How to Stay Cool While Riding a Motorcycle in Summer Heat

Summer is upon us, which means motorcyclists all across the Sunshine State are gearing up for riding in extreme heat. Temperatures down here in the southern tip of Florida can get downright brutal, with long hours of constant sunshine offering little reprieve from the heat. While it’s certainly lovely weather for a motorcycle ride, riding in hot weather does pose some inherent risks.

So how do you stay safe while still enjoying that coastal highway ride? Riva Motorsports & Marine of the Keys in Key Largo is your local motorcycle dealer, which is why we’ve provided these tips for hot weather motorcycle riding. We want all our customers to stay cool and safe this summer!

Know The Risks

Motorcyclists often concern themselves with taking extra precautions for riding in the rain, riding in the cold, and riding at night, but they may not plan as well for the heat because it looks like perfect riding weather. How could sunshine and clear skies be a bad thing?

The truth is that being under the sun for hours at a time with temperatures climbing towards the triple digits poses a number of risks to your well-being. First, bright sunlight can occlude your vision and create mirages and sun glare on the road, making it difficult to see. Wearing polarized sunglasses can help to mitigate these effects.

If you leave skin exposed, you’re at risk for sunburn, which can become quite serious the longer your skin is exposed. Frequent severe sunburns put you at a higher risk for developing skin cancers, so wearing sufficient clothing and applying sunscreen is essential.

Finally, heatstroke and dehydration can occur as your body becomes fatigued and unable to regulate itself. You can take steps to prevent these illnesses from occurring, though.

Dress For Hot Temperatures

You’ll still need to wear your helmet and riding gear even when it’s hot outside, but hot weather motorcycle gear is generally made to keep you cooler. Long sleeves and pants protect your skin better from the sun, too! Spring for lighter colors and light, breathable fabrics. Summer riding pants are usually ventilated to keep you cooler while still protecting your skin from road rash, as are summer riding jackets. Make sure you’re still wearing your boots and gloves, too. Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin, like the back of your neck and your wrists. You can also dip a bandana in cool water and tie it around your neck to keep you cool.

Stay Hydrated

Riding in the heat, no matter how prepared you are, means you’re going to sweat. This is how your body keeps itself cool, but it leads to loss of water and electrolytes. This can lead to dehydration if left unchecked. The symptoms of dehydration include fatigue and dizziness, which are both extremely dangerous when you’re in control of a high-speed two-wheeled machine.

Keep a bottle of water on hand that you can drink from when you take breaks, or wear a backpack hydration system to sip from as you ride. Add a sports drink or have some snacks to replenish lost electrolytes like salt and potassium.

Avoid The Worst Heat

Choosing to ride at different times of the day can help you to avoid those record high temps, which generally peak between the hours of 2 and 5 p.m. If you opt to ride early in the morning or later into the evening, you’ll be able to enjoy slightly cooler temperatures and reduce your risk of sunburn, heatstroke, and dehydration. If you have to ride during these hot afternoon hours, make sure you don’t ride for too long at a time and get yourself into shade or indoors as often as possible.

This guide should help you beat the Florida heat and humidity so you can enjoy your rides without suffering ill effects. If you don’t have a bike yet, then what are you waiting for? Stop by our location in Key Largo today to check out our current inventory of new and used motorcycles for sale. We can also discuss some hot weather motorcycle gear options with you! Riva Motorsports & Marine of the Keys serves all of the Florida Keys.