With summer in full swing, it’s easy
to jump on your ride and enjoy the open road. Remember, heat can not only have
a devastating impact on your enjoyment
but your body too. Your motorcycle accessories protect
your body from the physical danger of an accident. Your biker gear can
also combat the more subtle hazards to your health.
Many people think of
extreme weather as intense rain, hail or even snow. In the heart of route 66, it’s easy to forget about the intense heat. Most southwest natives can handle the “cool”
temperatures of 105 degrees, as the thermometer starts creeping up above
115 degrees, we know it’s time to take
some precautions. With the added heat your
engine puts off it can get pretty steamy
during your ride.
Utilizing textile mesh or ventilated motorcycle
accessories adds some cooling as they help evaporation of sweat. Riding
at highway speeds intensifies the effect of heat and increases the rate of evaporation of sweat. In extreme heat, the
body loses fluids at a higher-than-normal rate, which accelerates dehydration.
When that happens, the body produces less sweat,
and in combination with physical exertion, hyperthermia or heat stroke can
develop. If you ever find yourself riding, on a scorching day, feeling a little
nauseous or woozy, pull over and drink some water.
There are many motorcycle accessories that can help keep you cool on your
bike this summer.
1. Hot Weather Ventilated Motorcycle Accessories – Jackets and Vests
Motorcycle accessories, such as textile mesh jackets have a clear advantage
over perforated leather jackets regarding
lightness and air flow for cooling. Biker gear
that includes leather in key areas in
combination with textile mesh or solid textile with closable vents can offer
the best of both worlds.
You can wear full textile, non-mesh jackets that combine ready cool and damp
weather capability with strategically-placed closable vents for good
warm-weather performance.
Perforated leather jackets and zip open vents can provide some welcome cooling.
Unless there are several openings or extensive use of perforation, leather
jacket tends not to breathe as well as a mesh
or hybrid biker gear. Make sure to bring a lot of liquids if you are going to
be air cooling the whole time though. For extreme conditions, a cooling vest
can be a great motorcycle accessory. These
have the advantage of working to cool body core temperatures which are key to helping prevent nasty heat effects.
Full leather jackets that don’t use perforated leather can have effective
cooling. By adding a zipper or hook-and-loop closure vent on the front of the
body, shoulders, arms, and/or back of a leather jacket it can help reduce the heat stored in your
body.
2. Hot Weather Motorcycle Accessories – Gloves
Sweaty palms are unappealing to most people. On a hot day, it can be very
tempting to go without riding gloves. Doing so can severely increase your risk
of damaging and long term injury to your hands.
In the modern world of biking gear,
there are many new features to gloves. There are many types of gloves that aid
in protection as well as ventilation. Gloves are now built to be breathable and
durable in a crash
3. Hot Weather Motorcycle Accessories – Pants and Chaps
Riding pants and chaps are great accessories for protection. While many
bikers feel it is tough to beat good old denim jeans for all-around comfort with summer riding, the fact is, there are a lot of options out there
that add value and protection. Even chaps can go a long way with protection
from many types of weather.
4. Hot Weather Motorcycle Accessories – Sheepskins
Sheepskins are godsend motorcycle accessories
that help with comfort on the long rides. Sheepskin also aids in cooling;
the fibers are naturally hollow allowing for greater breathability. The wool provides a comfortable cushion of air
that acts as an insulator against all weather types, making it a high-quality item to add to your biker gear.
5. Hot Weather Motorcycle Accessories – Helmet
The helmet can be one of the most uncomfortable parts of your motorcycle gear, but it is indispensable for
safe riding. On very hot days a helmet is far from your best friend, but there
are a lot of lightweight, well-ventilated alternatives available.
6. Hot Weather Motorcycle Accessories – Boots
Footwear with great ventilation for
summer tends to be tougher to find. Cooling
biker gear is available that offers
protection for foot, ankle, shin, and Achilles tendon.
There are many options out there, so take ventilation as well as comfort and
protection into account when checking into riding footwear.
7. Hot Weather Motorcycle Accessories – Supplies
Never count on being close to a store to buy something to hydrate yourself
with in the event of a breakdown or unplanned stop. Make sure to bring water,
juice or other things to drink, sunblock, a light long-sleeve cover shirt and
hat for the times you get stuck out in the direct
sun. If you or your passenger are allergic to bee stings or other things that
you may encounter, be sure to take an Epi-pen or other medications as part of
your motorcycle gear when taking long
rides.
8. Hot Weather Motorcycle Accessories – Tire Temperatures and Air Pressures
Tire air pressures are always important, but when pavement temperatures are
in triple digits, under-inflated tires become a disaster waiting to happen. Your
tire’s time to failure gets even shorter if the bike is heavy with luggage and a passenger. Always check tire pressure
before your trip begins.
9. Hot Weather Motorcycle Accessories – Electrics
Electrical systems on modern bikes tend to be less affected by high heat
environments than vintage bikes. It’s always a
good idea to make sure connections are clean and tight whenever you do
electrical work.
Loose or corroded connections on the battery or in the wiring loom cause
increased resistance and can build up heat.
High temperatures can result in blown
fuses or other failures. Carry extra fuses along in your kit and make sure you
have the right amp rating and type of fuse for your bike.
Enjoy your summer but ride safely. There are a
lot of different motorcycle accessories
to help your extreme heat ride go even better. Remember
thunder-rode is your biker gear
resource. We always offer a great variety of equipment
at a great price.
