Well, unfortunately, winter is here (in the south it’s just getting here) and that means one of two things for motorcycle riders; either you winterize your bike and put it up for the winter or you tough it out, bundle up, and ride right on through to warmer weather. Personally, due to high gas costs, I ride right on through. So, that means there are some precautions we should take.
First and formost is staying warm. As you ride, you must keep in mind what the wind chill factor will be. It may be a balmy 45 degrees outside, but moving at 50mph can make it feel more like it’s in the 30’s. It’s a good idea to have a wind chill chart. I found one from the NOAA. It lists wind chill factors up to 60mph winds and temperatures ranging from 40 to -45 degrees. If you don’t want to print a copy of the chart or you need faster speeds (you sportbike folks amaze me!), here’s the formula: WC=35.74+0.6215T-35.75(V^0.16)+0.4275T(V^0.16). WC is wind chill, T is temperature, and V is wind speed. So, make sure you are dressed appropriately for the wind chill you will be experiencing. Frost bite can take as little as five minutes to set in, depending on the factors.
Next would be tires. In colder weather, the air in your tires will shrink. You should always check the air pressure in your tires before you ride. Low pressure can effect the way the bike stays balanced in turns. The last thing you would want is to take a corner at 45mph with under inflated tires. It only takes a minute and can be done while you are warming up the bike.
That leads me to my next point; make sure you allow the bike to properly warm up before leaving. If the bike is not allowed the proper warm up period, it can cause problem in the combustion chamber. I have never personally experienced this, but guys in our local riders club have told horror stories of engines locking up from vapor lock and such, all because they decided the bike didn’t need that long to warm up. I usually allow my bike 5-8 minutes, even longer on extremely cold days.
Finally, if you have a helmet with a visor, be aware that it can fog up in cold weather. You may need to keep open one notch to allow fresh air to keep it clean. There are products on the market that are designed to keep your visor from fogging, but I haven’t tried any. You might ask around before purchasing one of them.
Riding in the winter can be as exhilarating as any other time of the year, but you need to be aware of the extra precautions needed. If you heed these warnings, you can enjoy yourself and still get those looks from people in cars. You know those looks; ones of longing and thinking you are crazy. Have fun and stay safe.