Hauling a bike in cold weather

[cubfan1968]

I'm thinking about hauling my bike in the back of my pick up and traveling about 2800 miles. I'll be traveling from the Nebraska to the Arizona. Any special things I need to do to prep my bike for the trip. The weather might be in the teens for a least 1/2 the trip.

I see this Dirt Bag advertised on Thumpertalk. Anybody used one before?

http://dirtbagdesigns.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1

Any comments would be appreciated

[rclz]

the conditions you stated are basically better than here where I live 8 out of 12 months and I do most of my riding in the winter. I've never used anything more than a tarp to cover my bike and I only use a tarp when it's either raining or snowing, most of the time when it's just raining I won't even bother but as for bike prep if it's traveling in a bed the two things I do are plug the exhaust with a silencer plug made for powerwashing to prevent water from building up in your pipe and I also stick a rag in my airbox inlet just incase aswell as I run my bike with gas in the off position to drain lines so no gas pisses out of the overflow while loading/unloading/traveling.

hope that helps and have a good trip.

[resinlips]

Might be a good idea to loosen the tie downs and relieve the fork pressure (bleeders) when you make a pit stop. Especially when you go from cold to warm.

[Chickenhauler]

I would advise to check the freezepoint of the antifreeze (if you haven't already) and cover the bike with something to prevent it getting salt sprayed-the chemicals that are used for de-icing roads are quite harsh, especially on aluminum, wiring, and any powdercoating.

[rclz]

imo he wont be getting hit with salt unless he's tailgating the car infront of him the whole way, after all he did say he was hauling in a truck not a trailer and unless his tires illegally stick out more than 4 inches on each side without fender flares then I doubt assloads of salt will be flying up and then back down into his bed.

[Chickenhauler]

imo he wont be getting hit with salt unless he's tailgating the car infront of him the whole way, after all he did say he was hauling in a truck not a trailer and unless his tires illegally stick out more than 4 inches on each side without fender flares then I doubt assloads of salt will be flying up and then back down into his bed.

I can attest that it will-it gets in the air, passing cars spray it up, and envision a passing 18 wheeler goes by-SPPPLLLAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEERRRRRRRR!

My tires on my PU are nicely tucked within the wheel wells, but I still get spray all the way up the side of the truck on the side of the topper.

But, if the road is dry all the way (it won't be-Murphy's Law) then the salt spray would be minimal.

[pfunk]

yeah, i should take a pick this winter and show all the crap they put on the roads in the winter,,,,and it has mudflaps and running boards. the salt is like a fine dust and gets everyware

[Beyond The Pale]

+1 on what ChickenHauler said. Be sure that your bikes antifreeze is up to the coldest possible temperature that you could encounter. That will be lower than the teens.