As cold weather starts to roll in this season, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to do with your motorcycle this winter. For some, winter means buying fuel stabilizer, dusting off the trickle charger, and gently snuggling their motorcycle into a warm corner of the garage. For the rest of us, winter means no change to our motorcycle riding habits except the addition of quite a bit of extra clothing!

Riding motorcycles in the winter can be really enjoyable. To make winter riding enjoyable, you must be comfortable, and comfortable in the winter means warm and dry.

Staying Warm

Riding a motorcycle in cold weather comes down to one simple concept: insulation.

Since most people aren’t very active on a motorcycle, their body isn’t doing much to produce heat on its own to counteract the cold. That means we have to do everything we can to insulate the body in order to keep what precious heat that we do produce actually on our body, and not floating off in the cold winter air.

Insulation boils down to two things: layers (to slow the rate at which our body loses heat), and wind proofing (to keep the wind from stealing our heat).

Layers

Let’s talk about layers first. Layers are critical for riding a motorcycle in the cold weather of winter. The number of layers you’ll need to wear is based both on personal preference (some people naturally run a little hotter than others) and the temperature outside. I’ve worn up to four layers in really cold weather. The key is to have enough layers on that you feel comfortable (maybe even slightly warm) when you step outside and just stand in place (before you ride your motorcycle).

Remember two things

• Your bottom layer should always be some type of snug fitting thermal or fleece underwear. This will create a warm layer of air between your body and this material. (Don’t worry about buying the expensive wicking materials like Dri-Fit, etc. – you won’t be sweating much so it won’t do you much good)
• Don’t wear so many layers that you lose mobility. If you can’t hold your arms at your side because of all your clothing, than it’s probably time to invest in either some warmer, or even heated, clothing.

Wind Proofing

Now, let’s talk about wind proofing. The biggest issue that you will have when riding a motorcycle in the winter is keeping the wind out. Wind, specifically wind chill, is your worst enemy on a motorcycle in cold weather. Doing everything you can to stop this enemy is going to go a long way to helping you ride your motorcycle comfortably in the cold.

Wind-proofing also takes the most trial and error to perfect. It can take quite a while before you finally plug all of those air leaks!

The main thing to do for wind-proofing is to make sure your outer layer is some type of wind-proof material. Leather is by far the most popular choice for this. Ideally, you should look for something that is both wind-proof and water-proof. There are many man-made materials that meet the criteria.

(I personally prefer leather and if I do run into weather, I just throw my rainsuit on for protection and a little added warmth!)

Here are a few additional thoughts on wind-proofing:

• Add a windshield to your motorcycle to block the wind.
• While not stylish, duck tape can do wonders to seal any leaks you might have.
• Wear a full face motorcycle helmet with some type of covering for your neck and head. Most of your heat is lost through your head so do your best to keep it warm!
• Put newspaper on your chest between your outer layer and the layer underneath it – this does wonders for blocking the wind.

Hands and Feet

I’ve found that I can insulate my body and legs adequately, but when the temperature really drops, I have the most problems with my hands and feet. Many people have a similar problem. The reason is that as you get cold your body focuses circulation on your internal organs to keep them warm, while your feet and hands get the shaft.

The only way that I’ve found to keep my hands and feet comfortable in really cold weather is to 1) add additional heat sources, and 2) invest in quality boots and gloves

For additional heat sources I use those air-activated hand and feet warmers that you can find in the hunting section of any Wal-Mart. Crack open a couple of these, stuff them into your boots and gloves, and your hands and feet will be toasty for 5+ hours.

Boots

The key things you want to look for in boots are:

• Fit (you don’t want them to be tight because this will reduce circulation and make your feet colder)
• Water-Proof. Don’t even consider them if they aren’t.
• Above the ankle. This really helps with wind proofing.
• Comfortable to walk around in. I’ve had motorcycle boots that made me walk like a robot from Starwars. This is not what you want!
• Insulation is a nice to have, but not a must; you can get most of your insulation from putting extra socks on.

Gloves

I’ve tried quite a few gloves and have found very few that really do the trick. Gloves can really be a trial and error process for motorcycle riding so make sure that you’ve found the right pair before embarking on your next long cold weather ride.

In looking for gloves:

• Make sure that they are long enough that they completely cover the wrist (remember: wind-proof, wind-proof, wind-proof!)
• Find a pair with a hook and loop closure system at the wrist that allows you to tighten the gloves.
• Good fit – if the glove feels tight at all, get the next size up. We don’t want anything to impede circulation!
• Good insulation – you want the high-efficiency stuff like 3M Thinsulate, not just a bunch of fluff.
• Good insulation placement – most gloves only put insulation on the top. You want a pair with a little bit in the palm and other parts of the hand as well.
• Pre-curved fingers – motorcycle gloves can wear you out if you’re trying to squeeze that throttle all day. Pre-curved fingers alleviate this. If at all possible, try to squeeze a throttle before purchasing. Make sure the gloves don’t get tight or bunch up – you’ll really notice it after 30 minutes of riding.

Safety

Finally, after you’ve got all your gear sorted out there are a couple of things you’ll want to be aware of in terms of safety before getting out there in the cold: Frostbite and Hypothermia.

Exposed skin is always at risk for frostbite, so make sure you don’t have any exposed skin! If you feel like your skin is being pricked by needles, frostbite is on its way and you need to do something immediately. If your skin starts to turn white or waxy and feels numb and hard you need to get immediate medical attention.

Hypothermia is a separate concern. Hypothermia is where your core body temperature drops below the minimum temperature required for your body to operate. Hypothermia causes mild confusion, sluggish behavior, poor muscle coordination, and incoherent behavior

If you start feeling cold and can’t decide if you should pull over, you are facing an early stage of hypothermia. Pull over immediately and get a hot coffee!

If you start shivering uncontrollably, feel sluggish, or even drunk, then you’re in serious trouble. Hypothermia is already underway and you need to stop immediately to warm up.

That’s All Folks

Lastly, if you are going to be riding for long periods of time in cold weather or ride in REALLY cold weather, then you need to invest in heated clothing. In these situations, the body needs an alternative source of heat to keep itself warm – and heated clothing is the only way to go.

Riding in the cold weather is a relatively easy task. It’s all just a matter of insulation. With a little trial and error you’ll be out there on your motorcycle getting those looks of “he/she must be crazy” too!

LET’S RIDE      (extracted from an article published on Open Road Journey, 2007)

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