How to Stay Cool While Riding a Motorcycle

Wear the right clothing.

There are a lot of different types of motorcycle gear available, but the good news is that most gear has a single purpose: to keep you cool. Even if you’re out on the coldest day of the year, your body heat and the friction from riding will make you feel like it’s in the middle of summer.

• Wear moisture-wicking clothing. Most motorcycle gear is made from moisture-wicking fabrics, which means they are designed to transport perspiration away from your body and into the air. Moisture-wicking clothing doesn’t just make you feel cooler; it also helps keep your body temperature more constant by drawing sweat away from your skin.
• Wear ventilated clothing. If you don’t have a mesh jacket or other ventilated fabric, then wear something with mesh panels in strategic locations such as underarm gussets or vents on the back of your jacket or helmet liner. These panels allow air to flow through while keeping the wind out and helping regulate your core body temperature during hot weather riding conditions.”

Drink a lot of water.

You’re going to lose more water when you’re on your bike than if you were in a car. How much water you should drink depends on how long your ride will be; you’ll have to do a bit of research to find out what’s right for you. But, no matter what the length of your ride, it’s important to drink water before and after. If you feel thirsty during a ride, then that means that it’s too late—you’re already dehydrated!

Your body needs enough oxygen while riding and can’t get that if it has to work harder due to dehydration. And without enough oxygen, there will be less blood flow which causes fatigue and loss of concentration. The best thing for everybody is always staying hydrated throughout any motorcycling activity – so drink up!

Wear a helmet made with vents.

Wear a helmet made with vents. Your adventure on the open road is much more enjoyable when you remain cool, and a helmet with vents will help keep you cool while you ride. Venting allows air to pass through the helmet, which helps keep your scalp cool and comfortable. The venting also allows moisture to evaporate from your scalp, keeping it drier and cooler. The heat from inside the helmet escapes through the ventilation holes as well, which also keeps your head cooler.

Take advantage of the wind.

So you’re wearing your leathers, your gloves, and your full-face helmet as you speed down the highway. You feel like a ninja turtle. The wind whips through your hair and rushes past your ears. It’s awesome! Yeah, it’s without a doubt awesome, but that wind doesn’t do much to cool you down when it just goes around your head (especially if you don’t have any of that ear hair left).

When the wind hits you square in the face, however, it can provide some relief from that heat. So use it! There are a few ways to do this effectively:

• To get the most out of that wind chill effect, lower yourself onto the bike so that there is less air between you and the wind coming at you from ahead. You still want some space because if there is no space at all then the wind will just be going over you instead of into your face.
• Wear a full-face helmet! A full-face helmet allows for an open visor which lets air rush into said helmet providing for some cool air inside instead of letting all of it go around your head.

You can stay cool on a bike as long as you wear appropriate clothing, drink a lot of water, and take advantage of the wind.

You can stay cool on a bike as long as you wear appropriate clothing, drink a lot of water, and take advantage of the wind.

• Wear the right helmet. It might be hot, but don’t forgo a helmet for any reason—it could save your life. The same goes for protective gear like gloves and long pants (shorts will expose your skin to flying insects). A full-face helmet with vents or even a half helmet will allow some airflow.
• Remember this equation: Air temperature (in Fahrenheit) + Wind speed = “Wind Chill Factor.” The wind chill factor is how cold your body feels in the wind based on its temperature and speed, so if it’s 75°F outside with a 15 mph wind, you’ll feel like it’s only 62°F. Avoid this by wearing short sleeves that won’t catch in the wind.
• Make sure your clothes are loose enough to let air flow through them while still providing protection from being hit by bugs at high speeds. Loose cotton shirts are ideal because they offer protection, but also allow a small breeze through to keep you cool.