Topic: How Cold Can the 750 Handle?

[yhwu]

I'm pretty sure CB750s aren't designed for riding in 20/30 degree weather, but just how cold can the bike be ridden and not cause long-term problems? Talking about 30+ min rides. Would the engine even get up to temp at highway speeds? I'm probably just paranoid but you'd think if it's an actual problem it would've been addressed...thanks for any input!

[newday777]

Back in the late 70s living up in Breckenridge Colorado(9,000'), I left at 20° in early December, rode down to Denver on the highway and headed south to warmer weather. No damage from riding in the cold to the motor. Just run a lighter weight oil while it's that cold, 20w50 is best for summer temperatures of 65°+

[newday777]

BTW
Welcome aboard the forum.
Introduce yourself and your bike in the new members section.

[BenelliSEI]

Today was 32F and I opened up the shop door and ran all the bikes…… there is three feet of snow in front of the door, so that’s as far as I got!

[HondaMan]

I used to ride mine year-around in Illinois in the 1970s. I once rode from western Illinois to Chicago and back (400-ish miles) when the temperature never reached above zero degrees (F) because my car was in the shop.

- But, I didn't do that twice.

I used 10w50 oil for that trip, too.

[jwurbel]

Rode my K2 every winter from 1972 to 1990 in Illinois.  Weather varied from 40 degrees to 10. Wore a snowsuit.  Oil was 10/40.  Still riding the same bike today.  Compression readings 152 across the board.  Probably lucky on the oil viscosity.  Those bikes were solid and could take abuse.

[rotortiller]

It's probably more like, how much cold can OP handle. 

[Tracksnblades1]

When I was young.
I commuted back and forth to work on mine initially to 20*F.
Then 25*F, it took too long layering up clothes for the hour long journey.
No windshield or fairing, tough as nails you know then..
Then prior to kids I quit at 30*…

Ran 10w-40 when it was cold. On a 76 cb750f @30* and below the oil wouldn’t get hot enough
To boil off the condensation. White slime would grow on the dip stick threaded cap..

Don’t miss wearing the snowmobile clothes. Miss the youth of riding regardless….

[newday777]

I'm pretty sure CB750s aren't designed for riding in 20/30 degree weather, but just how cold can the bike be ridden and not cause long-term problems? Talking about 30+ min rides. Would the engine even get up to temp at highway speeds? I'm probably just paranoid but you'd think if it's an actual problem it would've been addressed...thanks for any input!

So how cold can you handle?

[pjlogue]

I used to ride throughout the winter in NY when the roads were clear and dry.  Many days were in the 20's.  I was going to college then and used the bike to get to classes.  On occasion, I would get caught by an unexpected snow storm while at school.  Getting home in the snow was a challenge!  Going slow with both feet out incase the bike started to go down was the normal riding position. 

The engine ran fine except the temp was muuch lower and I would see tan foam on the inside of the oil filler cap.  Good hard runs when the temps were in the 50's got rid of it and I used to change the oil frequently during cold weather rides so the water vapor didn't cause engine damage.

-P.

[ZTatZAU]

As others have mentioned, I think cold temperature tolerance is more about the rider than the machine.
And a good rule of thumb is, "Try not to ride in (F) temperatures less than your age!"

   ZT

[MRieck]

Today was 32F and I opened up the shop door and ran all the bikes…… there is three feet of snow in front of the door, so that’s as far as I got!

Come on.....don't be a piker!

[scottly]

And a good rule of thumb is, "Try not to ride in (F) temperatures less than your age!"

   ZT

[Don R]

 I used to ride my K3 750 down to 40*, it made my knees hurt too bad until they warmed up when it was colder and I didn't want to chance ice on the road.

[yhwu]

I'm pretty sure CB750s aren't designed for riding in 20/30 degree weather, but just how cold can the bike be ridden and not cause long-term problems? Talking about 30+ min rides. Would the engine even get up to temp at highway speeds? I'm probably just paranoid but you'd think if it's an actual problem it would've been addressed...thanks for any input!

So how cold can you handle?

Ahaha never rode below 30 before, but I felt pretty warm with thermals and a thick jacket on when I rode in the low 30s...but looks like I'm gonna be the issue and not the bike as long as I use the lower weight oil

Also appreciate the welcome! I'll go introduce myself here in a bit

[newday777]

I'm pretty sure CB750s aren't designed for riding in 20/30 degree weather, but just how cold can the bike be ridden and not cause long-term problems? Talking about 30+ min rides. Would the engine even get up to temp at highway speeds? I'm probably just paranoid but you'd think if it's an actual problem it would've been addressed...thanks for any input!

So how cold can you handle?

Ahaha never rode below 30 before, but I felt pretty warm with thermals and a thick jacket on when I rode in the low 30s...but looks like I'm gonna be the issue and not the bike as long as I use the lower weight oil

Also appreciate the welcome! I'll go introduce myself here in a bit

It's not bad riding in those temps as long as you are dressed for it, wind chill factors into the equation though so be aware of it. Rain gear actually helps cut wind chill factors, even when it isn't raining. Blocking the wind from sucking the heat out of you especially feet and hands makes the ride or breaks you.

[HondaMan]

Reading these gives me new admiration for some of you riders: I at least had a Vetter and Lowers!
I REALLY like the Lowers in winter. I space their back ends about 3/4" away from the 750's airbox on the sides (with some spacers I made) and that warm air curls up behind the fairing, right along the legs. Mmmm...

[Tracksnblades1]

I'm pretty sure CB750s aren't designed for riding in 20/30 degree weather, but just how cold can the bike be ridden and not cause long-term problems? Talking about 30+ min rides. Would the engine even get up to temp at highway speeds? I'm probably just paranoid but you'd think if it's an actual problem it would've been addressed...thanks for any input!

So how cold can you handle?

Ahaha never rode below 30 before, but I felt pretty warm with thermals and a thick jacket on when I rode in the low 30s...but looks like I'm gonna be the issue and not the bike as long as I use the lower weight oil

Also appreciate the welcome! I'll go introduce myself here in a bit

It's not bad riding in those temps as long as you are dressed for it, wind chill factors into the equation though so be aware of it. Rain gear actually helps cut wind chill factors, even when it isn't raining. Blocking the wind from sucking the heat out of you especially feet and hands makes the ride or breaks you.

Agree.
But 20* at 65-70 mph for an hour or more is cold even at 20 years old without a windshield and or fairing..
You’ll need high quality cold weather clothes. Even snowmobiles protect you better than standard motorcycles.
The heated suits work well but keep an eye on total wattage.. My hands don’t ever get cold and I normally don’t wear gloves in the winter unless holding steel. They froze at 65mph at 20* with good snowmobile type gloves. It takes really good gloves if they’re not heated or behind a shield or fairing..

[BallAquatics]

At 67 I still ride down to 40F.  Nothing on the highway though, I don't ride the highways even on beautiful days lol  A nice shield makes a world of difference!

January 29, 2025 in central Ohio...

[MauiK3]

I rode for some years in the 70's from Sonoma, California to Vallejo to work. Being in Northern California it never got that far down but I recall a lot of 30's in the winter, and some really cold rain. I made some little leather fairings for the hand grips, my hands were the worst of my problems.
Ahhh, being young and dumb!