Canadian winters can get severely cold, with temperatures diving lower to up to -14 degrees Celsius in several cities. Generally, Canada's various regions also experience varying winter durations due to the country's latitudinal range. The Eastern side, which includes Montreal and Toronto, has shorter winters than the Western region, and if you go deeper into the inland, two hours from Vancouver, you can expect more arctic-like conditions.
Regardless of the variations, most motorcycle riders know too well to put their bikes away during the cold months. Winter driving is challenging due to the harsher road conditions; icy roads do not have the best traction, and motorcyclists-and generally all moto operators- daring enough to take to the road in such climates must take heed to drive safety tips, especially during the winter months.
Tips for Winter Riding in Canada
If you are not ready to trade your twos in the winter, you either have very substantial reasons to be on the road or enjoy torturing yourself. Nevertheless, you will undoubtedly need more than your motorcycle license. Here are some valuable tips for winter motorcycle riding.
1. Check Your Weather Forecast
While some parts of Canada experience milder winters than others, the extremes typically feature a lot of rain, ice, snow, blizzards, and strong winds. Additionally, roads become very slippery, therefore increasing the risk of accidents. Paying attention to the news and weather forecast applications will help you decide whether or not to take your Harley out.
2. Dress for the Winter
As you ride through the cold temperatures, your body loses more heat. Keeping yourself warm is vital as you will be exposed to freezing temperatures, which can easily cause shivering, slow reaction times, exhaustion, memory loss, and joint pain and stiffness. These factors combined can affect your focus, thus increasing your risks.
It is wiser to layer several pieces of clothing to wear one or two thick, heavy clothing. Base layers help maintain dryness and comfort by drawing away sweat and providing extra wind-proofing. Also, wear winter riding boots, heated riding gloves to avoid cold fingers, cold weather pants and jackets, and cold weather helmets. To increase your safety, you can also equip your bike with winter modifications like heated grips, crash bars, and wind guards.
3. Prepare Your Bike for the Winter
Whether you own a Yamaha Super Tenere or a Honda Goldwing, heading out on the ice is much more demanding. In addition to regular year-round maintenance, you will need to go the extra mile by getting a fresh batch of antifreeze every often to protect your radiator.
Proper winter tires will also come in handy. Note that your off-road tires may not do well enough compared to snow tires, which offer better traction and have specialized rubber to prevent corrosion. Winter tires are essentially dirt bikes with studs to enhance grip on icy road surfaces. Other bikes, like mopeds and scooters, are more challenging to navigate during winter.
4. Maintain Minimum Speed
Similar to any other moto, it is easier to break and navigate a motorcycle at a lower speed. Drive in safety gear while observing the braking distance and avoid salty roads. Although salt melts snow, it can damage your bike's metallic parts and reduce traction. Keeping the speed low also helps you look out for black ice, which is usually reflective.
Keeping your motorcycle away during winter is common sense and necessary for your safety. Quebec, unlike most cities in Canada, has a winter tire law that requires all registered vehicles, including motorcycles, to have winter tires.
Quebec's winter tire exemption may not apply to other parts of Canada, like British Columbia and Alberta. However, the majority of countries in Europe have similar situational laws in effect to enhance road safety.
