Tips To Ride Jawa Motorcycle In Winter Season

Riding Tips - Winter & Snow

The mountains are snow-capped, here are a few tips that will help your Jawa cold-weather riding experience!
The mountains are calling! Snow has set, and the vocation to head to experience the snow on your beloved Jawa motorcycle is a pilgrimage for us motorcyclists. However, before you pack your bags, and gear up, here are a few winter riding tips, to make your Jawa winter riding experience that much more fun!

Why is winter riding different?

Riding a motorcycle is a skill in itself. Heading to the mountains to experience extreme climates is a pilgrimage for us and our motorcycles. While the terrain in our respective cities is known to us, extreme conditions are foreign to a lot of us and our motorcycles. Yes, the ever-longing question — "Will winter ruin my Jawa motorcycle?" lies in our minds. The answer — No, Jawa motorcycles are tested across various terrains for thousands of kilometres, including the hottest and coldest conditions, and hence rest assured, your Jawa motorcycle will be safe, through the winters!

Prepping for the snow!

A deep inspection and service of your Jawa motorcycle before you depart is extremely crucial. Heading to the Jawa service station, checking for battery health, coolant levels (to be maintained for colder weather as mentioned in the service manual), tyre wear, oil life and of course chain sag.
A crucial winter tip for your Jawa motorcycle would be to carry chains along to wrap around the tyres. With the formation of black ice, finding traction is a herculean task, on unpredictable terrain, while the temperatures have nothing to do with the wear of the tyres, a set of snow chains will surely help imbibe confidence in the rider to ride their Jawa worry-free.
Next in line would be your chain and sprocket. While metals are seasoned to withstand extreme temperatures, accumulation of dust, debris and slush does hinder its functionality. While it is said to clean and lubricate a chain system every 500-kilometres, while riding in the snow, it would be best to do this practice at the end or start of every day.
And lastly, the 2 big question — Will my Jawa start in cold weather? YES! Yes, it will, effortlessly. What it too cold for my Jawa motorcycle? Nothing really, just ensure you're motorcycle is in its best condition prior to your departure and enjoy the ride!

Things to keep in mind!

Winter gear is a must!

You’re heading on a winter motorcycle riding experience; the temperatures here are not going to be kind. From single-digit nail-biting Celsius’ to palm-numbing sub-zero degrees, the weather is not favourable to head out with your basic riding gear. Heavily insulated gear, along with thick thermals is a must. Additionally, a nice pair of insulated/heated gloves do really become lifesavers!

Carry fuel along the way

While enjoying your Jawa ride through the snow, it is important to carry extra fuel along the way, since the unpredictable weather conditions could throw in a surprise of a blocked road or an extended journey till you reach your next fuel stop. An extra five-litre jerry can alongside a full tank should ideally suffice, per motorcycle!

Plan your route right!

While exploring along the way sounds super fun, it is ideal to plan your snow-filled journey. Sit with a map, check for current situations via social media and forums, and take a route call. In most cases everything should be safe enough to go to; however, in some rare cases, it is better to know what to expect rather than a surprise!

Be Safe!

It’s a jungle out there, you’ve heard that a lot, we’re sure. The mountains aren't any less, and keeping yourself prepared and safe is extremely crucial all throughout. Get a local sim card, to stay connected. As it’s said, it is best to share our joys with our friends and family, and hence, it is recommended to not do a solo trip to the mountains to experience the snow for a beginner.

Build Endurance

A sprint across the country roads on a weekend versus a ride that extends over the course of multiple days, in varying terrain and temperature, is starkly different. One not only needs to be mentally prepared for a ride like this, but also needs to be physically fit. This requires one to muscle their motorcycles through unpredictable conditions, while having enough endurance to complete a journey planned for a specific day.

AMS!

Acute Mountain Sickness! An arch nemesis of all adventure junkies. You see, we are born, and live in various parts of this country, at varying altitudes. And such mountains have a resting altitude far higher than what we experience in our daily lives.
It is highly recommended to take complete bed rest for 24 hours, and hydrate to the maximum. 24 hours into acclimatization, one can start with tiny walks to nearby places to start with. Exactly 48 hours later is when it is recommended to commence your journey into the deep end of the mountains to experience riding in the winter.

Do not forget, You’re There to have fun!

While this might seem like a lot of things to keep in mind — do not forget, you are there to have fun. Which is something one must have to the maximum. Riding motorcycles is truly one of the best experiences, especially with flanking snow-capped mountains. From the serene silence to the breathtaking view, it will all be an experience words can never explain. As long as you have everything you need, riding in the winter will always be an unforgettable experience. And we hope you have tons of your riding in the winter with your Jawa

FAQs

1. Is it harder to ride a Jawa motorcycle in the cold?

Not at all, the performance of the motorcycle is enough and more to take you through anything.

2. Will winter ruin my Jawa motorcycle?

Jawa motorcycles are throughly tested through various conditions, including sub zero temperatures, the winters will never ruin your Jawa motorcycle.

3. How to start a Jawa motorcycle in cold weather?

Crank the motorcycle and hold the throttle a little above idle. I.e - if idle rpm is 1100, hold throttle at 1300rpm or 1500rpm, just to ensure it doesnt stall due to low temperatures. Also warm your motorcycle up extremely well.

4. What is too cold for a Jawa motorcycle?

Nothing at all, your Jawa motorcycle is built to withstand anything!
Is cold bad for bike tyres?
Not really, in case of icey conditions, please carry along a set of chains for better traction.