With the cold winter season fast approaching, some riders are placing their bikes up for the year. The freezing cold temperatures combined with the wrath of mother nature adds another barrier of difficulty to riding your motorcycle in the winter. However, you can still enjoy an occasional ride when the conditions are right. To learn more about the do's and don'ts of winter riding, keep reading.
Don't: Drive Through Ice
I'm sure this is common sense to most people, but you should never attempt to drive your motorcycle through ice. Hitting patches of ice in a car is dangerous enough, but this danger is amplified when you're on a bike. The icy patch can shift the weight and trajectory of your bike, sending you tumbling to the ground. If the road conditions are icy, stay at home just to be on the safe side.
Don't: Leave Your Bike Exposed To The Elements
Another important tip is to properly store your bike out of the elements. Snow and ice can develop on the engine block where it expands and wrecks havoc on the mechanics. Minor amount of snow and moisture is perfectly acceptable and should cause no reason for concern, but large amounts (such as shown in the image to the right) is a mechanical failure waiting to happen. Even if you don't have access to a shed or garage, take a minute to toss a waterproof tarp over your motorcycle.
Do: Wear Cold-Weather Gear
I can't stress enough the importance of wearing the right gear when you are riding in the winter. You have to realize that the cold temperatures are even more extreme when you're riding due to the wind chill. It might feel like t-shirt weather when you're standing around in your driveway, but once you start riding at 50+ miles per hour, you'll wish you had winter-weather clothes on.
In addition to wearing warm clothes and a jacket, gear up in a pair of fog-proof motorcycle goggles. The cool winter air will quickly fog up a pair of normal glasses, creating a dangerous scenario for bikers and nearby motorists.
Do: Work Your Finger
Of course, you'll want to constantly wiggle and move your fingers around to prevent them from freezing up. On a standard motorcycle, the throttle, clutch and brake are all controlled by hand. If your fingers grow numb from the cold, you might not be able to effectively control your bike. Try to get into the habit of performing wiggle motions with your fingers every couple of minutes to keep them mobile.
