i don't mind be cold, or wet... but cold and wet = NO!

[dean owens]

this weekend i got to take a trip to the mountains (in nc - about 150 miles away) with my father in law and brother in law. we road up saturday. it was a nice ride on the back roads to get there. we spend sunday riding on the parkway and some other great roads around there. i found out from this that i really like the fz6. i've now done around town riding, long distance riding, and some time on the twisties. there are better touring bikes. i'm sure there are better twisty bikes. and something even smaller could be fun around town. but this bike does all of these pretty well.

for the not so good... we came home on monday. it was a smidge under 50 degrees and raining. it was the most miserable ride i've ever had. i've riden cold before... i can live with that given the right gear. and i've ridden in the rain before... not so bad in the summer months. but being cold, wet and riding at speeds of 65mph+ is horrible.

i figured out two things on my wish list. one is i'll be on the look out for a taller windscreen for the winter months of riding. two is some hand guards. the latter being the most important on my list.

based on previous readings i've found that some people have used the v-strom hand guards with a little modification. are they still the best option we have for hand guards?

anyway, it was a great weekend to helped me know that i made the right choice for me.

 

[D-Mac]

this weekend i got to take a trip to the mountains (in nc - about 150 miles away) with my father in law and brother in law. we road up saturday. it was a nice ride on the back roads to get there. we spend sunday riding on the parkway and some other great roads around there. i found out from this that i really like the fz6. i've now done around town riding, long distance riding, and some time on the twisties. there are better touring bikes. i'm sure there are better twisty bikes. and something even smaller could be fun around town. but this bike does all of these pretty well.

for the not so good... we came home on monday. it was a smidge under 50 degrees and raining. it was the most miserable ride i've ever had. i've riden cold before... i can live with that given the right gear. and i've ridden in the rain before... not so bad in the summer months. but being cold, wet and riding at speeds of 65mph+ is horrible.

i figured out two things on my wish list. one is i'll be on the look out for a taller windscreen for the winter months of riding. two is some hand guards. the latter being the most important on my list.

based on previous readings i've found that some people have used the v-strom hand guards with a little modification. are they still the best option we have for hand guards?

anyway, it was a great weekend to helped me know that i made the right choice for me.

I use Powermadd handguards on my FZ6. They are AWESOME. Even in the cold/rain I don't need to heated grips unless it's below 40 or I'm riding for a long time.

Ditto on the windscreen. While I haven't found one that's perfect (in terms of airflow), I love my CeeBailey screen.

 

[mpb218]

As Calvin's father says: "It builds character"

 

[abraxas]

Sorry mate, i've never been wet AND warm

Get good gear, a cheap yellow rainsuit is likely best, and latex gloves over your riding suit seals them nicely. Against wind too. If you can keep yourself dry, you should boost your temp.

I've yet to find handguards around here though, none that fit even a little, the brake fluid resevoir always gets in the way (?)

 

[RyanK]

Sorry mate, i've never been wet AND warm

Personally, I don't know which way is worse... I've ridden in the rain, with full rain gear and it is 90 degrees out. Sweating my butt off in gear that doesn't breathe and humid as all get-out isn't much fun...but it builds character

For the rain & cold, at least you gear up. If it is hot, you just have to remove gear & get wet I guess...

 

[Wolfman]

I use Powermadd wind deflectors on my naked FZ6....but i know others have used the same on FZ6S's too.

Here's a link to the thread that gives you the low down.

http://www.600riders.com/forum/australia/7168-wind-deflectors-perfect-winter-mod.html

:thumbup: