Riding in the snow!

[j~scoot]

I was just wondering if anyone else rides their scooter all year round including in the snow. I've had a few snow rides this year so far but here are some pictures from one night last winter when i rode home.

[j~scoot]

I find it hard to believe that i'm the only one riding in the snow. I saw at least 3 other scooters in the parking lot as i came home. Of course the foot of snow covering them could have meant that no one was riding them home...

Anyway, since those pictures were from last year i decided to take some Photos from my ride home tonight.

OK, OK, I know what you are thinking: I'd love to ride in the snow...but how?

Look no further, because i have compiled this small list of tips for riding in the snow.

1. Ask yourself how much you love your scooter. The answer to this question will determine whether or not it is better to attempt to ride your scooter home than to leave it to get all snow covered.

2. After you have decided to ride home at the risk of bodily injury or possibly death, check the conditions of which there are three main types

A. If the snow is powdery (like in the photos below) then your front tire is going to have to constantly roll into the snow in front of it, severely affecting the stability and steering of your scooter. In this case make sure you keep your feet sliding on the ground and that you have enough leg strength to keep your scoot upright if it attempts to fall.

B. If there is snow on the ground but it is compacted and it is warm enough outside to be sure there won't be much ice, then you have found yourself in ideal snow riding conditions. Keep your feet close to the ground to catch you in case of a fall, but you will find that scooting on compacted snow isn't half bad. You should have a decent amount of traction and steerage.

C. If there is some compacted snow, but also a lot of ice because it is pretty darn cold outside, then you should probably revisit #1.

3. Make sure you only turn the handlebars when necessary and to only turn them a little bit. Any more than that and you will not only not turn, but most likely wind up on the ground.

4. If you have both brakes on the handle bars, only use the rear. If you have a hand brake for the front and a foot brake for the rear, it is probably worth sacrificing the "controlled slide" associated for the rear brake in favor of the hand front brake and the ability to keep both feet close to the ground.

5. Don't exceed 15mph in powder. A littler faster may be warranted in smooth, compacted snow.

6. Make sure to start braking WELL in advance. Not only does this give you the ability to make the turn, but also allows you to signal your intentions to the tailgaters. (people always amaze me. I was tailgated tonight by a truck on a two lane road when the other lane was empty. Yes, a scooter, on the snow, by a truck, with an open lane. Amazing.)

7. Dress warm. Scarves are not only fashionable, but also practical.

8. Take a second to wave to the old man working the snow blower.

9. Cover your scooter or put it in the garage.

[g~scoot]

j~scoot - you are one funny man. I really got a laugh out of your post. I personally don't ride in the snow (got to show the car some love too). but if i ever decide its a good idea I know where to go for tips.

I can't believe that there is no one else out there that has a scoot'n in the snow story. I would love to hear more experiences on the subject.

[Carlson]

No riding in the snow or cold here. We have too much cold, wind, ice, and snow. Snow on top of ice is a disaster waiting to happen. Then comes the salt and the huge chuckholes which are camoflauged by the snow. cold/wind/salt/snow/ice/chuckholes bad, very very bad for scooters and scooter riders. No one who lives around here scooters, or bikes, during the Winter. We be smart yankees no rednecks here.

[j~scoot]

We be smart yankees no rednecks here.

lol. Thanks for finally replying! Here in Utah its doable. We get tons of snow but its usually melted enough by like the second or third day to take a quick ride. To be honest, most of my crazy snow riding experiences have been because I've ridden to campus and then when i'm done for the day i find my scoot is covered in snow and don't feel like calling for a ride and leaving my scooter out all night.

[Drayster]

up here in atlantic canada, roads are terrible, full of cracks and such, making snow riding a terrible idea.

but i live on a newly paved street and tried it the other day but kinda fell ..laugh.. no damage done tho.

[g~scoot]

Drayster - that is dedication man. too bad it didn't work out so well. But you got to be grateful for thethe no damage. That snow riding is nuts. I don't know how j~scoot does it.

[Drayster]

it would of helped if i hadnt had slicks hehe

when i buy bigger tires, im gunna try and make studed's out of my old.

but for now i stored it and decided to go on good ol' public transtortation ..bs..

[j~scoot]

My brother and i keep joking about how sweet it would be if we could get some studded tires. If you end up making them be sure to post some pics. Maybe i'd do the same if i hadn't worn my last set of tires into the ground.

[Piaggio]

Several years ago I saw some chains for sale for scooter tires on a Japanese website- can't remebber if it was a Yamaha or Honda site.

