Did you know that wintertime bike riders who take regular breaks, understand weather conditions, and use the right tires are more likely to stay safe while on the road?
Whether you’re a long-time biker or new to it all, riding a dirt bike in cold weather can pose challenges. For this reason, you need to find a balance between staying warm and ensuring your bike doesn’t suffer from the elements. In short, you want to make sure your dirt bike is prepared for the winter season.
With this in mind, this article outlines some tips for riding your dirt bike in the cold. Read on to discover how to get started.
Things To Keep In Mind
It is extremely important to be prepared when you’re out with your bike in the cold.
If you don’t wear the right kinds of clothing, you could get hypothermia. And if you don’t have the right protective gear, you might get injured if you take a fall. It is much more difficult to ride a bike on snow and ice than it is to ride on dry ground.
You’ll also need to make sure that your bike is ready for the cold. You should consider making dirt bike modifications to make sure that your bike will not fail you in cold conditions.
When you steer your bike on ice, use the same techniques you’d use if you were riding on dirt.
Preparing Your Dirt Bike
Your dirt bike will handle well in icy conditions if you make the right modifications. This is why you should make sure to bring it into the shop for winter preparation before you set out into the cold. Here are some of the most important things to focus on.
Change the Tires
The first thing you should do is put on a set of tires that are suited for the snow. Winter often arrives suddenly and without warning. If it snows while you are on your bike and you haven’t had the chance to change the tires, you put yourself at risk of getting in an accident.
There is actually not a huge difference between dirt bike snow tires and regular tires. But since snow tires have studs on them, you’re going to have a lot more traction.
Fill Up the Antifreeze
One of the most important steps you need to take to practice dirt bike safety is to fill the antifreeze. Before doing this, make sure to find an antifreeze that will protect your engine in extremely cold conditions.
If you use an antifreeze that is in concentrate, make sure to mix it with distilled water. It’s also possible to buy antifreeze that is already mixed with water.
Battery
If you’re going to be doing winter dirt bike riding in temperatures that are above freezing, you won’t need to worry about your battery freezing. But if you let your bike sit in extremely cold conditions without using it for a long period of time, you might damage the battery. This is why you should consider storing it in a warm location.
It’s also important to test and charge your battery before setting out to ride your bike. And if you’re looking to buy a new dirt bike for the winter, make sure that you know what questions to ask before you buy it.
Change the Oil
It’s essential that you change your dirt bike’s oil before and after the winter. This is an especially important thing to do if your bike has been sitting for a while.
Things You Need to Know
You’ve got to have the right dirt bike gear when you’re riding in the winter. Remember that there is a big difference between the types of gear you need for warm weather vs. cold weather riding. Here are some of the most important things to be aware of.
Cold Weather Clothes
The first thing you should do is make sure you have enough base layers. This includes things like thermals and warm socks. You should also make sure that you have thick gloves and a weather-proof jacket.
Be Mindful of Your Skin (Sunburn, Windburn)
If you want to avoid getting frostbite, you should make sure that none of your skin is exposed to the elements. If you find that there is a patch of skin that is not covered by clothing or protective equipment, add another layer to cover up this part of your body.
Stand Up While Driving
You’ll have more control over your bike when you are standing. This is why you should choose not to sit down when you’re riding in cold weather conditions.
Lift Your Elbows
By lifting your elbows while riding in the winter, you’ll be able to use your chest and back muscles to steer your bike. This means that it will be easier to control. This is one of the top techniques for dirt bike safety in the wintertime.
Check the Weather
Never set out on your dirtbike in the wintertime without looking at the weather forecast. You should also remember that conditions can quickly change. Therefore, if it’s been a day or two since you’ve checked the weather, you should look again to make sure that things have not changed.
Riding Your Dirt Bike in the Winter: Safety First
If you’re going to be riding your dirt bike in the winter, make sure that you take the right steps to make sure that you have enough gear and that your bike is ready to ride. Make sure that you change your bike’s tires, change the oil, and check the antifreeze level.
If you’re ready to buy a new ATV, UTV, or dirt bike, we are here to help you out. Why not visit our store to test out our vehicles? And please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions that you have.