What clothing to wear on a serious winter motorcycle commute

We’ve put this little video together because, after the first Lockdown, we had a lot of customers in the shop who had decided that they wanted to commute into work on a bike, rather than take the train or some other form of public transport. Now many were only going to be riding for 20-30 minutes, but some had decided to ride from the depths of Surrey right into the City or the heart of the West End.
Now no problem with this when the weather is good, but it’s a different matter as we move into the winter. Our fear, which we often expressed as vehemently as we could, was that some of these folk were not taking the prospect of commuting through the winter as seriously as they should. Some were aiming to do the ride on a 125. And some were looking at riding in gear that, frankly, was simply not up to the job.
A commute of this ilk through a British winter is not to be taken lightly. And so we thought we would proffer some advice to all those who, often as a result of the pandemic, had decided that a motorcycle was the answer to their winter transport requirements.
Let me be clear; if you’re a seasoned rider who has been undertaking a long-distance commute like this for years, then this video is probably not for you. You will learn nothing new. But the video is not aimed at motorcyclists like you; we made it for those who are perhaps more recent to this particular adventure.
Before we released it, we showed the video to an external person who we sometimes turn to for help and advice on our videos. His response was that the video was too long. He may be right, but we don’t produce these videos for entertainment. We make them to help riders make better decisions about the gear they need for their riding. There were things we wanted to say; and therefore we were happy for the video to be as long as it needed to be. In our view, this video is perhaps the most important one we have ever produced. Biking is dangerous. The familiarity that comes from doing the same journey day-in-day out makes commuting on a bike even more dangerous. Add in the effects of the cold, the wet and the dark, and you enter a totally different realm.
Here at Motolegends we talk to a lot of long-distance, high-mileage commuters. Sean here can also count himself as a member of this particular group of elite motorcyclists. As a result, we know a lot about how to make the kind of commuting we’re talking about more bearable; and ultimately less dangerous.
If you’re thinking of undertaking a long distance commute this winter, especially if it’s the first time you have ever done so, you should watch this video. Is it too long? I don’t know, but if staying safe on the bike is not worth 30 minutes of your time, then you should really stick with the train. It’s a lot safer!
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[@rupertmarsden9088]

Good, informative video. Just one point: I think you underplayed the use of handlebar mitts. Combined with heated handlebar grips they take some beating. The beauty of them is that you can wear thin gloves as you would in summer. I know they look a bit strange but the benefits they offer are enormous. I used a pair of cheap Chinese £10 mitts on a 1200 mile trip across to northern Germany in sub zero conditions in February. Once my hands had warmed up I had to turn the heaters down! I have since replaced them with a pair from Givvi which can fit over my wind deflectors. Guaranteed warm and dry hands in any conditions.

[@rayfriedman9625]

I've seldom found more useful or entertaining motorcycle-centric videos on any other channel than this one--hosted by Chris. My only complaint is that his shop is awkwardly located in the UK, while I'm here in Nevada. The only reasonable solution is for Chris to open a Motolegends shop on the west coast, say Los Angeles for instance, or preferably in Las Vegas where coincidentally enough--I live. How 'bout it Chris? LA or Vegas--take you pick!

[@Vjekoslav-vf3hr]

Warm + windstopper neck tube or balaclava with thin upper part and warm windstopper in lower part is must have. This kind (part) of winter gear was not explained

[@The_Arby]

Good advice Chris and good explanations of winter riding gear...Nice one mate :-)

[@MarkEve]

Excellent. Lots of very sound, well considered advice here. Great job!

[@cloud9847]

I'm a HUGE believer in Merino Wool. I have recently purchased a set and wear them almost daily in anything below 60deg. I've been comfortable down into the 30's with some layering. It's legit stuff.

[@hvhvgitaar]

Very informative. Thanks!

[@paulsmyth497]

Nice one Chris. Delighted to see that you didn't separate Sean from his legs with the airbag demo - and maybe we can suggest him for the lead in the next Jimbo Bond movie........... but ONLY if I fail my audition 👀. Superb video guys - as always

[@user-tj9nw8qw1p]

Great presentation!!!

