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Must-have motorcycle clothing for winter motorcycle rides
Riding a motorcycle during the winter is a challenge due to cold temperatures, snow, ice, and reduced visibility. It's essential to wear the right motorcycle gear that protects you under these conditions. Here is a list of essential winter motorcycle gear.
Essential winter motorcycle clothing:
- Winter motorcycle jackets with thermal lining and waterproof membrane
- Winter motorcycle trousers with thermal lining and waterproof membrane
- Helmet cap or neck warmer
- Winter motorcycle gloves
- Insulated waterproof motorcycle boots
- Thermal underwear
- Closed motorcycle helmet with Pinlock visor
Optional motorcycle clothing or accessories:
- Heated motorcycle clothing
- Heated motorcycle gloves
- Raised windshield
- Hand guards or handlebar muffs
- Handlebar heating
- Extra rainwear
- Fluorescent vest
All-season riders and winter stoppers
There are riders who prepare their motorcycle for storage during the winter, and there are riders who continue to ride all year round. During the winter we have to deal with cold temperatures, which cause our bodies to cool down faster and this can affect our reaction time. Snow and ice deteriorate our tyres grip, and reduced visibility means it’s harde to look further ahead. This can result in car drivers noticing us less quickly in traffic.
To avoid many inconveniences and problems, we delve deeper into the essential winter motorcycle clothing and the optional extras to make these rides safer and provide extra comfort.
Winter motorcycle jackets with thermal lining and waterproof membrane
Choose motorcycle jackets that are equipped with a thermal lining for extra insulation and a solid waterproof membrane. A motorcycle jacket with waterproof characteristics will offer you protection against the icy wind, while the thermal lining will prevent cooling of the outer layer in which the waterproof membrane is incorporated. We prefer laminated motorcycle clothing with a Gore-Tex membrane for the very best protection.
TIP: A removable thermal lining is a plus, so you can also wear the jacket on days with less cold.
Winter motor pants with thermal lining and waterproof membrane
Just like the motorcycle jacket, the motorcycle pants should also have a thermal lining and a waterproof membrane. Choose the right length of motorcycle pants so that no cold wind can reach your legs and use any adjustable straps to seal everything off properly.
Balaclava or neck protector
A balaclava or neck protector can make a huge difference. Look for one with a windstopper to ward off the cold wind and with fleece to keep your face and neck warm. You can also look out for a winter motorcycle jacket that comes with a storm collar to protect your neck.
Winter motorcycle gloves
Your hands maintain control over the motorcycle, but keeping them warm during the winter is a challenge. Fortunately, you can read all about it in our “winter gloves and heated motorcycle gloves” blog.
Insulated Waterproof Motorcycle Boots
Invest in insulated, waterproof motorcycle boots that keep your feet warm and dry. Look for boots with good grip for walking on slippery surfaces. Daytona motorcycle boots have the best reputation. Their distinctive touring boots are of excellent quality, especially knowing that they are equipped with a Gore-Tex membrane.
Thermal Underwear
Wear a thermal shirt and thermal pants, directly on your skin for an extra layer of insulation to keep you warm and enjoy the moisture-wicking properties to keep you dry. The temperature-regulating properties of thermal underwear should not be underestimated. Opt for underwear made of merino wool or synthetic materials for the best result.
Closed motorcycle helmet with Pinlock visor
Opt for a full-face helmet or modular helmet that fits snugly around your neck to prevent cold from creeping up your neck. During cold or rainy days, there’s a risk that your visor will fog up. Fortunately, you can rely on the anti-fogging properties of a Pinlock lens which prevents your visor from fogging up. Choose a helmet that allows for a Pinlock lens to be installed (Pinlock prepared). Quality helmets nowadays come standard with a Pinlock lens.
Want to know more about a Pinlock lens and how it works? Read our Pinlock blog.
Heated underwear
Heated undergarments can make a significant difference in combating the cold. Not only are you adding an extra liner to your outfit, it’s an additional layer that keeps you warm. These garments have built-in heating elements that are powered by rechargeable batteries that you can attach to the garments, or you can connect them to your motorcycle’s battery.
Heated motorcycle gloves
Every winter, the demand for heated motorcycle gloves increases, and we understand why. Those who go on long rides on cold days during the winter prefer a pair of heated gloves over winter gloves. Thanks to the built-in heating, warmth is added where you lose heat the fastest. Don’t expect to never be cold again in extreme conditions, but at least you will still retain mobility in your fingers.
Raised Windshield
There is no better protection against the wind than a well-positioned motorcycle windshield. It keeps your upper body out of the wind, preventing you from cooling down quickly.
Attention: Tall motorcyclists may experience extra wind at the level of the helmet after installing a higher windshield, causing the use of a windshield to result in more wind noise.
Hand Guards or Handlebar Muffs
Your hands too can be protected from the icy wind (or branches if you’re going off-road). Hand guards or handlebar muffs are going to change the look of your motorcycle. While hand guards just deflect the wind, handlebar muffs will keep your hands nice and warm.
Handlebar Heating
If you want to experience the extra luxury of warmth to your palms, you can install a pair of heated grips on your motorcycle. With the help of a small controller on your handlebar, you can select the desired heat setting and keep your fingers nicely warm. The combination of heated grips and hand guards works very well. My BMW F650GS Twin has this combination and I only used them on the first setting last winter.
Note: if you’re not very handy, leave the installation to your local motorcycle garage.
Extra Rain Gear
Is your current motorcycle clothing not equipped with a waterproof membrane or has wear occurred on the joints making it no longer 100% waterproof? Then motorcycle rain gear is not a superfluous luxury to get through the wet winter days dryly.
Fluorescent Vest
Winter days are often darker, which can decrease visibility. Wearing striking clothing with reflective elements improves your visibility to other road users. If your motorcycle clothing is not equipped with the necessary reflective details, you might consider buying a fluorescent vest or harness.
Safety comes first
Don’t forget that staying warm and dry is crucial in winter, but safety remains the most important thing. Pay attention to the condition of the road, icy or snowy roads can be treacherous and consider winter tires for extra grip. Drive carefully and be prepared for changing weather conditions during your winter rides.
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Nathan is our webshop employee who is ready with advice and assistance to help customers. When he is not answering customer questions, he writes helpful texts and blogs for the RAD site.