Riding in ice, what are my options

bakes0310

bakes0310

bakes0310

Soldato
Joined
22 Oct 2004
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I know its way off but ive fell off in the ice twice since ive been riding. Both very minor, but it got me thinking I don't want to do that again.
I have a full (A) motorbike licence so I looked up that I could actually ride a trike:p Never even thought about it, but now im warming up to the idea.
Ive looked on gumtree and basically some of them are proper custom jobs. While others are normal bike but two extra wheels put on. Ive seen Honda cb500 etc with 2 extra wheels tacked on. Now I should imagine trikes on icy roads are much safer and I wont slip off. Anyone else got any ideas about trikes. Or is there another option, I don't want to get a car licence.

Ill only be using it for icy weather to get to work so itll probably be ridden 2-3 months a year going by are past winters.
 
Don't ride in ice us the sensible answer.

Get a cheap car instead.

I did winter commuting for 6 years, i never crashed, but it was a horrible experience.
 
Ice/snow is a big no-no, it's the only weather I'd straight out not ride in. Naturally sometimes you can't see ice and I was nearly caught out a few times on icy patches on colder mornings. What about one of those 3 wheeled scooters?
 
Yep, I rode all winter but I walk my dog early morning so do a reccy then and if it's icey, I take the car.

Sure some people will say it's fine to ride in the ice but personally, it's not worth the risk. I have nightmares of sliding under an on-coming bus personally :p
 
No choice I got to get to work even if there is ice, unless I don't want any monies.
Maybe I should get my car licence I just don't like the idea of doing my theory test again:( I passed first time on bike but im sure ill need to revise all over again:p
 
As taught from the CBT onwards - In wet weather, your braking distances and the like are all doubled. In icy conditions, they increase tenfold!

You can ride in snow and ice, with some bikes being FAR better than others.
Trailies and off-roady types generally handle it best.
Cruisers are surprisingly good, as the low centre of gravity scales the required minor corrections down, so the ride seems easier.
Sports Bikes and high-power beasties scale the adjustments up, so a touch too much throttle is suddenly WAAYYYY TOOOOO MUUU-*crash*!!!

I'd personally not take my FJ out as it weighs far too much and would go down hard in the wrong circumstances. My Dragstar was great so long as I took everything VERY easy and avoided car park surfaces.

But of course this doesn't factor in what other road users might do. UK drivers are generally dumbasses at the best of times and they become utter retards when there are adverse weather conditions. Watch how many are sat at the lights, wheels spinning and engine revving increasingly higher while they go nowhere... as if they're trying to dig through the snow and get traction, or something!!

So, if you're in any doubt, leave the bike at home and find another way!!
 
I rode my ER6 in the snow and ICE which was fine as it weighed next to nothing, I am dreading having to take my VSTROM out in the ice as it weighs so god damn much and I have to reverse it down my drive onto a hill which should be interesting.

Take it slow and ride with your feet down using the clutch and you will be fine using any bike but as mentioned above, big bikes and trials bikes will be better than a sports bike, Try and give it any beans at all and you will come off....oh and do not use the front brake.
 
Woogie said:
Take it slow and ride with your feet down using the clutch and you will be fine using any bike but as mentioned above, big bikes and trials bikes will be better than a sports bike, Try and give it any beans at all and you will come off....oh and do not use the front brake.
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Advice only suitable for mutants with three or more legs :D
 
I done nearly 30 winters just take your time if you do not trust yourself on your pride and joy buy a hack some winter days are great nice and fresh.
 
what abot one of those three wheeled scooter thingy's

the ones with two wheels at the front?

ive road in ice and it can be tricky sometimes
 
wazza300 said:
what abot one of those three wheeled scooter thingy's

the ones with two wheels at the front?

ive road in ice and it can be tricky sometimes
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I live in the fens but after a couple of miles your on the main road and hopefully the roads have been treated just remember when you hit shaded areas e.t.c. just common sense really and of course use the force.
 
Woogie said:
I rode my ER6 in the snow and ICE which was fine as it weighed next to nothing, I am dreading having to take my VSTROM out in the ice as it weighs so god damn much and I have to reverse it down my drive onto a hill which should be interesting.

Take it slow and ride with your feet down using the clutch and you will be fine using any bike but as mentioned above, big bikes and trials bikes will be better than a sports bike, Try and give it any beans at all and you will come off....oh and do not use the front brake.
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I always find I feel more stable with my feet on the pegs. I guess I steer with my feet a bit. I also think if it's going to slide/slip laterally, and I'm going more than 5mph, putting a foot down to try and stop it is going to result in... probably the same outcome. Except my leg getting dragged backwards (or rather it staying still, and me pivoting round it, and the bike doing wtf it likes).
 
Dogbreath said:
Advice only suitable for mutants with three or more legs :D
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COMEDIAN.... You know what I mean.

Griffo said:
I always find I feel more stable with my feet on the pegs. I guess I steer with my feet a bit. I also think if it's going to slide/slip laterally, and I'm going more than 5mph, putting a foot down to try and stop it is going to result in... probably the same outcome. Except my leg getting dragged backwards (or rather it staying still, and me pivoting round it, and the bike doing wtf it likes).
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To be fair if you are doing more than 5mph in an area where there is Ice and you know it then you are asking to come off and not trying to avoid it.
 
Honda XT500 with studded tyres is the only man way to approach this problem.

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You get the picture. :D
 
Woogie said:
Take it slow and ride with your feet down using the clutch and you will be fine using any bike but as mentioned above, big bikes and trials bikes will be better than a sports bike, Try and give it any beans at all and you will come off....oh and do not use the front brake.
Click to expand...

I found having the feet down was more of a snag risk and greatly lessened the feel of the bikes. With feet up, I could feel when it was losing traction far better.

Front brake can be used, just nowhere near as heavily as normal.
Back brake also very gently, but many bikes are prone to fishtailing if you back-brake too heavily on ice as any lean angle is exacerbated.

Riding in actual snow is by far the easiest, especialy fresh snow.
After the first day or two, the compacted snow and slush can be fairly easy, but you need to keep the feelers out in case you start to slide. Moving between the fresher areas and the compacted wheel tracks is full of potential slip points.
On day three and onwards, the heavily compacted snow is pretty tough, as it is pretty much ice. The absolute worst is the large areas of smooth tarmac, such as supermarket parking lots - Almost zero grip!
 
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