[@low-costgearbudgettour714]

Great video. I’ve ridden (around town) in as low as -20C in Mongolia. Heated grips are really important in this situation. Oxford overgrips works fine for that purpose and can be removed when not needed. I wear leathers with a down jacket then an Oxford Rainseal suit on top. I’ve never owned heated underclothes. They might be good but are rather expensive.

[@MrB1967]

Another great video, thanks chaps! I would like to add a tip of my own, if I may. It's true that when it's particularly cold the control levers can cause problems, acting as a massive heat sink for one's digits and negating the benefits of heated grips somewhat. I'd suggest a few pounds invested in neoprene skins for the brake and clutch levers would be money well spent. I've used them for years and wouldn't be without them!

[@michaelkolkes5573]

Over the Top !!!!!! Klasse Video für Neulinge

[@mickshere9642]

Really enjoyed the vid, always good to get a reminder of reality

[@lenboyd2357]

Thank you Chris

[@bubblyjock1]

Thanks for the video. Please can you also review the Klim Yukon. Cheers

[@billmilstead1473]

Thank you for this video! I just discovered your KZbin channel and really like it! This particular video is exactly what I was looking for. I really wish that I could visit your store for custom results, but you're awfully far from the states. :) Instead, I'd like to explain my scenario and see what you might recommend. Where I live it rains about 1/3rd of the year, the winters bring freezing temperatures, and the summers easily reach 95 degrees or more with 80+ percent humidity. In other words, almost every weather scenario available. I commute a little over an hour each way for work (105 total miles a day) and reach speeds of 75mph. I also work outside and wear my work clothes under my riding gear. I currently have a set of Motoport kevlar mesh jacket and pants with tri-armor. This gear came with warm liners and rain liners. I also have motorcycle boots (Alpinestars SMX-6 V2 drystar), gloves (Alpinestars GP Tech V2, and helmet (Shoei RF 1400). I'm now really interested in heated electric gear and am wondering about items to keep my feet warm. I've seen heated sock options and heated insole options, though from what I understand you would skip those and just wear better/warmer boots and socks right? I understand you recommend "Warm and Safe" brand, but what about Gerbing, Firstgear, or Hotwired brands? Finally, in your opinion, would heated grips and heated glove liners be enough during winter riding? Thank you for the exceptionally informative videos and keep up the great work!

[@nigeldsouza5239]

Chris your are a f…… motorcycle LEGEND ! 👏🏿

[@bobmcgrath1272]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video. My personal tuppance for what it’s worth: Starting at the top I wear a Nishua Superlight Carbon helmet (sometimes with a peak as a sun visor but causes lots of buffeting) it’s a great helmet but for winter riding it fogs up very quickly (even with a pinlock)is quite noisy and can sometimes be a bit chilly. I’m definitely looking to upgrade to Schuberth later this year. Moving down I’ve got a Klim jacket and Oxford trousers. (Both gore-tex) I often ride in very cold and wet conditions and never feel any windchill or wetness through them. At the bottom; toes…I wear a pair of motocross socks under my sidi adventure 2 Gote-Tex boots. Cold toes are something that I have really struggled with. However I can categorically say that in two Scottish winters I’ve never had even so much as a cool pinky toe with my Sidi boots. They are brilliant. With one problem….they are so bloody noisy to walk in! SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK everywhere like a giant mouse 🐭. But once on the bike that’s no longer an issue and I wouldn’t swap them for anything else. Finally I have Oxford heated grips which are truly ugly but amazing. Even in seriously cold temperatures I rarely use the hottest setting and if I do it’s only for a few moments (wish the controller looked better and was backlit mind…but can’t have everything) Gloves, again like my toes, my fingers do get very cold. And although I have hand guards they don’t do a huge amount (certainly not as effective as people think) and as I ride with two fingers always on clutch and brake, it’s the off-road rider in me, those fingers get very cold as does the entire back of my hand. The solution is heated gloves from Gerbing. These are good. My fingers still get a fraction chilly but nothing to the point where it’s uncomfortable. Gerbing heated gloves do have a few issues though. Firstly the wired version comes with strange lengths of wire for the arms. One side I have loads of excess cable hanging out the cuff and the other side is slightly tight and disappears up the jacket sleeve. (Have tried swapping them round). They also don’t heat up nearly as much as you think they should and they don’t do the palms of your hands at all. Fine if you’ve heated grips (Gerbing’s assumption is you do) but crap if you don’t. I always have them on the hottest setting too. My last issue with them is the user interaction; namely the wiring connectors and control buttons. Both are fiddly and slow to setup (magnetic connectors please gerbing and some intelligence so they automatically go back to last setting) I often ride with a big crowd and I’m always the last one away due to the gloves. Overall I find them adequate but when they’re worn out I’ll try a different brand. Gerbing as a company are good to deal with though. Hope that helps someone.

