These are cold-blooded old girls. :)

[John Schmidt]

After returning from the gym this PM I decided to start both the bikes...2-wheeler and the trike. Was 17 degrees at the time in the garage, was surprised the trike(Bertha Butt) started first but not without some cranking. The old bike, a bit more cantankerous but finally got it going. Let them run long enough to show the temps were near running value on both. Took full choke to stay running for the first 2-3 minutes but finally settle down. To think it will be another three months before I can ride either bike, welcome to Wisconsin. 

[Rams]

After returning from the gym this PM I decided to start both the bikes...2-wheeler and the trike. Was 17 degrees at the time in the garage, was surprised the trike(Bertha Butt) started first but not without some cranking. The old bike, a bit more cantankerous but finally got it going. Let them run long enough to show the temps were near running value on both. Took full choke to stay running for the first 2-3 minutes but finally settle down. To think it will be another three months before I can ride either bike, welcome to Wisconsin. 

John, ya know it's a lot warmer south of the Ohio River........

Just saying. 

Rams

[Jess from VA]

But did you sit on them and bounce up and down a little?   

And breath the nice fumes?

[John Schmidt]

But did you sit on them and bounce up and down a little?   

And breath the nice fumes?

I didn't sit on them this time, I was cold and the leather seats didn't help. I did get a good lung full however.

Rams, I know it's warmer down yonder. At my age however, I'm a bit hesitant to move away from family. I did get to see the sun today, an unusual event up here during winter. It's usually a cold, dreary, and very bleak existence from October to mid-April at the earliest.

[cookiedough]

May I ask the reason on why starting them at all if you put fuel stabilizer in NON ethanol gas before say December when you put them up until end of March/early April here in WI?

I would think today in near single digit temps outside being cold/damp  that moisture would settle in more so unless you really warmed them up for 10 minutes of pretty much just idling in your garage. 

Cranking and cranking on these cold temps one would think not good for the starter/battery and alternator, etc. and the rest of the internals?  Could do more harm than good, maybe???

[h13man]

Mine sets the whole winter and I put the Deltran Tender on once or twice during layup. I did put a set of iridiums in it 12,000 mi. ago and cold starts are greatly improved. Never need the choke during the season. Had a VT1100C that was cold blooded and iridiums were a Godsend for it.

[John Schmidt]

Cookie, first...starting the 2-wheel Valk was done at the request of the new owner who lives in Texas. He'll be coming up before long to pick it up, and yes...they both have nonethanol and marine stabul. It started right away but was a little cranky about staying running at first. For both bikes I have them on battery tenders and both have new AGM batteries installed. The trike also fired up good but also a bit fussy about staying running at first. Once running...no problem, and I let both bikes run at a good clip(about 1500rpm) once I was able to take off the choke. I watched the temps on both(have a temp guage on the 2-wheel) and when up near normal operating temps I shut them down. I then used my gun to check oil temp and was pleased to see it was nice and warm as well so I know I had good circulation, especially when I noted the oil filter case on both was getting good and warm long before the motor showed operating temps.

As for riding at the end of March to mid-April, be my guest. This is my 3rd winter in this "lovely?" place and have yet to ride that early. When temps are in the mid-40's, adding in a 50-60 mph wind factor drops it much lower, too much for these old bones. I was born/raised in Iowa which has comparable weather, and even then I didn't ride that early and I was a few years younger than now. Riding season in Wisconsin sucks! 

[Jack B]

Riding season in Wisconsin is great but it’s a little short.

[cookiedough]

Riding season in Wisconsin is great but it’s a little short.

Aahhh,   now the reason for starting is clearer.  Best of luck with the sale and hope it all goes smoothly.   Am sure it will since you always take such great care of your cycles and keep them internally and externally clean.  I have been looking at used UTV's lately and come across so many cycles/atvs/utvs with 'issues' that really need to be fixed BEFORE the sale even at some dealerships telling me 'sorry,  sold as is not fixing anything, price reflects needed repairs accordingly'.  Sayings like this makes you wonder 'what else' is wrong with the machine? 

