Cold Weather Motorcycle Riding
You’ve probably spent all summer riding your beloved Harley-Davidson® motorcycle through twists and turns, enjoying the warm weather and sunshine. But just because the cold is setting in doesn’t mean you have to quit riding for the year! With some planning and precaution, you can keep riding in cold weather, so you won’t have to give up your exhilarating morning commute or weekend rides.
Chicago Harley-Davidson Wrigleyville is your Windy City motorcycle dealer. We want to make sure all of our customers have a safe time riding their Harley bikes this winter, so we’ve created this quick guide to riding a motorcycle in cold weather to help you out.
Wearing the Proper Gear
First, you’re going to need to outfit yourself correctly for winter weather. Cold temperatures mean you’ll need to layer up, so your standard motorcycle gear may not cut the mustard. Wear thermal underwear and thin wool or polyester layers underneath a padded riding jacket. Heated clothing is another option. Add a thin wool cap or balaclava underneath your helmet.
Speaking of your helmet, you might want to invest in a style that has anti-fogging characteristics or a full-face mask to protect you from precipitation. Water-resistant gloves that go up your wrists will seal out the cold, and waterproof boots will keep your feet warm and dry while ensuring you’ve got plenty of traction at stoplights.
Checking Your Bike Over
You don’t want to go out in any type of weather on a malfunctioning bike, but you’ll need to be even more careful with poor road conditions and lowered visibility. Check your tire pressure to ensure that you’re riding on evenly-pressured tires in good condition. Make sure that your fuel tank is full and oil is clean. Test lights and signals to make sure they work, and take a ride around the block to test your brakes.
Taking Care of Yourself
Your health is really important, especially when you’re riding out in the cold. Bring a thermos of water or tea to stay hydrated and some high-calorie snacks to keep your energy up, since you’ll burn more calories trying to stay warm. Take more frequent breaks, indoors if possible, so you can warm up. If you start to feel numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes, immediately stop riding and get indoors as soon as possible.
Riding With Caution
The roads here in Illinois are liable to get pretty dicey in the winter, thanks to all the ice, snow, slush we get. You’ll need to use extra caution when riding on them. It’s smart to check the forecast to see whether it’s safe to ride at all. If temperatures are dipping into the teens and single digits, or if there are high winds or white-out conditions advised, it’s not going to be safe for you to be exposed for very long, so you may want to find another means of transport or stay home.
If the weather isn’t too terrible, then proceed with care. Slippery and wet roads will have poor traction, so you’ll need to slow down well below the posted speed limit and increase your following distance in traffic. Don’t make sudden changes or turns, particularly over icy roads. Salt or gravel on roads may also present a hazard to you as a motorcyclist, so be watchful for these substances and know that they’ll also reduce your traction.
We hope these tips help you to enjoy your winter riding! Searching for Harley-Davidson® motorcycles for sale in Chicago? You’ll want to visit our dealership to see our full selection of new and used motorcycles for sale, including many Harley-Davidson® models. Chicago Harley-Davidson Wrigleyville is conveniently located right across from iconic Wrigley Field, so we’re very easy to find! Just look for signs of the Cubs.