you hit the nail on the head with cleaning. I rode over a decade every day, commuting, everything. Cleaning is absolutely the worst bit of wet riding, very closely followed by how gently you have to ride in the wet to maintain traction. I work from home and have a car too now so don't need to ride in the wet and it's the cleaning that puts me off the occasional winter bimble round. 20 minutes riding can cause an hour upwards out in the cold, with wet hands, trying to reach between very sharp metal things to clean the same shit you cleaned 2 days ago. It's wild how quickly the bike gets covered in crap if the road has even a hint of moisture
Great time of year to buy a used bike, take advantage of dealer 'end-of-year quota' and have time to do a thorough clean-up, service and upgrade ahead of the riding season. Of course the temptation is to ride but not always a bad thing to take it very steady on a new-to-you bike anyway, the inclement weather just helps put a further control on that! I also think you become a better rider as your margin for error is significantly reduced in poor weather which forces good habits such as smooth throttle control & braking.
Started riding because of you and it's the best decision I've made. Got my CBT done last November and got a ninja 125. I use it to get to work so I have to ride all year round. Rain makes me wanna cry lol but I wouldn't change a thing.
Hey Mr. G. Thanks for the latest Blackbird Vid, I’m impressed you’re bothering to venture out in this shite weather well done. Since watching the Honda vids I’m hankering to get my hands on one. I actually already have Gen 1 ZZR14 and an old Triumph Daytona 900. I do take them out when it’s cold but only when it’s dry and the roads aren’t shitty ( I hate cleaning them every five minutes too). Can’t wait for the better weather and more ZZR & XX super Blackbird Content.! Cheers to you both and HNY. Bob R.
I got back to biking in September 2020 after a 11 year gap. I managed to take it out a few times before winter set in. When it came to biking season, covid kicked in. The bike was off the road for 6 months. I'm a fare weather bike, I definitely enjoy riding my bike when it's nice and warm.
Except for my current bike, I always bought in Oct and Nov. Best deals and anyway I actually prefer cool weather riding over hot. Here in PA USA you may get weeks of no-go weather in Jan and Feb but that only builds up the anticipation.
At this time of year I ride a X-Max 250 scooter with bar muffs and leg cover plus heated gloves. Much more manageable in conditions of low grip, but still enough power to make progress. I give it a good dose of ACF50 in early winter and give it a wash every couple of weeks. I don't see the point of riding a powerful bike when it's so difficult to use the performance; having to feather the throttle and ease off for bends. If I was looking to buy I might grab a bargain in winter but then leave it until spring to ride. It sounds like you would prefer to do the same, but because you have the channel you're riding for that purpose. At least the better weather isn't so far away now. Cheers.
I don't see the point of 1000cc supers and the like - all the discomfort but none of the speed - but there's a level of power, especially in a tourer, where the bike is comfortable doing anything. Overtaking, pulling in any gear, steep hills, all sorts. You can do all those on a smaller bike if you really get the revs going but a bigger engined bike makes it effortless.
Unless they’re Kevlar , wearing jeans whilst riding is fucking stupid. Even more so when you go through the process of making sure you have everything else on!
I used to ride in the winter, but lately i do not. I own good gear and all that stuff, but it's simply not worth it. The danger outweights the fun. I ride 90% in the mountains, and it's simply too dangerous to ride in the winter. You have to constantly look out for wet and dirt patches, and if it happens to be in a cold spot, there may be some ice there, and no amount of skill will keep the bike upright. I bought a new bike in januart 2024, and rode 1000kms in 2 months, but it wasn't fun at all. Also due to my job i can't take so much risk.
Great video here with a lot of good points. I am looking at buying a bike in the next month but that is because i am only just gearing up to take my test, So if that goes well ill want something to ride. I think its a decent time too as it means i can take time to do any upgrades to a bike before we enter the season and get to enjoy it more.
@cyborgbadger1015 well some times you come out in the morning and theirs no snow so you get on your bike and head off to work up some big hills and what do you know, snow and ice
@cyborgbadger1015 or the weather forecast has predicted snow five times and been wrong and you ride to work and what do you know, it starts snowing and you are 150 miles or 3 hours away from the depot and by the time you get back theirs 6 inches of snow on the ground. Would you like me to go on?
You can get good deals on old bikes all year .but cheqe it out for crash damage insurance claims .by app.the repairs sometimes are gard to see .and can be dangerous .so cheqe it out .
you hit the nail on the head with cleaning. I rode over a decade every day, commuting, everything. Cleaning is absolutely the worst bit of wet riding, very closely followed by how gently you have to ride in the wet to maintain traction. I work from home and have a car too now so don't need to ride in the wet and it's the cleaning that puts me off the occasional winter bimble round. 20 minutes riding can cause an hour upwards out in the cold, with wet hands, trying to reach between very sharp metal things to clean the same shit you cleaned 2 days ago. It's wild how quickly the bike gets covered in crap if the road has even a hint of moisture
Best time to by, but also saddest time to by.
Great time of year to buy a used bike, take advantage of dealer 'end-of-year quota' and have time to do a thorough clean-up, service and upgrade ahead of the riding season. Of course the temptation is to ride but not always a bad thing to take it very steady on a new-to-you bike anyway, the inclement weather just helps put a further control on that! I also think you become a better rider as your margin for error is significantly reduced in poor weather which forces good habits such as smooth throttle control & braking.
Started riding because of you and it's the best decision I've made. Got my CBT done last November and got a ninja 125. I use it to get to work so I have to ride all year round. Rain makes me wanna cry lol but I wouldn't change a thing.
