I try and commute to work and ride on days off as much as possible. Now that it is getting a little cooler (sometimes 30's at night) I broke out my winter gear. From living in Montana for years I think I am fair at riding in the cold and being fairly comfortable while doing it. I have insulated winter gloves, heated grips on my zx and my cruiser. I have a pig tail on my bikes for my firstgear heated jacktet. I put the heated jacket on and then my armadillo chest and spine protector as it holds the heat in. then leather jacket. Neck gaitors or baclavas are necessary also. I have insulated textile riding pants if you are going for distance but just 5 miles each way to work I don't wear these. The zx is much colder than my stratoliner with its big windshield attached but that is ok for shorter hops. My coldest run was 25 miles when it was 18 degrees f out. I don't want to repeat that it was not fun. 30's is the coldest I want to ride. I found you have to drive carefully watch for sand, easy on corners. Any chance of precipitation and the ride is out. Have been caught in snow a few times and really do not care for riding in a blizzard. Last year rode most the year except a 2 week period totally off and scattered days. Will see if I can repeat this year.

Yep...can Vouch for Montana winters.Having heated gear is an absolute.Been out in close to 18 degree weather also.I felt fine...the bike however...stiff...a bit slippery.Been caught in Light Snowing as well...It's very enjoyable....till it starts sticking.100 miles away from home and sticking snow...not good.I may get a couple more rides in this year..IDK.

The problem with riding in the south in cold weather, is it may start out 40°, but by noon time, its 85°-90°. Now your hot wearing all that cold weather gear.

* Last updated by: Eray on 10/30/2015 @ 8:17 AM *

N Wisconsin and Upper Michigan here. I rode until they started salting roads in mid December the first three years of owning the 14. 25 F was ok to ride in. Lowest was about 18 F and that was getting a bit brisk on the highway.

I put the bikes away in Oct now. Winter riding is strictly commuting. To me, it's useless wear. Strictly center wear on the tires and a little extra wear on everything for mostly just going slow. When it came time to put the bike away it was impossible to change oil without causing condensation in the motor. My attitude used to be "I own the bikes to ride them as much as I can" but now I am more concerned with keeping them as long as I can. I pretty much only ride to go fast now or I just jump in my old beater Toyota. Tires last years on that thing, I never replace anything but oil and filter and I could give a crap how strong the engine is as long as it runs. So far, it's never failed to start and get me where I need to go. Have about 150k miles now. Maybe when the 14 gets that many, I'll ride it in winter again.

What's this "cold weather" you refer to???

Mad

@Madd...If we have to explain..LOL;)

warm climate jabs. Here we go again.

I have heated gear, but I won't ride much below freezing. Too much chance of ice, which will put you right on your warm ass, heated gear and all.

I hit 34 degrees on my ride into work this Monday. My body was warm enough, but my hands were freezing. Time for heated grips or heated gloves. A friend gave me some electric glove liners last year, but I don't have any gloves large enough to wear over them. Any suggestions on what would be a good shell for these liners?

Too much chance of ice, which will put you right on your warm ass, heated gear and all. Yes you certainly have to be careful. I still will ride when I can within reason. I know a guy with a bike that would only ride 2-3 times a year. Another guy would ride his to work maybe 6 times a year on only the nicest days in summer, complained he got rained on once and hated it. One of the reasons I got the zx is its a plastic bike, easy to wipe down, not a big 7 or 800 lb chrome machine like my cruiser that I am not taking out in all the weather all the time. If it rains on my cruiser so be it but I would rather get the zx wet much easier to wipe down and plastic doesn't rust.

I ride down into the mid 20's as long as there hasn't been any precipitation and therefor any chance of ice. I use a heated liner and gloves and leather pants with thermals.

I ride to work in NYC all year round. Only ice and snow on the ground stop me. Coldest day I ever rode to work was 5 degrees F My co workers think I am nuts. But when I compare a 15-20 min ride to work compared to 1hr to 1hour 20mins on public transportation I will pick riding everyday.

"as long as there hasn't been any precipitation and therefor any chance of ice"...don't forget the cage exhausts.Especially at an intersection.THAT will freeze...and then...well...you know.No ice on the ground(visible)doesn't sometimes mean there really ISN'T ice sitting there...waiting...patiently...You can't really detect black ice very well....That's why I'm very careful with the days I go out.And which roads I get on.

I live in California but the riding is not always 75 degrees :).. This weekend I rode about 480 miles to Ojai Ca. and during the ride I experienced temps from 90s to a low of 34 degrees. Also you can toss in some fog and rain..
Should have came with me mad. it was fun . about 1200 miles for the weekend and some good catchup time with friends..

And it was a great day to ride HWY 1.

* Last updated by: chrly on 11/2/2015 @ 7:03 AM *

Nice Chrly. What part of the state do you live in?
I went on a loop with 3 Multistrudels and a KTM 690. OMG! They started late, spent more time stopping to BS than riding and were so S-L-O-W!!! I don't know if I got out of 3rd gear. And one of the Multi riders has a GSXR and supposedly does track days. But 5mph UNDER the speed limit?????

Mad

I am a little over an hour north of Sacramento in Oroville , right at the edge of the foothills. As for riding speed, I am certainly not a racer but for an old man , I have my moments..:) If you ever venture this way., giive me a shout. We have some decent riding availble.

* Last updated by: chrly on 11/2/2015 @ 6:45 PM *

I used to live in Southern Cali, this will be my Z's first Maryland winter. Went for a Halloween morning ride: the thermometer read 37 when I pulled the cover off. The full leather suit did a reasonable job, but you have to wear a neck gaiter or turtle neck. Electric gear, I can tell, is a must to ride in anything colder.

I'm not used to the idea of "putting my bike away"...

* Last updated by: BigBloke on 11/2/2015 @ 9:45 PM *

chrly - What rear bag do you have?

ex.. Funny thing about that bag.. I bought it about 8 yrs ago from a private party and the 14 is the first bike since that the bag has been a decent fit for..Not perfect but ok..The brand name is AXIO and I believe they are still avilable.. The four straps pass under the seat and are velcro so pretty easier to take of and on..

You can Google AXIO Tank Bag .