Cold Weather Riding Tips
Many riders choose to pack away their motorcycles at the first sign of freezing temperatures. But with a little preparation and the right gear, you can ride your Harley motorcycle through the cold months, too! Winter riding brings its own unique thrills, with the cold air rushing around you and snowy landscapes providing a scenic backdrop for your rides. Some people may find it necessary to ride their bikes all year round, like motorcycle commuters, and these tips will help them, too.
St. Charles Harley-Davidson®, serving all of St. Louis, has drawn up this list of tips for cold weather riding to make sure your rides stay warm and that you’re safe, whether you’re cruising for fun or commuting to work in the cold.
Gear Yourself Up Properly
First, you’ll want to really gear yourself up to ride in wintry conditions, particularly here in the Midwest, where winters can be long and especially harsh. Your standard riding gear simply won’t cut it. Layering up is a smarter choice than wearing one big, bulky coat that may not fully keep you warm and may even make you sweat, which will only make you colder.
Wear a layer of thermal underwear and thick wool socks, then add more layers on top. A thicker riding suit may be useful as your top layer. You’ll want whatever you wear on the outside to be waterproof in case of snow, rain or sleet. Insulated gloves and thick boots with good tread will make up the rest of your ensemble.
A balaclava or thin cap can be worn under your helmet along with a neck guard to reduce heat loss through your head, too.
Inspect Tires
The tire pressure can change with outside temperatures by as much as 2 lbs of pressure for every 10° drop in temperature. Make sure that your tires are aired up properly before you leave, using a standard tire pressure gauge. Air them up according to your manufacturer’s recommendations. Also check for bald patches, uneven tread wear and embedded objects. You don’t want to ride on bad tires. You may even need tires specifically designed for winter riding. Talk to us here at St. Charles Harley-Davidson® about your options!
Take Care Of Yourself
Your own health is important to ensuring a safe ride. If you are tired, dehydrated or hungover, you won’t have sufficient focus to stay safe in adverse or even normal riding conditions. Drink plenty of water, get lots of rest, take frequent breaks indoors to get warm and load up on calories because your body will burn more of them to stay warm. If you feel numbness in any of your extremities, stop riding and get indoors immediately. Likewise, if your skin starts to hurt from the cold, you’ll probably want to cut your ride short.
Check Road & Weather Conditions
It’s wise to check the weather and road conditions for the route you plan to take in advance of leaving your house. Sometimes, you may simply not be able to ride, which is important to know before you go!
Temperatures near freezing may be tolerable enough if you’re wearing sufficient layers, but remember that wind chill factors can make low temperatures intolerably cold and unsafe, causing frostbite in mere minutes. If that’s the case, stay in or find a safer form of transport.
By the same logic, you don’t want to ride during very bad weather. High winds, snowstorms, hail or sleet will all reduce road traction and impede your vision. A light dusting of snow is no problem provided you’re vigilant, but a white-out blizzard is impossible for car drivers to handle, let alone a motorcyclist!
Road work and ice will both impede your journey as well, so make sure to check traffic conditions. If any construction is going on, this will further reduce where you can ride. Knowing what the roads are like in advance will help you to deal with them.
For example, if you do find yourself riding over ice you didn’t see, maintain your speed and don’t turn your handlebars, as you may simply be able to coast over it. Twisting and turning will only make you more prone to slide out, wrecking your Harley bike and injuring you in the process. Staying safe means being more vigilant and cautious.
Ready to ride your Harley bike in the snow? If you still don’t have the motorcycle of your dreams, visit our St. Charles dealership to see our wide selection of new and used motorcycles by Harley-Davidson®. St. Charles Harley-Davidson® welcomes our customers coming from all across the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, including the cities of St. Peters and O'Fallon, MO.