For dedicated riders of motocross, there is no specific season to go out and have a bit of adrenaline rush. Many riders venture out in the cold months and find the experience different and gratifying. If you’re the type to go for this sort of thing, keep in mind that there are precautions and adjustments you need to make, including with your equipment.
All about the season’s riding gear
Your riding gear for the cold weather should take into account your own preference. Some people are more adept at adjusting with the cold while others are more vulnerable to it. You wouldn’t want to go out riding and find that you have unnecessary layers of clothing that will, in a few minutes, make you feel much too warm for comfort.
You can always carry your own garment bag around to put away a heavy coat or other similar gear once you feel a bit overheated. People who enjoy riding in this weather should get heavier types of gloves or grip heaters for added comfort and protection.
Adding rain gear on top of your riding attire might be a useful idea if you’re going out in the rain or snow, as this consists of pants and jacket that are lightweight enough to keep you dry.
Prepare your bike for your winter ride
During warmer periods of the year, coolant is used to prevent the engine from overheating. During winter, what you need is anti-freeze. If your coolant doesn’t have anti-freeze properties, then switch to the proper fluid that has it. Make sure to choose the right type of liquid that perfectly combines coolant properties with anti-freeze, plus protection for freeze point.
Stories about bikes exploding are actually true, only it doesn’t occur the way bombs do. Instead, the denser air creates a lean situation in which there is more air than there is fuel. This type of thing is less likely to happen in a 4-stroke as they are generally fuel-injected. A 2-stroke, however, can cause the piston to melt on the side of the exhaust port, along with the mixture of fuel and oil.
In colder months, this mixture fails to travel to the exhaust, then burns up and gets too hot that the metal melts.
To avoid this, re-jet your cab for the cold months to account for the dense air. Bikes that are relatively new, whether 2 or 4-stroke, usually don’t have this problem. Get studded tires to be safe in areas with ice and snow. You can buy them or get some special screws to put on your current bike tires. You can also use dry-wall screws, which you might already have, for this purpose.
The screws will be attached to the part of your dirt bike tire with the thick knob. If you decide to do this yourself, make sure that your screws are the right size so they won’t put a hole into your tube.
Keep up with maintenance
If you have to leave your bike outside or keep it unattended for some time, such as when you go camping, make sure to check the snow that may have accumulated on your radiator while you were riding. This could freeze when the cold temperature took over and the engine cooled down. As a result, you won’t be covering too much distance on your bike.
Lastly, keep in mind that you need to keep yourself hydrated, so bring a water bottle and try to observe how your body is taking the cold. Guard against hypothermia and make sure to double check everything to keep safe. With your winter gear in tow, you should be ready to go out riding.