The perfect temperature

[TimmyJ]

I DO NOT advocate riding without leathers. I just made this chart below with the clothing nessacary to be comfortable, to make a point about the temps. I'm not saying jeans and loafers are good to wear!   With that said, below is my temp chart...

30's - freezing weather reduces traction even on dry roads.

40's or below - what's the point?

50's - completley sucks...have to totally bundle, like driving a convertable with the top up. But totally bundled is a warm ride in the 50's. Full liners required in both riding pants and jacket, plus gloves.

60's - much better...but not quite there yet. Low to mid-60's is where I usually start taking the bike out more often. Can shed some riding pants and thermals, just weaing jeans and a warm top. Can wear loafers, but still need gloves.

High 60's - can lose the gloves

70's - Where riding actually becomes fun. Even though liner is not needed, low seventies still require some jacket for warmth.

High 70's - jeans and a t-shirt are fairly comfortable

80's - PERFECT!

90's - still nice, but getting a bit on the hot side, if sitting too long at stoplights.

100's - ? I have never ridden in those temps. Is it too hot?




Is this about right? What are YOUR temperature thresholds?

[SirSeanSean]

40's or below - what's the point?

Bragging rights. 

[ariwhiteboy]

Snow on the ground = No riding for me

Other than that I don't care...gear is an amazing thing. 

[TimmyJ]

Oh, you ride when it is in the 20's?  

Snow on the ground = No riding for me

Other than that I don't care...gear is an amazing thing.  

True, but you have to take the time in the 40's or below, to completley cover everything, including all of the neck...or there is suffarage. And usually cold air finds a way to get in...somewhere.  

[ariwhiteboy]

I've ridden in single digits before, and I'm far from the only one who has. My secret is as much wind blockage as I can get and layers.

I think the general rule is you can subtract 20* from the actual temperature when you're on a bike.

Aerostitch makes a pretty sweet neck gaiter/bib that blocks the wind from getting in around your jacket collar.

[Bumblebee]

ATGATT = air mesh all conditions

+15F and below: Parked due to snow, ice and a cold soaked engine with no practical preheat available without excess effort. If necessary winter outdoor gear is good to -60F in all weather conditions though crash protection would be partially compromised -- the motorcycle is the limiting factor, not the rider.

15-40: ATGATT with jeans, flannel shirt, thermal underwear and gear windproof/insulated liners, winter gloves.

40-50: remove liners. ATGATT with jeans, long sleeve shirt, summer gloves.

50-110+: ATGATT, summer hiking pants, tshirt


Note that at 70 all the way to 110+: ATGATT air mesh is a lot cooler than hiking pants and tshirt. It keeps the sun off your skin/clothes and allows air to flow through. I'm much cooler at 95F in air mesh than without gear.

[TimmyJ]

Dont forget when it is in the 20's on even a clear day, traction is reduced significantly.

Note that at 70 all the way to 110+: ATGATT air mesh is a lot cooler than hiking pants and tshirt. It keeps the sun off your skin/clothes and allows air to flow through. I'm much cooler at 95F in air mesh than without gear.

AGREED!

[Bumblebee]

Dont forget when it is in the 20's on even a clear day, traction is reduced significantly.

Up to a point. Take extra time to warm up good condition tires then ride normally, not aggressively, and it's ok. Sunny days in the 20's is the same as the 40's.


Overcast vs sunny is operationally a 20-25F temperature difference with all other conditions being the same.

[bajakirch]

Things I'll be wearing regardless of temperature:  Helmet, boots.

95+ - No riding for me unless it's absolutely necessary. I don't do heat well.

80-95 - Mesh riding jacket without liner, fabric gloves, riding pants without liner. Underneath:  t-shirt & shorts.

55-80 - Regular riding jacket without liner, leather gloves, riding pants without liner. Underneath:  pants or shorts & short-sleeve shirt.

45-55 - Regular riding jacket with liner, leather gloves, riding pants without liner. Underneath:  pants & long-sleeve shirt.

35-45 - Regular riding jacket with liner, leather gloves, riding pants without liner. Underneath:  quilted, fleece-lined or flannel-lined jeans, long-sleeve turtle-neck shirt & sweatshirt or light fleece jacket.

