Heated motorcycle clothing for your safety in the depths of winter
Heated motorcycle clothing – Making those long rides in winter more enjoyable
When I first started riding motorcycles there was no heated motorcycle clothing and I did not like wearing gloves, so in winter my hands were red with cold. Now I’m a lot older and appreciate the available comforts of heated motorcycle clothes. I cannot imagine going for long rides during winter without heated gloves and heated vest.
The need for heated motorcycle clothing
For those longer rides when the temperature has dropped beyond that at which our motorcycle thermal clothing remains effective, we need a temperature boost in the form of heated motorcycle clothing.
Picture riding your motorcycle braving the frosty temperatures of a freezing winter morning. OK, initially, you feel good and you’re a hero, but, after some time, you find it hard to grip the handlebar properly and the clutch and front brake controls are harder to operate as your fingers are slowly becoming numb. You also find it difficult to go any faster as the wind chill factor increases. Even at 40 mph the air is bitterly cold and makes you feel too uncomfortable. It doesn’t sound like an enjoyable ride, does it?
When it's cold, your body tries to protect the vital organs by reducing blood flow in your extremities and retains as much body heat as possible. Particularly, if it is windy, it becomes increasingly difficult for your body to preserve heat. This is why it is advisable to wear heated motorcycle clothes when you go on long rides on your bike during a cold spell. They keep you warm, shield you from the agonisingly cold wind, and help you enjoy your motorcycle rides even in the coldest of weather conditions.
If you find yourself cold and suffering the discomfort from wind chill, it can be distracting, reactions will be slower and therefore safety may be compromised. It’s most important for your safety, whatever the weather, to be comfortable when riding.
The essential winter riding gear
You can find a wide range of biker clothing for the colder weather or special heated motorcycle clothing including jackets, vests, pants, insoles, gloves, and heated back support belts. Among 
these different types of heated motorcycle clothes, vests or jackets, and gloves are absolutely important for any motorcyclist riding long trips in the depths of winter. They are what I call the essential winter riding gear.
Shown here is the Richa Moscow Heated Glove with CE certified hard armour at the knuckles and fingers and visor wipe. This has 2 heat wireless system with batteries and charger supplied
The choices available
You have two choices when it comes to heated motorcycle clothing – the ones that are powered by rechargeable batteries and the ones that are powered by your motorcycle’s battery. Clothes that run on rechargeable batteries will keep you warm even when you’re away from you’re motorcycle. The downside of this type is that you need to periodically recharge or replace the batteries.
An important part of heated motorcycle riding gear is the controller. You can either go for a basic model which is basically an on/off switch or for an advanced model which lets you adjust the temperature according to your needs. Some models come with a dual circuit which allows different temperature settings for your gloves and your liner. You can also go for heated motorcycle clothes which come with an inbuilt temperature controller.
Things to remember
- When wearing heated clothing under existing motorcycle clothing, go for lightweight clothes that come without any padding. They are easy to fit into and don't bulk you up.
- Make sure the clothes you buy fit you perfectly so that the heat transfers from the clothes to your body easily.
- Check the capacity of your motorcycle’s alternator and make sure it meets the energy requirements of the heated clothes you buy. If not, the clothes will not heat properly.
- Clothes and accessories from different brands are not usually compatible with each other. So, when you buy heated motorcycle clothing, make sure you buy everything you need from the same brand.
- Handle heated clothes with care. If they are not handled or maintained properly, they can become inefficient or even fail.
Get your purpose-built heated riding gear today and enjoy those thrilling long rides even in the coldest of weather conditions.
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