Why is heated motorcycle kit important this winter?

There are lots of ways to keep yourself warm on the bike through the winter, but if all else fails, go for heated clothing.

As good as winter jackets, trousers and gloves are, heated clothing is your best bet to keep warm. Just don’t forget that you still need to keep yourself dry with some form of waterproof layers.

Also see:

• Best heated motorcycle kit for winter

Here are our thoughts on heated clothing:

1. Why heated clothing?

The idea with heated clothing is that if your core is warm, your extremities will be warmer too because of better blood-flow. If you haven’t tried heated vests and you feel cold on your bike, they really are worth a go.

2. How does it work?

Some heated clothing is powered by a battery that you can carry around with you and recharge in between rides. This means that you can use the clothing for non-motorcycling activities too, which can be an added bonus.

The other option is to have the gear wired to the bike battery. This usually offers more warmth and you won’t run out of charge on a longer ride, but you have to remember to disconnect the lead from the battery before you jump off your bike or you risk snapping it.

3. What items of heated clothing are available?

The most common heated clothing items are vests and gloves, with a decent range of brands to choose from, but there are also heated trousers, socks and insoles available, so depending on your preference you can get kitted in heated gear almost from head to toe.

4. Who is it for?

Heated clothing may seem like a bit too much of an investment to commit to for the relatively short season that you might need it, but if you are an all-year rider who clocks up the miles in all weather, the benefits of heated clothing can be rather tempting.