20-35 - Regular riding jacket with liner, thick ski gloves, riding pants with liner. Underneath:  quilted, fleece-lined or flannel-lined jeans, long-sleeve turtle-neck shirt, thermal or wool socks & sweatshirt or light fleece jacket, thermal underwear (differing thicknesses depending on temp).

I would say my optimal riding temperatures would be in the high-50s to 70.

[KarlJay]

My outer gear is always the same, mesh jacket with liner, gloves with air vent holes, jeans with kevlar and pads.  I add long underwear and liner when cold and sweatshirt when colder.

100+ is no problem,  I actually see very little difference between 95 and 105... it's just a number, you're hot either way!

Below 50 I don't bother, we don't get that much here, very rare to get < 50 for a daytime high in the winter.

My concern with the cold is the body's reaction time.  A cold body is stiff, I guess if you have enuff layers... but sweatshirt +jacket is about it for me.

Ski wear works great for this, the neck/chin covers are great.

As a side note, I forgot my mesh jacket liner several times... it sucks!

I found you can permenantly store the jacket liner under the seat in the tail area if you carefully stuff it in there.  One less thing to worry about.

[AmericanClassic]

Rode in the high 60s this morning. It was real nice, even at 75mph.

[Floridamtbiker99]

Living in Florida and working third shift, makes my rides challenging.

I have ridden when it was 29 degrees at night to 105 degrees during the day.

Right now is awesome riding weather 60's at night and 70's during the day.

[happycommuter]

It's all about what you wear and how far you're going.

I'm fondest of brisk mid-60's temps where I can wear full protective gear and not break a sweat.

The upper 90's gets uncomfortable, but let's not pretend that the interior of some greenhouse car is totally better.

Under about 50 degrees (F) riding becomes more about mental health and battery charging than being a purely enjoyable exercise.  The slight traction diminishment keeps aggressiveness in check.  Any exploration at this temperature is pretty local.

Under freezing, the electric vest is on and long underwear is very likely.  I'm doing a slingshot commute or a very short 'gotta' ride.

[hppants]

I think the FJR will drop at least 15 degrees on my chart compared to the NH because of its wind protection (adjustable windscreen and full fairing on the legs) and the water coolded engine that radiates a lot of heat on my legs.  That said, I haven't ridden it below about 43 yet, so the proof will be in the pudding.  However, at 43, I was toasty warm with a set of long handles under my mesh pants, and my mesh jacket with the liner in.  With the NH, I would have worn my waterproof pants with the quilted liner, a fleece up top, and my ski mask under my helmet.  Considering this, I'm inclined to go to about 30 degrees on a sunny day with the FJR, which is just about as cold as it gets here.

With cold weather, I think the sun shining makes a big difference.  On a cloudy day, the wind chill feels much more pronounced.

Our Summers are brutal.  Unless I want to skip riding from May - September, I've got to be ready to tolerate up to 100 degrees with 70% humidity.     Still, I wear the mesh pants and jacket (ATGATT - no exceptions), and once you get moving, it breaths real well.  Still, sometimes I liken it to riding in a cloths dryer.   

[Scottyg]

i went out the other morning at 27 deg, no windscreen, fingerless gloves, and long underwear under my workpants, I were a light jacket (sweatshirt underneath) with riding boots and ff helmet

i made it about 2 blocks and I was definetly felt it hard.  Now I drive my truck to work in the morning and get the bike on my lunchbreak

[detdrbuzzard]

riding is enjoyable to me from the coldest to the warmest temp you have listed. we all have different comfort factors and i'm not saying this because i mostly ride a goldwing but what seems too cold or hot to some is just fine with others

[green427]

35F is the coldest that I will ride, and it has to be a sunny day. The riding experience is greatly diminished by wearing layers and fogging issues.

Here in the mid-Atlantic, if it is 95F, chances are the humidity is also above 70%, which makes riding very unbearable. I rode in 98F weather at about 50% humidity, and it was not too bad, though.

Since I have a short commute (10mi), I don't bother riding to work during freezing weather, as it is a big chore to dress & undress 5 times in one day, especially if i want to ride during my lunch break.

[KarlJay]

As far as heat goes, I don't have A/C in my daily driver, so riding or driving, I'm still hot.  At lease California doesn't have the humid heat the South does.

