The Ultimate Guide to Motorcycling in Winter

This week on MCrider let's discuss a few cold-weather motorcycle riding tips. I will also tell you how cold is too cold for me to ride.

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[MCrider]

Happy Friday!
How cold is too cold for you to ride? Does anyone have any good cold-weather riding stories?
I once taught a new rider class that started the day at 55F on Saturday morning and by the time we were done on Saturday late afternoon, it was 15F!!!! A cold front came in with A LOT of wind and cold. It was not pleasant at all and even worse on Sunday to finish the class. ;)

In case you are interested, the links from today's video:

[stephendempsey]

Living in Nova Scotia, Canada if you want to get a full riding season you have to be prepared to ride in cold weather. Proper gear is critical along with heated grips, good tires and a well balanced bike (I ride a VStrom 650 in the winter). I can ride 12 months a year but not every day in the winter as I don’t want to ride on ice as we have very twisty and hilly coastal roads. But there is nothing better than a cold day, a hot bike and a warm cup of coffee after a cool winters day riding!

[BirdArvid]

During my military service, the guys in the motorcycle detail-messengers rode all winter; they had automatic Huskies and put little skis on extended engine guards on the sides; awesome riding, awesome guys!

[cmcdowell]

Here in Ireland you need to be careful before you get to winter. Wet leaves on the road at this time of year are as slippery as ice so temperature isn't the only consideration.

[goldfieldgary]

This was a long time ago, but during my military service I bought a 49 cc moped. I rode over to visit some friends, and the weather changed, had to get back with ice on the roads. I put my feet out to the sides while accelerating from a stop sign, right in the middle of the intersection I lost traction and I did a 360° spin! Fortunately a sympathetic MP saw me and helped me stuff the moped in the trunk and took me back where I needed to go.

[craiggreene]

You know you've maximized your biking season when you come home from riding in the Christmas parade (and a little ride thru the country in the dark to entertain those who might see you all decked out in white lights looking for all the world like the ghost rider) and once you've got into the garage, gotten your gear off, you walk outside into heavy snow. Mission accomplished!
Amherst Nova Scotia Canada
See you on the road!

[stlchance]

The best cold weather base layer for motorcycling I've found is the Freeze-Out line (now called Axial Base) from CycleGear. The thing that makes it superior to other cold weather base layers, even the really expensive stuff from major sporting goods retailers, is that it has a windproof membrane layer on the front side of the shirt, pants, and balaclava, and the top side of the boot and glove liners. This nearly completely eliminates the need for a separate wind break layer as Kevin suggested. I've been able to ride with just the Freeze-Out base layers, jeans, a sweatshirt, and leather chaps and jacket, with the balaclava under a modular/full face helmet, down to sub-freezing temps - no heated gear needed.
Kevin didn't mention boots, but a good set of waterproof motorcycle boots will also be windproof. I can wear regular cotton socks in mine down to the low 40s Fahrenheit, then go to wool socks below that, supplementing with either boot liners (see above), thin wicking athletic socks, or both, as needed.
The other suggestion that I have is don't drop a lot of money on expensive cold weather gear that claims to be for motorcycling. Check out snowmobiling gear, which is purpose built for cold and wet conditions, and, in most cases, is a lot less expensive.
But I will agree with Kevin about cold weather road conditions. I general don't ride when the temps are below freezing, because it can be almost impossible to determine "Is that just a wet spot or is it black ice?" I'll make exceptions for special events, like a Christmas toy ride or a New Year's Day Polar Bear ride, but otherwise, I'll wait for the temps to get above freezing.

[l.a.raustadt]

Getting older so in Minnesota on roads 32 and dry roads. Living in Minneapolis you watch for deer along freeways. So at 68 and working part time riding in at 4 dark 30 am keep it safe.Yes studded up dirt bikes on frozen lakes as a kid. Know your limits, good video.

[markwhatley]

Good advice about riding in the morning after a hard freeze. Another potential problem, especially on the freeways around DFW, which have questionable engineering and construction, is groundwater drainage on road surfaces that are in the shade. So even if the air temperature is above freezing, those areas in the shade may remain frozen. Ride your own ride. Stay safe.

[grantbradley]

Always prepare for whatever conditions you might face. Several years ago while riding through the Sierras in May, the rain quickly turned to snow. Luckily for myself and wife we had our heated jackets, heated seats, and heated grips on the BMW kept us warm. Temperature stayed at 33 for hundreds of miles until getting to lower elevations. Gerbing is the best!

