2Wheeltips

Riding on days when it's cold in the morning and cool during the days can be a little uncomfortable if you are not properly dressed.

Most riders park their bikes when the temperature dips into the 50's but you can continue to ride without  spending hundreds of dollars for a bulky winter riding suit.

An easy and inexpensive way to keep warm is to buy silk liners. You can get silk socks, pants, shirts, gloves and caps that you can wear under your regular clothing. They are super thin and will trap enough heat to keep you warm on those chilly afternoon rides.

For colder days you may want to go with thermal liners. They do tend to be a bit more bulky but are much cheaper than a full blown riding suit.

You don't have to go out and buy liners from an expensive motorcycle store or catalog. They are available in your local department store and online and work just as well.

Once the temperature gets close to the 40's you will need to get a winter riding suit and perhaps heated grips. Not many people ride when the temperature gets down in the 30's, but if you plan on doing year round riding, a heated suit is a must.

Like people who belong to the Polar Bear Club that swims in the ocean during cold winter months, there are bikers who join their local “Polar Bear” riding club and ride their bikes year round.

First of all, you need to understand that the temperature does not have to be terribly cold for the riding conditions to be uncomfortably cold.  Remember, there is always a wind chill factor when riding a motorcycle.  So, if it is 50 degrees out and you might enjoy a brisk walk in the park, you might find a ride on your motorcycle to be very chilling and uncomfortable.

Secondly, you need to realize is that this is not something that is done without special gear and a body that can handle the extra stress.

Finally, and perhaps, most importantly, you need to realize that riding in the cold may NEVER be for you!  You have to be honest with yourself...if you are not comfortable in cold weather, then riding in colder months can be dangerous.  It uses much more energy for your body to keep warm in colder weather; you are burning far more calories than if you were riding in warm weather.  As a result, you will get tired more quickly and you will need to stop more frequently to allow yourself to rest and warm up.  Also, as your body gets chilled, your reflexes slow down.  If your reflexes are slowed down while you are riding, this can prevent you from responding as quickly as needed in many situations.  To counter this, some people who ride in cold weather will wear electrically warmed riding suits.  These are suits that have electrical heating wires throughout them (kind of like an electric blanket!).  The gloves plug into the jacket which plugs into the pants which, in some cases, plug into the socks...and all are plugged into an outlet on your bike and your bike battery provides the power to produce the heat.  There are also some heated suits that run on batteries and do not need to be wired to your bike.  Some year round riders also put heated grips on their bikes.  Heated grips help keep your hands warm when riding.

For some people who don’t necessarily ride in the coldest of months, heated grips and several layers of clothing under their regular riding gear may be enough to allow them to enjoy riding on some cooler fall and early spring days.  Just remember, though, this is a personal preference!  And no one can make the decision about cold weather riding for you!  Remember that gear for cold weather is only one aspect of riding; you also have to account for the road conditions in cold weather.  What might have just been a damp road surface during warm months can, during colder months, be black ice....and handling slippery road conditions on a bike is not a skill that new riders have.  So, before deciding to head out on your bike in colder weather, consider all aspects of what you are going to encounter.

What should you carry with you while riding?  Bikes come with a basic tool kit, but there are other things that you should carry with you:

Your M.O.M.!
You should always have your Motorcycle Owner’s Manual with you.  It is a valuable source of information and you never know when you will need it.

A tire repair kit
If you have tubeless tires, you may be able to plug them if you have a flat. Basic tire repair kits that work with automobile tires can be used for motorcycle tires and will most likely save you a lot of money.  Also, if you need to ride at highway speeds, avoid using spray tire sealer/inflator as they will cause the bike to vibrate violently.

A kickstand 'puck"
Carry a kickstand puck with you just in case you have to park on a surface that is not solid (or on a hot day when the parking surface might be soft).   At motorcycle shows, you can get these for free from vendors.  If you need one and don't have one, you can "create" one by smashing an aluminum can into a flat surface.

Ear plugs
Carry several pairs of disposable ear plugs with you at all times.  Remember that disposable ear plugs are disposable and are not intended to be used over and over again...always carry several pairs!  Consider disposables as a much less expensive alternative to custom-moulded earplugs.  They have been tested and rated for noise-reduction and you can purchase ones with the noise reduction rating that works best for you!

A flashlight
Small and powerful flashlights are invaluable tools and should be carried by every biker during every trip.  Always check your flashlight batteries to ensure that they are still good!  2Wheeltip:  look for great flashlights that are often given away at motorcycle shows as promotionals.

Water or a sport drink
You can become dehydrated quickly while riding.  Make sure that you bring either water or a sport drink to consume when you stop.

A soft cloth and cleanser
Your visor and windshield can get dirty quickly from road dirt and bugs.  Always keep a soft cloth and some cleanser with you so you can clean up at your next stop.  You can  purchase prepackaged, damp towelettes to remove road debris from your helmet and bike.  However, these tend to leave a residue so do not use them for cleaning your visor. Clean your visor with a microfiber cloth and some inexpensive multi-purpose cleansers that are sold for cleaning computer screens.

Aspirin/pain killer
You may be riding one day and develop a headache or some other pain.  The last thing you want to do is ride while you are distracted by pain!  Take a painkiller that will not make you drowsy, let it take effect, and then get back on your bike and continue your ride.

Allergy or other medication
Always carry with you any medications you may need while traveling.

Your cell phone
We cannot stress enough how important it is to always have your cell phone with you!  Also there are a variety of Bluetooth headsets now available for motorcycle helmets.  If you have a cell phone with Bluetooth capabilities, you might want to consider this type of headset.

Why should you have motorcycle insurance?  First of all, it is the law in all states.  Minimum coverage requirements vary by state so check with your local DMV.  You should have enough insurance to cover damage to people or property in the event of an accident.

Law enforcement is well aware that many riders are neither licensed nor insured. Police officers routinely set up rider checkpoints to catch unlicensed, uninsured riders. This happens more than you think, especially during motorcycle events and on popular motorcycle routes. Needless to say, if you are caught riding without insurance you could have your bike seized and impounded and pay a very heavy fine. If you are in an accident, you could also be forced to pay damages out of your own pocket.

Need we say more?  Perhaps a few reminders:

1. If you take the motorcycle safety course, you can usually get a discount on your insurance.
2. If you buy a non-racing bike, you can significantly reduce the amount that insurance will cost.
3. Get insurance bids from various companies; you may be surprised at the variations in rates!
4. In colder states with short riding seasons, 6 month insurance policies are available.

The bottom line is:
Save money where you can, without putting yourself at financial risk in the even of an accident, but NEVER ride without insurance!