[harrisonfaulkner]

So long as it's not raining, I'm riding. 20 miles of slab at 70+ in 32 degree tonight. Windproof gear and layering is what keeps it manageable. I can deal with rain and cold, but usually not both at the same time.

Weather is just one of the things that makes riding interesting.

[JordanA]

I ride on the coldest days adn the hottest.  I use an Olympia Phantom one piece suit for the winter... thus far, 34 degrees and raining was comfy with just the suit on (only wearing boxers and a t-shirt beneath).

In the summer (80-100+) I use my mesh gear, an Olympia Patton Jacket and tourmaster pants, or the Phantom suit with vents open and liner removed (it's still waterproof without the liner).

[happycommuter]

High 60's - can lose the gloves

I can't say I've ever had a real heat issue with unlined deerskin gloves.  MSF instructors mentioned to me how poorly skin grafts take to the palms of the hands.  Couple that with the fact that the hands are almost certain to touch pavement in any crash, and well, you know.

Oddly, fingertips are always the first thing to go in the cold.  I'm pretty sure I have mild frostbite on a few fingertips from going too far in freezing temperatures.  Really need to get heated grips again.

[mattrowe19]

High 60's - can lose the gloves

I can't say I've ever had a real heat issue with unlined deerskin gloves.  MSF instructors mentioned to me how poorly skin grafts take to the palms of the hands.  Couple that with the fact that the hands are almost certain to touch pavement in any crash, and well, you know.

Oddly, fingertips are always the first thing to go in the cold.  I'm pretty sure I have mild frostbite on a few fingertips from going too far in freezing temperatures.  Really need to get heated grips again.

+1. Even in 90-100 deg temps, my gloves stay on. I have a pair of Bilt gloves that have great venting on the top but solid leather on the palm. I figure sweaty hands are better than gravel at 60mph on my bare palms. If you ever tripped on the pavement as a child, you know how good it doesn't feel. Imagine that times 100. Just my .02

[Bad Boy]

I have ridden long distances in temperatures from 25 to 105.  Comfort is all about investing in the gear.  It is critical for touring 300 to 500 miles day after day.  I always wear full leather boots, pants, jacket, and gloves all with armor and a full face helmet.  I want to be able to slide down the pavement at any speed and get up and walk away without skin loss.  Around $2k invested over the years, my skin is worth it.  Safety gear first and later adding the comfort gear.

When wearing proper safety gear 70 degrees is perfect and we get a bunch in the Pacific Northwest. As it gets warmer open the jacket vents. Above 90 I add a thermal cooling vest that is soaked in water.  With our dry heat it is very effective, too cold to wear below 80.  Over a 100 I find the air is heating me up and the cooling vest under leather with a few vents open works better for me than my mesh.  We rarely get temps much over 100.  We do get cold and wet though.  As it drops to 60 I add a neck gator, jacket liner, insulated gloves.  Below 50 the electric jacket comes on, below 40 electric gloves and long-johns, wool socks.  I can get by without the electrics for a few hours by adding layers but for an all day cold ride the body temp slowly keeps dropping, tuning on the electrics is like soaking in a hot tub.  Below 35 I add the rain gear over the rest as a wind breaker and I am good into the 20s. 

Given the rain in the northwest rain gear is essential.  The secret weapon is real Gore-Tex.  The REI knock off stuff worked but did not last.  Gore-Tex is pricey but for all day warm and dry comfort in any weather it can not be beat.  My riding boots and insulated gloves have it, and add a full rain shell I am dry in all day rain.  The non breathable stuff works for a couple of hours then you get soaked and chilled from within.

After years of refining I have the gear for maximum safety and comfort in any temperature I have encountered and can stay completely dry in all day rain.

[cjbear11]

I wear ATGATT all year. I have removeable cold weather liners that I have in now. I can ride in the 20's with no problem. I love the heat, so no complaints from me in hot weather. I still wear full gear in 95+ temps, and even past 100.

[Spoonman]

I rode all year last year, as it was (and is) my only form a transportation. The biggest thing with the cold is mind-set and proper gear. Leathers or the neoprene stuff is essential as a top layer, what you add underneath is just filler layers, and the thinner you can keep it the better.
 
And down here, its about time to break out the stripper pants!