Winter Hacks.

[Lonewolf]

I know we aren't there yet, but we soon will be!  :(

The way I'm looking at it is we have had two bad winters consecutively now and on the off chance we are going to have a third I'm determined to be prepared.
I was wondering does anyone else have a cheap and cheerful run around to save the car getting dinged in snow and if so what did you go for?

Apart from the obvious choice, BMW GS or a KTM which would be false economy I fancy something like the Suzuki DRZ 400. Looks just the job for cutting through the snow. Might even have a go at some off road riding,  ;D

Any advice gratefully received.

[fatharry]

i have my eye out for a winter hack too...best to buy in september when prices drop in 2nd had market.......DRZ is a good choice, also keeping an eye out for for a used versys ;D

[Rusty]

If I wasn't doing the commute and didn't need the top box and panniers I would have a Z750 .... not the old old style but one that's maybe 4/5 years old, so something with a bit of poke and easy to get around the London traffic .... yes yes I know you don't have London traffic but you know what I mean !
The Suzuki 400 would be a good start I have to say ... depends on budget and wether, as a winter hack, you can resist trying to clean it up and restore it to a decent condition ! For me if it's going to be bought for the shit weather then that's the way it stays !
Let us know.

[Lonewolf]

The thing which attracts me to the Suzuki DRZ is that at 400cc it'll be more than capable of maintaining an appropriate speed for my short commute of about 14 miles each way, its fairly light and if, (when) I drop it in the snow I'll be able to pick it up, always a bonus.   ;D



Something like this one, £1700 is that a good price? 2004 model with 4500 miles on the clock.

[Kwikasfuki]

When it snows, I either get in the car or work from home. The winter of 2009 was brilliant. I was working from home for a whole month.

My front wheel Audi was brilliant in the snow. I forgot diesel engines are heavy and as long as you keep the weight at the rear down (i.e. not much diesel in the tank), it grips like a 4x4

[Lonewolf]

Well my Mondeo was shite last year. Its got huge wide wheels on it and it didnt go anywhere. I bought some snow socks and they were brill but I'm going to give the Mondeo to the wife as she only works one mile from home and then I'll just use a  cheap run around bike over the winter.

[fatharry]

LW... £1700 seems alright (would look for closer to £1500.00).....but would big knobblies be alright for commuting...snow is generally not around long??..plus if truth be told i wouldn't ride at all in winter, i have been caught on Blackheath twice in a blizzard...not pretty...i got half way up shooters hill and the bike lost traction and starting slipping backwards...there's 20 stone of me, not pretty!!

[Rusty]

Mr Wolf ... yes that looks good for a 14 mile trip in the winter... light enough to grab if you drop it and cheap too .. I would think about the £1500 mark would be about right. My little 1.4 Fiesta was brilliant in the snow last year ... going passed Jags that were spinning, BM's that were just stuck ... ...

[100milesaway]

Dear Mr Wolf  I would say look no further than a kle 500 I've had one as my winter bike (pleasure) for three years, cheap to run, bomb proof, and you will pick a low mileage minter up for less than 1500 qid cracking bit of kit and much underated I love mine.    cheers Geoff ;D

[Lonewolf]

I'm open to suggestions. The KLE doesnt look too bad. It'd only be for a commute in any case.

[Boomer]

I used a certain 1400GTR right through the last 2 winters, except for 4 days when the M25 was mostly closed and 3 days when my clutch died.
In previous years I used my old GTR1000 as my winter hack.
Yes they are heavy and have lots of plastic, but that fairing really comes into it's own when it's cold, wet and windy!
Add to that a decent electrical system that can run heated grips/clothing and you have a warm, dry, happy rider.

On a DRZ400 you will be able to ride in a few inches of snow, but only slowly and you WILL drop it.
Riding in snow is similar to riding in deep mud, only much colder!
Once the snow is over the axle you will struggle to stay upright at all.

Personally, if the roads are that covered, I'll stay at home.

As for cars, I have a 3.5 litre 220Bhp Honda,.... that is front wheel drive and has traction control.
I loved it in the snow. Could run rings around all the Beemers and Mercs.
I learned to be smooooooth in slippery conditions many years ago which always helps when you need to avoid Mrs Stomped-on-the-brakes-on-sheet-ice.

[Kwikasfuki]

As soon as there's risk of snow or ice, the bike isn't used. Too much risk. I know what it feels like in a car to hit black ice so dread to think what would happen on a bike.

Doing about 60 in the fast lane on mway, hit ice, did a 180 into oncoming traffic. How I didn't hit other traffic I'll never know

[Boomer]

Mine was 20Mph on a small back road.
Was approaching a tight 90 degree corner so was braking gently when the front wheel just went.
Slammed onto my left side pretty hard and slid to a stop.
Managed to push the bike off me and get out of the way just as a car slid gracefully into the bank at about 10Mph.
Black ice so slick it was difficult to just stand on it.

When the bruises had healed about 2 weeks later I bought my first car! (had had company cars before though)
I'll ride in -ve temperatures but only on gritted roads and even then I question if the journey is necessary.
I can work from home if needed so the answer is usually NO!

[Lonewolf]

I might have to run it past one of my bosses and see if I can work from home if the weather turns nasty this winter.  ;D

Lead balloon springs to mind!  ::)

[Rusty]

"Are you quite mad Mr Wolf ? Work from home Mr Wolf ?" ....." Get out of my office NOW "