Midwest riding season

[deoveer]

Hello,

I live in Midwest (IL-WI) and am planning to purchase a bike to ride during summer. Can anyone tell what is the riding season for this area?

It is end of March and still raining/snowing/windy here. It is very discouraging.

I would like to know number of months we can ride duing a year in this area.

Your answer will help in my motivation.

[Uncle Bob]

Don't know about where you are but up here in the great white north we can get in about 7 months of riding.

Some of the more seasoned people have already had their bike out since the beginning of this month ( can't ride everyday but a lot of nice days to be had ) and we can ride into November.

Personaly I take my bike out first week in april and put it in storage first week of november ( I like to take the time to store my bike correctly so once it's up on blocks with the battery removed and fuel stabiliser in the tank I don't touch it again till april). So we're talking about a seven month window of opportunity, more if you're really zealous.[/i]

[deoveer]

I will be travelling between Chicago and Milwaukee. It is about 50 mile drive one way. I am planning to ride this distance during the summer time. However, weather is variable. For example, it is snowing since last night. The wind is terrible as well. So I am trying to find out from the resident riders of their experiances.

It is very nice of you to reply.

I like the storage procedure you mentioned, because I didn't know if there is a special way to store a bike. Thanks, it is helpful to have experiance rider providing such info.

[Uncle Bob]

Let's not talk about putting our bikes into storage right now. But when it'll unfortunately be that time again we'll post the necessary info on the site.

Regardless of the answers you'll hopefully get to your post, if you're commuting on your bike, plan on getting yourself a good rainsuit and always take it with you. Even if it's not raining, on colder days putting it on over your other clothes will cut the wind and keep you warmer.

[bat4255]

Me and about 100 other bikes put on about 160 miles the end of Feb. The weatherw was Great for 2 days. Unusuall !. I didn't put it back in storage waiting for a sunny day over 40. I try to wait untill Thanksgiving weekend to put it to bed. St Patty's Day is the target to bring it out. Me and my wife usually run 5,000 - 6,000 per year just touring. Some in our area do 1,000 per yr. others do 18,000 per yr.

Hope it helps

Jim

[deoveer]

Thanks for your response unclebob and bat4255. I suppose you would wear special winter gear to ride during Feb and Mar. I took a test drive in month of Feb and my hands were freezing cold (no gloves). I couldn't ride more than two blocks.

I like the raincoat suggestion, because here it rains almost all sprig and summer. Althohg not heavy rain, but just enough to make road condition poor and make you wet if you are riding.

I am concerned because my riding is a commute not a joy ride. So I will not be riding around the town and if it rains, I could bring home the bike. Once I am on the road, I am stuck till I return home. That is why I would like to know as much as I can so that I can prepare myself.

Thank you both for your input.

BTW, what are your recomendations for gears? I am planning to purchase nice gloves and a jacket. But I don't know what kind would be good.

Thanks in advane.

[bat4255]

Deoover'

Courious, what Bike are you thinking about?

Jim

[deoveer]

This is going to be my first bike in America, so I am going with medium size cruizer. I am planning to purchase Suzuki Savage. It is light yet strong enough for me at this time.

[bat4255]

for a 50 daily commute, a few items my make the trip more enjoyable.

1- Windshield for the Bugs and the Cold, rain can feel like BB's hitting you at highway speed. If your hands are sensitive to the cold many windschields offer good protection.
2- Storage of some type for the road goodies, rain suit, maps, extra gloves, scarf, tool kit, flashlight, cell phone, etc.
3-Adequate clothing and lighting so others can see you, espically in the rear, espically at night.

Lighter bikes are great in city driving, but if your on the expressway a lot, make sure you bike is strong enough for highway speeds, heavy enough to handle wind gusts from other veichles as well as mother nature.

Hope I didn't ramble on too much.

Jim

[deoveer]

Thanks for your input.

I realize that Savage may be little smaller for highway driving, but I don't want to start with bigger bike at this time. So far I have been driving on expressway, but once I start riding, I am planning to look for local road that is fast enough but safer.

Thanks for answering about gears. I have been thinking a lot about it. What kinds would you recommend? Should one buy a riding gloves, jacket, and a raincoat from the motorcycle dealer store? Or, my winter gears would work fine? I suppose anykind of raincoat would work just fine for riding.

I feel, these questions are silly. But I am a new rider and want buy gears that are usefull. When I attended a motorcycle riding course, some of the senior students have special gloves that cost $50 or more and expensive jackets. Speaking of jackets, are those padded jackets any good?

Once again, thanks,

[bat4255]

I use cheap rain suits, there compact a rarley used.

Gloves:
Leather for warmth and big bugs, they can be too warm in summer, I find the new nylon type work gloves with the grippy pads work fine in summer $20 bucks, You don't have to have the most expensive stuff.

Jackets:
I wear Leather Cowhide (Not Lambskin) Cowhide is heaver but better if you go down, www.msgroup.org/DISCUSS.asp, is an excellent site for reviews on just about everything to do with motorcycles