[leeonardodienfield]

Passed my test about 5 hours ago. Thank you MCrider, you gave me the confidence to try techniques that made me nervous. I had 5 points for a foot down during a tight turn but everything else was smooth thanks to you and a few other instructors.

[clivewilliams]

I rode to the south coast in UK, a round trip of 250 miles. I started off at 6.00am with the temperature at -6degC (21degF). My Strada textile suit has an optional quilted liner and I used a pair of HG Pathan semi-mittens that kept my hands toasty warm all the way, I don't have the need for heated anything, the kit does it all. However, on the return journey the same day, when the sun went down it got bone chilling cold particularly on my chest so I stopped at a services and bought a couple of broadsheet newspapers and laid those on my chest under the quilted inner jacket, which cured the problem. Newspaper is a surprisingly good insulator and wind break.

One point I found was that on the trip down at about 7.00am on the motorway (freeway) I was giving a wide berth to a truck and enclosed curtain side trailer. All of a sudden a sheet of ice about the size of a double bed and about 2" thick slid off the roof of the trailer and shattered on the road just behind me. Had I been 2-3 secs later passing the truck, I would be dead! Anyone in a car following could have also died such was the weight and force of a mass of ice travelling at 60mph. The truck driver can't be blamed because I doubt he could see what was on the trailer roof and the rising morning sun must have melted the connection between ice and trailer roof. Since then I have been super wary of those conditions.

[tobypaone]

Another great video! My rule of thumb is not to ride if the temperatures drop below freezing. I too have hit patches of ice unexpectedly and nearly crashed. I wear heated gear (gloves and jacket) and like you, Kevin, I wear a balaclava, full helmet and good, warm boots to keep out the cold. My leather riding jacket works great as do chaps on my legs. Everybody keep safe out there!

[positivelynegative]

I live in Florida, but I watched this video anyway. 😁

[honeybadgeractual]

I ride year round, 365, and take my bike to work every day.

It helps that I live only 10 minutes from work, and I wear snowmobiling gear....

I work all day, so I don't ride all day.

But the bike makes my life a lot easier.

[beepbop]

We had a week of winter last year (in central tx). So much ice that you couldn't drive a car much less a motorcycle. Just have to wait a week and temps are back in the mid-70's. Winter is actually the best time to ride here in my opinion, contrast to summer days that are typically 100+ degrees (and always at least 90+ degrees).

I enjoy riding in all seasons. I just try to avoid driving in rain in winter (then it gets too cold).

[ArisimaSpinosa]

I had a similar experience. I used to ride well below 20 F, but even when there is no precipitation, several of the roads around where I currently live will "leak" water overnight, and if it is below 30 F, it will often freeze. One of the worst offending roads for me is square in my commute, so I made the decision to not ride when it is below 30.

[macmac]

@MCRider Freezing temps or overnight air that gets close will certainly give me second thoughts about riding. Above freezing and I'm good provided that I have dressed accordingly. Nothing makes for more of an unpleasant ride than a cold, wet, cloudy day and you are traveling through an area. Got caught once in the Sierra Nevada mountains in late spring and between the cold 38 degree rain and no sun, I was not very happy riding. Thanks Kevin for what you do and bringing great tips to the motorcycling community.

[herberthall]

I am in Mexico. In December the heat is about 80° F. during the day. I think I'll be able to make it through this winter, although it gets down to about 70° at night. I'm thinking about getting some tire warmers so that my tread is ready when I first start riding. Nothing worse than losing traction on those cold 80° tires.

[x-man]

I'm a light weight. You won't see me out there when temps get into the 40's or below. But I would like to offer up a bit different theory I learned in cold weather survival training. It's true, you want to keep your torso warm, but your body will move blood from cold extremities to your torso to warm it up. A better approach is to keep your extremities very warm, head, hands, feet. Electric gloves and socks are your friend.
IDK what you do with the helmet (you'd think there would be helmets that have heat and defrost but I digress), but for guys who commute on their bikes or just regularly ride in REAL COLD to extend their riding season, heated gloves and socks should allow you to have less bulk around your torso and arms and legs. You still need that insulative and windproof gear, but if you keep your head, hands and feet warm, you will be ahead of the game.