[g~scoot]

I wouldn't think that slicks would be good for business. Thankfully you didn't get hurt.

chains would definitely be the simpler and maybe more practical way to go about the whole snow riding. But studs would be sick. ,.,.dance.Definitely be sure to post some pics if you ever end up doing it.

[Drayster]

its not too hard - done it on bicycles many times.

you will need:
1. 1/2 screws, nails or other sharp objects
2. a spare tube or 2 for each tire
3. rubber cement

step 1, take 1 screw(nail ext ext) at a time and drive them so the pointy end will touch the ground. make a pattern that will have grip on the side and the top.

step 2, cut the tube(s) in length from the inner side(so that you can put it behind the screws and you can put a tube in the cut tube).

step 3, run a bead of rubber cement on both sides of the inside of the tire and rnake a zig-zag bead in the middle (where the screw heads are).

step 4, place 1 cut tube in the tire so it covers the walls and sides let it dry for 2 hours or whatever the cement time is. i recomend putting 2 tubes (less chances of puncture from the screws). for this repeat step 3 and 4.

step 5, install air-holding tube before installing tire(important cause if you install it same time as you put the tire in, you have a chance of moving the layers of cut tubing inside.

step 6, reinstall the tire put some air in it see if it leaks.

step 7, inflate tire to about 5 psi more than recomended(this is to keep screws from re-entering the tire and keeps them from twisting and rubbing on the tubes you have just installed)

** rubber cement is not neccesary but does help with installing and keeps tubes from moving**

DISCLAIMER: i will not be held responsable for any damages done to the scooters or personal injuries.

thats how i did it but im shure there is many other ways to do it better. have fun ::handleba on the ice! :p

[dwsracing]

we put knobby tires on a spare set of razz rims. We used cold cutters (used) one per knobby. They handle like hell, my son likes it but not me. If it is a sheet of ice its fun, but much rather stud a xr 70 and ride all night. DW

[g~scoot]

sounds simple enough Drayster. Next time I got an old set of tires ill have to give it a try. Thanks for the step by step instructions. Those will come in handy.

[Drayster]

glad to help! and i cant wait to get a job so ill be able to buy new tires to make a studed hehe

[florida derbi rocket]

Do-it yourself Ice Racing has always been popular in the midwest frozen lakes. People just drilled sheet metal screws into the outside nubs of their Knobbies..( I guess reggaes or boppers would do)

[g~scoot]

Now that sounds nuts. riding in the snow is one thing but ice racing sounds a bit crazy. but could be interesting to watch.

[Gabe502000]

If it's that bad I leave my scoot in the warm dry garage + take my cage. Calcium + sodium Chloride's really corrosive and hard enough to pressure wash off of an undercoated cage.... I don't meed it geiiing on my scoot! Gabe

[Microron]

I ride my BWS year round. December seems to be the worst month. Jnauary gets better. I don't ride before 9:30 am usually and try to get back to my garage by 4 pm. I rarely exceed 60 kph... often riding at lower speeds. On icy country roads I ride with both feet out hoping for a miss from a sudden slip and death. Today was a good riding day...Both feet on the platform with little worry about the slightly mushy conditions with a fair bit of sand intermixed with slush!

[Gabe502000]

Yikes! I need to proofread my posts! It was way early in the morning! I guess living where you do it's winter half of the year... Do you rinse it off with a hose to try and keep the crap they put down for ice from eating your BW?

[Microron]

I usually clean up the scoot every couple of days if the riding conditions are sloppy.. Right now the hose is frozen solid, I'm waiting for it to thaw out... Winter is not particularly harsh on Vancouver Island and quite often the roads are dry and free of black ice by 11 am. The BW is my means for getting to and from the rec centre and for other errands around town. I'm in need of new tires, the tread is getting worn down, but I maintain hi core strength and quick corrections with my feet if slippin' and slidin' is getting dicy.

For safety I wear a 'safety' vest, thick winter coat, goretex rain pants and high top winter construction boots, and well padded gloves or mitts depending on the temperature. My mission is to be seen...ALWAYS... and to that end I have a ski pole attached to the rear of the scoot with a fluorescent yellow fishing float attached to it. It is amazing how effective it is in grabbing drivers' attention.

Scootin is still fun... I'm 65 now and hope to be riding well into my 70's. During my 20's I rode 35 miles a day to and from Toronto through some serious snow fall on an 80cc Yammer. I also wore a helmet way back then when it was very uncool to use one.

o_o

[Gabe502000]

I started riding in '71 I've always had something to ride even if only a mountain bike...! Down here in the lower r/h corner of Alabama it's pretty much riding weather year round, I've ridden my C3 in 22 deg (f) thus far this winter, It's the high huidity, (usually 80% or better,) that really hurts!