Let me start by wishing everyone the very best for the holiday season and may all your stockings be filled with Safety Chrome.
The following is a cross between a safety tip and a maintenance tip. With winter upon us you don't want to get stuck out in the snow or cold for an extended period. Cold weather means hard starting and this is the time you want all the amps you can get going to the starter and ignition. Low battery or faulty terminal connections can cause the starter to turn over the engine but starve the coil for spark and the engine will not start. The more you crank the weaker the spark and the less chance you'll have for starting. On a cold winter day you might want to check and clean those battery terminals so that you can get all the juice possible to the ignition system. Also, if the bike sits for awhile, you might want to hook up a battery tender to maintain the battery at full charge. Trying to start the engine with a low battery causes the windings in the starter to heat up and eventually melt the solder from the windings. Starters for Gold Wings are expensive so do all you can to prolong the lifetime.
Also you want to remember to start your winter rides with extra caution until you warm up those tires. Cold tires do not grip the road and you'll want all the traction you can get on wet winter roads. WATCH FOR BLACK ICE ON BRIDGES AND SHADY SPOTS. Even warm tires won't help much in those situations.
LIGHT THEM UP! Turn on all the lights you can legally run during the holiday season. BE SEEN! People are in a hurry, driving with reduced visibility and not thinking about their driving. Least of all, they're not looking for motorcycles. When they are thinking about other things they can look straight at you and not see you.
With the weather and wet roads it is a good time to follow the 4 second rule. 2 seconds are fine in the summer but 4 seconds are a lot safer in the winter.
Here's wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday season and a fantastic New Year.