Winter hacks

Nickj · 17-11-2011, 02:56 PM

I was going to call this sucks which is true but ot really what the question is??

What is your winter hack?
What would be the ideal winter hack?

I'm thinking about getting hold of one of the chink built trail or supermoto's with the suzuki licenced motors. My ideal preference would be one of the 200cc versions only because we don't see the bigger 250-450 versions over here. Just need the bike (got one to look at) and some inter/wets and we should be good to go.
Might be ideal, cheap and infinitely destructable at the price

and for me if/when the roads get really nasty I can always do the last 8-10 miles home mostly on forestry fire trails which wouldn't be covered with compacted snow and ice.

17-11-2011, 03:16 PM

I would just go for anything Japanese!

Even though the engine is Suzuki the rest is still Chinese. Some last and some don't from what I've read.

If you're not stuck for a supermoto I would go for an old ZX6R or something as they can be had quite cheap and are great bikes. Supermoto's tend to go up in price at this time of year

gary tompkins · 17-11-2011, 04:56 PM

Anything with four wheels

17-11-2011, 05:34 PM

Mines an all year hack CG125 rat bike.
Bulletproof and good for getting about and too work.
If I could I'd run a Van Van... If it snows I use a sledge .

Saint aka ML · 17-11-2011, 08:01 PM

I use my Ducatis all year but if cash permits will buy supermoto for fun.

It seems supermotos, good one's, are not that cheap however I ahve a short list.
I do not see a point of buying a winter hack that is not fun at the end it is my time I am waisting commuting so might as well enjoy it.

17-11-2011, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saint aka ML

I do not see a point of buying a winter hack that is not fun at the end it is my time I am waisting commuting so might as well enjoy it.

I'd probably agree with that, ideally I'd have a slightly bigger Ducati for nice weather and keep this one for commuting! To be fair I don't like riding it on snow though, tend to stick to walking pace when that has to be done

So either that or hope that the Hyanide eventually goes beyond a concept bike...now that would be perfect for winter

17-11-2011, 08:54 PM

Sadly I can't commute on a nice bike as where I work the area is not good.
I had to sell my VW beetle because they keyed and broke into 9 cars in one day !
They then keyed and damaged my friends camper . Then keyed his bug .
As I'd just spent a couple of grand again on mine and a respray couldn't use it for work anymore.
The scum came in the other week and picked up a 125 and carried it out of our carpark!
So now I keep nice bikes for pleasure Inc pleasurable winter rides.
Work bad weather and hack is the rat bike

Saint aka ML · 17-11-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_adam

So either that or hope that the Hyanide eventually goes beyond a concept bike...now that would be perfect for winter

I prefer this over Hyanide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVIyl...eature=related

17-11-2011, 10:31 PM

Seeing as we're getting futuristic...

Saint aka ML · 17-11-2011, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rac3r

Seeing as we're getting futuristic...

That does not count as that is a car.

17-11-2011, 10:56 PM

My winter hack is a monster 796. My ideal hack would also be my 796, but with snow tyres for when it get nasty round town

17-11-2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saint aka ML

That does not count as that is a car.

Thread is winter hack, no 'bike' specified

utopia · 18-11-2011, 03:13 AM

Mine's a Honda Dominator.
Its the bike I bought on my return to two wheels after a lapse in the '90s.
Its a damn good commute, and I really like the character of a short stroke big single. Nice, soft, predictable power for the greasy winter roads, but still a decent handful of torque and its buzzes up nicely on the back lanes.
One day I'll remove the bodywork, fit an alloy tank and round headlight and a 19" front wheel to replace the 21".
If I was picking a general purpose hack I would consider one of the Suzuki engined CCM Dual Sports, which came with one set of 17" road/supermoto wheels, and one set of off-road wheels (19" front...or maybe 21" ??)
Air-cooled, of course. Not much need for a radiator in winter...at least not on the bike.
Or, if the commute was relatively short, something like my old TL150, with its QD lighting set and weekend trialing option. But that needs a serious rebuild. (and, no...before anyone asks. its a keeper).
This year though, its the monster. The Dommie is sorned, awaiting a new reg/rec.
We seem to have been pretty lucky with the road salt this year. So far I haven't seen any at all around here.
Oh, and I did a quick resto on my 1950s Rudge rat-bicycle (Sturmey-Archer dyno-4 hub, stainless wheels, Renthals, special marroon/rust paint, rack for fishing tackle box). Its one of those that does a really slow tick-tock as it goes along.

Saint aka ML · 18-11-2011, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rac3r

Thread is winter hack, no 'bike' specified

Word Word

Nickj · 18-11-2011, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bex

My winter hack is a monster 796. My ideal hack would also be my 796, but with snow tyres for when it get nasty round town

Can you get 'snow' tyres for bikes other than the ones with screw in spikes?

I did find the monster quite ridable even in the snow, a bit hair trigger on traction sometimes.. it's just the salt I don't like.

Where I need to get to is at the far end of the forest on the wrong side of some hills, the roads tend to get closed if it snows much.

17-11-2011, 02:56 PM	#1
Nickj Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Of Dean Bike: S2r Posts: 3,189	Winter hacks I was going to call this sucks which is true but ot really what the question is?? What is your winter hack? What would be the ideal winter hack? I'm thinking about getting hold of one of the chink built trail or supermoto's with the suzuki licenced motors. My ideal preference would be one of the 200cc versions only because we don't see the bigger 250-450 versions over here. Just need the bike (got one to look at) and some inter/wets and we should be good to go. Might be ideal, cheap and infinitely destructable at the price and for me if/when the roads get really nasty I can always do the last 8-10 miles home mostly on forestry fire trails which wouldn't be covered with compacted snow and ice. __________________ "The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body." Song of the sausage creature

17-11-2011, 04:56 PM	#3
gary tompkins 1/2 man - 1/2 pogo-stick Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Dartford, Kent Bike: M900ie Posts: 7,241	Anything with four wheels __________________ GT Fully paid up member of the S.A.S. (Scottoiler Appreciation Society) 27,000 miles on original chain - and still going strong!

17-11-2011, 08:01 PM	#5
Saint aka ML Junior ah to be young Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 2,058	I use my Ducatis all year but if cash permits will buy supermoto for fun. It seems supermotos, good one's, are not that cheap however I ahve a short list. I do not see a point of buying a winter hack that is not fun at the end it is my time I am waisting commuting so might as well enjoy it. __________________ "I am Lucazade"

17-11-2011, 03:16 PM	#2
rac3r Guest Posts: n/a	I would just go for anything Japanese! Even though the engine is Suzuki the rest is still Chinese. Some last and some don't from what I've read. If you're not stuck for a supermoto I would go for an old ZX6R or something as they can be had quite cheap and are great bikes. Supermoto's tend to go up in price at this time of year

17-11-2011, 05:34 PM	#4
He11cat Guest Posts: n/a	Mines an all year hack CG125 rat bike. Bulletproof and good for getting about and too work. If I could I'd run a Van Van... If it snows I use a sledge .

17-11-2011, 08:54 PM	#7
He11cat Guest Posts: n/a	Sadly I can't commute on a nice bike as where I work the area is not good. I had to sell my VW beetle because they keyed and broke into 9 cars in one day ! They then keyed and damaged my friends camper . Then keyed his bug . As I'd just spent a couple of grand again on mine and a respray couldn't use it for work anymore. The scum came in the other week and picked up a 125 and carried it out of our carpark! So now I keep nice bikes for pleasure Inc pleasurable winter rides. Work bad weather and hack is the rat bike

17-11-2011, 10:31 PM	#9
rac3r Guest Posts: n/a	Seeing as we're getting futuristic...

17-11-2011, 10:56 PM	#11
bex Guest Posts: n/a	My winter hack is a monster 796. My ideal hack would also be my 796, but with snow tyres for when it get nasty round town

18-11-2011, 03:13 AM	#13
utopia No turn left unstoned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: leicester Bike: M750 Posts: 4,545	Mine's a Honda Dominator. Its the bike I bought on my return to two wheels after a lapse in the '90s. Its a damn good commute, and I really like the character of a short stroke big single. Nice, soft, predictable power for the greasy winter roads, but still a decent handful of torque and its buzzes up nicely on the back lanes. One day I'll remove the bodywork, fit an alloy tank and round headlight and a 19" front wheel to replace the 21". If I was picking a general purpose hack I would consider one of the Suzuki engined CCM Dual Sports, which came with one set of 17" road/supermoto wheels, and one set of off-road wheels (19" front...or maybe 21" ??) Air-cooled, of course. Not much need for a radiator in winter...at least not on the bike. Or, if the commute was relatively short, something like my old TL150, with its QD lighting set and weekend trialing option. But that needs a serious rebuild. (and, no...before anyone asks. its a keeper). This year though, its the monster. The Dommie is sorned, awaiting a new reg/rec. We seem to have been pretty lucky with the road salt this year. So far I haven't seen any at all around here. Oh, and I did a quick resto on my 1950s Rudge rat-bicycle (Sturmey-Archer dyno-4 hub, stainless wheels, Renthals, special marroon/rust paint, rack for fishing tackle box). Its one of those that does a really slow tick-tock as it goes along.