Tips for Riding a Motorcycle in Cold Weather

The winter is a great time for snowboarding, skiing, sledding, and enjoying hot beverages, but it presents some challenges to motorcycle riders. With roads coated with rain, snow, or ice, they become slippery and difficult to navigate safely by motorcycle. The cold of the wind will cool down the body extremely quickly, too, making it potentially difficult to control the bike.

Staying safe and comfortable while riding in cold weather requires having the correct equipment and knowing a few riding tips. Read on to learn more information about riding in cold weather conditions, and stop by Bartel’s Harley-Davidson® for all your motorcycle needs. We’re located in Marina Del Rey, California, and we proudly serve the areas of Malibu and Santa Monica, California.

Clothing

Having the right clothing is crucial for successful cold weather trips on a motorcycle. A full body riding suit is a great option because it will protect your whole body without any gaps in coverage. It’s important to invest in a waterproof riding suit if you’re going to be riding in cold weather regularly because even a little bit of precipitation in combination with the driving wind will cool you down at a rapid pace.

Under your riding suit, make sure you wear plenty of layers. This will give you more flexibility with controlling your body temperature. It’s helpful to have a sweat-wicking base layer to keep you dry and comfortable. In addition to your riding clothes, make sure to pick up some insulated and waterproof gloves. You’ll need a pair that has enough insulation to keep your hands warm during the coldest rides, but you also don’t want them to be so bulky that they make it difficult to use your bike’s controls.

Deflection

During normal summer riding, having a windshield isn’t necessary and some riders prefer the open feeling of riding without one. In cold weather, however, it’s much more important. Keeping the wind off your body will keep you much warmer. If there’s any rain or precipitation, a windshield will keep you much drier, too.

A windshield isn’t the only tool for deflecting air. Front fairings are helpful for extending the protected area to your whole torso. Mid-frame air deflectors will help to keep wind off your legs and will also protect you from the burn of the engine.

Heaters

Heaters can help to make even mediocre riding gear much more comfortable during cold rides. An electric heater vest is a great tool for keeping your core temperature up. When your core is warmer, it will pump warmer blood out to your arms and legs, keeping them warmer, too. Boot heaters will keep your toes much warmer, and glove warmers can be extremely helpful, too. These come in electric and chemical models. The chemical models are cheaper and disposable.

Riding on Snow and Ice

When riding on snow and ice, there’s significantly less friction, which is another way of saying you won’t have nearly as much traction. The most important thing to know is that you need much more time to accelerate, brake, turn, or do anything, really. It’s important to increase your follow distance and allow much more room between your own bike and the vehicle in front of you. It’s helpful to wear some high visibility gear because it’s more important than ever that other vehicles can see you.

Hydrate & Stay Fed

On top of all the gear you wear and the changes you make to your riding, it’s important to keep your body in top form. Make sure to eat well before riding in cold weather because having plenty of food will keep your metabolism running and your body temperature up. Hydration is also important because riding can be a physically demanding activity, which means you’ll get dehydrated faster.

Riding in the cold can be rewarding if you wear the right gear and ride carefully. Hopefully this short guide gave you some good tips for how to do that. For all your riding needs, stop by Bartel’s Harley-Davidson® in Marina Del Rey, California. We’re located near Malibu and Santa Monica and we can help you find everything you need for safe and comfortable riding!