This is just an opinion I heard but, someone once told me that below 55 degrees, your tires will never get really good and sticky. So based loosely on that, if it's 40 degrees out they won't ever get to where you want them.

I never realy noticed a difference between hot and cold weather when I had my 250. However that could be just that I never tried to push it as hard in the cold b/c I figured the grip wouldn't be there.

 

Couple general observations:

1. Street tires are designed to come up to temperature fairly quickly. NO tire, unless you're unwrapping the tire warmers before you ride, is at "operating" temperature when you roll out first thing in the morning.

2. In cold weather YOU are hypersensitive--meaning--YOU are worried about your tires and may be reading too much into every bit of feedback. You're listening more carefully and therefore? You're getting more feedback because you're looking for it. It's a little like how right before the big date? You're suddenly worried about hygiene when you weren't all day.

3. Cold affects your tires AND the surface you're on. BOTH are cold. Adjust accordingly.

 

Thanks, guys. Good analogy about the date - I can see how I was more sensitive to it. I did notice some genuine slickness, though. I've never locked up my brakes before, but that morning I locked up the rear tire stopping behind a trash truck at about 10 mph. I was watching the left-turning car waiting for the truck to pass their driveway so they could turn in, and didn't notice the truck's tiny brake lights for a second. Kept the bike upright fine.

I'm hoping to upgrade to some Pirelli Diablo's eventually. Maybe next summer. For now, it's time to practice some more emergency stops.

 

I'm hoping to upgrade to some Pirelli Diablo's eventually. Maybe next summer. For now, it's time to practice some more emergency stops.

They make the Diablo's for the little Ninja?

 

Maybe warming up the rider is more important than warming up the tires.