Tips for Choosing Your Summer Motorcycle Gear

by Cliff John July 23, 2020

Summer is the season all riders look forward to as they long for clear skies, vacations and longer days to stay outdoors. When the rising temperatures roll in, it's important to find a healthy balance with gear that keeps you safe while allowing room for ventilation. If you have a motorcycle trip booked this summer, be sure to review the Fat Head Cycles list of must-have gear for hot weather.

Although it's tempting to climb on your Harley® wearing shorts and a t-shirt, we're confident that the advice on this list will keep you comfortable cruising at any speed.

UV Coated Motorcycle Helmets

A motorcycle helmet is the most important piece of safety gear for travel, but with so many different helmet styles available, it can be difficult to find the perfect variety for your applications. Fortunately, you can narrow down your options for summer by looking for specific features designed to keep you cool.

It can be difficult to choose a helmet style.

Ask your local shop to direct you to helmets with ventilation systems. All of your favorite manufacturers — such as Bell, Arai, HJC and others — will incorporate vents along the exterior shell. Pay close attention to lining materials for layers that wick away sweat in the heart of summer. Numerous motorcycle helmets on the market even offer anti-UV coatings to deflect heat in direct sunlight.

Mesh Summer Motorcycle Jackets

The world of motorcycle jackets has expanded throughout the last few decades. The days of sweating bullets in an all-leather style are over now thanks to mesh varieties that combine looks with durability. Few motorcycle jacket materials out there will provide you with as much ventilation as mesh, and most mesh products showcase reinforcements along the shoulders, elbows and back.

Hang your fall or spring jacket up for the summer and explore your textile options. You'll find that a motorcycle jacket for summer is a life-saver when you stop at traffic lights and pull over for breaks.

Mesh Gloves and Vented Motorcycle Boots

You rely on your hands and feet to navigate your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle, so think about picking up a pair of mesh gloves to boost ventilation and prevent sweaty palms. Mesh gloves will keep you safe with armor materials but allow for airflow between the fingers, ensuring maximum control of the handlebars.

Mesh gloves will keep you safe

Additionally, it's no secret that feet sweat in thick boots. Fortunately, you can still manage to protect your feet during summer with gear manufactured from perforated leather. Look for summer motorcycle footwear equipped with waterproof liners to help your socks stay dry.

Harley-Davidson® Aftermarket Radios at Fat Head Cycles

Summer is the perfect time to travel to a new destination. Whether you're embarking on a motorcycle trip by yourself or with a group, you can upgrade your factory head unit with plug-and-play Sony products at Fat Head Cycles. In as little as one hour, you can upgrade your bike's audio system to introduce Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth pairing and more for a relaxing ride.

Our experts bring you installation videos and excellent customer service to transform your touring motorcycle. Complete projects yourself with virtually no need to cut or solder wires together. For more information about Harley® audio upgrade products and our in-shop services, contact Fat Head Cycles today!