Summer Motorcycle Riding Tips
Summer Motorcycle Riding Tips
Summer motorcycle riding in the prairies is a hot, windy adventure that raises lots of dust as you zip along the flat landscape. However, riding a motorcycle in hot weather has its hazards including the risk of heat stroke, sunburn or having an object fly in your eye.
Extreme heat can also make leather seats too hot to sit on, as well as heat up handlebars, gas tanks and the radiator. Wearing the right gear and staying hydrated in the summer heat is crucial as it can be a long stretch of highway between rest stations in rural Saskatchewan.
Stay safe in extreme by following these hot weather tips for motorcyclists.
Be Prepared for Hot Weather Riding
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious conditions that can have you feeling so dizzy and ill that you might have to dismount your bike in the middle of nowhere. Furthermore, motorcycles can break down in warm weather, leaving you stranded in high temperatures.
Motorcycle riders should ever leave the home without a full tank of gas, a full radiator and a charged cell phone Pack plenty of water and a flare in case you stall in a remote area with no cell signal.
Stay Hydrated
The key to avoiding heat exhaustion is to hydrate yourself fully by drinking plenty of water before you set out and then to keep hydrating yourself with electrolyte-balanced fluids while you are on the road. Never leave home on a hot summer day without a bottle of water or a sports drink.
Stay Cool
Breathable mesh jackets, vests with evaporative cooling and motorcycle helmets with vents can keep you cool. Wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn and the absorption of UV rays in your skin.
Wear the Right Riding Gear
The best way to dress on a hot day is in layers, starting with a T-shirt, and then a cooling vest. Vented motorcycle gloves can help keep your hands cool.
This is not the time to wear your heaviest black leather jacket. Stick to wearing light colours that deflect the sun’s heat and modern clothing materials, such as Kevlar, that have moisture-wicking properties.
A full-faced helmet with a shaded visor helps to keep dirt out of your eyes as well as prevent the sun’s hot glare from obstructing your vision. A bandanna dipped in cold water can be twisted around the forehead to keep it cool.
Motorcycle riders should not wear flip-flops or flimsy running shoes as they do not offer enough protection from the extreme heat generated by the metal parts of the motorcycle on a hot day.
If you live in Saskatchewan, then you can easily find everything you need for perfect summer motorcycle riding on the open road at Redline Harley-Davidson. This includes everything, like hydration packs, evaporative cooling vests, mesh jackets, bandanas, visors and other hot weather motorcycle gear.