It all comes with the territory if you got the guts to ride after the first year then you probably with ride for years. Great pics of the beautiful north east, nice place to ride only problem is you got only 4 or 5 months at that most to get your miles in.

BI did you mean Brunswick HD? They are a sponsor of the forum.

come on now, 4 or 5 months a year, mthat must be between January and May, I ride every month during the winter I get at least 3 thousand miles from dec thru march, pretty much every year and I live in cental Ma. The only time my bike is not on the road is when they are snow covered, and even then you might find me out there. I just did my 187,500 mile oil change on a 2000 flh. I actually think I like rideing in the winter better, it is to hot in the summer, it is just those freak storms that come up in the winter. I think the best time to ride is the morning after a 6" plus snow storm and the roads are cleaned down to the pavement, the rideing is so nice when everywhere you look is snow, white clean virgin snow with not much traffic. It is so quiet well until I twist the throttle. I look forward to those rides every year. It use to be more of a challenge on my chopper from 70 thru 94, not the same gear or front fender. There were a lot more who rode the same way, Patches would use colthesline tied onto his tires like chains, rode everyday, RIP Patches.

Yes..Bruswick HD..my bad. I always say Berwick I don't know why...bad memory? I liked the dealership when it was the old log cabin. Last time I was there it was a cinder block and modernized fusha and chrome set up. Always stopped there on the way the the HD Rendezvous in the 80's and 90's.

As far as guts to ride at the first of the year or thru the winter....not doing it. I'd like to think its common sense not to. Its not the cold. They have equipment that will keep you toasty. I've riddin in 24 degree weather and was warm as could be. Its road condition and only being on 2 wheels. Up here we have black ice for one. Not even chains will help with that. And never mind the yobs of non stop snow we get. And I'd also prefer not to get salt all up my bike if possible. It doesn't make sense to risk it all foolishly and needlessly. I have a 2nd home in the South and I go there for 2 weeks in December and 2 weeks in March/April and get my ride on. By time I come home in March/April its riding season up here.

I'm not risking my bike unecessarily, the bike I cherish. Plus I'm old and not so bold anymore. I've pushed my season into late November early December and I paid the price once and got caught on black ice. Not cool on 4 wheels never mind 2. Up here it can be 42 degrees in the daytime and drop to 19-20 degrees by nite. All the moisture freezes.

Massachusetts doesn't get near the winter weather we do. If you don't ride when it snows, up here thats between December and mid to late March although last winter was awsome. It snowed but not the huge amounts as usual. Older, I finally bought a tractor w/ a bucket loader it snows so much. I've blown up a snow blower..granted it was 25-27 years old. Just gave out.

Happy for you that you have a routine that works for you. It only makes sense to ride in the winter when its treacherous and dangerous rather then the summer when the road surface is clear and safe,lol.

I used to ride my bike after snow when the roads were clean but was luckier than this guy.
I don't think he took the conditions seriously enough. Loafers aren't my first choice when going out for a ride...
I also hit black ice but didn't loose it, I guess my old harley has a different center of gravity than that cruise liner he was riding.
At 1:48 of the video a seasoned rider sees it, I thought to myself watch out...
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD3MuL99r9U[/youtube]

Well, there are several things I see in this video that are ALL wrong. First, where are his riding boots? Gloves are all wrong for this weather and most important, when I go down, which happens once in a while ( my nickname is "Crash"), the first thing I do is get my bike up and off the road, i look for parts afterwards. I could keep going.......

Yes but there are several things in the video that are right...1st; he smashed up a Victory and not a Harley 2nd; thats what usually happens when you hit a sheet of ice or black ice on a motorcycle 3rd; at least he had long pants on not shorts and flip flops,lol.

I'm with BI not that your wrong dlowry, I always try to emphasize the positive.

Either way it was a awsome cool video that I watched over and over. Thanks for sharing RK.

You know, we as riders can learn from this.
Invest in a good camera first, then film your rides, hopefully you never see anything like that on play back.
The basics, as always - any ride is a great ride that you walk away from.
Hopefully your equipment survives along with you.
Be prepared, proper gear and attitude. This can get serious at anytime - every ride - not just the ones you think are dangerous.
I have friends that ride the same model as in the vid, they love them and say they have a great balance, (not much balances on black ice tho).
Any way BI, i thought about that ride up/down the mountain you did - gotta love it.