[@Neilly67]

Informative, entertaining and well-presented. Thanks for this. I hadn’t considered a flip lid for winter riding before, something I’ll now look into.

[@dexterishaan2093]

You all prolly dont give a shit but does any of you know a trick to log back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid forgot my account password. I would love any assistance you can offer me!

[@kolevalentin3217]

@Dexter Ishaan instablaster ;)

[@dexterishaan2093]

@Kole Valentin i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process atm. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@dexterishaan2093]

@Kole Valentin It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my account :D

[@kolevalentin3217]

@Dexter Ishaan You are welcome :D

[@philipbroom3280]

Great vids from these guys, even as a veteran courier I've learnt a few things, mostly because couriers go cheap when we should spend a bit more. Bang per buck is what I look for now. I would say that the vid doesnt mention that your bike can make the difference as well and its the combination of gear and bike. The more fairing/screen/hand guards etc you have, the less you need from your gear. Bar muffs and heated grips cant be beat. Leg fairing/shields keep feet and legs more warm/dry. Maybe consider alternative similar bikes such as a I did. I bought the more expensive Honda NC750D Integra vs the S or X variants just for the weather protection. Of course most people buy a bike on looks rather than practicality, but its a comprimise you that you couldn live with by making riding more bearable overall. I have only just come across motolegends via YT so havent used then yet, but im sure I will, especially as they r only a few miles away from me. ps Oxford heated grips are awesome if you get the top ones as they do have different versions. I have the Honda grips on my NC750 and they r terrible for heat output, £300 for 30% of the £80 oxford grips, not good

[@digger8180]

Good post Chris, Most of your points and tips I think are valid. Like most I couldn't afford the best bike gear when starting off, although perhaps the issue should be raised with the Department Of Transport, motorcycle CE approved gear should be VAT exempt, it's up to the consumer and you as a reputable supplier to lobby on this. Motorcycle transport for some of us is a choice, be it ethical reasons or economic it matters not. For the young blood out their who use their bike or scooter for work and can't afford the Rukka gear, buy the best protection bike jacket and trousers you can afford then look up German Army Gore-tex over trousers/jacket. I have used the German army frecktarn gore-tex over trousers over my leathers for the past 10+ years, not stylish or fetching to be told but if you want to get to work without a soggy crotch, the German surplus gear is worth the £20. If you want hi-vis either buy a vest or helmet. Before you go all, I wouldn't be seen dead, feck off. Some people have to actually still go to work for a living.

