For riding in colder temperatures, cold weather motorcycle gear is designed to keep you warm and comfortable.

We'll explain what cold weather motorcycle gear options are available and what's best to use. Not only do you have to deal with the colder weather you also need to worry about snow and ice on the roads. For safety matters, please do not ride in the snow and ice. But if you like riding in the cooler temperatures there are a few things to think about.

For starters while riding you are not moving around a lot, so your body will get colder faster. Dressing in cold weather motorcycle gear will help you stay warmer and keep the blood flowing. Remember that keeping your head warm will help keep the rest of you warmer, so don't leave that out. To prevent from getting cold, you need clothing that is made for the colder weather. You need fabrics that are made from windproof materials that are light enough so that you can layer them to help insulate you from the cold and wind. 

Let's start from the inside and work out. I'm talking about "long johns". Yes they keep you warm and after all the extra layering, you'll be good and warm. You want to just make sure to keep the bulk down so you'll still be able to move. They do make long underwear (windproof underwear) for us motorcycle riders. Make sure that they cover well, some you may find will have stirrups to go around the arch of your foot to keep them from rising up your legs.

Other cold weather motorcycle gear to consider are gloves. We've all been there, fingers freezing, not being able to hang onto the handle bars. Look for wind proof and insulated gloves that have a gauntlet to cover the sleeves of your jacket. Leather will offer protection if you go down but are not very waterproof and if you get caught in the rain will get very heavy and water logged. Textiles with Gore-Tex and Thinsulate insulation can provide both warmth and waterproofing. Some of the newer gloves even have Kevlar in them to provide even more protection.

The most important thing to cover that most people don't realize until they are out on the road is the neck opening of your jacket? There are different methods of covering your neck, from scarves to dickies and masks that have a long neck to them. Again look for materials that are wind and waterproof and that provide insulation.

Let's face it, most bikers love leather jackets. They're classic, smell good and make you feel protected. But without an added layer from a liner, they can be quite cold. Good liners are made from material that traps dead air and inhibits the flow of heat. The old principle of layering works well here because layers of material will trap dead air between the layers. There are a number of good synthetic materials, such as fleece, to use as a layer under a jacket, plus very thin jackets made of windproof, tightly woven fleece, and works well as a thermal liner under another jacket too.

The windproof quality of leather makes it an ideal outer layer for cold rides. You can use the same leather motorcycle apparel you use in midsummer. Leather chaps or pants are ideal on cool rides, inserting a thermal liner or adding additional layers underneath keeps us comfortable. Remember too, riding on the back of the bike will be colder than the front. On the back you are out in the wind and don't have the warmth of the engine under you.

The newest and greatest cold weather motorcycle clothing to hit the market is heated clothing. They are powered by batteries as well as being able to hook into your bikes electrical system. You can get heated jackets, pants, gloves and even socks. Now we can head out on those cold, windy days and be warm without worrying about layering. 

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