Safety Motorcycle Riding in Cold Weather

Winter has arrived.  The snow on the ground and the chill in the air tells us if we are going to ride, we need to do some things to make our ride as enjoyable, warm and safe as possible.  I feel almost guilty writing this article as I am away in a warm climate after a successful year at the shop.  I figured if I didn't get away when things slowed down I was going to burn out.  Work still calls though, so I put together the following and I hope it is helpful for you.
I am going to expand on some  topics which were touched upon in one of my previous newsletters. I try my best to educate my customers on "protection" if they don't already have a firm understanding of proper gear fundamentals.

Nothing is worse than being cold on a ride. We all agree on that I am sure. The following shouldn't have to be said, but I will anyway.  Don't road ride in snow or if there is the chance of ice on the road. Riding off road in these conditions is sometimes fun, and alot of people do it.  On the street however, nothing can put you on the ground faster than hitting an ice patch when you least expect it.

When we ride, we don't move around all that much. This, and the cold wind hitting us constantly makes our core temperature drop and it is easy to get cold very quickly. Dressing in cold weather motorcycle gear will help you stay warmer and keep the blood flowing. Keeping your head warm will help keep the rest of your body  warmer, so don't underestimate the importance of keeping  your head well heated. 
To prevent becoming uncomfortably cold, you need cold weather riding gear  You need materials that are windproof , waterproof, and are light enough to allow layering underneath.
Jackets and Pants :  Let's start from the body and work towards the outside. Long johns, or thermal underwear are hugely important. They keep you warm underneath all the other extra layering.  Because long johns are not overly bulky, they work wonders for body warmth and movement on the bike.  Remember to wear them!   A long sleeved cotton shirt is next .  These work wonders as a protective cold weather layer over the long johns.  From here we move onto a fleece or well insulated sweatshirt or hoody. Remember...... nothing  too bulky!   These  pieces are fantastic and can be found almost everywhere. They are indispensable for keeping the cold out.  Finally, a well insulated textile jacket with a quilted polyester liner will finish off your wind and cold protection.  If the liner is removable , all the better, as this makes the jacket more versatile when the weather warms up and the liner is zipped out. The point here are these three words' layer, layer, layer.
The same principles we just covered for jackets applies to pants.  Make sure the pant has a quilted warm liner which, again, can be removed if you want to use these pants for summer riding. The textile clothing should be made of Cordura which is a ballistic nylon, and should be of a thickness not lower than 600 D to ensure proper abrasion protection.  The zippers on both pants and jackets should be rubber sealed for waterproofing, and the pants should have both a vertical zipper and a Velcro tightening strap at the cuff for proper closure over your riding boot.
Gloves : 
  We've all been there. Fingers freezing, unable to hang onto the handle bars, wincing in agony while desperately looking for the next rest stop to run inside and soak your hands under warm flowing water. Not the ideal riding scenario. To avoid this, look for wind proof and insulated gloves that have a gauntlet to cover the sleeves of your jacket. Leather offers excellent protection if you go down but is not very waterproof if you get caught in the rain.  With that said, there are some great waterproofing products on the market these days for leather which will repel moisture very well, so you may want to experiment with some of these.  One of the best which comes to my mind is a protectant called "Ok Oil".
Textiles with Gore-Tex and Thinsulate insulation provide both warmth and waterproofing. Many of the newer gloves have Kevlar knuckle and finger protection on them to ensure safety if your hands need to touch the asphalt in an unfortunate situation. Many of these gloves come equipped with leather on the palms for added protection.  Leather motorcycle gloves are almost a necessity if it is not raining. I would stay away from big bulky winter "fashion" type gloves and get a good pair of gloves designed for motorcycling. They should have a good lining preferably of Thinsulate for insulation and should be light weight.  A long gauntlet helps for keeping out the wind.
Many people neglect the fact that keeping your neck warm is very important.  One ride on a cold day without neck protection will forever teach you this. There are many simple ways to keep your neck warm. Scarves, dickies,  cotton neck tubes and masks work very well for keeping your neck warm.  Always look for a good fall / winter jacket with a tall collar that covers the whole neck area.  Often, with a quality jacket, this provides enough warmth on its own without having to use the additional neck warmers. Again, look for materials that are windproof and waterproof and that provide insulation.
Leather jackets :  
They're classic, they smell good and make you feel protected. However, without the added protection of a liner to trap the dead air and inhibit the escape of heat they can be quite cold.  Layering works excellent here, as discussed above, because each layer of clothing will trap dead air between them. I personally have found that a very thin windbreaker as a final layer, worn right under a leather jacket works great at keeping the cold air out and the warm air in.  Try one as a final layer !  They can be picked up at the Salvation Army or similar stores for less than ten bucks.
The windproof quality of leather makes it an ideal outer layer for cold rides. You can use the same leather motorcycle apparel you use in midsummer. Leather chaps or pants are also ideal on cool rides. Just remember to insert a thermal liner or additional layers underneath to keep you comfortable. Also,be aware that riding on the back of the bike will be much colder than the front. On the back you are exposed to the wind and don't have the warmth of the engine underneath you.
Heated clothing is the best thing to have hit the market for cold weather riding.The gear is powered and warmed by the battery on your bike, hooking into your bikes electrical system. You can get heated jackets, pants, gloves and even socks for riding. Layering isn't as important if you are all plugged in and have electric warmth circulating around your body.
Boots :
If you are looking for good quality touring motorcycle boots, then you will want to make sure the boots are sealed well.  Most boots are zip ups with a flap under the zipper to prevent any moisture from entering the boot. These boots have an additional leather piece which goes over the zipper and waterproof flap and is usually made with a Velcro closure. They come up high over the ankle to provide support and safety. Check for a good comfortable lining inside and a relatively snug fit. The leather will stretch to the shape of your foot over time.  There should be no seams that may hurt your feet and the boot should not be overly loose. Some will come with reflective material on the outside, which is always a bonus. You want to make sure the boot is resistant to oil, is of course waterproof,  and has a non slip sole .  In the end, a good sturdy motorcycle boot that's waterproof and supports your foot and ankle well is all you need. If you want to get into the high end fancy boots make sure you look them over well for excellent construction.
It's important to cover the topic of womens boots here as well.  Women need to make sure they buy motorcycle boots specifically designed for a woman's feet,  with the features  described above. Wearing men's boots will fit wrong in most cases and make things very uncomfortable. With the number of women riding today, there is a wide variety of boots for women on the market and you should have no trouble getting something that fits and looks good. Passengers on bikes, be it men or women, should follow the same rules here. Don't fool yourself into thinking that because you are only the passenger you don't need proper protective foot wear.  Tearing up your exposed feet on hard asphalt is not an option.


I truly hope this helps those who read it with their cold weather riding gear decisions.  Please feel free to comment with whatever is on your mind.