Winter Biking Tips For Motorcyclists
By lazy
While climate change appears to be causing much milder winters in the UK, there’s still every chance for motorcyclists to get caught in a severe cold snap. Sudden plunging temperatures can cause major headaches for bikers, but follow these simple Winter Biking Tips from leading motorcycle insurers Sureterm Direct , and you’ll stay safe and sound on two wheels – whatever the weather.

1. Make sure your bike is in great condition. When snow and ice make an appearance, it’s crucial that your motorcycle has been well maintained or serviced.

• Maintenance free and gel-filled batteries require very little maintenance oance they have been correctly charged and installed but they can still be temperamental if not properly looked after – and they won’t take much abuse. Correctly charging your battery and checking it at least once a month will usually guarantee trouble-free biking. Your battery has to work much harder in the winter and can fail without any warning.
• Ensure your tyres have a good tread depth and are inflated correctly – the slightest signs of over-wear will be accentuated in snow and ice.
• Make sure your engine’s cooling system contains antifreeze at the correct strength and recommended type for your make of bike.
• Check that your headlights and brake lights are clean and working properly.

2. Make a note of weather conditions. OK, weathermen get it wrong every now and again, but generally speaking, spells of bad weather rarely come without advance warning.

• Look at local and national TV and Radio for travel and weather information. Short and long-range forecasts by city can be found on the internet too, using services like Yahoo or Google weather.
• Before setting off on a journey, ensure all bike visors and mirrors are clear from mist, frost and snow.
• In extreme weather conditions such as falling snow, ask yourself: “Is my journey really essential?”

3. Be prepared. We’d all like to think our journey will be trouble free, but when wind and snow combine it’s easy for main roads to suddenly get closed or cut-off. That’s why it pays to take these precautions.

• Ensure your motorcycle insurance is up to date.
• Check that you have a full tank of fuel
• Always let someone know your destination and our expected time of departure and arrival.
• Take a mobile phone if you have one, but remember you could break down in a "dead area" where reception is poor. So pack warm clothing, hot drinks, food and a torch. It could be a long walk to a phone.

4. Being out on the road in poor conditions sometimes can’t be avoided. So follow these general rules for safe biking.

• Use main roads which have been salted whenever possible.
• Allow extra time for your journeys
• Reduce speed in poor visibility and particularly where there is snow, or if ice may have formed.
• Avoid hard braking and acceleration.
• Maintain longer stopping distances - two seconds between vehicles is for good conditions! A wet road surface means you'll take twice as long to stop, so you need to be at least four seconds behind the vehicle in front.
• Watch out for other road users, including pushbikes, pedestrians and children, who may also be having difficulties in the conditions.

In the rare instances you do break down, put these simple guidelines into operation: Stay with your vehicle if possible, until help arrives; If you do have to leave your bike, use a viz-vest or reflective clothing to make yourself visible to others; If you have to abandon your vehicle,

give local police the details and park safely.

5. Winter can bring patches of wildly differing weather on just one journey. So here’s some specific advice for specific weather.

Fog is always a winter danger and is a major cause of accidents. In these conditions, slow down, keep your distance, and turn your lights on. Drive very slowly using dipped headlights and use fog lights if visibility is seriously affected. Don't hang on the tail lights of the vehicle in front - this gives you a false sense of security and means you may be driving too close. Don't speed up suddenly - even if it seems to be clearing, you can suddenly find yourself back in thick fog.

Ice, slush and snow significantly reduce the ability of your tyres to grip the road, which means that slowing down, speeding up, or changing direction all become hazardous. The trick to biking in these conditions is to be as smooth as possible.

Drive slowly, allowing extra room to slow down and stop and remember it cazan take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin, manoeuvre gently (especially into and out of bends), and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. If you skid, ease off the accelerator but do not brake suddenly.

John Kelly is the website editor for www.sureterm.com – the UK’s leading specialist classic car insurers.Thanks to Gloucestershire Police for their help with this article.