Modern Buddy

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:17 am**

So I haven’t been riding my Buddy very much lately because I’m out of town training, maybe 3 more months of this so I’ve been golfing in my free time instead of going for a cruise on the scoot.
I’m here in the Phoenix area and boy is it hot! (but I like it) Immediately I noticed a dramatic difference with the two wheel means of transportation in this area that is when compared with my home in Albuquerque, it seems as if very few venture out in the heat with any 2 wheels, perhaps in the fall the 2 wheels will start coming out but for now the streets are nearly void of any two wheels including bicycles, motorcycles and scooters.
I always thought it was miserable to ride in the cold now I realize it can be horrible in the heat as well.
What do you like the least riding in the heat >95 or is it worst riding in the cold <40?

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:28 am**

I picked COLD because I just can't do it.

When it gets in the 40s, forget about it. My muscles get tense while riding. I can't really concentrate on the road because I'm too busy focusing on how cold I am.

With the heat, I'm just hot. End of story.

Plus, I grew up in south florida, and it gets HOOOT down there.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:45 am**

My comfort range is from 50 to 85 degrees fahrenheit.
Outside of that, urgh.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:03 am**

Heat, for me, is worse.

In the cold, once I'm bundled up well, my body warms itself up in a few minutes. It's only when I'm not properly attired that it bothers me. That said, coldest I've probably ridden in is about 35.

In the heat, there's no solution or escape. It's just hot. There's only so much you can take off—hell, it'd be hot riding buck naked in a breeze some days. (I do not recommend this for anyone.) I can take up to mid 90s or so without too much problem. Weekend I took the MSF, it was over 100 but we had many breaks and I took my helmet off any time we were stopped and off our bikes.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:35 pm**

The cold requires so much more preparation in order to be comfortable. It's like going out to play in the snow or something! The only item I'm lacking seems to be some kind of neck gaiter that is fleece on the inside and windproof on the outside. Anyone know of something along those lines?

-jetboy

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:53 pm**

I hate riding in precipitation...riding in the rain is the WORST! And I refuse to ride if there's ice or snow on the ground. Otherwise, I'm game. I'm gonna get hot or cold waiting for the bus, anyway...may as well ride my scooter and at least enjoy life!

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:56 pm**

Heat is tapering off and is much more tolerable but I have ridden in over 95 and lately the am rides have kind of sucked being down in the 50's.

It's my main mode of transport, I JUST got her back after not having her for 2.5 months so right now I'm riding period!

I'm NOT looking forward to rain.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:05 pm**

It's largely irrelevant to me. I find that I ignore the weather. When I first started riding, I'd check weather.com a couple of times a day, these days, I go a week or so. So far, I've done 13 degrees to 108 degrees, rain, sun, clouds, storms. The only thing I haven't done is snow, and that's realy only because we didn't get any last year

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:08 pm**

jetboy wrote:The cold requires so much more preparation in order to be comfortable. It's like going out to play in the snow or something! The only item I'm lacking seems to be some kind of neck gaiter that is fleece on the inside and windproof on the outside. Anyone know of something along those lines?

-jetboy

Turtle Fur:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?item=PAR_101-101

It's under $10 and it's just the ticket for keeping the stuff between the top of your jacket and the bottom of your helmet toasty in the cold weather.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:07 pm**

lobsterman wrote:Turtle Fur:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?item=PAR_101-101

It's under $10 and it's just the ticket for keeping the stuff between the top of your jacket and the bottom of your helmet toasty in the cold weather.

Thanks! My concern is that wouldn't keep the wind out at scooter speeds. It work? Sorry for the sidebar here...

-Jetboy

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:53 pm**

jetboy wrote:
lobsterman wrote:Turtle Fur:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?item=PAR_101-101
It's under $10 and it's just the ticket for keeping the stuff between the top of your jacket and the bottom of your helmet toasty in the cold weather.
Thanks! My concern is that wouldn't keep the wind out at scooter speeds. It work? Sorry for the sidebar here...
-Jetboy

It worked for me all last winter, 50mph and 20F common scenario.

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:25 pm**

i dont mind the heat at all.

i dont mind cold,

i dont mind wet.....

BUT I HATE WET & COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: **Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:55 pm**

voodoosix wrote:BUT I HATE WET & COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLUS 5 million!!! I'm SO there with you on this!!!

