Winter in India is the best time to go on a motorcycle trip, there is no denying that fact. If you are planning to ride your bike a lot this winter, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind when going out on your winter rides.
Stay warm
Never make the mistake of wearing light and thin clothes when you are going on a winter motorcycle ride even if the temperature does not seem too cold! When you are riding a motorcycle, the upper body is completely exposed to the elements and the cold winter wind can immediately chill down your core temperature and start shivering due from inside if that happens if not only will you be uncomfortable but also unable to maintain proper control over the motorcycle and that can lead to an accident. Always make sure to use the proper riding safety gear and use a winter motorcycle riding jacket which will not just keep you want but also protected if you ever happen to get into an accident. A good quality branded motorcycle helmet may be the better choice over an open face motorcycle helmet to prevent the chilly winter wind from cooling you down.
Expect traction loss
Always be mentally prepared to lose direction of the motorcycle because the root surface might be cold and wet and on top of that it might also have a thin layer of ice or condensation that might have formed during the night. It is always a good idea to replace the motorcycle tires and we will talk more about that later, but here we just want to highlight the fact that you need to be mentally prepared to immediately regain control of your bike if there is a wet or Ice-covered patch on the road. It is also a very good idea to keep the overall speed of the motorcycle to a maintainable speed so that you can break and bring the bike to a stop without any incident.
Stay alert
The low temperature of winter suddenly makes it okay for drivers to start drinking and driving! Always be on the watch for such drivers on the roads because they are either fatigued and groggy from the influence of alcohol and they might not see you on the road at all. This becomes an even bigger problem if the visibility is low due to fog for cloudy conditions. Remember to wear bright clothes and keep all of your lights on so that you are visible from afar.
Get winter tires
Like we said earlier, the motorcycle tire needs to be replaced in winter with proper winter tires which provide better grip and traction on the road surface and thereby giving you a better chance of meeting with control over the bike even under inhospitable conditions. The cost of winter tires is not prohibitively high, and you can get a discount by exchanging your existing tires.
Don’t skip on the maintenance
The cold temperature of winter can take a toll on the mechanical parts of the motorcycle which means you cannot skip on the regular maintenance and upkeep of the machine especially during the winters when things always have a higher likelihood of breaking down and keeping you stranded in the middle of the road with no help! In fact, it is a good idea to take a motorcycle for frequent maintenance then you would during the spring or summer.
Comments