Why is it?

[six2go]

This time of year when the "6" is all snugged up in the garage under a cover with the battery maintainer plugged in, full tank of treated fuel and a fresh oil change I really want to get out and brave the Winter weather and go for a ride. Yet from April until October I try to think of every reason possible to NOT go riding. I've only put 3,100 miles on her since Nov. 2017. Am I done?:confused:

[Brasco]

Nah . . . I don't think you're done but you need to find what's missing for you from the riding experience. When you do head out do you ride solo all the time? If so, maybe you need to find a local riding group (or alternatively, one or two other like-minded riders) to connect with occasionally. Same thing with trips -- maybe plan two or three long weekend trips next season and commit to it. Charting new territory to explore is always a great way to reignite the riding 'spark.' Or maybe you're like me and just had a crappy riding season because of forces outside your control. My riding season is just six months or so (guessing it's similar for you in Indiana) and I did about the same mileage as you this past season. Nothing but local riding and one over-nighter. All long trips were put on the shelf. Just a fraction of what I normally manage. It was brutal. Keep the faith . . . there's always next season!

[Mcrydernut]

I remember a time many years ago when I rode every New Years Day regardless of weather to prove a point to my fair weather riding friends who spent more time polishing their chrome than riding. Now it seems like each winter my long distance riding friends and I spend more time talking about trips we want to take but end up actually riding less each year. Maybe our priorities have changed but weather and other obligations always seem to pop up to disrupt planned trips. I end up doing more solo spur of the moment riding and putting less miles on the bike than the year before. Am I done or just not hard core enough?

[Bryster]

7082

I know... but on duty today the idea of cold.. well.... :cool:

[billsim]

Living in Northeast Ohio, the riding season can be pretty short. I have extended my riding season to 12 months by adding heated gear (Gerbing) with the controls and plugs wired into the F6B.
Now the only days I don't ride are due to road conditions (wet or salty). If the roads are dry and not too salty it is nice to get out for an hour or so.
Get a lot of thumbs up and a lot of head shakers also. Fun.
Heated gloves, pants and jacket allow me to ride even at single digit temps and still be toasty.
Anyone else?

[a1scoot]

Here in Cali I ride all year....A good jacket and waterproof gloves/boots will do wonders....
We are getting hammered with rain lately but I'm still on two wheels.
a1scoot

[Draxsr]

My B is my daily commuter. Like Billsim, I plug in my jacket, turn up the heat on the grips and away I go. The ride not only puts me into a better mood, but allows me to ride the HOV/HOT lanes without paying for the privilege of not sitting in traffic. Without it, my commute would go from 20 mins to an hour, easily.

[Blk6bgg6]

Ditt billsim minus heated apparel.I got tired of bike sitting in garage 3 years ago.So, I bought freezeout baselayer plus first gear thermal suit and barracava mask.The f6b has great wind protection better than my bmw and the f6b was bike I started riding year round.People think I'm nuts .I think they don't know what their missing.# straight years tween 10 and 12000 miles in Ohio .I don't ride when salt on road etc.and do watch weather forecast before cause of sleet etc.

[P.Sutton]

Another northeastern Ohio rider here. I too have heated gear but have only used it twice in 40k miles. I find I can usually get away with proper layering and wind resistant clothing. My ski gear doubles as motorcycle wear often this time of year.

I don’t ride as much as some but probably more than most. I average 10k per year with about 1/3 to half of that being traveling out of town. The dragon, Daytona, sturgis, up the coast of Maine, Laconia etc. A destination is just that, and all the (s)miles between are an adventure.

I think the suggestion about finding someone you like to be around who also has a passion for two wheels is a good one. My wife, father, brothers, most of my friends and even my children have bikes and ride. I have never felt more proud to follow my kids and wife through the woods on two wheels, and some of our fondest times involve riding and camping together.

Good luck and I hope you can find the joy again.

[P.Sutton]

Oh! And I always tell people,

I’ll ride when it’s wet.
I’ll ride when it’s cold.
I hate to ride when it’s wet AND cold,but if I have to......

[billsim]

I don't get many miles in the summer simply riding locally down thru Amish country south of home Saturdays and Sunday mornings. So by extending my riding season when the roads are clear and dry I can get 7K to 8K per year.
I gotta say that riding when it is less than 50 degrees is a lot more fun to me than riding in 80 degree heat. The F6B has really good wind protection, especially when using a full height windshield.
Been out on the bike in weather cold enough that the bike can't display the air temp. Simply shows ----.
Also love the reactions I get from people on the roads.

[woody]

Winter fell on a Tuesday this year in Australia. It was cool enough to drag out the Air Mesh jacket though.

[Cali261]

I ride for leisure on my days off and during vacations. The days of having to commute in heavy downtown/freeway traffic are behind me. I will be retired in two years and will have ample time to catch up on my riding on days/times/locations of my choosing. Really looking forward to many overnight trips into wine country (Temecula). Hopefully my travels will cross paths with some of you.

[six2go]

Some good input here, but I think most didn't get the point I was trying to make. It's not that I envy people who can(or do)ride all year, it's just the fact that when I can ride all I want during the Spring, Summer, & Fall, I think of every reason there is to not ride, yet during the Winter months when the bike is in storage I'm chomping at the bit to get out. Some years I can't wait for September to roll around so I can put the bike up because I've ridden all I care to whether it's 300 or 6000 miles. I've been retired for 20 years now, and the 1st couple of years I was riding an average of 200 miles a day on my Valkyrie. I just don't seem to have the desire for trips anymore and wondering if I should hang it up. I'm not asking anyone to make that decision for me, just putting it out there.

[adventurous1]

Yeah, was in Ojai bout 2 wks ago. It's was a beautiful 85 degrees. Nice to have the bike out.

[adventurous1]

Here in Cali I ride all year....A good jacket and waterproof gloves/boots will do wonders....
We are getting hammered with rain lately but I'm still on two wheels.
a1scoot

Yeah, was in Ojai bout 2 wks ago. It's was a beautiful 85 degrees. Nice to have the bike out.

[shortleg0521]

This time of year when the "6" is all snugged up in the garage under a cover with the battery maintainer plugged in, full tank of treated fuel and a fresh oil change I really want to get out and brave the Winter weather and go for a ride. Yet from April until October I try to think of every reason possible to NOT go riding. I've only put 3,100 miles on her since Nov. 2017. Am I done?:confused:

I have found that good heated gear made all the difference for me.
Think its funny when I stop at a light and have to turn down the heat
and the car next to you can't understand how you can take the cold.