Winter Riding in New Hampshire

[dubwise]

It's a 1994 GS500E, naked, with a little Spitfire screen on it. Sweet condition. Purple wheels.

Thanks for the ride offer, but we're two or three hours apart. That's farther than I'd care to go on the 250,
especially now that the 500 is sitting right there next to it. I love the 250 around town, which is most of my riding.
The GS500 is also notoriously not a fan of the cold. Seriously, it takes 10 minutes of riding before it's really happy
without the choke at freezing temps. That's another reason to rig the 250 as the winter bike. So they both have
their roles. Good to have an extra bike when the kid's having trouble with his beat up old FZ600, too.

[dhgeyer]

Originally Posted by dubwise

The GS500 is also notoriously not a fan of the cold. Seriously, it takes 10 minutes of riding before it's really happy
without the choke at freezing temps.

Advantage fuel injection. The Beemer takes a few cranks to kick over (all the older boxers do that) but it's consistent, and it doesn't care how cold it is. Starts the same at 20 degrees as it does at 80. And there's no need to warm it up. Crank it up and go, just like my car. That's one of the reasons I'm so hot to get my hands on a TU250 - it's fuel injected also.

[Water Warrior 2]

Dubwise: A big :2tup: for your sense of adventure.

Are the Vstrom handguards for the 650 or 1000 ? The 1000 will likely not fit on the clutch side due to having been designed to fit a hydraulic clutch lever. 650 guards should work with some luck. I am curious why you chose them. Just a headsup on the handguards for toasty finger tips. The bottom of the guard is very open and allows cold air to hit your fingers and thumb. Just make a filler piece from light plastic and use 2 sided tape to attach it into the guard. I tried this with light cardboard and duct tape and the difference was amazing to my old cold digits. My next project is light plastic and 2 sided tape. I am also considering extending the top of the guards for better wrist protection but so far this hasn't been a problem with Red Wing guantlets.
Extending the guards has been a fairly hot topic lately with Vstrom riders and everyone says it works very well. One Forum member is even manufacturing top and bottom form fitted guard extensions and selling them. Turns the guard into a mini-fairing for the hands. Very impressive farkle.

[dubwise]

I got these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... &viewitem=
referred by some posts on gstwin.com, the GS500 site.

Description says Complete kit for adding DL1000 type hand guards to the DL650.Color Black. Easy installation. Fits Suzuki DL650/DL1000, 2004'-2009

They came yesterday, and the shape and holes seem to line up. Going to try to mount them maybe Friday. Supposed to be warm.

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by dubwise

I got these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... &viewitem=
referred by some posts on gstwin.com, the GS500 site.

Description says Complete kit for adding DL1000 type hand guards to the DL650.Color Black. Easy installation. Fits Suzuki DL650/DL1000, 2004'-2009

They came yesterday, and the shape and holes seem to line up. Going to try to mount them maybe Friday. Supposed to be warm.

That makes sense. "DL1000 TYPE". But made to fit the 650. Oh yah, the cost is an insult to anyone in the GWN. Mine were $140 here at a dealer. Would like to see a pic when you are done with the install.

[burkbuilds]

dhgeyer, you have my admiration. I don't have the guts to get out in snow and ice on my bike. I'm nervous enough taking the truck out in those conditions.

[dhgeyer]

Thanks BB! Actually, I don't ride unless the roads are clear, or if I'm desperate, a small patch of ice left here and there that I can easily avoid. The only ice or snow I have to deal with is the driveway, about 50 feet. It's not as bad as you'd think.

Apart from that, having grown up and learned to drive just South of Buffalo, NY, and never having lived anywhere other than in the North East, we tend to learn to deal with it. When I was 16, I took my driving test in the middle of a Hell of a blizzard in Warsaw, NY, and passed.

[JWR]

Originally Posted by dhgeyer

When I was 16, I took my driving test in the middle of a Hell of a blizzard in Warsaw, NY, and passed.

Horse and Buggy? :poke2:








:hide:

[dubwise]

The roads are clear and dry around here. Just cold, and
cold's nothing but an excuse to get more and better gear.

[dhgeyer]

Originally Posted by JWR

Horse and Buggy? :poke2: :hide:

Roman Chariot