Modern Vespa

Hard to believe less than a week ago, we got caught in a rainstorm, a coolish one, while grabbing a shot for the San Diego scooter tag game. Since, then it's literally been TOO hot to ride, around here in inland So-Cal., at least with a helmet on ! 112 today in fact in Temecula.

That makes (for me, anyway) it more palatable that my GTS is now three weeks as of tomorrow in the shop, that is the comedy of errors of my leaky "Flywheel Cover Plate" (waterpump to you and I) has caused, and through no fault whatsoever of the shop I've trusted it's repairs to.

In any event, I realze now that 1) riding in extreme cold, is easier than riding in extreme heat, and 2) riding in the rain is easier than riding in extreme heat.

Anyone have any advice to offer for riding in temps of 100+, while trying to remain safely attired? Or at what point temperature-wise, is it simply best to stay home or take the car?

personally i stop around 100 and take the car. i hate the hot. i'm with you- i prefer cold and rain much more than this crappy heat

On the ride for the Shindig rally today, all GTSs' thermometers were reading 107. As for cooling down .. one guy was wearing a vest under the jacket, and the vest had [ice] water dumped on it before the ride. He stayed coolish.

For cool, all I can speak for is my helmet (Shark RSR) and jacket Rev'it Airforce Mesh) since I don't have proper riding pants (just jeans). But, I've been very happy with the airflow through the helmet and mesh jacket wearing just a T on my drives around town here in Sac (about an hour or so). Stopping on the pavement is tough, but once I get going, I don't have many problems.

Helmet


Jacket

I got caught at 113 a couple of days ago, according to my temp gauge on my MP3, and it felt every bit that hot. My advise is to get out of the heat, but if you can't, get a "CamelPack" and stay hydrated!

Bla, Bla, Bla, Bla, Bla, bla, Bla....Blaaaaaaa

Sorry, no sympathy from Seattle.

We live around the rain here (:

We have to travel by jet airplane before it gets better.

If you're just going out for a ride and not stopping at, say, the store or anything, wetting down your shirt and then wearing a mesh armored jacket on top is as close to two-wheeled air conditioning as it gets. Certain companies also make special cold packs and what not that you can wrap around your neck as you ride to keep you cool, though wetting down a handkerchief and wrapping it around your neck pre-ride and at each stop works well, too....or so I've heard.

In "Proficient Motorcycling," though, David Hough mentions that above a certain temp, it's better to wear a non-perforated / non-mesh jacket...that the hot air flow will only heat you up even more as you ride. I live in south Georgia (about the 8th circle of hell) yet still haven't experienced THAT intense a heat. I've ridden on the hottest day this year (a record breaking hot day, at that) and my mesh FieldSheer and a dampened shirt beneath was enough...(though my riding doesn't involve much stop-and-go traffic.)

Was riding last week down here in Sun City AZ and it was 116 by the temp gage on my GTS, things that help me are light gloves to protect my hands a long sleeve tee shirt (cotton) to protect my arms, be hydrated before you ride and bring plenty of water with you and where a full face shield on your helmet so the heat does not hit your face stright on, that works for me all the time down here when its hot..............walterb

best thing I ever learned here in the desert is to soak my t shirt in water before I leave work. It is about a 40 minute drive and I am quite cool, even cold at times until about 30 minutes..by the time I get home, there is no moisture left on me, the shirt, the mesh jacket, or anywhere the shirt may have dripped.

and yes, if it's running, I'm riding. latest count is 30 days over 110 degrees and I think 60+ above 100 degrees.

oh, and walterb is right, a full face helmet is WAAAAAAY cooler than anything less...especially if it has decent venting...my current helmet is not great for the venting..hoping the Caberg Solo will improve this.

I live in the area in San Diego that we affectionately call the "The Hot Box". It was 101 today with the humidity it felt like 107. I rode, with a full helmet, 2 up too. Unfortunately, my daughter got he nice cool half helmet. I shed the usual mesh jacket for a track jacket, shorts and slip-on tennis shoes. It made it more bearable.

[quote="mattgordon"

In any event, I realze now that 1) riding in extreme cold, is easier than riding in extreme heat,[/quote]

i totally agree. i have a harder time riding when it's 105 then when i rode when it was 18 (not including wind chill).

Riding near sprinklers feels good

110 indicated on the dash yesterday. Not bad as long as I kept moving, so I just didn't stop! Heading toward the coast again.

A wet T-shirt under a mesh jacket works well. Last year when I went across Calif/Nevada in 110+ heat, I found another trick. Cold water is COLD, not comfortable. I simply bought some bottle water, drank it, and then refilled the clear bottles with tap water as I travelled. I bungied them behind me. The sun heated them up to a nice warm comfortable temperature that I could pour on me throught he mesh jacket, but the evaporative cooling worked just as well.

A wet T-shirt under a mesh jacket works well. Last year when I went across Calif/Nevada in 110+ heat, I found another trick. Cold water is COLD, not comfortable. I simply bought some bottle water, drank it, and then refilled the clear bottles with tap water as I travelled. I bungied them behind me. The sun heated them up to a nice warm comfortable temperature that I could pour on me throught he mesh jacket, but the evaporative cooling worked just as well.

Great ideas to keep in mind. This thread makes me feel embarrassed when I have complained about a hot day up here.

Rode some 75 kilometer today in 12 degrees C (~54 F), mostly in pouring rain, and some thunder. Which wasn't too bad with Gore-tex jacket & gloves. I did mind a bit of forgetting to take with the rain pants, though.

Note to self: soaked jeans are not very warm.