What to Wear When Riding a Motorcycle in Hot Weather

If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, not much can stop you from enjoying long motorcycle rides and highway cruising. However, even a true motorcycle enthusiast would think twice before going on a motorcycle ride on a hot sunny day. The hot weather and heat generated by a motorcycle can burn your legs and make riding difficult. Wearing appropriate summer riding gear can make your rides bearable in hot weather. Read this article to learn what to wear when riding a motorcycle in hot weather.

Wearing appropriate riding gear that can help reduce impacts is important for road safety. However, such gear provides full body coverage that can increase body temperature, thus causing many riders to opt for t-shirts and shorts. However, wearing fewer clothes when riding a motorcycle in hot weather can result in sunburns and reduce bodily protection in the event of a crash. Therefore, whether it is cold or hot outside, always wear appropriate riding gear.

If you don’t want to expose your skin to harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, make sure to cover your skin completely. It can be difficult to wear full clothes in hot weather but exposing too much of your skin can result in skin problems. Riders usually don’t cover their skin while riding on hot sunny days, which results in sweat evaporating faster and causing your body to become dehydrated faster.

Sweating helps keep your body cool if the outside temperature is higher than your body temperature. However, sweating can also cause itching and make your riding gear start to stink. Moisture-wicking fabric dries quickly and keeps you cool while riding in hot weather.

Wear a lightweight base layer while riding in hot weather to keep your skin covered without carrying heavy and warm clothing. A performance wear base layer is a good option as it is lightweight, flexible, comfortable, and prevents sweat buildup.

Wear light-colored clothes that reflect more heat and keep your body cool. Avoid wearing dark colors as they tend to absorb a lot of heat.

Textile jackets are not as heavily built or offer much protection as leather jackets. However, there are certain brands that manufacture textile jackets specially designed for riding in hot weather. These jackets are more lightweight than leather jackets and are better at keeping you cool. Textile jackets also offer good protection and can soften impacts. If you feel too hot inside a textile jacket, you can remove the extra paddings to make it more lightweight. Textile jackets also have adjustable air vents that can be opened for better ventilation.

Textile motorcycle gloves are an ideal alternative to leather gloves. Leather gloves are thick, restrict airflow, and make your hands sweat heavily.

Unlike leather gloves, textile gloves are made from mesh, which allows air to pass through them. Another advantage of textile gloves over leather gloves is that you can operate touchscreen displays and smartphones without removing them. However, unlike leather motorcycle gloves, they do not offer as good bodily protection.

Wearing impact-resistant pants while riding a motorcycle ensures better protection. Some textile pants have built-in knee pads to protect your knees from getting scratched during a motorcycle crash. These pants are lightweight, comfortable, stylish, and breathable, and have air vents, making them ideal for riding in hot weather.

For an evaporative cooling vest, all you need to do is to soak the vest in cold water for at least five minutes before wearing it. The polymer fabric can stay hydrated for up to four hours and is better than wearing a wet cotton t-shirt.

Riders usually remove their helmets while riding in hot weather to stay cool. However, riding without a helmet can be dangerous since it could result in severe to fatal head injuries. When choosing the right helmet to wear in hot weather, use the following criteria:

• Wear a light-colored helmet
• A full-face helmet provides better protection and skin coverage.
• Use a helmet that has air vents.

The modular helmet is also a good option as the chin section can be detached if necessary. You do not need to remove this helmet while taking a break. Just detach the chin section by pressing the button on the front to allow airflow and let heat escape.

Wearing head and neckwear with temperature control can help keep your head and neck covered and cool. Good-quality head and neckwear specially designed for motorcyclists, such as the Oxford Comfy Coolmax head and neckwear, are made of a special lightweight fabric. The fabric is moisture-absorbent to keep your body temperature low.

If you are looking to buy a pair of motorcycle riding boots for summer, do not go for waterproof shoes as they are less breathable. Also, make sure to buy summer motorcycle boots that are durable and protect your feet. Although, you will have to carry an extra pair of waterproof motorcycle boots for riding in the rain. Boots with laces are also a good option as they provide better ventilation. To keep your feet cool while riding in hot weather, use socks made of moisture-wrecking fabric.

The tips listed below can help you stay safe and healthy while you ride a motorcycle on hot sunny days.

If you are going on a motorcycle trip and taking a route where it might be difficult to find water, make sure to carry enough drinking water to stay hydrated. If you do not have space in your saddlebags or backpack, you can install a bottle holster bag on your motorcycle. You can also buy a Camelbak water reservoir that can be carried on your back. It is available in different sizes, including 1.5L, 3L, and 6L, and includes a straw pipe to make it easier to drink water while riding.

To protect yourself from harmful UV rays and heat stroke, do not ride during the hottest time of the day. Avoid riding a motorcycle from 12 pm to 3 pm when the intensity of the heat is at its peak. Since daytime lasts longer during the summer than in the winter, you should have enough time to go on a motorcycle ride in the early morning.

To ride a motorcycle safely in hot weather, you should make frequent stops throughout the ride. It is good to take a break underneath shade or a cool place where you can hydrate yourself. Before going on a motorcycle ride in hot weather, make sure to check the stops available along the route, including the fuel stations, parks, seashores, and scenic rivers.

Sunburn not only damages your skin but can also cause you to become dehydrated. Too much exposure to sunlight during the peak hours can drain all the energy, vitamins, and nutrients from your body and cause you to feel fatigued. Make sure to apply sunscreen on your face and the back of your neck. Use a good-quality sunblock with an SPF level of at least 30 that does not easily come off due to sweat.

It is difficult to ride a motorcycle in hot weather while wearing full riding gear that completely covers your skin. Your skin may not be able to breathe if you are wearing a leather jacket, pants, and gloves. However, there are several brands that manufacture good-quality breathable riding gear suited for riding in hot weather. These riding gear are made of moisture-wicking fabric that can absorb sweat quickly and ensure you stay cool. By wearing the appropriate riding gear and following the tips covered in this article, you can stay cool and safe while riding in hot weather.

Besides good-quality riding gear ensuring your safety, installing a few good-quality aftermarket parts can your motorcycle’s safety features. Viking Bags has a wide range of motorcycle parts to improve your motorcycle’s ride quality, including handlebars, seats, backrests, sissy bars, crash bars, and fairings. To carry useful stuff while going on a long motorcycle trip, Viking Bags also offer a wide range of motorcycle luggage options, including saddlebags, sissy bar bags, tank bags, and tail bags.