Long-distance riding changes the equation with the cold. On a quick trip you can tough out a chilly spell, but over a full day in the saddle the cold slowly saps your energy and concentration, so staying warm becomes a safety matter as much as a comfort one. For tourers and adventure riders, the answer is a proper heated system built around the bike. This guide covers how the pieces fit together and what to think about for big winter miles.
Build a full heated system
The strength of heated clothing on a long ride is that the parts work as a set. A heated jacket or vest keeps your core warm, and because your body sends heat to its centre first, a warm core keeps your arms and hands warmer too. Add heated trousers, gloves and socks and you've got warmth covering the areas that suffer most over distance.
Most heated ranges are built to connect together and run from a single controller, so you can fine-tune the temperature as the day warms up or the miles wear on. That flexibility matters more the longer you ride, when a frosty start can give way to a milder afternoon.
Wire it to the bike
For long days, how your kit draws power is the big decision. Battery packs are convenient and easy to move between garments, but on a full day's ride a power source that never runs flat is hard to beat.
Wiring your heated kit into the bike's 12-volt system through a fitted harness gives you constant warmth for as long as you're riding. Most touring and adventure bikes have the charging capacity to run a reasonable amount of heated kit, though it's worth checking yours before you load it up, and a good controller lets you turn the heat down once you've warmed through. If you're not sure what your bike can handle, our colleagues can talk it through with you.
The seat and the screen
Two things are easy to overlook and both make a real difference on a long winter ride. A heated seat keeps your lower body warm and eases the stiffness that creeps in over the miles, and many touring and adventure bikes can take one as a factory-fit or aftermarket option.
Your view matters just as much. A Pinlock or anti-fog insert stops your visor misting over on cold, damp days, and good wind protection from your screen takes a surprising amount of chill out of the ride. Staying warm and seeing clearly are what let you keep going comfortably hour after hour.
Layer under the heat
Heated kit works best with sensible layering underneath, not in place of it. A wicking base layer keeps sweat off your skin, which matters on a long ride where you'll warm up and cool down more than once. Skip cotton, which holds moisture and leaves you cold, and choose a thermal base that moves it away. With a good base layer under your heated gear you stay dry across a full day rather than just the first hour. For the fundamentals of layering, our guide to building a warm cold-weather setup covers it in full.
Get kitted out at Vertu Motorcycles
When you're planning your winter touring setup, our colleagues can help you match the kit to your bike and the distances you ride. Across our bike dealerships we stock quality heated clothing, helmets and accessories, and heated grips and seats are often available as manufacturer-approved options for Honda and BMW.
Have a look through our motorcycle accessories range, or book an appointment with your local dealership and we'll help you build a setup that keeps you warm for the long haul.
Related reading
Before a big winter trip, our winter maintenance guide covers preparing the bike itself for the cold.
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