Stay out of the cold, get the right motorcycle winter clothing

There are some of you who simply have to ride through the winter for a variety of reasons, so it's worth making sure that you stay as warm and as safe as possible with the proper motorcycle winter clothing over this rather chilly season.

We've been seeing some very cold temperatures hit the UK this winter, well in to the minuses. If you was to travel at 60mph in minus 5 degrees, the wind chill factor would send this temperature down to a bitterly cold minus 18 degrees C. Ride your bike for an hour and your brain will begin to feel like it's been left in the freezer overnight. Unless you take the necessary precautions.

The best place to start when minimising wind chill is to cover the places where cold air could rush in. Do this by wearing good quality gloves and neck warmers.

Gloves

Good winter gloves will not only be thick but will often carry a wind chill resistant material to further aid keeping your hand warm. If you can afford Gore-Tex gloves that's even better, wet and cold DO NOT go together well.

Neck Warmers

Neck warmers do work very well and I wouldn't be without one in the colder months now. A good neck warmer can be the difference between snugness, and getting an icy blast in the face.

Base Layers

Base layers are very important as they keep the most important part of your body warm. If your core body temperature drops by a single degree it will have massive implications on your motor functions and reaction time. In my eyes the EDZ Merino wool base layers are the best on the market, but there are others available.

Balaclavas

A balaclava is another ideal way to keep the chills away from around your head and neck area. They also serve as another thermal layer to keep the head itself warm.

Heated Grips

Although gloves do their very best at keeping your hands warm, when you have minus 18 degree winds blasting your hands inevitably they will get cold. Heated grips are a brilliant way to keep your hands warmer for longer, and if you buy good quality ones like Oxford Hotgrips or Oxford Hothands, they'll stay warm all the way home

With this range of motorcycle winter clothing and gear there's no reason why you can't enjoy the winter riding just as much as the summer. Ok, maybe nearly as much as summer.