I recently was very interested in an older used snowblower 2 weeks ago stopped fired it up and after 30 seconds knew the inside belt was smoking/burning rubber badly.  The old guy even said he took the back panel off and saw a belt off either badly damaged or broken he said.  Well,  replace it then vs. selling 'as-is' for his asking price.  I did not want to insult him offering 50 bucks vs. his asking price of 125 so skipped it and told him if he replaces the belt and after starting do not see smoke and smell burning rubber, I may still be interested in it. 

There are 60 degree days in early April (a few possibly in March), just not as many as we like.  With lighter winds, no rain with sun,  in the mid to upper 40's for temps is pretty do-able with gloves/attire on.  Once dips lower than 40 though is a bit rough for much over 15-20 miles, at least for me.  Am sure I have a tad bit more insulation than most to keep me warm, but can see how for some people the cold affects them much more than others.  My wife has frigid cold hands in our house set at 67 degree temps and always cold all over vs. me wearing shorts and t-shirt inside the house with hands completely normal temps not cold to the touch.  I think some more than others have better circulation and more internal heat.

WI cycle season is a bit short for sure for me April thru mid-November so only near 8 months tops of the year and I would say over 1/3rd of those 8 months are either raining or too windy to enjoy the ride, at least for my tastes.  For those in WI and upper midwest than can put on over 6000 miles per riding season on the cycles is pretty impressive in my eyes, with over 1/2 of those miles driving cycle to/from work.  

[John Schmidt]

Cookie, it's already his, sent the title a couple months back. He did all the hand tooled leatherwork for the seats, backrests, tank bib, etc., and planning on doing replacement mudflaps for the rear wheels. Already have one for the front fender but will wait to mount it til I pull the wheel for new rubber soon as the temps get about 50 degrees higher.

[Avanti]

I put on 10,500 this year. I usually put on close to 12,000, but I only left the state twice this year.

[cookiedough]

I put on 10,500 this year. I usually put on close to 12,000, but I only left the state twice this year.

very impressed with that kind of mileage here!   

[Jess from VA]

When I want to start a bike in real cold weather (with marine stabil, real gas, full to neck tank, and 100% battery tender), I take one of those small ceramic heaters and stick it under the bike motor (no fire threat) and let it run till the engine/oil is significantly warmed up.  

Most have automatic tipover shutoffs, so you have to keep it level (not aimed up at the engine), but in 30-40 minutes it really helps a cold start.  Full choke.

Mostly, I don't want to start them in real cold weather.     (like recently)

[Avanti]

I put on 10,500 this year. I usually put on close to 12,000, but I only left the state twice this year.

very impressed with that kind of mileage here!  

I for sure get rained on and also get lots of practice cleaning my ride.

[old2soon]

      I left the nawth country way back in 78. Southern Colorado has Nasty winters too. And sometimes here in The Missouri Ozarks winter rears it's ugly azzed head!  BUT winter do NOT stick around here like it do up nawth!  I'm usually ridin anywhere from 1 to 2 months Before daprez do! Course last 2 days we've had single digit temps in the A M!  Have I ever mentioned how Much I hate/despise winter?  Well someone I know will reside in Rhinelander Wi. and they Will be blessed with only 2 seasons-winter and the 4th of July.  RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

WI winters have not much been too snowy past decade or more, unless living way up north.  Sure, the bitter cold single digits into negative nightly digits is still present and sucky high winds though that is what I dislike more than the snow.   Besides shoveling the white stuff,  I like snow do not have much of an issue driving in it unlike some others do.   Ice, bitter cold, and high winds turn me off in winter, not snow or even temps into mid 20's and above are tolerable.

Am surprised my Dad growing up tolerated both us kids bugging him every single weekend to go ice fishing which we did all the time from few weeks prior to Christmas right up until near mid March.  I wish my kids when younger had the tolerance to sit still on a 5 gallon bucket for hours on end.   Even on a fishing boat and warmer,  they always wanted to zoom zoom around vs. fishing in the boat.