My wife and I have similar likes/dislikes in certain areas. We both DISLIKE the snow. For different reasons. I hate it because I'm cold and wet.

On the Turtle Fur stuff, is it fleece?!

I'm noticing that my 3/4 helmet kind of sucks in the am when it's below 60 degrees. It fogs up on me. I have to have it one click up from fully down to get more airflow so it doesn't fog up. My face/nose gets really cold. I know whine whine get a full face (Plan on it) but a mask or that linked Turtle Fur might be a nice thing.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:07 pm**

Yeah, up until this morning I would've said it didn't matter to me, but...

First I woke up late, jumped in the shower, didn't have time to dry my hair.

I just got my license plate yesterday so the Buddy is fully legal, I left the plate on the counter next to my coat and my house key, I walked into the garage to start up my Buddy. I figured I wouldn't miss my jacket too much, and leaving the house key on the counter was no big deal since my sister would be home before I would, but as soon as I hit the road, I couldn't concentrate on driving or even enjoy the ride because I was SO cold. Granted, it was my fault for forgetting my jacket and gloves inside, but I do not ever want to ride cold again. Ever. I'm still cold...

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:24 pm**

yep. I rode into work today even wearing my coat (a wool one) and gloves I was still freezing. It sucks that it's starting to get cold. Winter is my least favorite season.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:30 pm**

i voted for cold. i didn't ride under 40 more than a couple of times.
riding above 100 is like riding in a convection oven but not as bad. i'm a wimp?

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:49 pm**

ItalianBoy wrote:yep. I rode into work today even wearing my coat (a wool one) and gloves I was still freezing. It sucks that it's starting to get cold. Winter is my least favorite season.

Wow, who makes a wool riding jacket?

And what was the temp up there this morning? You're only 70 miles north of me. I rode with my mesh jacket with the liner and I was fine. It's not even cold enough for the warmer gloves or liners for the summer gloves yet.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:56 pm**

I cannot handle cold weather. I am "gifted" with lousy circulation to my hands and feet, so even if it's 60 out, I can still have cold hands/feet

And no, warming up "the core" does not help, though I wish it did!

That being said, I'll still scoot to work down to about 40 degrees, but not below that. Big gloves and/or grip heaters do the trick for me when I'm out riding in cool weather.

Just one more reason why my tenure in Michigan was very short!

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:59 pm**

I don't have a wool riding jacket, just a light wool coat. I plan on getting a riding jacket, I just don't have $200 at the moment. Sounds like I should order one soon though if they keep you that warm. I think it was around 50 this morning.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:21 pm**

ItalianBoy wrote:I don't have a wool riding jacket, just a light wool coat. I plan on getting a riding jacket, I just don't have $200 at the moment. Sounds like I should order one soon though if they keep you that warm. I think it was around 50 this morning.

50F here this morning as well, and my mesh riding jacket and liner were perfect for me, didn't even need the warm riding jacket.

I highly recommend you check out the closeout section of New Enough, specifically I can recommend this textile jacket for a very reasonable price:
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/text ... acket.html

I wore that jacket riding all last winter, when it got really cold I wore a sweatshirt underneath as an additional layer.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:29 pm**

jetboy wrote:
lobsterman wrote:Turtle Fur:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?item=PAR_101-101
It work? Sorry for the sidebar here...

-Jetboy
I like the shellaclava (it's on the same site as the neck warmer). It keeps my chin and neck very warm in freezing temperatures. I'm on my 4th season with the same one and it is great for winter because the top portion fits under your helmet like a glove.

Posted: **Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:34 pm**

ItalianBoy wrote:I don't have a wool riding jacket, just a light wool coat. I plan on getting a riding jacket, I just don't have $200 at the moment. Sounds like I should order one soon though if they keep you that warm. I think it was around 50 this morning.

There are a number of places to get good discounts on riding gear:
http://www.newenough.com
http://motorcyclesuperstore.com
http://motorcyclecloseouts.com/

...And I'm sure there are more suggestions.

lobsterman wrote:Wow, who makes a wool riding jacket?

Tucano Urbano does. They look good, have CE armor, and would probably shred like crazy in a slide. But they look good.
http://www.scootercrazy.com/acatalog/Tu ... ckets.html