With winter in full force, there’s not much a motorcyclist can do but wait for the snow to clear. That is, until you’ve read this cheat sheet on beating the Winter Biker Blues:

Head South

If you have time to travel this winter, then take a trip down south where the weather is always perfect for riding. Sunny coastlines rarely see temperatures dip below freezing in the winter, and are often a mild 60 to 70 degrees during the daytime. Don’t want to tow your ride all the way to Florida? That’s alright. Just take a test drive at the local dealership, or rent a bike for the day in Key West.

Plan Rides

The best way to make time pass on a cold winter night is to plan your upcoming summer road trip. Do you dream of trekking cross-country? How about a quick day-trip through the hills? Or maybe an international trip through South America? Start planning and saving now, and you will be ready to roll as soon as the ice melts.

Prep Bike

Winter is the perfect time for motorcycle maintenance. If you can’t ride, then you might as well prep your bike so you will be ready to ride in the spring. If you haven’t already winterized your motorcycle, then now would be a good time. You can also give your ride a good wash, as well as go through the essential motorcycle maintenance checklist. In fact, performing at least one annual maintenance check could keep your motorcycle running forever.

Check Gear

Not only does motorcycle gear wear out, but it also becomes outdated pretty quickly. Every year there is newer, better, safer equipment, as well as higher safety standards in the industry. That’s why it’s important to check your gear each winter. You certainly don’t want to be caught with a faulty helmet or torn boots when riding season comes around. Now is the time to take stock of what you need and start saving for new gear in the spring. Or if you have the cash on hand, buy new equipment now and take advantage of winter savings.

Watch these videos

When the ride is planned, the gear checked, the motorcycle cleaned and prepped, and there’s nothing else to do but wait, that’s when it’s time to check out these riding videos for inspiration:

Epic Motorcycle Journeys