[@richardjohnson5441]

Lenz do heated ski socks ,they are great not cheap but would work just the same with motorcycle boots ,controlled by an app and last all day 👍

[@bluediamond340]

Hi there, great fan of your videos and an online customer. Things that are really important, from my point of view and think they need a special video: 1) waist area - while a good quality rukka or klim jacket helps, i found out that a goretex windstoper waistband is a must in below 4 degrees. Alternatively wearing a one piece laminated suit or... A pair of ski style pants that come up to your chest - rukka has these style of pants 2) Legs - there are also very exposed especially the upper part. Unfortunately there are no comfortable thick mid layers on the market - i have, for example, a 240g merino base layer and ordered a klim alloy and then the inferno mid layer pants and they do not cut it... there were some down mid layer pants like the Down X pants from rukka, but not any more. My solution was an oversized technical outer layer for protection and a down treking pant as mid layer, on top of the merino base layer.. Have to add that my bike cannot handle electric seat, heated grips AND electric garments all at once and this is why i cannot go fully electric :)

[@drmengawyong]

Just started using a balaclava wish I had done this years ago- stops helmet liner getting dirty , keeps ear plugs In the one from gold top esp good as the hair mouth covers can be used separately

[@oklahomahank2378]

One industrialist (I think Andrew Carnegie) was asked what advice he had for workers. He said, “Live east of where you work so the sun is behind you coming and going.”

[@kramnam4716]

Great advice except the other way round 😮unless you do night shifts 😊

[@oklahomahank2378]

@@kramnam4716 I don’t understand why you think it’s backwards. The sun rises in the east. If you are riding west to work the sun is behind you. The sun sets in the west. If you are riding east to home the sun is again behind you.

[@motocrusader72]

Always great information. Wish you shipped internationally. I don’t get on my bike without my Hit airbag vest…I live in Tokyo which seems to be 100 degrees with 100% humidity all year round AND everything around you is a vertical obstacle trying to impale or crush you.

[@Motolegends]

We do ship internationally!

[@A_Ride_To]

I really agree with everything you said in this video and here are some of my thoughts. In terms of people not liking the non tectile feeling of a insulated glove, 100% id rather go for warm hands then dead fingers. Last time i rode at 4ºC and then had to ride over a mountain pass (temps dropped even lower), i wanted to switch lanes and indicate but my fingers were so numb that after what felt like 10 tries of pushing a button i finally managed to do so but it was the horn (definitely not a good feeling when you dont know what your hands are doing) you also notice it pretty late that your fingers are actually numb because first its just cold that then disappears more and more. I also worked in the MC clothing industry for some years and i once had a customer who told me about a waterproof outer shell 1piece but it had a waterproof hood that was pretty slim so you could wear it under the helmet and prevent any water from dripping into the neck. Even till this day i never saw something like that on the market but its definitely something id love to own here in Asia for the rain time. (Maybe you heard something about such a rain suit, so I'd love to hear back from you)

[@cjsjmy007]

Adventurespec make a waterproof with an under helmet hood as do BMW.

[@A_Ride_To]

@@cjsjmy007 thanks, just checked both out. Sadly the BMW is a mid layer (but waterproof with hood) and the adventurespec costs over 400bucks for the outer layer jacket (which i find pretty hefty for the fact that its a rain cover) it does have some kevlar areas at shoulder and elbow if i looked correctly, but definitely a high price. I wished they would have added the hood to their basic waterproof outer layer that would be the bomb

[@wiskkid]

Cotton breathes but it absorbs moisture.

[@jamiemui5186]

Winter commuter know if you keep your core warm. Cold feet and hands are not a problem with good gloves and boots. A nice battery power bank heated vest can keep you warm for 10hrs with a 20000amh usb power bank. If you are cold sensitive gerbing kies and mobile warming has 7v options vs the 5v of usb. And if you really want hot. 12v and18v heated gear from Bosch and Milwaukee and wear it under your jacket. You dont need to connect to the bike anymore for good heated gear.

[@windyrun7979]

I have and use on occasion a heated jacket liner like that mentioned in the video (made by warm and safe though called First Gear made by warm and safe). It works well and isn't that difficult to connect to the tether I have that's connected to the battery. Seemed like it would be a pain but works out fine and is especially appreciated when riding in the cold :)

[@jamiemui5186]

@@windyrun7979 12v to the battery is very warm. If you are cold sensitive it is the best option. The wire is annoying to some. My buddy has a 120 mile commute. And have a gerbing. But he never use it because of the wire. I uses to use a gerbing. Now I find the powerbank option way more convenient. Personal preference.

