Cold weather. It’s a bummer. The birds stop chirping, baseball is over, and you’ll go months without riding your motorcycle.
Or will you?
While you can’t do much for the birds and baseball, there’s no law that says you have to stop riding. It’s not as simple as throwing on a coat, though. Cold-weather motorcycling presents unique challenges.
1. Helmet
To start, let’s assume you’ll be wearing a helmet. Since you can lose a lot of heat through your head, a full-face helmet is a key piece of winter riding apparel. You should regularly inspect your helmet anyway, but during the winter specifically check to make sure the headliner is intact and vents are free to open and close. For added peace of mind, companies make anti-fog spray that can reduce the chance of your faceshield fogging over.
2. Riding Jacket
Don’t just grab a big parka out of your closet; get a cold weather motorcycling jacket. Remember, baggy clothes won’t hold heat and the constant tug of the wind contributes to rider fatigue. A cold weather riding jacket should be snug and include extra thermal protection that can be zipped in and out when necessary. It’s also important that the jacket does not restrict your movement, so you’re able to maintain control of your motorcycle.
3. Riding Pants or Chaps
Based on riding position, your legs are often the most exposed parts of your body—ensure that they’re well protected with riding pants. Make sure they fit well, but still allow you to put your leg down at stoplights and manipulate your foot controls. Companies make full or partial chaps that guard your legs against the cold and can be easily removed, making them a good choice for the commuter.
4. Riding Gloves
As with the jacket and pants, winter gloves should fit perfectly. That allows them to retain heat, while still giving you free movement to work your clutch, brake, and various buttons and switches. Gauntlet-style gloves have skirts that overlap the sleeves of your jacket—further sealing out any cold air.
5. Riding Boots
Winter riding boots play an important role, as your feet are often unprotected by a fairing. That leaves them exposed to road wind. Winter boots should overlap your pants, cutting down on exposed areas of skin. Make sure your boots have decent tread and can handle slippery environments. Water can puddle and freeze in the ruts created from semis resting at stoplights, making intersections treacherous.
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Other Tips for Cold Weather Riding
Don’t forget about your neck. You can address this by wearing a turtleneck undershirt, or purchase a dedicated neck wrap. Avoid scarves—the last thing you want is a loose scarf end dangling around your rear sprocket! Socks are important too.
Water-soaked clothing holds little thermal protection, which is why winter riding gear should be water-resistant. Wool is a smart choice, because it can wick moisture away from the skin. Be aware of any built up sweat, too. Your gear needs to breathe and allow any sweat to dissipate through your clothing.
Dress in layers. Long underwear adds another level of warmth, while sweatshirts and jeans provide a good middle layer of protection. Always err on the side of dressing too warmly; you can always peel off a layer to cool down.
Winter Motorcycle Inspection
Now that you’re dressed to grapple with a yeti, let’s look at your motorcycle. Without going into a full-blown inspection list here, remember to do regular checks of the chain, tires, brakes, and suspension to make sure your ride is roadworthy. Winter roads are obviously more daunting than summer roads. You’ll experience ice, road salt, and potholes—make sure your bike is physically ready for winter’s assault.
Popular Winter Riding Motorcycle Modifications
You can also modify your bike to make your ride more comfortable—specifically in the form of heated grips. Heated grips use your battery’s power to warm elements in (or under) the grips. Ensure that your bike’s electrical system can handle the extra current draw and you have room to install the switches, wires, and relays necessary to make them work.
Depending on the style of motorcycle, the addition of a fairing (or larger windshield if already equipped) is an obvious way to protect your body against constant icy wind blasts. As with any install, make sure that all of your levers, mirrors, and switches operate freely before venturing out on the roads. If you’re looking at a dedicated winter fairing, select one that offers maximum body coverage.
Unique Hazards for Winter Riding
When you’re ready to take to the road, remember that there are several unique hazards posed to a motorcyclist in winter. Be wary of any new potholes that appear; snowplows love turning highways into obstacle courses. Always be on the lookout for excess road salt and sand—it tends to build up near intersections. Your fellow motorists are more of a danger than ever, as it’s uncommon to see a motorcycle in the roads in the dead of winter.
Depending on your location, ice represents the ultimate hazard to the winter rider. Hit a patch of that stuff, and you’re in the hands of Isaac Newton. It might be a good idea to drive your route in a car first, scanning for any potential icy zones.
Need to also remember that +7 Degrees Celcius/44 Fahrenheit is when normal summer tires begin to stiffen and lose their adhesion/traction to the road. No more tight corners, no more going for a rip down windy roads… not unless you want to bounce in the ditch like an egg in a blender.
Very good point!