Hey Mr. G. Thanks for the latest Blackbird Vid, I’m impressed you’re bothering to venture out in this shite weather well done.
Since watching the Honda vids I’m hankering to get my hands on one.
I actually already have Gen 1 ZZR14 and an old Triumph Daytona 900. I do take them out when it’s cold but only when it’s dry and the roads aren’t shitty ( I hate cleaning them every five minutes too).
Can’t wait for the better weather and more ZZR & XX super Blackbird Content.!
Cheers to you both and HNY.
Bob R.
I bought myself an SV 650 just before Christmas … after passing my test in November 🤣 it F,ing freezing but i love it!
I got back to biking in September 2020 after a 11 year gap. I managed to take it out a few times before winter set in.
When it came to biking season, covid kicked in.
The bike was off the road for 6 months.
I'm a fare weather bike, I definitely enjoy riding my bike when it's nice and warm.
The only thing this video was missing was more complaining
Except for my current bike, I always bought in Oct and Nov. Best deals and anyway I actually prefer cool weather riding over hot. Here in PA USA you may get weeks of no-go weather in Jan and Feb but that only builds up the anticipation.
I ride all year long winter, summer whatever the condition is, the fun is not only in speeding the fun is in the freedom of what you can on a bike....
At this time of year I ride a X-Max 250 scooter with bar muffs and leg cover plus heated gloves. Much more manageable in conditions of low grip, but still enough power to make progress. I give it a good dose of ACF50 in early winter and give it a wash every couple of weeks. I don't see the point of riding a powerful bike when it's so difficult to use the performance; having to feather the throttle and ease off for bends. If I was looking to buy I might grab a bargain in winter but then leave it until spring to ride. It sounds like you would prefer to do the same, but because you have the channel you're riding for that purpose. At least the better weather isn't so far away now. Cheers.
I don't see the point of 1000cc supers and the like - all the discomfort but none of the speed - but there's a level of power, especially in a tourer, where the bike is comfortable doing anything. Overtaking, pulling in any gear, steep hills, all sorts. You can do all those on a smaller bike if you really get the revs going but a bigger engined bike makes it effortless.
I always buy bikes in the winter. They are cheaper, and you have time to work on it, before the weather changes.
The cold sucks yes but personally I think that the combo of dark+ rain+ headlights that would put the sun to shame is the worst thing about winter
Unless they’re Kevlar , wearing jeans whilst riding is fucking stupid. Even more so when you go through the process of making sure you have everything else on!
They are probably motorcycle jeans so best not to judge without knowing
@@stewartread849 he did say unless they're kevlar so maybe he wast judging. He's right too.
for winter hand guards are must. heated grip only helps the palm. finger tips freeze.
I used to ride in the winter, but lately i do not. I own good gear and all that stuff, but it's simply not worth it. The danger outweights the fun. I ride 90% in the mountains, and it's simply too dangerous to ride in the winter. You have to constantly look out for wet and dirt patches, and if it happens to be in a cold spot, there may be some ice there, and no amount of skill will keep the bike upright. I bought a new bike in januart 2024, and rode 1000kms in 2 months, but it wasn't fun at all. Also due to my job i can't take so much risk.
Great video here with a lot of good points. I am looking at buying a bike in the next month but that is because i am only just gearing up to take my test, So if that goes well ill want something to ride. I think its a decent time too as it means i can take time to do any upgrades to a bike before we enter the season and get to enjoy it more.
That bike is so similar to the vfr800. Lovely bike
Do you get much 'legal' grief riding with an Iridium Visor? 😅
Whats you're experience been like? #VideoIdea lol
I notice your helmet is a DOT rated one, which I'm not sure are legal in the UK. Might want to check that
It’s most likely duel rated. DOT and EN
As a blackbird owner I was looking forward to seeing a video on the bike, instead we get a weather report.
One of the best bikes period.
Passed my CBT last weekend and now looking for 125, looks like I'm going to cut my teeth on winter riding!
I haven't seen bikes cheaper in winter. I have rarely switched bikes, but they take up so little room that there's no urgency to sell the old one.
From experience, keep it below 150mph or that selfie stick with the camera on it will break 😂
😇
T'is most miserable riding in the winter, no fun at all. Heated gloves are a must and they make it just about tolerable.
Are you going to the Chilly Willy this year?
Good winter hack apart from the linked brakes
I see these as a benefit in the wet.
@Pugwash. not in ice and snow their not
@@thedriverofallthings Stupid riding in ice unless you absolutely have no other choice imo. Why would you?
@cyborgbadger1015 well some times you come out in the morning and theirs no snow so you get on your bike and head off to work up some big hills and what do you know, snow and ice
@cyborgbadger1015 or the weather forecast has predicted snow five times and been wrong and you ride to work and what do you know, it starts snowing and you are 150 miles or 3 hours away from the depot and by the time you get back theirs 6 inches of snow on the ground.
Would you like me to go on?
I would rather ride in the winter here in Australia it can be to hot in summer!!😃
You can get good deals on old bikes all year .but cheqe it out for crash damage insurance claims .by app.the repairs sometimes are gard to see .and can be dangerous .so cheqe it out .
Great video
I saved $2000 by buying my new bike on black friday.
Best jackets, mine is blue, had it for 20 years……needs a dry clean tho….😂
hey i bought a bike 3 days ago too 😂
It's a shame you put a topbox on, its ugly then, great review
First