One of my teachers used to ride motorcycles in the snow too named Mr Busee. This guy would ride on the expressway in blizzards back in the 1980s and he's still alive I think. Cool dude, tough teacher. Didn't take any shit from anyone. 🤣
Have been riding for many years. I live in the Colorado Rockies, and until now considered myself adept at cold weather riding. Today I have been humbled. Great video and cheers to you for giving the rest of us some needed perspective.
I'm curious how you deal with deep snow. I live at about 8000 feet in the Rockies and the depth of snow and steep hills has been my limiting factor on both a motorcycle and bicycle
I used to pass snow plows on the highway commuting to and from other places in the winter, the reactions from the driver was worthy of filming sadly i did not own a go pro at the time.
I commute through the winter here in northeast Ohio. My layering is almost identical to yours. Not quite as cold as for you in Duluth, but we have plenty of snow as well. I have an unheated garage and use an oil pan heater stuck to the bottom of the engine block. I plug it in when I put it away and a old outlet timer has it toasty and ready for a quick start when I need to go. I have a plug at my work parking spot as well.
Necessity is the mother of invention....Andy has done what's necessary to extend his riding season. Living in New England I ride until it's no longer practical, for me that's sub freezing temps. Heated gear, grips & under layers are a must. Bike mods that don't 'undo' easy enough are out of my wheel house though I did once own a Bultaco Alpina with studded tires. PS. Albert Einstein's got nothing on this guy!👍😁
I do winter backpacking, and materials are the #1 most important thing. Cotton kills. Don't wear anything cotton if you like being alive or don't want to get sick. A hard shell outer layer is probably a requirement. A merino wool base layer is going to change your life. Especially merino wool socks. Darn Toughs. I've tossed all of my cotton socks and over the course of several years and a thousand dollars...All of my socks are Darn Toughs. Get a buff for your neck, they actually make merino wool buffs now. A goose down puff jacket would provide the most insulation for its weight. But of course you want something over it to keep it from ripping and keep it dry. Down does not like getting wet and my friend had to toss his $300 jacket after he washed it, didn't dry it well enough and it got musty.
I've been commuting year round for the past 6 years. I don't deal with snow, but once in a while the temps get down into the teens here in NC. Proper gear makes it much easier. My gloves are the only heated pieces I have.
I just posted a video of a quick ride during a storm this week, but I've been riding through all winters, all weather, for 4 years now. I ride a lowered honda ruckus and a tw200. I find that windproofing seems much more important than insulation. I usually just wear a leather jacket and decent under layer until it gets down below -10 degrees. The most challenging part is cold hands, wind seems to get in through the seams of even the most waterproof glove. I see you have heated grips, but no hand shield to deflect wind? I'm amazed that does the trick by itself. I've had bad luck running a heated vest off the bike, the cold weather kills the battery very quickly and bump starting on ice is a hell of a time. I've been relying on a battery powered heated glove liner instead. I'll have to get some electrical tape for the levers, and blocking a bit of air off so that it doesn't air-cool itself to death isn't a bad idea.
Ugh. This reminds me of about 20 years ago when I lost a bet at the moto shop I was wrenching at. I commuted ~45 minutes 5 days a week thru a Chicago winter on an old GPZ 900. That bike got laid down so many times that winter but I won the bet. In retrospect, I absolutely destroyed a modern classic of a machine but given there was no broken bones on my end, and my dumb young self learned how to stay warm in the very cold, it was a win. I still miss that old gypsy.
Tempting ! I commute 60 miles round trip in Utah usually on an RT . Mostly highway miles . This sounds fun I could set up a dual sport motorcycle and use back roads . Snow here and ice in the roads and I stop riding .
Thanks Andy - I now feel so spoiled living and riding in SoCal. I ride with an older Stitch 120 classic - you helped to make up my mine I will go with R3 Light when I buy a new suit. With that 4.00X18 on the front it reminds me of a 60s Desert Sled- Like your XRL I see that you are still only using a left mirror. It's just a shame that you can't split lanes with all that you are putting up in MN. Thanks for the video and sharing Andy. Sincerely Denis Kerechuk.
Great video! Thanks for taking the time to walk us through all the aspects of sub freezing winter riding. What were the gloves that you liked for really cold temps? I use muffs/pogies for winter commutes which allows me to use thinner gloves and makes the heated grips more efficient. Also, I would love to hear some of your insight on the bicycle end as well - clothing, equipment, etc.
You said the suit is an r3 light. Does that have any kind of a lining for warmth? I'm not familiar with the different models. What model is the tan one? Also, is your down jacket a higher end warmer one or something like I would buy a Costco?
The R-3 does not have an interior lining, but you are able to wear layers underneath for extra warmth. More information about the differences between the various models can be found at www.aerostich.com/suits
sometimes I breathe thru a half in. plastic elbow fitted to a short vinyl hose to not fog my helmet. I never understood why this item is not in your fine catalog.
One of my teachers used to ride motorcycles in the snow too named Mr Busee. This guy would ride on the expressway in blizzards back in the 1980s and he's still alive I think. Cool dude, tough teacher. Didn't take any shit from anyone. 🤣
Have been riding for many years. I live in the Colorado Rockies, and until now considered myself adept at cold weather riding. Today I have been humbled.
Great video and cheers to you for giving the rest of us some needed perspective.
