How to face winter on a motorcycle? Part 1/2

Part 1/2: jackets, pants and gloves.

Riding a motorcycle or scooter in winter is no easy matter. You have to be much more vigilant when riding, not only because of the precarious grip conditions, but also because your limbs can become numb (arms, legs, hands). What's more, the colder you are, the faster you ride. For example, at an ambient temperature of 5°C, if you're "cruising" at 100km/h, the temperature you feel will be equivalent to -4°C. This is the famous "temperature felt" you hear so much about in the weather reports. You can try taking your radiator on board, putting on your ski mittens and Mappa gloves, but it's not practical on a motorcycle? Today, there are solutions for getting through winter without freezing your butt off. Let's take a look at the motorcycle equipment designed to combat the icy winter.

Properly equipped, you increase comfort (warmth) and reduce the risk of accidents due to numb limbs. A wide range of products are available, for both rider and motorcycle.

Jackets and pants

For those who ride all year round, textiles offer far better protection against cold and rain than leather. A textile garment will be :

- Waterproof, thanks to technical inserts (Gore-Tex being the best, but other inserts offer good value for money while remaining effective),

- Windproof (with Windstopper-type membranes)

- Warmth with thermal liners (from simple polyester liners to Primaloft, Thinsulate or Polartec).

It's important to buy products that are adapted to your use. In fact, if you ride in winter exclusively in town and/or on short trips, there's no need to invest in top-of-the-range equipment. However, you will still need to invest in waterproof clothing to protect you from wind and moisture (e.g. rain jacket).

If you're planning to ride, you'll need to choose more technical products, such as a jacket rather than a blouson. A jacket provides better pelvic protection and limits air infiltration, a source of cold.

And don't underestimate the importance of good pants. When you ride for long periods, your legs will slowly cool down until they become numb. And you risk losing control of your bike, especially at low speeds. Coming from the Hautes-Alpes, I've already done a lot of riding in sub-zero temperatures. I remember once when a friend of mine crashed at a standstill, because his legs were so numb they couldn't hold the bike! So be careful.

Take a look at our wide range of motorcycle jackets on our website

Our motorcycle jackets here

Motorcycle / scooter gloves

Winter motorcycle gloves are essential. As with your legs, if your hands are numb, you won't be able to feel your controls properly, and you may not be able to control your two-wheeler properly. You also need to choose your glove with care. Too tight and it won't keep you warm, and too big and you'll get a bad "feel" for your controls.

Our winter motorcycle gloves here

A little background: a winter motorcycle glove consists first of all of a technical outer shell, generally made of synthetic textile, although leather gloves are also available. This is followed by a lining in a variety of materials: polyester, fleece or other technical solutions such as Primaloft or Thinsulate. Note: this warm lining must not interfere with your movements or the "feel" of the controls. Finally, there's the membrane, which has several roles: to maintain warmth, ensure waterproofing and wick away perspiration.

Tip: on a winter glove, it's best to have a little room at the fingertips. This creates a small insulating buffer zone that slows down the cooling of the extremities.

Which motorcycle glove for which use?

If you're only riding in town, the cold you feel won't be the same as if you were to spend several hours on the freeway. So you need to choose your motorcycle gloves according to your use. If you're mainly an urban rider, you'll want to choose gloves that are supple and give you a good feel for the controls; if you're an all-day rider, you'll want to choose gloves that are warm and quick-drying, and if you live in a region with high humidity, you'll want to choose gloves that are quick-drying.

Heated motorcycle gloves

For those who suffer from the cold, and I'm one of them, there are heated motorcycle gloves. For us, they're the ultimate solution against the cold, especially if, like me, you're sensitive to frostbite.

If you're going to use them every day, you can opt for the cordless, battery-powered versions. You'll have an autonomy of 2 to 3 hours, depending on the model, in the maximum position. This means you can get through your daily commute comfortably.

If you're going to be on the road for several hours, we advise you to opt for a wired version, connected directly to the motorcycle's battery. You won't have any problems with autonomy, and you'll be on 12 volts with a better heating intensity.

Warning: if you get a taste for heated gloves, you won't be able to do without them.

Discover our heated motorcycle gloves here

You'll find part 2 (hoods/neck warmers, underwear and boots) in our next article. In the meantime, don't forget: "The cold is one of the biker's worst enemies... So protect yourself! "