How bad is it to expose a bike to rain and snow?

I do not have a cover, or a place to shield it necessarily. It's just been sitting there getting snowed on.

It seems like you guys are **** about protecting your bikes, but is there any serious problem to be had from keeping it outside during inclement weather?

If any of you ever saw my car...you'd understand why I don't cover my bike.

 

I know that rubber and plastics have a temp emtremety limit. Couldn't tell you what they are and what it'd actually do to those parts but I'm sure you won't notice it until your tires and hoses develop cracks. Plastics get brittle through hot and cold cycles.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know that rubber and plastics have a temp emtremety limit. Couldn't tell you what they are and what it'd actually do to those parts but I'm sure you won't notice it until your tires and hoses develop cracks. Plastics get brittle through hot and cold cycles. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I see. Seems like the temp, rather than the stuff falling from the sky, is the problem.

Am I putting the longevity of my bike at risk by leaving it out in this cold Virginia weather?

I suppose I could bring it inside, but getting it in and out of my apt. is a pain in the ***.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Am I putting the longevity of my bike at risk by leaving it out in this cold Virginia weather?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes. oxidation (aka rust / corrosion) is bad

 

And it will necessarily rust?

I guess the frame is aluminum...so what's the solution? Just get a cover, or keep riding the damn thing through the winter?

 

Two words: Acid Snow

It may seem like a joke but the same harmful polutants that are in the rain are also in the snow. At the very least get a cover so the snow doesn't sit on your bike.

 

Yeah if the bike is being put away all winter totaly clean it. all that road grime will reek havoc on your bike. But if you cant get it inside outof the element just make sure that all exposed seals are lubed like with DC-4 insulating lubricant. Plus like your clutch and throttle cables need to be lubed ecspecialy at the exposed areas. The biggest thing i worry about is the temp being like in the 30's and starting thebike and not giving it the proper time to warm up and warping something.

 

So you just leave it outside letting it ice up? Why not even just throw some garbage bags over it?

 

Yeah it can't be good for a bike, store it if you are not going to ride it, or like everyone else said, cover it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Newkleus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah it can't be good for a bike, store it if you are not going to ride it, or like everyone else said, cover it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok, I will do one of the two.

I think it's been sitting for about 2 weeks, ever since the snow started falling. Is there anything I need to look for, or should it be ok with a little daily driving?

 

Snow, minimal.

Rain, nothing. I seem to spend as much time riding in downpours for long periods of time as I do riding good weather. I ride down to 9 degrees and no problems thus far. I've got a LOT of miles under my *** so take it for what its worth.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
should it be ok with a little daily driving?</TD></TR></TABLE>
50's this weekend!!!!!!

 

if you can, do what my dad did when the garage wasnt finished... park it in the living room... dont know how it fit through the door but it did..... it was a goldwing...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CooBlueDAB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you can, do what my dad did when the garage wasnt finished... park it in the living room... dont know how it fit through the door but it did..... it was a goldwing...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ouch! lol

I live with a few other guys, so having a motorcycle in the living room might be just a tad inconsiderate. And smelly.

I rode the bike today, and everything felt more or less kosher, but for some reason it felt slow! Is it possible that I'm not imagining that?

 

YO Ross check your tire pressures for real. When the temp drops so does your pressure that could be a big thing why your bike felt wierd. ALso your probbly jetted for a warmer temp too so you might need to lean it out a lil probbly running just a touch rich. As far as what to look for your cables and brake lines you shoudl watch close and you should be GTG!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CheeseMuffin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">YO Ross check your tire pressures for real. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's a good idea in general...would it slow the bike down that much? I guess I was just expecting the bike to be a rocket after not being on it in a while, I think I am just getting used to the speed.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ALso your probbly jetted for a warmer temp too</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not sure that applies here.

I will do the rest of that stuff too...thanks for your help!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CheeseMuffin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah if the bike is being put away all winter totaly clean it. all that road grime will reek havoc on your bike. But if you cant get it inside outof the element just make sure that all exposed seals are lubed like with DC-4 insulating lubricant. Plus like your clutch and throttle cables need to be lubed ecspecialy at the exposed areas. The biggest thing i worry about is the temp being like in the 30's and starting thebike and not giving it the proper time to warm up and warping something. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah if you are riding it, then your;re heatuing everything up and getting the moisture out of the oil etc etc. lubing the seals and keepting things happy. there are some crazy ***** like you that ride in cold and as long as your e riding the bike its keeping the corrosion purely cosmetic since the moving parts are being cleaned off.

i prefer to ride instad of winterize here in dallas, it gets warm often enough to ride once every seven to ten days at least

sorry about my spelling i got the flue real bad laying in bed typeing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I rode the bike today, and everything felt more or less kosher, but for some reason it felt slow! Is it possible that I'm not imagining that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

How long did you ride for? I know when my track car or my old M3 used to sit for as little as a few days they were very sluggish until sufficiently warmed up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Home Skillet &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
50's this weekend!!!!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Mid 40s here... But its supposed to be mid 40s all next week too. WOOHOO.

Damn i need new tires.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ouch! lol

I live with a few other guys, so having a motorcycle in the living room might be just a tad inconsiderate. And smelly.

I rode the bike today, and everything felt more or less kosher, but for some reason it felt slow! Is it possible that I'm not imagining that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

dunno about smelly, but maybe a tad inconsiderate

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Apocalypse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How long did you ride for? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Went to Chipotle and back.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ross R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Went to Chipotle and back.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I doubt that's long enough to being the oil up to temp, especially since you likely turned it off when you were there.

 

A motor brought to operating temp for 10 minutes is long enough.

 

Lets not forget that gasolines octane rating steadily goes down the ******* the longer it sits.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HMan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A motor brought to operating temp for 10 minutes is long enough. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's the key there. It's take awhile if it's stone cold.