Motorcycle Riding During Unexpected Weather

You can look up the weather forecast before your motorcycle ride, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas. It's not uncommon to get caught off-guard by unexpected weather, from heavy rain to gusty winds. A little preparation and knowledge can help keep you safe on the road and ready for any adjustments you'll need to make. Below we cover some tips for safe motorcycle riding during unexpected weather. If you want more safety tips or want to look at motorcycles for sale, head over to Interstate Cycles. You'll find us in Lake City, Florida. We also proudly serve those in Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida.

Prepare for Poor Weather

Before you go for a motorcycle ride, prepare for bad conditions. A little proactive planning can help make your ride safer in the event of an unexpected storm. Make sure your motorcycle riding outerwear is waterproof in case it starts to rain. Otherwise, you can end up bitterly cold in no time! 

You'll also want to establish an emergency plan in advance. Think about what circumstances would merit pulling your motorcycle over and pausing the ride. Articulating the deal breakers in advance is much easier than trying to decide whether conditions are too severe in the moment.

Finally, share with someone your motorcycle route so they'll know where you are going. You should also tell them when they should expect to hear from you when you arrive at your destination. If something goes wrong and you aren't able to contact them, they will know that they need to send help.

Adjust Your Motorcycle Riding Style

Road conditions can become less safe during bad weather. Heavy winds can cause falling trees and branches, so stay on guard for obstacles on the road. Heavy rain hail can limit visibility, so be sure you have enough visibility to keep riding your motorcycle. Rain can make obstacles, such as sand, leaves, and oil slicks, more slippery and treacherous. Avoid riding over them if you can. If you must go through them, treat them as you would black ice. 

You'll also want to pay extra attention to the other motorists on the road. Not everyone adopts the extra caution they should during bad weather. Leave extra space between your motorcycle and other vehicles in case someone changes lanes suddenly or stops abruptly. The extra space will give you more time to react and adapt, which can help prevent an accident.

Making the Call

Even with proper preparation, you may need to eventually make the call to pause your ride. A standard rule of thumb is don't ride your motorcycle in weather that you wouldn't walk or drive in. Beyond this, you'll want to consider a few different factors in making your decision.

If you're new at riding motorcycles, you'll want to stay home (or wait for the bad weather to pass if you're already on the road). It's unlikely you have the experience and muscle memory required for safe poor weather riding.

You'll also want to make sure your motorcycle is sturdy enough to handle difficult road conditions. It should also have enough fluids, the right tire pressure, enough tire tread, and clearly visible lights.

We hope you found these tips helpful! If you want more safety tips or want to look at motorcycles for sale, visit Interstate Cycles. Our friendly staff can help you with whatever you need, such as answering your questions or providing advice on the best motorcycle for your lifestyle. We are located in Lake City, Florida. We also proudly serve those in Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida.