Physical stress caused by weather that’s too cold, too hot or too wet can be tiring, distracting and slow your reaction times. So check the weather forecast and dress for the conditions. You’ll enjoy it more, ride better and be safer.
Use insulation and wind proofing to prevent loss of feeling in your hands and feet.
The idea is to trap a thick layer of warm air (insulation) between your body and the outer (wind-proof) layer of clothing.
It’s good to keep your extremities warm by wearing the likes of insulated boots and gloves, or heated clothing.
But remember, the brain restricts blood flow to the extremities to try and maintain core temperature. So if your body is cold, your hands and feet will be too.
In the heat of summer, it’s tempting to go without protective clothing. But don’t let a little sunshine get in the way of commonsense.
Apart from the massive risk it poses in a crash, uncovered skin absorbs heat directly from the sun, causing rapid dehydration and sunburn.
Ventilation is the key to avoiding heat stress. Mesh or vents let wind flow through clothing and over the skin to evaporate sweat.
Bright-coloured clothing reflects rather than absorbs heat from the sun and hot tarmac.
And don’t forget to protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses, or use a tinted visor or visor peak.
Wet clothing is bad news on a motorcycle because of the wind chill factor. For every 5km/h wind speed, the surface temperature drops five degrees.
Your protective leathers might keep out a light shower but beyond that they’re hopeless. You’d need to slip a PVC or plasticized nylon over-suit on top. (But don’t use them on their own, as they’re not protective.)
What you really need is purpose-designed waterproof, breathable gear, with:
If you’re not sure about anything, check the fine print on the label or ask your retailer for help.
