Welcome to the The Ultimate Winter Motorcycle Riding Gear Guide.
This article details how to dress in layers for cold weather. Here’s how to stay warm when riding in the winter…
Don’t let winter put you off riding a motorcycle. You may want to ride through cold weather on your daily commute, long-distance trips, or around the world. No matter what you’re doing or where you ride, this guide will help you choose the best motorcycle clothing guide for cold weather and winter riding.
Why is it important?
It’s important because if you’re cold, you’ll be distracted and more likely to get into an accident – or in extreme cases, suffer from hypothermia or worse.
How to Use a Layering System When Riding a Motorcycle in Cold Weather?
Winter Motorcycle Clothing Layering
Dressing in layers is an integral part of staying warm when riding a motorcycle. The idea behind it is that wearing multiple layers of thin clothing is better than wearing several heavy layers. So, wearing three thin layers is better than wearing one sweater.
The reasoning behind this is that these layers trap warm air between them. The more layers you wear, the more warm air is trapped between them and the hotter you’ll feel.
Wearing the right type of clothing allows moisture and sweat to escape from your body through these layers without letting warm air escape. The beauty of this layering system is that you can easily remove or add layers to regulate your body temperature.
Base Layer
Think of your base layer as your second skin. Its job is not to keep you warm, its main job is to move sweat and moisture away from your body and into the next layer. For this reason, it is best to be made of natural fibers or synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester.
You want your base layer to sit snugly against your skin (of course not too tight to be uncomfortable), but the closer it fits to your body, the less chance there is for hot air to escape.
Mid Layer
Since the base layer’s job is to absorb moisture and is a very thin layer, the next layer can keep warmth in and insulate your body.
If we are talking about sub-freezing temperatures, this mid layer should be light and warm, as you will also be using a second mid layer. If not, then choose a fleece or down top. For pants, choose denim, leather pants, or even fleece pants. Finally, choose a motorcycle jacket and outer pants.
Mid-layer options:
Mid-layer options are not so limited. Some people like jeans, some like sports, some like leather pants, etc. We can choose the middle layer according to our own preferences. Here are some of my opinions:
Jeans, the best fashion item, this is the choice of most people. When we ride to our destination, we can take off the bloated outer layer to show ourselves.
Sweatpants, the best choice for comfort. Lightweight and comfortable fabric allows us to do most movements. However, if it is too cold in winter, a thicker outer layer is needed to keep warm.
Leather pants, leather itself has a good warming effect, and it can better prevent body temperature from dropping as a mid-layer.
Shell Layer
This is your final layer of clothing - a motorcycle jacket and quick-release outer pants. It's job is to be waterproof, windproof, and protective. If you're going to buy a cheap motorcycle jacket, or even if you have a nice jacket but with a removable waterproof liner and are going to a very cold climate, you can always add a waterproof outer layer on top. This will act as a first line of defense and block most of the wind and rain.
Shell Layer options:
No need for slippers, put on and take off pants in seconds. The integrated windproof and warm design, with a tight windproof and waterproof outer layer, skin-friendly and warm inner layer, and top-grade cotton in the middle, can easily cope with any cold weather. The surface of the pants is made of wear-resistant 600D Oxford cloth, which is tear-resistant and wear-resistant. In addition, the pants also come with protective gear and night reflective design to protect riding safety.
Layering and Matching Notes
Whatever layering system you choose, a very important criteria is that it must be comfortable. It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people wear gear that is not the right size.
Tight areas can develop around the waist, elbows, knees, and neck. If you add more tight clothing, the situation will get worse. Gear that is too tight can restrict blood flow and have the opposite effect. You should be able to wear all your clothes and move freely without any restrictions. Sit on the bike and make sure your elbows are not tight when your arms are bent and that you can move your head freely from side to side with your helmet on.
On the other hand, your gear should not be too loose either, as this will allow warm air to escape. So you need to try various sizes and find the right gear for your body type.
Best Tips for Winter Motorcycle Riding
One of the most important tips to remember when riding a motorcycle in winter is: it is easier to stay warm than to get warm. This means that once the cold has entered your body and you start to feel it in your bones, it is difficult to get back to a comfortable temperature. So, if you just start riding and notice that something is wrong, such as one of your gloves is not on properly or you feel a chill in your neck - then stop and correct it immediately. As soon as you start to feel your body temperature drop too low, stop, warm up and maintain the right temperature. Finally, be prepared by putting on your helmet, jacket and gear in a warm place. Otherwise, if you change clothes outside, you will start to feel cold.
If you need to go to the bathroom, stop. Holding your pee won’t make you warmer, in fact it will make you colder! So it’s best not to drink too much tea and coffee.
If you’re in a really cold and scary situation and need to get back to body temperature quickly, get off and push the bike. This will warm you up quickly. However, be careful not to push too hard and sweat as this will make you colder.
If you can’t seem to warm up and you’re losing focus, pull over to a service station or garage to warm up. It sounds obvious but stubbornness can also get the best of us when we’re struggling to hold on. But it’s never worth it. If you’re in trouble and it’s a long way to the next stop or shop, pull over to the side of the road, knock on doors and explain the situation. You’ll be surprised at the kindness of strangers.
Riding in the cold is a cathartic and enjoyable experience. Being the only motorcyclist on the road when everyone else is huddled up in their homes with their feet up will put a smile on your face. It’s easy to do as long as you use the right gear. Don’t be afraid of the cold, put on your gear, get out there and embrace it!
Share: