The arrival of winter does not need to mean the end of motorcycle riding season. With a little preparation, you can enjoy cruising around town on your bike despite the cold weather. We’ve gathered up tips for enjoying safe and comfortable cold weather riding below. If you want more strategies or want to explore motorcycles for sale, visit CalMoto in either of our locations in Mountain View and Livermore, California. We also proudly serve those in San Francisco and San Jose, California.

1. Wear the Right Attire

The cold weather does more than make you uncomfortable. It can impair your ability to safely ride your motorcycle. The bitter temperatures can hurt your focus and your dexterity, which can affect your ability to quickly react or to easily handle the controls. All you need is the right clothing to ensure you stay warm enough, and safe, on your ride.

The best bet is to layer your clothing. Layers will keep you warmer than one large coat. Plus, you will be able to remove layers if the temperatures warm up. Use thermal underwear for the first layer since it will give great insulation when wet. Add a layer of warmer material, such as wool or fleece, to help trap extra heat. Then add riding jackets and pants. If you usually ride with leather, you may want to get something more breathable.

You will also want the right accessories. Use a full face helmet with anti-fogging features paired with a neck guard. Wear water-resistant gloves that go up to your arms and seal with your jacket, which will guard against water intrusion. Finally, get waterproof motorcycle boots.

2. Inspect Your Motorcycle Tires

Plummeting temperatures can alter your motorcycle tires’ air pressure. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, you usually will see a loss of one to two pounds of air pressure. Before you go riding on a cold day, be sure to measure the air pressure. If you plan on riding in the cold often, consider investing in motorcycle tires that are created for cold temperatures.

3. Keep Yourself Sharp

When you ride your motorcycle in cold temperatures, you will get fatigued faster. Your body needs to work overtime in order to keep you warm and stay focused. Make sure you eat enough food before your ride (food is fuel after all). Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. You will also want to consider taking more breaks than normal to prevent cold weather fatigue.

4. Stay Alert for Obstacles

The cold weather can result in compromised road conditions. Snow or ice will make it harder for your motorcycle to maintain traction. Watch out for higher risk areas such as tunnels, bridges, valleys, and shaded areas. Snow-clearing hazards, such as salt and gravel, can also reduce your motorcycle’s ability to maintain traction. Treat these the same as you would ice.

You will also want to be aware of other motorists. Not everyone adjusts their driving habits to accommodate compromised road conditions. You will want to leave plenty of space between you and other motorists. If they suddenly slam on their brakes or start fishtailing, you will have more time to react and avoid an accident.

We hope you found this guide helpful. If your motorcycle needs any parts replaced or a service appointment before you hit the road on your next adventure, bring it into the experts at CalMoto. We can get your motorcycle ready for winter riding in no time.