I live in the MN Twin Cities Midway area and am considering buying a moped, but am unsure if it will be ride able or reliable on the streets during winter. I mainly ride on main roads but black ice and salt are always there.
I found a post almost identical to mine on Reddit but the comments went from "Sure its just cold" to "You will probably die", so I'm asking here.
That depends, how tough are ya?
I can handle the cold but not getting hit by a car
I rode in Milwaukee for years, you get used to it, usually eat shit once or twice at the beginning of the year until you remember how to ride in snow.
Milwaukee got plowed out pretty good, mpls can't plow for shit so that makes it a lot worse.
You gotta think about your commute, what alternatives you have if shit gets real bad, oh and yeah... Riding in the snow and salt fuckin ruins your bike, 2-3 years tops before it's all rusted to hell.
My advice as a 34 year old lamedad is no way don't do it but when I was 20 I would have said nut up, let's blast!
I also ate shit and slid under the back of a moving garbage truck once, that was wild.
Holy shit, look at that... I didn't even realize this video still existed... 0 views? Maybe before YouTube did views?
I live here too, and don't ride in the winter, no one expects to see you out there, and when you wipe out (not if) but when, cars have a harder time stopping, simply not safe. If I had to, I would use the QT-50. with stock air cleaner, no exposed chain, and very light and close to the ground, so you don't have as far to fall when you crash. Also has turn signals, or will until they get broken off crashing. Put the bike up for the winter and get a bus card! :) (edited)
I had to ride one winter in west Michigan .
Back end slide on a curve . Center stand caught a raised manhole cover .
You ever try dodging on coming traffic , sliding on black ice ?
mn rider here. as long as the roads are dry you are ok. even with dry roads its cold. i personally don't ride under freezing temps.
Rode all year in Indiana. The cold only sucks on your hands. Get some of those wind/dirt guards for your handle bars.
I know someone who rode her Ruckus all winter in Duluth. Granted, a Ruckus is #notamoped.
buy one and run the snot out of it in the spring, summer, and fall. In winter, just bike. I commuted to downtown by bike for years in the winter. Just buy a beater bike so you can use the bike paths. The city keeps them pretty clear and you'll also have at least some buffer from the cars.
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