Beat the Summer Heat with These Motorcycle Riding Tips

With warmer weather, many motorcyclists will be on the road taking trips, going for relaxing rides and commuting to work. There can be one caveat to riding during the summer, extreme heat. If you don’t prepare or take proper precautions for riding in hot weather, you could endanger your life.

Here are a few tips to help you stay safe on the road and beat the summer heat.

Make sure you're using the right riding gear. Intense heat usually goes hand-in-hand with intense sunlight. With constant sunlight hitting your skin, it is very easy to get serious sunburn. Using the right gear will help protect your skin from the sun, as well as protect your body in an accident. A riding jacket, pants and a helmet will give you excellent sun protection. If you choose not to wear a helmet or other gear to cover your skin, wear plenty of sunscreen. Some companies even make cooling gear to make your ride extra comfortable.

Always stay hydrated. If it is really hot out, odds are you’re going to sweat a lot, especially if you’re wearing riding gear. You may not notice how much you are sweating while riding since it can evaporate quickly. Sweating a lot will leave you dehydrated and exhausted. Always make sure you have some water to drink and bring more than you think you’ll need. Frozen water bottles can also help you stay cool.

Don’t ride if you’re tired and don’t forget to rest. It isn’t a good idea to get on your motorcycle if you’re not feeling in top shape. If you’re exhausted before a ride, the heat will only make your exhaustion worse and lead to unfocused riding. Don’t try to rely on energy drinks either since caffeine will dehydrate you and you may experience a sugar crash, making you feel more tired than when you started your ride. Resting is extremely important as well, especially if you’re on a long ride in very hot weather. If it’s extra hot outside, plan to take a few more stops than you normally would. Finding a place with shade or air conditioning will help you recover. With the right amount of rest, you can be completely focused on the road and more alert.

Be ready for melted roads and parking lots. Asphalt can melt in hot weather, making newer roads softer and affecting the handling of your bike. Ride with caution on roads that may be altered from the heat. Your bike’s kickstand can also sink into hot asphalt when parked in a lot, leading to a tipped over motorcycle. Using a kickstand coaster will give your kickstand more surface area, preventing it from sinking into the ground and keeping your bike standing. Hupy and Abraham, S.C. hands out free kickstand coasters at the many motorcycle events the firm sponsors throughout the year. For more information on future events and how you can get a FREE kickstand coaster, head to HUPY.COM.

Staying prepared to beat the summer heat on the roads will give you a better chance of having a safe and enjoyable motorcycle ride.

Hupy and Abraham has worked to keep motorcycle safety at top of mind for decades and promotes rider awareness with the firm’s “Watch for Motorcycles” message. Hupy and Abraham is a law firm proud to help riders. We’ve collected over $1 billion for over 70,000 injured people. If you’re injured while riding, call Hupy and Abraham right away at 800-800-5678 or chat with us at HUPY.COM.