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Winter Bike Riding Tips
As we take to the roads in winter, it's essential for motorcyclists to consider the colder weather conditions.
In the interest of rider comfort and safety during the colder months, let's consider the following:
Your Motorcycle
Whatever make or style of bike you ride on (or off) the road, there are some essentials for maximizing your comfort and safety in the cold:
- Windshield - As clunky and unromantic as they might appear, good windshields do exactly what their name implies. Your summertime "shorty" windshield may help with aerodynamics, but will it protect you when the mercury drops?
- Battery Check - Cold weather will likely ask more of your battery, make sure it is up to the task and keep it charged!
- Correct Oil - 10W / 40 oil for motorcycles is usually sufficient.
- Coolant Levels - Liquid-cooled bikes need to have adequate anti-freeze for the expected temperatures.
- Everything Else - Having a breakdown is never fun, but you'll really come up with some colorful interjections if you're stuck in freezing weather! Make sure your bike is running at best possible performance.
Yourself as a Rider
If you intend to ride during the winter months, whether it's across town or through several states, bear in mind:
- Your Clothing - Think of your body as a motorcycle. Like a bike without an alternator, a rider without proper clothing will lose energy (heat, in the rider's case) quickly. Even when well-dressed for walking in a winter wonderland, riding a motorcycle requires a bit more protection, because:
- You're sitting still on a bike. Since your body is burning very few calories, it will be more susceptible to cold.
- You're subject to wind chill , a perceived temperature drop due to the body's inability to warm the air around it.
Dressing warmly will slow your body's heat loss, but not eliminate it. Like your bike's radiator, your exposed skin releases heat. Every breath you exhale radiates heat only to be replaced by cooler air. Finally, your body experiences cooling due to evaporation of its own humidity through breathing and sweating. Hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature) and frostbite (injury or destruction of skin and tissues due to cold) can occur in temperatures as high as 55 degrees Fahrenheit! If you're going to be riding in extremely cold temperatures and/or for extended periods, it is a good idea to add an "alternator" to replenish your body's heat in the form of electrically heated clothing. Low wattage vests are popular as they provide "just enough" heat to keep comfortable without restricting movement.
- Your Experience - The extra layers provide more protection, but how much winter riding have you done? All those extra clothes will restrict your mobility and full-face helmets make that headcheck a little tougher. Remember, drivers don't expect to see motorcyclists in the cold weather!
Your Ride
Never climb onto your bike without knowing as much as possible about the trip ahead. In winter, the "need to know" is even greater, so remember to check:
- Weather Forecasts - We all laugh about the dubious accuracy of our local TV weatherperson, but it pays to look at forecasts and prepare for the worst.
- Road Conditions - Even if the weather forecast calls for clear (if cold) riding conditions, you'll want to know about construction, high-traffic areas and other potential hazards on your route.