[@kramnam4716]

Or… move to the Med.😊great info

[@MaximC]

I wonder if anybody did this, but for those who work on two wheels, for delivery guys etc.

[@honzo007]

Hey, @Motolegends, can you please tell me what panniers are those at 30:27? Thx

[@EssexCountyPhoto]

Unit Garage canvas panniers for BMW R9T, Pier City Customs.

[@tonypammen6150]

My commute used to be 220 miles per day on a pan European, how I used to do it I’ll never know , I definitely wouldn’t want to do that again I did that for 4 years and I didn’t have the gear on here. Certainly recommend the best gear you can afford.

[@Vjekoslav-vf3hr]

What motorbike do you drive 220 m/day ? Do you drive 200 m/day in weather when it is less than 5'C ?

[@tonypammen6150]

@@Vjekoslav-vf3hr I did, I think the lowest I rode in was around -5’ C. Our winters are not extreme, so that was probably the lowest, still not pleasant. I would never use bar muffs as they look rubbish, but I did in the end and they were brilliant when used with heated grips. I totally agree with motolegends advice , even when using goretex etc using a waterproof suit/2 piece keeps you a lot warmer. Electric clothing is brilliant also. And the bike I used to commute on was a Honda ST1100 PAN EUROPEAN. I don’t need to commute on a motorcycle anymore so I just use my bike for pleasure.

[@Vjekoslav-vf3hr]

@@tonypammen6150 you have good wind protection on ST1100 PAN EU.

[@afrikandsansir]

Interesting that the title said commute clothing but nothing was mentioned about coveralls.

[@jamiemui5186]

So true, an areosticht overall with a heated vest does wonders on 2+ hr commutes. And you wear you work clothes under it. Done -20c with that combo.

[@Motolegends]

Dear Craig. We don't tend to use the term coverall over here but the other respondent might have been correct in suggesting that you are talking about a suit like the Aerostitch. Now I love the Aerostitch suit; I have had one for 25 years. But, waterproofing is not its strong suit, and over here it is not just about staying warm, it's about staying dry too. There is the Klim Hardanger suit but it is just too uncompromising in its fit to make it workable for enough people. We did once work with a suit from the American brand Olympic, but it let the water through like a colander. So, we've got nothing against one piece suits; it's just that we haven't yet found one that is really up to the job of winter commuting given the kind of weather we have over here. Thanks for your input.

[@jamiemui5186]

@@Motolegends you know that areosticht has a goretex version now adays. With flap that cover the zippers. A lot more waterproof then areosticht from a decade ago.

[@EDVINUXXX]

So many suits to buy, but how do I know if they are laminate for example?

[@Motolegends]

If you really know what you are doing you can work it out by feeling for a separate lining, but the best thing is to ask the person in the shop.

[@interfunklt]

Is there is a solution from rain getting behind my neck?

[@xyber81]

Have a look at the HALVARSSONS NECK COLLAR. It goes over the collar of your jacket and tucks under your helmet

[@A_Ride_To]

I once heard of a full 1piece waterproof rain suit with a waterproof hood that fitzs under the helmet but i never actually saw one (a older rider once told me about this) he had one until after multiple years of use it ripped (i could never get any information as to what brand it was)

[@jamiemui5186]

Get a long bibbed gore balacava from reusch or revit and that will stop water funning down your neck and give you a good air gap to keep you warm.

[@A_Ride_To]

@@jamiemui5186 the revit balaclavas are not waterproof just wind stopper except the Amazon which is not produced anymore same as the Reusch Balaclava Membrane 😕

[@jamiemui5186]

@@A_Ride_To might have confuse Klim with Revit. One of them has material developed by Gore. It is not Gore-Tex but it stops wind and is very water resistant. I have the reusch balaclava. And rain never gets through it. But it is not Gore-Tex but another material developed by Gore. This was the one I used for 100 mile daily commute in the winter in the NE USA. www.alpinestars.com/products/winter-touring-balaclava

[@twinpotracer]

Masochistic 🤣