How to stay warm on your winter drive
Driving your motorcycle in the winter can be an amazing experience. If you live somewhere where winters are cold and snowy, you are able to enjoy an impressive winter sunrise and beautiful winter wonderland as you cruise through the white fields and mountains. How to stay warm on your bike during winter is something that you have to think about before you leave. Luckily, there are plenty of accessories and gear that can help ensure that you don’t feel wet and cold on your drive. Keep reading to find out more.
Keep your hands warm and protected
Driving without gloves in the winter is certainly not advisable. Cold hands can make your entire body feel cold and in bad cases this can even cause hypothermia. Protecting your hands is the first step you need to take. If you only have leather gloves, it’s time to go and buy a good pair of winter gloves, such as the winter motor gloves by ChromeBurner.com.
Leather is not very warm and cannot be waterproof. This is because the protective layer of grease will wash away after being exposed to precipitation. Leather will soak up water and become cold and heavy. Instead, choose textile winter gloves.
Textile gloves consist of multiple layers, including a thermal layer and a waterproof membrane. Textile is not as protective as leather, but is enforced with thick Kevlar patches, making them perfectly safe to use. There are even textile mid-season gloves that can be used all year long.
In colder weather conditions (40 degrees F or below) and for long rides, heated gloves can be quite beneficial. These gloves are connected to a separate battery or to your motorcycle battery. It’s also possible to install heated grips instead of using heated gloves.
Wear the right clothing
When picking the right motorcycle clothing, layering is key. If you drive in the cold winter, it’s best to start with a thermal base layer. This can be long thermal underwear and is designed to keep you warm and to absorb sweat. The base layer should not be made of cotton, since this kind of fabric soaks up water and can make your body cold.
Your second layer of clothing should be extra warm and provide extra insulation. You could choose to wear a warm sweater made of warm materials such as fleece, Primaloft, or Thinsulate. Keep in mind that some motor jackets already have an extra, removable layer that can function as a mid layer.
Wearing an extra layer with this kind of jacket is not necessary. Instead of a sweater, you can also opt for a wind stopper jacket. This is most useful if you’re planning on wearing a jacket that is not windproof, such as most leather jackets. For even more comfort and warmth, you could choose a heated mid layer jacket, which works just like heated gloves on a battery.
Pick a waterproof and windproof motorcycle suit
The third layer of clothing that you pick should be windproof and waterproof a motorcycle suit. In the winter, it’s best to choose a textile jacket. Textile jackets can easily be made windproof and waterproof by means of a Gore-Tex membrane. Besides, they’re easier to clean than leather suits. Leather jackets are usually not windproof and waterproof. Do make sure that your jacket has proper ventilation, as cold sweat is very uncomfortable.
Finally, you should complement your jacket with a neck warmer. A jacket usually does not cover your neck between the jacket and the helmet. A neck warmer can help to keep your neck warm, but also to protect you from small stones and insects.
