Riding Your Motorcycle in Warm Weather

Here in Texas, it can get scorchingly hot in the summer, but that doesn’t mean you should have to forgo all your motorcycle rides. If you’re smart about it, you can still ride during the summer. Try some of these tips to avoid suffering from heatstroke or dehydration on your hot-weather motorcycle rides.

Choose Cooler Gear

Your standard riding gear might be a little too heavy for a hot-weather ride. White or light-colored gear is better than black, which tends to absorb the heat. Ventilated gear is a great option as well. You’ll still need to wear your helmet, of course, but a damp kerchief tied around your neck can help keep you cooler.

Avoid Peak Temperature Times

Typically, temperatures reach their high during the middle of the afternoon. If you can, schedule your rides for early morning or later in the evening when the sun isn’t at its highest and the temperatures are lower.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is a very easy state to fall into when you’re sweating in the sunshine. To stave it off, you’ll need to pack a water bottle or a hydration pack that you can stop and sip from every so often. Avoid drinking too much caffeine, as this in itself can be dehydrating. You can try a sports drink to replenish your electrolytes, too.

Take Breaks

Finally, it’s important that you take more frequent breaks while riding in hot weather than you might on an overcast day. Try to stop every hour or so to allow yourself time to remove your helmet, drink some water, have a snack, use the restroom, and walk around or sit in the shade. After five or ten minutes of rest, you should feel refreshed enough to continue your ride.

When you’re ready to buy a motorcycle in Texas, visit our McAllen dealership to see our incredible selection of new and used motorcycles for sale. Desperado Harley-Davidson® serves our customers in the city of Edinburg, TX.