When it comes to riding in the blistering heat of the summer months, many riders wonder whether they want to wear their leather protective gear in the scorching temperatures.
Well, to chuck out your protective gear because it’s hot is not a wise idea to have. No matter what time or season you are riding your bike, your safety should always be your priority.
But what about the heat in the summers when you are riding under the blazing sun?
Studies have shown that most accidents that take place in perfect summer conditions, happen because of dehydration. When a rider gets dehydrated due to uncompromising heat, their cognitive ability to take fast and accurate decisions drops significantly and as a result, they become more prone to meeting with an accident.
In this article, we will provide you with some general tips for riding safely in summer along with a few suggestions on your riding gear. Keep reading to know what gear to wear in the scorching summer months so that you stay hydrated and cool on the inside –
What to Wear When Riding a Motorcycle in Hot weather
- Evaporative Cooling Head and Neck Wear
- Motorcycle Kevlar Riding Jeans
- Evaporative Cooling Vest
- Light-colored Protective Gear
- Hot Weather Motorcycle Gloves
- Hot Weather Motorcycle Boots
- Hot Weather Motorcycle Jacket
Evaporative Cooling Head and Neck Wear
When it comes to hot weather motorcycle gear, wearing an evaporative cooling head-wear or neck-wear can be really helpful when you are riding your bike in hot weather conditions.
This summer motorcycle gear is designed to keep the wearer cool during their rides.
The mechanism of these head and neckwear is pretty simple, they absorb the perspiration from the skin and then release it into the atmosphere as vapor so that it does not cause any further harm to your body with its absorbed salts and minerals.
If you invest a few bucks a buy a cooling head and neck wrap with better moisture-wicking technology, you will see for yourself the unmatched comfort of riding, wearing them.
HB Motorcycle DuPont Kevlar Riding Jeans
When you are on a long journey on your motorcycle, comfort is what matters most. The last thing you want to do is to sit all day on your bike rigidly because of the riding jeans you are wearing.
When it comes to the HB Motorcycle DuPont Kevlar Riding Jeans, you can be rest assured that your skin will not feel rigid while wearing them because they are made up of a special material – Kevlar.
The jeans have been manufactured keeping in mind the comfort level of a rider along with the durability that everyone needs on the road.
Evaporative Cooling Vest
When you are out on your bike, it is extremely important to keep yourself hydrated. Or otherwise, you are in for some serious trouble including getting a heat stroke.
And when you are feeling thirsty or fatigued after a long ride, the best way to re-energize yourself back is by drinking water.
But what if there was an easier way for you to stay hydrated even while riding your motorcycle? Well, now there are – vests with the ability to keep you cool using evaporation.
These vests can easily fit into any pocket of your riding gear and work by releasing moisture into the air around you so that you feel cool and hydrated at all times irrespective of any circumstances.
Another great thing about these cooling vests is that the fabric is designed to release moisture at a very slow rate for several hours.
This becomes immensely helpful to the rider, especially on those long empty patches of the highway, riding under the blazing sun.
Light-Colored Protective Gear
If you are looking for something inexpensive yet effective to protect yourself from the harmful UV rays of the sun, make sure to wear a set of gear that will reflect heat from your body rather than absorb it.
This is because if the fabric absorbs heat, then most certainly you are going to be fried inside your gear. So what do we mean by ‘light-colored clothing? Well, It is better if you choose white or khaki-colored riding leg gears so that it does not absorb heat from the sun and keep your skin safe.
Apart from this, if you don’t have a pair of white or khaki pants but still want to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun, then try wearing reflective gear or at least invest in high SPF sunscreen for protection against the blinding sun rays.
Hot Weather Motorcycle Gloves
If you do not mind investing in a good pair of gloves, then nothing can be better than these evaporative cooling gloves to keep your hands cool and comfortable, when you are riding a motorcycle in extreme heat.
These motorcycle gloves are manufactured by the same companies that manufacture the cooling vests which we mentioned earlier.
The fabric that has been used in making these special kinds of gloves is the same as that used in the cooling vests and has been specially designed to absorb and release moisture within the glove.