I'm curious how you deal with deep snow. I live at about 8000 feet in the Rockies and the depth of snow and steep hills has been my limiting factor on both a motorcycle and bicycle
Fun Walk Through.
Thanks ! 😊
Amazing. Nothing stops a true motorcyclist. Way to go Andy. I would love to hear the comments from the cars you pass on the way to work.
I used to pass snow plows on the highway commuting to and from other places in the winter, the reactions from the driver was worthy of filming sadly i did not own a go pro at the time.
I commute through the winter here in northeast Ohio. My layering is almost identical to yours. Not quite as cold as for you in Duluth, but we have plenty of snow as well. I have an unheated garage and use an oil pan heater stuck to the bottom of the engine block. I plug it in when I put it away and a old outlet timer has it toasty and ready for a quick start when I need to go. I have a plug at my work parking spot as well.
so cool
Great vid, great guy, and great company 👍
Necessity is the mother of invention....Andy has done what's necessary to extend his riding season. Living in New England I ride until it's no longer practical, for me that's sub freezing temps. Heated gear, grips & under layers are a must. Bike mods that don't 'undo' easy enough are out of my wheel house though I did once own a Bultaco Alpina with studded tires.
PS. Albert Einstein's got nothing on this guy!👍😁
I do winter backpacking, and materials are the #1 most important thing. Cotton kills. Don't wear anything cotton if you like being alive or don't want to get sick.
A hard shell outer layer is probably a requirement. A merino wool base layer is going to change your life. Especially merino wool socks. Darn Toughs. I've tossed all of my cotton socks and over the course of several years and a thousand dollars...All of my socks are Darn Toughs.
Get a buff for your neck, they actually make merino wool buffs now.
A goose down puff jacket would provide the most insulation for its weight. But of course you want something over it to keep it from ripping and keep it dry. Down does not like getting wet and my friend had to toss his $300 jacket after he washed it, didn't dry it well enough and it got musty.
I've been commuting year round for the past 6 years. I don't deal with snow, but once in a while the temps get down into the teens here in NC. Proper gear makes it much easier. My gloves are the only heated pieces I have.
I just posted a video of a quick ride during a storm this week, but I've been riding through all winters, all weather, for 4 years now. I ride a lowered honda ruckus and a tw200. I find that windproofing seems much more important than insulation. I usually just wear a leather jacket and decent under layer until it gets down below -10 degrees. The most challenging part is cold hands, wind seems to get in through the seams of even the most waterproof glove. I see you have heated grips, but no hand shield to deflect wind? I'm amazed that does the trick by itself. I've had bad luck running a heated vest off the bike, the cold weather kills the battery very quickly and bump starting on ice is a hell of a time. I've been relying on a battery powered heated glove liner instead. I'll have to get some electrical tape for the levers, and blocking a bit of air off so that it doesn't air-cool itself to death isn't a bad idea.
Ugh. This reminds me of about 20 years ago when I lost a bet at the moto shop I was wrenching at. I commuted ~45 minutes 5 days a week thru a Chicago winter on an old GPZ 900. That bike got laid down so many times that winter but I won the bet. In retrospect, I absolutely destroyed a modern classic of a machine but given there was no broken bones on my end, and my dumb young self learned how to stay warm in the very cold, it was a win. I still miss that old gypsy.
Tempting ! I commute 60 miles round trip in Utah usually on an RT . Mostly highway miles . This sounds fun I could set up a dual sport motorcycle and use back roads . Snow here and ice in the roads and I stop riding .
You’re cold weather riding tips are great, especially the puffy. What about for LD touring? I think heated gear is the way to go.
Thanks Andy - I now feel so spoiled living and riding in SoCal. I ride with an older Stitch 120 classic - you helped to make up my mine I will go with R3 Light when I buy a new suit. With that 4.00X18 on the front it reminds me of a 60s Desert Sled- Like your XRL I see that you are still only using a left mirror. It's just a shame that you can't split lanes with all that you are putting up in MN. Thanks for the video and sharing Andy. Sincerely Denis Kerechuk.
Badass. I love it.
Great video! Thanks for taking the time to walk us through all the aspects of sub freezing winter riding. What were the gloves that you liked for really cold temps? I use muffs/pogies for winter commutes which allows me to use thinner gloves and makes the heated grips more efficient. Also, I would love to hear some of your insight on the bicycle end as well - clothing, equipment, etc.
Hello! Great questions. Please email service@aerostich.com with a request that it be forwarded to Andy. He will respond to you then. 😊
You said the suit is an r3 light. Does that have any kind of a lining for warmth? I'm not familiar with the different models. What model is the tan one? Also, is your down jacket a higher end warmer one or something like I would buy a Costco?
The R-3 does not have an interior lining, but you are able to wear layers underneath for extra warmth. More information about the differences between the various models can be found at www.aerostich.com/suits
Hey Andy, what is the make of the jack stand you are using, about 12:20 into the video? It looks compact.
Thanks for your question! Andy says he no longer remembers the make, it was 30 years ago when he got it.
@@aerostich 😄
I don't know how you can shift gears with boots like that.
sometimes I breathe thru a half in. plastic elbow fitted to a short vinyl hose to not fog my helmet. I never understood why this item is not in your fine catalog.
Andy says, "It's because only 11 people who ride motorcycles in the winter...maybe 12" 🤣
@@aerostich Winter is why one of my bikes is a Ural
Dude run bark buster around the hand grips.