We waited all year for it and it finally arrived…but as soon as it arrived, it wasn’t long before it was packed and ready to go away again. You know what we’re talking about: the Summer. For most parts of the US, the summer was a fairly standard affair, although some areas had a lot of sunshine while others had their usual bouts of summer rain. Whatever yours was like, there is no doubt in our minds that you did your best to enjoy the weather on two wheels as often as possible.

Now, we’re not saying that it’s completely over yet though; there are still some parts of the US that like to hang on to some of that late summer sunshine and sure, you’ll find the occasional pocket of resistance here and there over the next few weeks but let’s face it (to coin the phrase of the Starks) winter IS coming.

Summer may have been fleeting but as soon as you’re waking up to frost in the morning you’ll be missing those lackluster rays from the previous few months. As a motorcyclist, the cold can be a particularly annoying thing to deal with but when you couple it with the usual Fall rain, it can really get under your skin.

Obviously, the best way to stop the weather from annoying you is to stay out of it altogether; if you’ve got a car, get in it; if you’re near a bus station, ride it. If you’re going to tackle the weather on two wheels then there are a few obvious things you’ll need: a decent waterproof jacket and trouser, that are either part of your usual gear or can go over the top; a helmet with a visor, so you can see where you’re going and finally: a realization that riding at speed in the cold and wet is…cold and wet!

If you really have no alternative to your motorbike, these tips may come in useful to you: if you arm yourself with the right gear, you’ll be able to avoid as much of the misery as possible:

Keeping Your Neck Warm

If you don’t already own one, get one. Neck tubes are a great way to stop the cold from getting in; if you think about it, the most exposed part of your body whilst riding is your neck and if you can insulate it nicely, you can keep the majority of the cold out. Fortunately, there are loads of different tubes to choose from and thousands of motorcycling apparel brands have spent a lot of time and effort designing different styles for any type of weather. Tubes can be made out of fleece, neoprene and a whole host of other synthetic fibres too; you can safely leave that rebellious bandana that you wore all summer at home and slip in to something more comfortable.

Using Thermals

A good set of thermals can work miracles when you’re out in the cold. If you don’t have any, go and get some. Thermals provide you with that nice extra layer of warmth and stop your body from losing a lot of it’s heat. You can spend a lot of money on thermal underwear but you’ll quickly find out that you’re probably just paying for the name on the label. A thick pair from the supermarket is usually as good as any ‘proper’ set, so don’t go wasting your cash unnecessarily; if they’re not warm enough just buy two and wear ‘em both together. If you want to save yourself even more money, just root around your nearest knicker draw and stick on a pair of leggings – that’s not even a joke; not only is it liberating, it’s also a good way to stay warm if you’ve exhausted every other option.

Learning How to Layer

You can have the gear in the world but if there are any gaps in the proverbial fence, your effort will have been for naught. This might sound silly but layering is the real secret to staying warm. Right, when you’re getting dressed for a ride, you’ll want to stick your regular underwear on, followed by your thermals; tuck the thermal vest into your pants. Then, stick your next layer (usually a long sleeved tee shirt) into the thermal trousers. Similarly, layer the next layer of clothing into the previous one and you should be golden. Try it, it’s worth the effort!

Also, when you get to your outer layer – this should be your leathers or your armored jacket and trousers – zip them together. If your riding suit doesn’t zip together, think about investing in zipped gear when you’re next in need of an upgrade. Turning a two piece into a one piece is a great way to stay warm and dry and… if you ever fancy a quick blat around a track, a two piece suit with a single zip is a requirement – of course, if you’ve got a one-piece racing suit wear that on the track…and in the cold too!

Learn To Layer

You can have the gear in the world but if there are any gaps in the proverbial fence, your effort will have been for naught. This might sound silly but layering is the real secret to staying warm. Right, when you’re getting dressed for a ride, you’ll want to stick your regular underwear on, followed by your thermals; tuck the thermal vest into your pants. Then, stick your next layer (usually a long sleeved tee shirt) into the thermal trousers. Similarly, layer the next layer of clothing into the previous one and you should be golden. Try it, it’s worth the effort!

Also, when you get to your outer layer – this should be your leathers or your armored jacket and trousers – zip them together. If your riding suit doesn’t zip together, think about investing in zipped gear when you’re next in need of an upgrade. Turning a two piece into a one piece is a great way to stay warm and dry and… if you ever fancy a quick blat around a track, a two piece suit with a single zip is a requirement – of course, if you’ve got a one-piece racing suit wear that on the track…and in the cold too!

Hot Stuff

…and by hot stuff, we mean things that have a heating element. The majority of motorcycles are fitted with heated grips and seats these days so you should definitely make the most of that technology but we’re talking about other gadgets that can help make your life a little bit easier. Of course, whether these things are useful to you depends on how much riding you’re going to do over the winter and for how long each ride is.
The quality of heated vests is going up and up, while the prices are coming down and down; if you think you’re going to be putting some serious miles on the clock this season, then it’s probably worth investing in one. These waistcoat style vests are designed to be worn under your regular jacket and they’re fitted with an electrical heating element that keeps you warm while you’re riding. These awesome vests are battery operated, which means that you can stay warm even on your journey to the petrol station kiosk and they have a pretty decent battery life too. Well worth the investment if you’re going to be fighting wind for anything longer than forty five minutes.

The poor man’s alternative is to buy a few of those ‘chemical reaction’, hand-warmer, squidgy things – the ones that get hard when you push a button…You know, the things that you can only buy from ‘through-the-door’ catalogues or that odd high street shop with the foreign name that sells obscure gadgets and coffee at the same time. All jokes aside, they’re pretty warm and a few of those in the pockets can help keep the chills at bay.

A Few Bonus Tips…?

The advice written above will certainly prove useful to you, especially if you’re new to motorcycling or if you haven’t tried to battle the winter weather yet but there are a few other tips that we’ll mention here too; two of them are tried and tested, the first is probably ill-advised, the second is only for a last resort.
Firstly, if your engine isn’t covered by a fairing, resting your feet near the engine block can help put some warmth back into your ankles but at the expense of your braking and gear shifting ability. You’ll often find that the engine gets too toasty for your boots too. This one, sadly, is ill-advised; the third, however is one of those ale tap rumours that seems logical on the surface but just seems ‘dumb’…albeit commendable.

Secondly, when you’re riding and the heavens open, your teeth also chattering away and your overall morale is at an all-time low, a hearty chorus of ‘Jerusalem’ by William Blake and Sir Hubert Parry is just the ticket. It’s there to mind remind you that yes, you may be cold, you may be wet and you’re foolishly riding around exposed on two-wheels but you’re cold and wet and exposed in God’s country. If that doesn’t get you from A to B, then nothing will.

Thirdly, you HAVE to ride but you’ve been caught without your waterproofs or anything that provides as much as a drop of rain protection…Head to the nearest petrol station, invest in some oil and give your jeans a bath. Obviously, those jeans will turn into some kind of waxed-cotton-esque wonder trousers. Some say it works. Some say it’s nonsense. Surely someone will be brave enough to try it out? Anyone?

Credit: Joe Appleton at mc-ams.co.uk

For more information about customizing your bikes, motorcycles, tons of the best OEM brands, personal watercrafts, atvs, parts, accessories, or maintenance tips please see our sponsor at: PartsPitStop.com .

#partspitstop #ATV #gear #thermalunderwear #outdoorlife #seasonalmaintenance #driveeverywhere #DIY  #oemparts #aftermarketparts #oemaccessories #aftermarketaccessories