Luckily here in the UK we don’t get blankets of snow very often however, winter is still a dangerous time of year for motorcycle riders and you’re more likely to lose control of your bike. We have compiled a list of various tips that can be beneficial to both inexperienced riders and experienced, this isn’t just on the road either it’s also how to keep your bike in tip top shape for the season.
The Right Gear
As winter draws in the days get shorter darker and cooler and of course you want the right gear to combat the problems that can occur during dark journeys here we have some tips that allow you to have a safe trip. We advise avoiding dark clothing particularly during the darker hours.
Reflective gear
This is very important if you’re travelling down dark roads or even going fast down motorways, you need to be seen. It’s already fairly well known that people using cars tend to cause most motorcycle accidents either by not noticing you’re there, there is a blind spot, or looking at all! However, you should take measures to make sure you’re noticed by wearing light/bright colours and reflective materials this drastically enhances visibility for people around you.
Warm gear
Warm gear is really important if you want to respond quickly to situations since having cold hands and feet make them less responsive this is also the same as having restrictive clothing that slows blood flow. Always invest in gear that can also keep you warm enough to ride especially in the winter since going 80mph at 2 degrees isn’t exactly going to be a summer road trip and the wind chill will definitely be in the minuses. It you get too cold you’ll get drowsy so if you feel that way pull over and hop off to quickly get your blood pumping, have a hot drink or pull over to run your hands under a dryer!
Reinforced helmet
it's a UK requirement to wear a helmet since it greatly reduces the risk of death (37% reduction) especially a full face one, which keeps your whole head protected and warm! You don’t need to be told which type of helmet to wear while riding but we will recommend a full-face mask if you have a ¾ helmet. We also advise that you get some anti-mist spray to use on both glasses and visor so you have a nice clear view out the helmet.
Caution while riding
Although you should always be on high alert because riding is a lot more dangerous than driving in a car but especially in the winter since even wet leaves are a huge risk!
Treacherous roads
Arguably one of the worst times to ride are when the roads are wet, icy snowy or even when the wind is particularly strong to the point where some riders would prefer to take other modes of transport. Riders should always check the weather to gauge if the roads are going to be hazardous that particular day or even later on during the day because black ice and snow are incredibly slippery especially during the dark morning, also don’t underestimate wet leaves they can be just as dangerous!
Change your riding style depending on circumstances
The change in your riding style should be synonymous to the change in weather, for example you’d be more cautious in autumn and winter than spring and summer. The way you’re riding depends on many factors such as weather/ground conditions how windy it is and what sort of bike you’re using since small fast bikes with smaller wheels need to be handled a little rougher and slower. You should also (for the sake of others too) indicate/signal earlier so they can definitely see what’s about to happen and decrease the likelihood of pulling in front of you, likewise take into account how slippery the road is and adjust your breaking distance accordingly just in case.
Have a good motorcycle specific towing service
Accidents can happen and its more likely to happen during the winter so having a motorbike emergency contact.
Other road users
Not just car users but everyone, when the weather turns foul people tend to rush more and not in a good way, they might not look as hard for bikes or have their hood up, umbrella up head down not looking too hard at the roads and when it gets to that stage they tend to take more risks which isn’t good for anyone.Also take into account as it gets darker the less visibility they have, so as we said in the reflective gear section standing out is good, so try and be seen for everyone’s safety “Motorcyclists, along with cyclists and pedestrians,are among the most vulnerable road users” 2015 Wales Motorcycle Accident Statistics.
How to look after your bike during the winter
Whether you’re riding your bike or not during the winter you need to look after your bike, the cold can really mess up vital components and its likely to cause an accident or an issue during the rest of the year so here are a few things you should be doing to maintain your ride.
Store it in a good place
A garage or shed is a good place to store a bike and as you don’t want it getting rained on or just touched by the elements covering it up is a good idea. Even when a bike isn’t being used its important to check for corrosion, especially silencers and particularly the exhausts as they are the most vulnerable, so we say spray a light coating of oil after its final use to help it not corrode(you can also get corrode specific protectants such as ACF-50 which is incredibly good) or just as a general thing to look for and apply as necessary if you’re still using it.
For bikes specifically not being used during the winter, top up the fuel since a full tank prevents it from rusting from the inside out during the course the winter but make sure to start up the engine every now and again too so that petrol doesn’t leave a thick mess that can potentially block injectors, this also prevents condensation to build up and also rot the pipe. Lastly you should check and charge the battery or remove it and bring it into a warmer environment as to not get damaged. You can also install a connector to the terminals and trickle charge to keep it topped up, so you don’t have to takeout the whole thing if you don’t need to.
Brakes
You should definitely be looking after the brakes during winter especially if you’re using it as road salt and other ice reducing chemicals will corrode them. So every now and again make sure to check and test your brakes to ensure there is no corrosion.
Change the oil
Dirty oil can increase the chance of corrosion and contaminate the engine leading to premature engine failure, changing the oil is as simple as starting up the engine, letting it run and allowing it to get warm enough so you can simply drain the old oil and refill it.
Battery
Used or not, make sure your battery is well kept as the winter reduces the effectiveness of the battery so trickle charging it or using it regularly will keep the battery in decent condition.
Check anti-freeze
To no one’s surprise when it drops below freezing point water starts turning to ice, radiators need water to keep them cool but if its frozen it won’t move so adding a little antifreeze but we recommend to flush it out after!
Chain
You should be doing this already but for winter especially, clean the chain off and lube it with something such as Muc Off (Lots of different types to suit your needs) or Castrol Racing Chain Lube, we also recommend also to do this after riding it!
Grease the joints
As it says, grease the joints! Make sure the joints are not brittle and check them regularly since the cold makes materials contract.
Wash the bike
If a lot of salt has been put down its important to wash it off after a ride since this is what corrodes the bike, we also suggest washing it off with cold water so that the salt doesn’t dissolve making smaller crystals that make things worse.
Check tires
If it’s particularly cold it might be a good idea to check the pressure of your tires since the pressure drops in the cold. It might also be time to change tires if you think they’re worn since it’s more valuable to have deep tread tires for gripping through snow, ice or slush if it comes to it.
We hope our tips help you this winter, ride safely out there and don’t forget to check out our bikes.