Winter Commuting - Scooters.

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ThrottleThrow

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I am begining to think I may pick up a scooter to ride december-march. Longest trips would be from Aurora to York U on clear/light weather (about 30 min). Do any of you guys do this (people downtown are a bit different as I have a farther commute on major roads)Thinking of getting a bws/rukus type scooter that has wider treaded tires. And rocking the insulated/heated gear I use for late season riding on my kawi.Opinions? (I can't get a car so don't suggest that, I'm sick of allways taking the bus in the winter)
 
don't be a wimp - ride the Kawi - not worth the extra insurance and hassle - good practice for you anyway . ;)
 
I don't want to ruin my baby with salt and snow and the like. That's why I'd rater pick up some ghetto scooter I couldn't care less about for the winter. Plus if go down in bad weather I'd rather it a scooter and not my summer daily driver
 
ThrottleThrow said:
I don't want to ruin my baby with salt and snow and the like. That's why I'd rater pick up some ghetto scooter I couldn't care less about for the winter. Plus if go down in bad weather I'd rather it a scooter and not my summer daily driver
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Dont be dumb and ride your bike in the dead of winter. I dont know if I could do a 30 minute ride on a scooter in the middle of winter, I could see it if you lived downtown and all you did was basic commuting.
 
Must be heck of an experience... I ve read people doing it before... just be sure to wear lots of thick gear around your skin :) ... a Ruckus or Zuma could handle it from what Ive read. Ride safe
 
I think on a nice dry winter day, a scooter should probably work just fine.. But the thought of riding one is slushy wet winter weather is just gross as you'll get a full body spray of salty caked on road scum.

A ruckus or BW 50 would be awesome if you are not that big and heavy. Otherwise I'd get something with a bigger motor like a BWS125 or a kymco 200.
 
toshison said:
I think on a nice dry winter day, a scooter should probably work just fine.. But the thought of riding one is slushy wet winter weather is just gross as you'll get a full body spray of salty caked on road scum.
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He's right about this. I ruined a perfectly good helmet with the salt. I also over stretched the padding because of the ski mask I had to dawn as it got colder. The helmet never fit right again after a few weeks of that. My pants and jacket I cleaned regularly and still use.
 
[video=youtube;ImSVKTROtxM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImSVKTROtxM[/video]

So much fun!
 
rode my full size bike all winter, no issues at all. drove it all the way to peterborough and back from scarborough. my helmet still fits fine, did not ruin it. winter riding is fun.
 
silverbullet132 said:
rode my full size bike all winter, no issues at all. drove it all the way to peterborough and back from scarborough. my helmet still fits fine, did not ruin it. winter riding is fun.
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We're not talking on riding on "clear dry road" winter days. Everyday, rain/snow/shine -10C windchill -30C days
 
I'm really curious about this and opinions on how to make it work (not why not).

we got a ruckus and insurance for the ex500 is 1200/yr jevco, ruckus 200/yr dejardins ! so it's really no big deal to insure one of them for the entire year and have a second vehicle. I can't imagine jevco or someone would give an amazing deal on swapping over for a few months, it could be close to the same as just fully insuring both at the same time.

I rode the 500 up till dec 15 everyday, then only on clear days after till around march when I pulled her out again for daily use, the chain is full of rust now, and lots of other rust spots. salt really does affect the bike if you're not MILITANT about cleaning. it's a 500 though, don't care.

as for temperature, heated gear is fine, people that say it's too cold should read reviews of the gear or borrow from a friend.

HOWEVER... my 500 has a larger alternator than the ruckus, so whether heated gear can even work is a large question I have...

atleast the ruckus has a kickstart so if you drain the battery you're not stuck.
 
Damn, you people have some balls. I don't even like walking when it's -5 or lower. I stop riding when the morning temp is 5 or lower
 
jevco allows you to swtich insurance for winter on a lesser bike (eg/ ninja 500 to ruckus).

I live close to downtown, and once it starts getting cold, will likely try and find a cheap ruckus and continue rising over winter.
 
wearelopey said:
jevco allows you to swtich insurance for winter on a lesser bike (eg/ ninja 500 to ruckus).

I live close to downtown, and once it starts getting cold, will likely try and find a cheap ruckus and continue rising over winter.
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O rly? That may become a consideration at my next renewal.

I was just gonna get some scrap fairings (well, I already have one side and a spare, dented tank), repaint them some random spray can colour and decorate with stickers, and then put some TKC80s with studs on the 650R and hope for the best because I didn't want the extra cost of insuring yet another vehicle (already have 2 cars and the bike and have been thinking of getting an SUV/pickup to tow a car to track days but thought I should actually try some trackdays first before buying a tow vehicle, and maybe spend my money on something more productive, like a home, lol).

Something like this:
688472176_zPLrA-M.jpg
 
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unL33T said:
Looks like it. I'd be worried about getting charged with something for riding a street vehicle in a park though...
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Funny you mentioned that. After we finished and were packing up the police rolled up and informed us of a complain lodged on our fun. We got off with a warning but the cop was cool and recommended some open fields away from city properties.
 
I have a piaggio mp3 250cc (3 wheels) and the most curious thing about it is how well it performs on cold weather. It thrives on cold, wet roads (streetcar tracks inclusive). It stayed perfectly straight during an emergency stop (and I mean EMERGENCY STOP, soil-your-pants kind of thing) at 7am, below zero temperature... one front wheel locked but did not go down. In general, it feels like it can go faster, more steady than a similar sized 2-wheeler.

But to be honest, I feel old now and I rather take the car to the office.
 
I think I need more experience before riding a bike in the snow...sounds balzy. My buddy is thinking of doing it...Maybe days when there is no snow.
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