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Temperatures that barely reach 10°C shouldn’t necessarily mean that you have to put your motorcycle into hibernation for the winter.
On the contrary, the autumn still presents plenty of opportunity to get out on your scooter or bike and appreciate the colourful landscapes to be admired at this time of year, but as is the case with any season, the autumn does bring with it certain traps that you have to be aware of, particularly when riding a motorcycle.
Either the motorcyclist or a motorist approaching from the opposite direction could suddenly find themselves dazzled by the setting sun. The German institute for motorcycle safety (Institut für Zweiradsicherheit, IfZ) warns of the dangers of a dirty or scratched visor that requires to drive by sight. Cleaning or even replacing the visor can work miracles. It is important that you adopt a defensive and preventive style of driving in order to protect against any involuntary lack of visibility on the part of other road-users.
Ambient humidity in the air and the sudden appearance of fog can encourage condensation to form on the visor. You can open the visor a little to quickly restore your normal vision, or use products designed to limit condensation. It is advisable for motorcyclists and scooter riders to use double-walled anti-condensation visors.
Clearly visible clothing and regularly checking the vehicle’s lights are important safety criteria at a time of year when the days are shorter and the sun sets earlier. As soon as the sun sets the temperature will suddenly drop significantly. Functional clothing with a detachable lining is useful, as is a wind-breaker that you can quickly slip on during the journey.
Motorcyclists and scooter riders should also remain vigilant with regards to the increased likelihood of wild animals crossing by reducing their speed and being prepared to brake at any time. Frost: when dew, leaves and frost start to appear on the roads you should avoid sharp acceleration, steep slopes and heavy braking. National roads, main roads and secondary roads can also be sullied by agricultural vehicles during the autumn months, meaning that you should again reduce your speed and be particularly careful.