Riding your motorcycle in the winter is a challenge, especially with slippery weather and roads. That’s why many riders opt to keep their bike in storage during the cold months of the year. Though most riders are off the road when the weather is cold and snowy, some enjoy riding so much that they keep with it year-round, no matter what the weather is like. Riding with the right cold weather accessories in the winter will help keep you more comfortable, aware of your surroundings and help you focus to stay safe on the road.
Let’s look at three essential motorcycle accessories that will make riding in the winter easier:
- Winter Tires: To make your ride safer and motorcycle more responsive, install specialized winter tires instead of standard tires. Winter tires will help keep you in control and are designed specifically for slippery, cold weather conditions, giving you the best traction possible. Once you ride with these tires, it’s a night and day difference. You’ll see that your motorcycle is more responsive in winter weather and safer to ride.
- Heated Grips: Riding in the cold can be very tough on your hands. Even with gloves, the cold can creep in and make your ride very uncomfortable or even cause injuries like frostbite. Cold hands also move slower and can affect your reaction time. Installing heated grips on your handlebars will help keep your hands nice and warm, even in the coldest conditions. There are many brands of grips to choose from and most of them have an adjustable temperature option so that you can choose the right amount of warmth for your comfort while you’re riding.
- Warming Vest: To stay aware and ready to react quickly, you need to keep your body as warm as possible during a winter ride. The colder you are, the more your reaction time can be affected. A warming vest is an electric vest that you can keep under your riding jacket to keep the core of your body warm and comfortable, no matter how cold it is. Many of these vests can act as a liner to your jacket as a convenient all-in-one piece and some can be worn on their own. Finding a warming vest with an adjustable temperature will allow many options to keep you at maximum comfort on your winter ride.
Other important accessories you may want to pick up are a windshield for your bike, if you don’t already have one, and handlebar guards to keep your hands safe from wind and flying objects. These accessories will help you enjoy winter riding and keep your focus on the road instead of the cold. Always make sure you're dressed for the winter by wearing enough layers, warm gloves and face protection to stay safe from injuries in the cold. Always focus on the road, taking extra time while riding since winter riding is hazardous and brings slippery conditions.
Hupy and Abraham has been promoting rider safety and awareness for decades with our “Watch for Motorcycles” message. The firm’s efforts work to keep motorcycle riders safe and help them avoid accidents. For more articles on motorcycle gadgets, accessories, news and events, stay tuned to HUPY.COM.
Sometimes riders can do everything right, but still be in a serious accident. If you’ve been injured in an accident, call Hupy and Abraham today at 800-800-5678 or chat with us on HUPY.COM. We’ve helped over 70,000 clients receive over $1 billion for their injuries and have your back if you’re in an accident.
