by Marguerite Clanton

Motorcycle Weather Gear Tips

A few pieces of motorcycle weather equipment are a must have if you want to be prepared for any weather condition. They are:

• Rain Gear
• Thermal underwear
• Electrically heated handgrips
• Electrically heated clothing
• Water holding device such as a CamelBak
• Lightweight ventilated jacket

Let's start with rain gear. They come in 2 ways, one or two piece suits. My personal preference is a two piece suit called “frog togs.”  These suits protect you from the wet and dry out very quickly and are light and easily packed into a small saddle bag.  Although, rain gear is not a hot topic around many bikers and you won't see many wearing them but when you do they are prepared and love the fact that they are dry. You don't want to be wet all day; I personally hate to be soaked from rain.

Thermal underwear.  If you ride in areas where temperature drops below 60 degrees at any time of the day you should consider thermal underwear as one of your motorcycle accessories. Thermal underwear will keep you warm and prevent you from getting hypothermia. Thermal underwear is also great because you can layer clothing on top it such as a sweat shirt or a jacket.

Ok, electrically heated handgrips and clothing sounds a bit strange right? Well, not if you live in Wisconsin and want to be warm and comfortable during your rides. Keeping your hands warm with gloves is one thing but even in colder weather they will not be sufficient.  As far as clothing goes there are several companies out there that make electrical clothing such as jackets which will provide you with an additional level of heat.

Water holding devices are my favorite. If you were ever in the military or a runner or love to do things outdoors you probably already own such a device. In fact you probably have a CamelBak. They are great. Such water holding devices hold your water cool and more importantly provide you fast access to water to ensure you stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is very important in warm weather climates.

Lightweight ventilated jacket.  There are many of these on the market and of course your personal preference can help you make the decision on what to purchase.  The Gortex is a most popular one due to its rain resistant, lightweight nature.  They also make these in several protective forms along with illumination for night driving.  So whether you are riding in the heat, cold or rain, these are an option to think about.