Armchair Bike On Tour - Riding Safe And Sound In Cold Weather Conditions

Record-breaking cold temperatures, short days and long nights currently have several of us pining for those halcyon days of summer, once we rode our favorite 2-wheeled mounts on idyllic sun-splashed backroads. Irrespective of the temperature, though, it’s still possible to vicariously experience great motorcycle tours. Reclining comfortably next to a crackling fireplace, with our favorite beverage nearby is the right location to get pleasure from the adventures captured in our recently revealed book, Riding America’s Backroads, twenty Top Motorcycle Tours. If you didn’t receive a copy as a gift throughout the Holidays, why not begin the New Year off right by ordering one for yourself? After all, it can be very therapeutic reading for us snowbound riders. Order your copy today from our web site RoadRunner or call our office at (336) 765-7780.
Last month we reviewed the risks of riding (especially long distances) in cold weather. The following are my top ten recommendations for mitigating those risks with a good cold weather riding system:

weather wrap bike

Take a look at Your Gear Beforehand: Before venturing far from home on your bike in winter’s icy grip, take a take a look at ride or two to spot any weak points (cold spots) in your cold weather riding gear. It may not be pretty, but duct tape will be used to seal leaks if all else fails. Once creating any required changes, take a look at it again.

Check Battery and Antifreeze: Cold weather can degrade battery performance, thus make sure your battery is in smart shape and totally charged. For liquid cooled bikes, ensure that the antifreeze reading is sufficient for the temperatures expected.

Windproof: As discussed before, the wind chill impact on motorcyclists, riding at highway speeds, will be quite dramatic. The place to start out windproofing is on your bike: attach a windshield and as much other wind-blocking equipment as the bike can accommodate, particularly in the vicinity of the hands and feet. Because so much body heat will be lost from a rider’s head, a full-face helmet is very recommended. Next, make sure the outer layer of your riding gear is built of a fabric that’s effective at cutting the wind, like leather or a water-proof/water-proof textile riding suit. Insulated winter gloves are a must.

Yesterday, Janurary 20, 2009 my own motorcycle took off from Pontiac Michigan to Mackinaw City and then across the Mackinaw bridge to St. Ignace Michigan about 6 miles away. Then back home to Metro Detroit in one day. In the south here in metro Detroit it never got above 32 degrees thus I figure 300 miles north it had been colder. These guys are well experienced at this tour. I never dared to try it myself. We are always looking for individuals in our club Michigan and in particular our Macomb. Click on one of those links and find more and more info.  Have fun!