Just a nip of advice for newbie riders on big bikes out at this time of year. Your tyres take much longer to warm up and get their usual grip so beware on corners etc and be steady with the throttle or you'll end up with the back end trying to overtake the front as I discovered tonight whilst cracking the throttle open for an overtake 

Anyway clean trousers on now so no worries but a good lesson learned. Your fork oil and springs will also take much longer to warm up so the handling isn't the same as in summer. (The mechanic pointed out to me that my forks were still freezing after 8 miles tonight).

Also bear in mind that all that green gravel at junctions and roundabouts is the anti skid surface broken up by ice and ploughs so easy on the brakes and try to use slightly more back brake than you usually would to keep the bike upright and steady by sharing the braking momentum through both wheels and less likely to slide  

Apologies if this is sucking eggs but this is aimed at newbies like me                                                                                                                                                                              

hehehehe you forgot to say that you are the rusty one tezza me old mate !    i scrubed my new tyres in other weekend cold wet roads thankfully with out hicup hope you ok mate keep it sunny side up                                                                                                                                                                                 

I'm sound as a pound mate, just forgot how different winter riding is 

I'll be riding it home like a 125 when I pick it up                                                                                                                                                                              

yes but think of how honed in you will be when the roads dry up and get warmer                                                                                                                                                                               

Ive had my back end out a few times ;)                                                                                                                                                                             

my back end is out all the time sorry ....................                                                                                                                                                                              

Jackie shift your arse I can't see what seb is saying                                                                                                                                                                              

he was wiggling his tush   then sis came in and sat on him                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                             

wondering if this thread should be given an 18 cert                                                                                                                                                                              

I thought it might spark a flood of advice from all the experienced riders shell but it just rapidly turned to sh*te!                                                                                                                                                                              

is it my imagination or does the engine run better when its very cold? shame if thats true and and i have to bimble along on dodgy tyres                                                                                                                                                                             

it`s the BM way, all threads turn to shite,thought I`d try and get it back on track.   think the one about profile photos is a lost cause tho                                                                                                                                                                             

*it`s the BM way, all threads turn to shite,thought I`d try and get it back on track.*

Tell you what julie you mite be onto summat there! What if the author of a new topic can delete any of the posts in a thread so when it does turn to shit it can be cleaned up later to leave the relevant stuff in place  That way peeps can have a laugh but the author can keep things on track!

By the way the engine runs 'tighter' when it's cold cos the oils thicker. Once it warms up and the oil thins out the rattles start!                                                                                                                                                                               

ahhhh, nice tight engine,maybe i need to direct a stream of dry ice at the engine!   so you reckon we need a shite moderator to moderate the amount off shite........interesting thought,is anyone whose online a lot a shite expert?                                                                                                                                                                             

By the way the engine runs 'tighter' when it's cold cos the oils thicker. Once it warms up and the oil thins out the rattles start!   Yep, that n all the metal expands and ya clearances on the bearings etc get bigger. Ya can always try shoving sawdust in wi ya oil but I wouldn't reccomend it.                                                                                                                                                                             

would that reduce the amount of shite tho?                                                                                                                                                                             

and cold air is denser thus containing more oxygen so combustion is better QED better combustion better performance yes there may be some shite in the posts but it you all stop griping and contributed instead it may just ballance out                                                                                                                                                                              

Ah Wheely the cold metal would effectively make the combustion chambers and the jets in the carbs/air intakes smaller though which may offset the denser cold air until things had warmed up lol. Shyte is just a matter or opinion ain't it?