Driving my speedster in the cold

This morning in Kansas City the temperature is 30F.I haven't driven my speedster in this cold before.I will do it today.I will go to a small town 40 miles north of Kansas city to visit my brother.I do not have heat in the car or side windows but I hope I enjoy my ride.Do you guys drive your speedsters when it gets this cold?

Dressin a lot of layers. Warm hat, jacket. You can always take things off as you start to get warm, but if aren't wearing enough and don't take enough. You just can't put things on . I worked in sierras and the snow country. I allways wore layered rather than just plain thermals. most important.... a nice pair of warm gloves.

Lambros,

I've got two words for you: Hooded Sweatshirt.

Or, maybe in your 30-degree weather, Hooded Parka.

While it doesn't get into the 30's here in Los Angeles, I have driven my Speedster (top down) when the temp was in the mid-40's. Keeping the head warm really makes a difference. With the majority of the turbulence coming from behind you, having a hood on will prevent the wind from blowing down your neck. You're going to be chilly, but you don't have to freeze.

And, don't forget the gloves!
--
JL

i prefer driving in the cold. With a good hat and gloves, I often find you don't need much more than a light jacket. Plus you like insane driving around with the top down in the 30's. That's the BEST part.

Lambros,

drive mine every day to work (12 miles one way). This past week in NJ was approx. 28-40 degrees at 7:00 a.m.
The engine loves the cold air but the real danger is the lack of visibility due to the steamed up windshield. Very dangerous trying to drive ,shift and wipe the glass!!.
This past Friday on the way home from work was low 40's with a cold rain. Now that was an experience with the trucks and SUV's trying to squash me at dusk.

Start car, turn on ESPAR gas heater, warm up engine, go for a ride...

Oh, yeah, heat is a GOOD THING in the winter months.

I agree with John. Keeping your entire head warm is very important, especially the back of your neck. One of the best things I bought for the IM and wife was a heated motorcycle vest.
Ron

RainX makes a great product for keeping steam/fog off inside of windows -- think its called FogX. RainX is great for outside windshield and mirrors too. light rain flys right off with out using the wipers (aka streakers).

I've used the FogX with mixed results. If you get a tiny bit too much on, it gets cloudy and you gotta buff like heck to get it off.

BD

I'm with George on this one. I start my gas heater the second I open the door. By the time I have the car started and the radio faceplate on, the car is already toasty. And with the heater on right away, the windshield never has a chance to fog up. My car would have been parked a month and a half ago without the gas heater.

Someone posted last year that a cut onion on the dash will keep your windows clear. I expect it will also keep passengers away....

What's wrong with you CA guys that have HEATERS! I'm gonna bomb this site with photos of me and Speedy out in the cold and encourage my other cold-weather brethren to do the same. Let's "SMOKE 'EM OUT OF THEIR HOLE."

Luke, CA isn't California, CA is Canada, you know, the great WHITE north. Have you seen "The Day After Tomorrow"? That's what Canada looks like.

I have driven Fern in -5C although I do not drive when there is snow in the street even if it's a sunny day. Don't want sand, salt or whatever caking in where I won't be able to really clean it like in the spring. But with a ski jacket, tuque and gloves it's alright even with the top down. Make sure you have shades on too since cold air makes your eyes water. But a Gas heater would be boss, I alas don't have one.

I find though that the top up and windows in that there is heat generated inside from me and the motor. Quite comfortable actually.

Hey,
Look at the dumb American. OK, people from CA (Canada) deserve heaters. People from CA (California) are fools if they have heaters. Thanks for clearing that up.

I have a complete Espacher (sp) system that I bought, but chose not to install. Hey, here in Dallas, if you have your heater boxes, thermostates and defroster all hooked up and in good shape, it works fine. This is the system that has it's own gas tank, so it would take up some space under the bonnet, but if I was north of Texas, I'd probably take the time to put it in. Let me know if anyone's in the market.

Jack-

I hope I'm first in line. You've got mail.

I suggest a WWII B-3 Sheepskin bomber jacket and a matching flying helmet if driving sans top. Matching goggles if you have the nerve. For once YOU will get more looks than the car !

Tony

Actually it wasn't bad.I really enjoyed the ride.Leather jacket,hat,and gloves it was all it took.Inside the car it was pretty comfortable.On the hwy the car drove fine but I want more power.65-70mph all the way there and I wish I could go a little bit faster.