What To Wear For Cold Motorcycle Rides

Spring is right around the corner, but it’s going to be chilly for a while longer. Staying warm is more than a matter of comfort—warm hands are limber hands! We here at Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County want to keep you both comfortable and safe, so we’ve put together some cold weather riding gear suggestions. If you want to know more, or you want to see the motorcycles we have for sale, contact our store in Westminster, California, today.

Layers

Layers are instrumental in staying warm, especially on a motorcycle. A bike leaves you open to the elements, so strong, frigid winds can rip your body heat away in no time. Layers allow you to stay warmer, but give you the option to lighten up if the weather gets nicer. 

For a base layer, we recommend a synthetic fabric like you’ll find in thermal underwear, which isolates you from the cold and keeps in body heat. Next, you’ll want a fleece or wool layer to help hold onto that body heat. That can mean a long-sleeved shirt, a sweat, vest, or whatever else gives you full coverage.

Finally, check the weather in case you need a waterproof outer layer. We don’t get a lot of mist or precipitation around here, but it’s always good to be prepared! If you do manage to get wet and don’t have that protection, the cold water can leech away your body heat. You’ll need a waterproof jacket and pants for optimal protection.

Cover Everything

Your core heat is vital, but you also need warm hands and feet. Losing heat there can lead to stiffness and a loss of dexterity, which can be dangerous on a motorcycle. Start with thick, durable pants.

Next, you’ll need warm socks and sturdy riding boots, possibly with extra padding to keep your feet toasty. Gloves will keep your fingers flexible and warm so you can control your handlebars, brake, and throttle properly, and a neckerchief or scarf will keep your neck warm and prevent cold wind from going down your shirt. 

Safety

Helmets can fog up in cold weather, so if yours doesn’t already have anti-fogging elements, there are a number of products you can treat it with to help out. Add-ons for ventilation, visor inserts or treatments, and anti-fogging masks are all good ways to make sure you can still see.

Other Tips

As obvious as it can sound, it doesn’t matter how prepared for the cold you are if your bike is in need of maintenance. Make sure you stay up to date with your service checks and preventative maintenance like cleanings, fluid checks and changes, and tire care.

We hope these tips help you stay warm! If you have any questions, or you want to browse our inventory, contact us at Indian Motorcycle® of Orange County. We proudly serve the people of Los Angeles and all of Orange County, California—let us serve you today!