Topic: Coldest temp you've ever started a CB?

[Shane72]

Interesting thread...

Winter of '89, -20F, Brainerd, Minnesota, Christmas break.  Had to start my '78 cb750K to move it from the parent's garage to the barn down the road about 1/4 mile for storage.  They were splitting up, I was away in college, and had to move all my stuff so it wouldn't disappear while I was away at school.

It was not a heated garage where I started it, so figure around 0 to -10F to start, then as long as I had it running (like a dummy) I took it for about a 2-mile run down the gravel road our farm was on.  Actual air temp was minus 20 that day, bright, sunny, and windy.  WOW, COLD.

Bike ran fine, I let it idle back at the barn for about 10 minutes just to let things recuperate before shutting it down again for the rest of the winter.  Also, it made a pretty good heater for my hands that were now made of stone.

One year I rode at least once every month to work in Minneapolis, working 2nd shift.  Many times riding near zero degrees in my younger (stupider?) years.

Nowadays, about 40-50 degrees is my limit, unless it's a short test ride out of the shop and back, or if there's no other option.

Shane

[andy750]

Not a CB750 but when I bought my VStrom I flew into Green Bay, WI and rode it back to Boston, MA. This was Oct 2010 and temps were 29-34F for the 1200 mile ride home (done over 2 days). No heated gear (but good winter gear for riding) - dry all the way except the freezing rain/snow for the last 3 hours which was in the dark (7pm -10pm). Not recommended particularly the last part.  Next time Ill have it shipped

[Old Scrambler]

I've started my 750K0 and later K3 dozens of times in freezing temps as low as single-digits when mountain camping in the Sierras.  But it would warm up to the 50s or 60s for a few hours each day. The worst event was the 2-feet of fresh snow on the bike and my partially collapsed tent! This was back in the early '70s.

One cold ride involved the supposed to be warm sunny temps in Florida. It never got above 32F from Orlando to Atlanta. My wife and I wore extra socks.....on our hands......no fairing or shield.  Another cold ride was in the low 20s back in 1968. I started and rode my friend's '67 BSA Hornet about 55 miles into Milwaukee to my new apartment.  He tried to ride it but only 2 miles because his face shield froze-up.

Today I use my XR650L for cold weather riding.... but not TOO cold! Lots of ICE racing around this part of the world.

[Prospect]

What is the temperature that batteries start to freeze? 

[CrankyOldGuy]

On the Trojan Battery site they state that a fully charged battery is good to -92 F while a 40% charged battery will freeze at 16 F.  As the charge decreases the electrolyte acts more like water.  I have started my car at -30F with no problem.

Harry O.

[camelman]

10F or so in Illinois in wintertime when I was in college.  I was on my Seca 750, but it was carbed just like the CBs.  I used to ride to class bundled up like a snowman.  The good thing about our bikes are that you can reach down and hold the engine with your gloved hand to warm it back up.

C-man