For many passionate motorcyclists, there is no such thing as an “off-season” when it comes to enjoying a nice ride. As many bikers know, riding in cold climates is not always easy. Harsh winds, low temperatures and unexpected rain are just a few of the potential obstacles that can interfere with long- or short-distance rides. While there isn’t much you can do about controlling the weather, there are plenty of ways that you can make your ride as comfortable as possible, even in the cold winter months. Here are a few hot tips for cold weather motorcycle riding that will keep you warm and comfortable on your next winter ride.

1. Keep Your Hands Warm

Your hands are often the first part of your body that you notice getting cold. This is because in cold weather, our bodies constrict the blood vessels that keep our extremities warm and redirect that blood to flow to our body’s core. This in turn allows our hands and feet to get cold much more easily and quickly.

Every experienced biker knows that the ability to operate a clutch lever and other controls on your motorcycle is essential when it comes to safe riding. Once temperatures drop, thin leather or mesh gloves simply do not do enough to keep our hands warm. For this reason, it is best for year-round motorcyclists to invest in a good pair of thicker winter gloves that provide the right amount of insulation from the cold. Better yet, consider a bike with OEM heated handgrips or investing in aftermarket versions.

2. Keep Your Head Warm

Your body loses a significant amount of heat through your head, so keeping your head warm while riding is critical. Not only is choosing a properly fitting helmet critical to safe motorcycling, but choosing one that has a well sealing face-shield can also do wonders to keep you comfortable in cold weather. Consider keeping a quickly deployed neck-buff in your saddle bag too.

3. Wear Weather-Resistant Clothing

Perhaps one of the most important winter riding tips is to always stay dry. Even if you are not expecting a rainy day, the weather always has a way of surprising us. If you get caught in the rain or snow while riding, your body will likely be much colder for a longer period of time. To keep warm on a motorcycle even on wet days, it is important to know how to layer. It is best for riders to have a soft, warm inner layer that insulates the body, paired with an outer shell that protects from hard winds, rain and snow. Invest in riding gear that has zip-vents and panels for accommodating changing temperatures and weather.

4. Stay Prepared

One of the best ways to endure cold weather motorcycling is to always stay prepared. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you ride so that you know what conditions to expect. It is also important to be prepared for other factors such as mechanical failure, severe weather warnings and navigational errors. Being extra cautious before taking a winter ride will help ensure your safety and protect against any surprises.

Sargent Takes Heated Seating to the Next Level

Lots of motorcycles these days are available with heated seat options, and for good reason. Heated seats warm a large area of the body which helps transmit that warmth throughout. When it comes to cold weather riding, there is no doubt that Sargent Cycle Products sets the standard for providing high-quality heated seat options for your bike. Our Heat Boss Infinite Range Controller with solid-state, pulse-modulating heat offers maximum comfort in cool weather with fully infinite variable control that you can adjust to your liking. This is critical when temperature cans swing drastically, with elevation changes for instance, on any given riding day. Unlike other heating products that are simply either on or off, our advanced controller delivers full-range heat control with the turn of knob.

For motorcyclists who are brave enough to endure freezing climates, this exceptional control is essential to all day comfort.