In hot days or warm weather, it’s highly important that heat dissipation takes place properly from every part of your gear that you are wearing. If this does not happen, high temperatures coupled with heavy sweating can seriously put you at risk.
Hot Weather Motorcycle Boots
When riding your motorcycle in the hot weather, regardless of all the comfort gear you are wearing, it is important to make sure that your feet are still comfortable.
And this is where you need a special kind of boots called ‘Hot Weather Motorcycle Boots’. These boots are specially made keeping both the protection and comfort needs of an adventurer in mind. They come with a variety of features like increased airflow, ankle support, and a high-quality sole system for shock absorption.
The only problem with these special motorcycle boots is that they are pretty expensive so not everyone can afford them easily.
And if you have tight budget but still want to protect your feet from the blazing sun during long rides on your bike, then buying some good quality sunscreen socks would be a better idea rather than spending hundreds of dollars on fancy motorcycle boots.
No matter what you do, never settle for flip-flops for riding in hot weather.
Hot Weather Motorcycle Jacket
If you are having a really tight budget and cannot afford to buy expensive cooling vests or motorcycle gloves, then there is no better option for you than investing in a good quality motorcycle jacket with removable armor.
What most people do not know is that finding the right kind of motorbike jacket can be difficult when it comes to deciding on the perfect combination between comfort and safety.
But if you invest in one thing, make sure it is always high-quality jackets with vents, specially built at the back, so that air flows through it easily during long rides on your bike regardless of how hot the weather gets.
The most important thing about choosing the correct protective gear in hot weather is to choose materials that will help keep you cool even during extended periods.
If you buy a leather jacket, make sure the leather is high-quality and breathable. Otherwise, that expensive leather jacket can cause some serious heat exhaustion within you.
Tips for Riding Safely in the Summer Heat
- Stay Hydrated
- Carry a Hydrapack
- Take Rests in Between
- Avoid Hitting the Road During the Hottest Part of the Day
Stay Hydrated
One of the most important things that you can do during summer is to keep yourself hydrated at all times.
Make sure not to carry less water with you, especially if you are riding long distances through hot sunny days. You don’t want to have a heat stroke in the middle of nowhere.
Also, whenever possible try to drink water regularly by sipping on it instead of gulping it down your throat in one go so that you stay hydrated for a longer time.
Carry A Hydrapak
We have seen many instances where bikers have fainted due to dehydration while being on the road even though they had taken enough precautions against it.
It just goes on to show how important it is for us riders to stay hydrated even when we are out there on the road.
Hence, it’s best to carry a hydrapak so that you don’t have to worry about stopping purposely for drinking some water.
You can use the straw and keep yourself hydrated while you are riding!
Take Rests in Between
Summer is the time when we feel most lethargic and our energy levels hit rock-bottom. So, it’s best that we take breaks in between our rides and relax for a while before we can start riding again.
Even if you’re just sitting by the side of the road and enjoying some fresh air, it will help revamp your energy levels and keep you going for longer periods of time on your motorcycle.
Avoid Hitting the Road During the Hottest Part of the Day
Riding your bike in hot weather conditions is difficult in itself.
So, try to avoid riding when the sun is at its pole position and beating you down with extreme heat. Also, try not to ride on the highways during peak hours because at that time, the roads are crowded with vehicles, the sun will be beating down on you, and together the surroundings can disrupt your cognitive abilities to make decisions on the road.
So, avoid driving under the scorching sun as it does not just make you lethargic but also, forces you to cover yourself up, which again can contribute negatively to your concentration and focus.
Conclusion
Now you know about all the gear and some useful tips that you need to ride your motorcycle on a hot day.
We hope that you now have the perfect idea on how to stay cool in the hot weather and look good in the extreme heat while making sure that your skin stays safe from the harmful UV rays during summer days.
Always remember that the extreme heat of the summer months is no excuse for you to hop on your bike wearing a cotton shirt and flip-flops. Nobody wants accidents to happen to them but they still take place.
And at an unfortunate moment you don’t want to be vulnerable without any proper gear, right?
So, always prioritize your safety and ride your bike with focus and concentration in hot weather conditions to be safe from dehydration or heat stroke.
