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Winter Motorcycle Riding And Care Tips

Winter makes riding a motorcycle a lot more difficult – temperatures are lower and road conditions are more hazardous. In this article, we’ll cover the essential tips for safer winter motorcycle riding and how to protect your bike in the colder weather.

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Additional words by: Auto Trader

Last updated on 2 November 2023 | 0 min read

If you’re planning to ride your motorcycle through the winter months, it’s just as important to know how to look after your motorcycle as it is to know how to ride it in more difficult conditions. Don’t let the cold and snow put you off buying a motorcycle or getting out on the roads this winter – all the best riders will tell you the more you get used to riding in difficult conditions the better and safer you will be on the road.

Prepare Your Motorcycle For Winter Riding

The TCLOC acronym is the best way to remember the vital checks you should make to your motorcycle if you plan to ride it through the winter:
  • Tyres: Examine your tyres tread depth and make sure they’re properly inflated – the right tread depth and inflation level will improve your motorcycle’s traction in slippery conditions.
  • Controls: Make sure all the bike’s controls work and do what they’re supposed to do.
  • Lights: Confirm that your lights are working – visibility is crucial during the darker winter months.
  • Oil: Check your oil level – don’t let it fall too low. Lubrication is important to ensuring your bike’s moving parts don’t seize up.
  • Chassis: Inspect the overall condition of your bike's chassis to ensure structural integrity and that there’s no rust or dirt building up.

Regular Winter Riding Checks

As you ride your motorcycle through winter, you’ll want to add some regular checks to your checklist. These extra winter-specific checks should be carried out to ensure your motorcycle stays ride-ready:
  • Drive Chain Maintenance: Regularly clean and lubricate your bike's drive chain to prevent corrosion and maintain its efficiency in the face of winter conditions.
  • Rolling Resistance: Ensure your bike rolls freely without resistance. For example, salt corrosion can cause brake pads to stick to the discs.
  • Carburettor vs. Fuel Injection: If your motorcycle is older and equipped with carburettors, warm it up with the choke engaged before setting off. Modern fuel-injected bikes can typically be ridden immediately.
  • Engine Warm-Up: When you start your bike after a period of inactivity, let the engine warm up for a few minutes before revving it. Ideally, bring the engine to its normal operating temperature before embarking on your journey. A short test ride can serve as a final check.
  • Storage: Park your motorcycle in a garage or shelter. If you don’t have access to a shelter, you should purchase a cover to put over your motorcycle while it’s parked up. You can read more about <a href=

Be Aware Of The Winter Weather Conditions

Heavy rain and snow, low winter sun, fog, leaf falls, slippery surfaces and black ice all represent extra challenges for a motorcycle rider. The key is to make sure you respect these elements.
Leave as much space as possible between you and other vehicles. You should also position yourself in the middle of the road lane whenever possible, as this will ensure you are protected from any unexpectedly strong gusts of wind. You should also make sure you ride slower than you usually would and remember that you are going to need longer to slow down and stop your motorbike when the roads are icy and wet.

Dress For Winter Riding

It is advisable to invest in proper winter biking gear. This includes one-piece leathers that aren’t going to allow the wind to creep in through gaps in the fabric and remember to layer up under these suits.
Be aware that winter biking gear does come at a price. If you cannot afford this, make sure your layers overlap properly and invest in some one-piece thermals. Perhaps the most important clothing to invest in are a pair of well-insulated gloves. They will enable you to brake and shift gears with ease without your fingers going numb. You could also invest in specialist items such as heated grips or wind guards for your hands.

Good Gloves Will Improve Your Reaction Time

We’ve just touched on the importance of purchasing a good pair of gloves for the winter period. This is not only important for your comfort, but also vital because cold fingers can result in slower reflexes - something you cannot afford while you’re on the winter roads. You need to ensure that you use a pair of gloves that are thermal and waterproof so that your hands are going to be warm and dry irrespective of the conditions. Ideally, they will also be reflective or luminous so that you increase your chances of being seen by other people on the road.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it: some essential tips for winter motorcycle riding and maintaining your motorbike during the winter months. If you follow the tips, you’ll be in a better position to ride safely and avoid some expensive repair bills throughout and after the winter period.

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