm up a bit longer before pushing corners etc.

[JustMe!]

Nothing dumps easier than 2 wheels on a slippery surface. .

U got that right.

I crashed my bike last week. Slid on some black ice for about 15 feet and the bike kept on going for another 20 or so feet. _-_-_- back wheel gave out on me and just started to wobble and I couldn't correct myself in time. It's not something anyone should experience. Got up without a scratch, except for the bike. Armoured gear held up nicely.

been taking the cage to work last few days.

[Doc]

Weather here has been crapy so I haven't been able to ride for a few weeks. The scoot has been sitting in a cold garage and yesterday the roads were clear so I decided to get it out. Had a hell of a time getting it started. Well not that bad, 2-3 minutes trying to get it to turn over and finally it did. Took it out for a good run. Today it started up no problem. So my guess is If I am not going to fully winterize, I should atleast start it up and let it run for 5 minutes every few days even if I can't take it out? Reluctant to winterize...

[ugly-jeep-truck]

I use snowmobile/ski gloves and have proven fine down to mid 20s for shorter rides. You're not shifting a scooter so you can get away with slightly bulkier gloves too.

[Doc]

I found some ski gloves in a store here, Burton Oven mit?. Pricey but rode the other night when it was 9f and all was good!

[dwsracing]

Here in Michigan we just got pounded with snow so last night I took my studded razz out for a run. What a great time, it handled very good but didn't go past 22 mph but way too fun.

[Carlson]

Weather here has been crapy so I haven't been able to ride for a few weeks. The scoot has been sitting in a cold garage and yesterday the roads were clear so I decided to get it out. Had a hell of a time getting it started. Well not that bad, 2-3 minutes trying to get it to turn over and finally it did. Took it out for a good run. Today it started up no problem. So my guess is If I am not going to fully winterize, I should atleast start it up and let it run for 5 minutes every few days even if I can't take it out? Reluctant to winterize...

I have mine winterized but still go out once every week to 10 days and start it up and let 'er run for 10 or 15 mins. Supposed to be in the upper 40's or low 50's this weekend, may get some riding time if it doesn't rain and the roads clear up from all this snow and slush. If I can't get out, I think I will go ahead and change the Motor and gear oil and get that done ahead of Spring.

[Doc]

If you go out once a week to 10 days for a run, are you re-winterizing afterwards, meaning filler up again and adding stabil, back on the battery tender? We have been getting to 0f at nights but I have been starting mine up frequently. Took it out tonight for a run. Great time! Snow and COLD all around but the roads are clear. Haven't done anything that would be considered winterizing but feel The scoot is looked after well and not just left in the cold, so to speak. Thinking of scootin to work in the morning. I found a new back road that looks fun and is clear. Only a 18 mile stretch to work.

[Doc]

Last few days, 45 and great weather for scootin (january that is). Knock on wood that the weather holds for a bit. ..pray..

Happy winter scootring to all that can.

[Carlson]

If you go out once a week to 10 days for a run, are you re-winterizing afterwards, meaning filler up again and adding stabil, back on the battery tender?

Yes. I left the battery in the scooter, hooked to the tender. All I have to do is disconnect the tender, replace the floor cover and it's good to go. We have had a couple 0 and -0 nights, the tender stays "green" all the time. I was somewhat worried about the battery tender not keeping the battery charged when it got that cold, but evidently it is doing OK.