Beautiful day for a ride...It got up to 0C (30F)



We had quite a late summer of warm temperatures up to 35C(~90F) coupled with a very rapid drop into winter. It's been down to -20C (~0F) recently. This sharp contrast has really highlighted the role that ambient temperature plays in getting the KLX to fire up.

I have the enricher jet drilled, good compression, valves in spec, and a fuel primer but when it gets this cold it can still be a real b!tch to get the KLX to start. I have even begun using a workshop heater aimed at the engine for 10-15 min prior to starting to assist. By contrast, over the summer I had ZERO starting issues.

I'd suggest ambient temperature is a factor to consider with respect to the varying cold-start experiences owners report on this forum.

I am also still interested to hear how MaximusPrime's studs worked our in the snow...I ♥ Winter Sports

 

Nice pic!
My bike has been starting fine in 10ºF, granted the choke needs to be on for a minute or two. Later this winter might be a different story. I too have a heater to put by the bike if needed.
The studs are great on icy roads. Was out today and the road had a covering of fresh snow, was slippery when starting from a stop, otherwise I had good traction. Not great, but way better than rubber alone.
They won't do much in deep snow, but once it's packed down they provide better traction.
It's like riding in muddy conditions, slip then get traction. Relaxing helps. It's the only time the bike breaks out the rear wheel consistently. It's kinda fun. I flat tracked a couple of turns, but it was only at 20mph. The front was stuck good, but the back just had too much power to the rear wheel at times. Crazy, I know, too much power, but it was fun being able to kick it out with throttle.
Starting and stopping are the issues, as you might expect. A steady throttle/brake and everything is usually OK. If I feel slipping when I'm at speed it is usually over before I even feel it, and it's usually only the rear wheel. And I usually slow down after that.
Still more testing to be done. I suspect they work better than I think, just not anxious to find the limit while riding on the road. I need a more closed environment to mess around in.
I might go up my road tomorrow morning and go around the gate with the Road Closed sign and try them out on a road with no tracks or traffic, just snow... and then into the woods for some trail time on the studs, before the snowmobiles get here.
I'll keep you posted about the learning curve. I'll try and remember to take the video camera.
I love Winter too. Now, how do I get my snowboard on the bike? Need a powder fix, bad.

 

@MP: " Now, how do I get my snowboard on the bike? Need a powder fix, bad."

Many of the Burton backpacks have slots & straps which allow a snowboard to be packed on your back. The model I have allows the board to be carried either horizontally or vertically. As you can imagine, neither of these orientations is great when you get into the trees, but on twin-track it's fine.

 

Saw a surf board on the side of a bike once, mounted outside of the leg. That's what I'm after.
I have one of those packs too. Not even going to think about riding with that. I've carried too many sheets of plywood in the wind, I might blow away given a good cross wind.
Thought about carrying it flat across the top of my pelican box, but that will be pretty wide. It might come to that though.

 

I rode a bicycle with a surfboard rack in australia and the set up worked really well. Just stay out of strong crosswinds!

When it comes to a snowboard on a motorcycle however, I think I'd prefer the board to be tight against the bike rather than out board like the surfboard rack. A set-up similar to a snowmobile might work(?).

There's also something about having sharp snowboard edges near my thigh/groin that does not appeal to me!

BTW, we have some great pow in the Canadian Rockies right now!

 

Well, they suck in snow that's been tracked, but so do regular tires.
Rode 25 miles to work at less than 25mph for the first half, then hit plowed roads and speed went way up.
Got to the road work is on and promptly dumped it wallowing through semi-packed snow. Oops. No damage to me or the bike.
I think I need some outriggers like this....
or a car...

 

@MP: you need a Snow Cycle conversion!

snoxcyclegroup

Last winter I sledded up to a backcountry cabin in the interior of British Columbia where there was already a group of guys on some pretty fancy machines with mods like turbos, nitrous, and all kinds of trick little farkles. Then a guy on a KTM with a Snow Cycle conversion shows up and steals all the attention from the sleds.

They look like a lot of fun. Well suited to trails, tree runs, and snow with a base. My understanding is that due to a horsepower disadvantage and narrow track they are not that great for deep pow or steep hill-climbs.