These Tips Will Make Riding In The Summers Easy Breezy (2024)

Summers are the definition of a love-hate relationship for motorcyclists. The clear weather and grippy tarmac make it the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with your motorcycle, while the harsh sunlight, hot winds, and sweat all contribute to the ‘hate’ side of things. The latter becomes even more prevalent around July/August when the mercury rises to upwards of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. So do you just give in, switch on the AC, sit at home, and let your motorcycle wish for a new owner? Well, of course not. Instead, all you need to do is follow the pivotal tips mentioned below which will help you prepare for these problems and enjoy every mile on your beast.

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Choose Your Riding Gear Wisely

Did you know your upper body (face, neck, chest) is way more sensitive to heat than your legs? Yes, you read that right, and this is crucial trivia for summer riding. It basically means when you’re riding in the summer, you’ll feel the hottest in the torso region while the legs won’t bug you all that much. So it’s important you pick your riding gear wisely.

Mesh riding jackets are the obvious picks here, as they provide much-needed ventilation to your torso and help evaporate the sweat to cool you down. But what makes a bigger difference is a cooling vest. These are filled (or soaked) with water before putting on, and add extra coolness as the water evaporates. You can get one for between $50 to $100, which is pretty affordable too. Next, your focus should be on a well-ventilated helmet and gloves. You’ll have to do your homework here, though, as ventilation might come at the cost of wind noise and protection, respectively. Also, you can try soaking your balaclava to keep your head cool, and wear bright colors (since they retain less heat).

Once these are sorted, look at your bank account to see whether you can invest in mesh riding pants and boots. If not, buy whatever fits your budget (and has good protection) because of the above trivia. Not to mention, in case you own a full-faired sports bike (like the Ducati Panigale V4) or a thumpy cruiser (like the Harley-Davidson Fat Bob), your legs will be cooked by the engine heat either way, instead of the ambient temperature.

Sip, Sip, Hurray

Sun plus the aforementioned riding gear is a recipe for a whole lot of sweating. And sweating means your body is constantly losing water. This can lead to dehydration and drowsiness–two very problematic phenomena for riders. So it’s crucial you top off your body’s water frequently, the easiest way solution for which is a hydration pack. These are cheap, barely take much space, and help replenish your H2O levels even when you’re powering through a freeway. Plus, this means less time for water breaks and more saddle time. A decent one costs under $60, just like this Kriega Hydrapack. In case this doesn’t seem like a good investment, then simply halt every hour or two, drink water, and get back at it. Just don’t be dehydrated.

Hide And Seek Can Be Your Best Friend

Yes, you read that right. And no, we don’t mean you should play hide and seek with your motorcycle buddies. We mean you should use the clock to your advantage and play the game with the Sun. If you know the sun in your city gets too harsh between 12 pm to 4 pm, schedule your riding time around these hours, not in these hours. Dawn is the best time to start a long ride (in our opinion), as the temperatures are the lowest and the roads the emptiest. This also gives you more daytime to tackle any issues (unlike dusk), additionally, better visibility during the daytime benefits both you and other road users.

Let The Air Flow

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Our final tip for you is to let the wind flow, even if it’s hot. This will do two things for you. First, it’ll help expedite the evaporation of sweat (or water in your cooling vest) which means you’ll cool down faster. Second, it’ll maintain the airflow inside your riding gear (helmet in particular) so there’s always fresh air. We also suggest you open your helmet visor slightly, but not wide enough to let any bugs get in. Concurrently, this means if you have a massive touring screen to avoid windblast, consider lowering it or removing it to maintain enough flow. It might slow you down slightly (especially true for naked motorcycles with massive wind blasts), but hey, at least you won’t be cooking up inside.

Which one of these do you look forward to trying this summer? And which one of these have you already tried? Don’t forget to let us know in the comments!