Winter motorcycle gear and heated motorcycle clothes are two ways to extend the riding season. Any rider contemplating motorcycling all winter should first have a strong understanding of the issues facing him in the cold. The next step is to wrap up warmly and maybe install heated motorcycle gear.

When cold temperatures are experienced, the body reacts by increasing its own internal heat production. This can generate some serious sweating. While riding a motorcycle, this can cause a loss of body fluid resulting in dehydration and impaired judgment. In addition, cooling of the skin due to wind and evaporation is greatly reduced. Other significant changes in riding conditions include loss of feeling in the fingers and toes, diminished depth perception and an inability to visually discern small obstacles such as broken pavement or an un-level driveway which could cause a fall or crash.

To avoid these problems, it is best to dress for winter riding in layers that provide insulation while allowing free circulation of air around the body.

Covering the Extremities Goes a Long Way Towards Making a Winter Motorcyclist Comfortable

The places where a motorcyclist is likely to feel coldest are her feet, her hands, and her head. These are good places to start when buying winter motorcycle gear. Many riders like to have a pair of thick, waterproof gloves for cold weather, keeping a lighter pair for summer. For extra warmth, motorcycle gloves can usually be worn over a pair of wool, fleece or silk gloves. An insulated jacket or vest is also a good buy, as it will both protect against cold weather and trap body heat.

A second pair of thick socks helps takes care of the feet. For the head, there are balaclavas, caps and helmet liners. A scarf keeps the exposed neck and torso covered. Any helmet vents should be kept firmly closed.

Improve Winter Riding Gear With Warm Layers

Effective winter motorcycle gear is all about layers. The advantage of layers is that they can be switched in and out if conditions change. The winter motorcyclist may start with a t-shirt (a silk one is particularly warm). On top of this can be worn a sweatshirt, then a sweater. Some jackets come with fleece liners. When it gets colder, a hooded jacket can be worn. A heavier jacket is an option as well.

The heavier the layer, the more insulation that will be provided per pound of clothing. For example, a thick cotton shirt may keep a rider warm at 20 degrees F (or -7°C). Heated motorcycle gear using electric heaters can extend this to 35 to 40°F (or 2-4°C).

Motorcycle pants can fit over panty hose (tights) or silk long-johns. Waterproof pants can be worn on top of leathers. Such pants also help keep off the wind. Some riders also wear gaiters, a layer that goes over the boot and keeps the bottom of the pants dry.

Admittedly, such extreme layering generally results in the rider looking and feeling much like Michelin Man; on the other hand, it enables him to keep riding where less hardy souls give up. Slightly restricted movement is a small price to pay for warmth, and usually only comes into play when mounting the motorcycle.

Heated Motorcycle Clothes Extend the Riding Season

The simplest way to heat up a rider is to slip hand warmers inside gloves and boots. Some glove liners have in-built pockets for such hand-warmers, which are found in outdoors and department stores. Re-usable hand-warmers have a chemical reaction inside that gives off heat, and can keep their temperature for up to 12 hours.

For the ultimate in cold-weather comfort, there is a wide range of heated motorcycle clothing. The rider can buy heated hand grips, seats, vests, gloves, pants – even insoles. Gerbing is leading provider of such heated clothing, but any motorcycle gear store will have several options.

Heated motorcycle gear uses various technology to provide heat. Some heated motorcycle clothing uses heating elements in the clothing, usually with a pocket for the battery and a controller that turns on when the outside temperature reaches a certain level. Other heated motorcycle gear use wires directly implanted into the textile or textile lining of the garment. Many heated motorcycle garments make use of a combination of these techniques.

Most heated motorcycle clothing hooks into the bike’s battery, but some run off rechargeable battery packs. The simplest versions have no temperature controls and are thus either on, or off. Their advantage is simple ease of installation and low cost. On the negative side, they are either permanently on or off, and as such have no effect when the motorcycle is not running.

Most heated motorcycle clothing has some level of electronic controls, allowing the rider to adjust settings for temperature and time. Such electronics can be low-power devices that allow enough heat to keep you warm enough, or they can be high-power devices that get hot quickly but do not provide a long-lasting heat supply.

To go further with heated motorcycle gear, it is necessary to buy heated clothing with a battery pack or external mounted battery.

Suitably equipped with winter motorcycle gear and alert to cold weather dangers, a rider may not need to winterize her bike after all. You can continue to enjoy the sport year-round, protected from chills with layers of clothing. However, you should check the weather forecast before you mount your bike, as inclement weather does not wait for winter; motorcycle riding may be best for some riders only during milder periods.