Safety first makes for a better autumn motorcycle experience

By Lethbridge Herald on September 20, 2025.

Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald

Autumn is almost here, but for motorcycle enthusiasts that doesn’t mean it’s time to bring out the trickle chargers and stow away the gear yet.

Southern Alberta’s climate can accommodate riding late into the year, so riders can be tempted to keep their machines on the road as long as they dare.

But like motorcyclists anywhere, they can benefit from following some safety tips to prevent being stuck out in the cold.

John McTaggart, a long-time Honda Gold Wing rider from Ontario who has travelled extensively across North America, including through southern Alberta and Lethbridge, knows full well the challenges of autumn riding.

In fact, as winter edges closer to northern Ontario where he lives, McTaggart is saddling up with some close friends for an upcoming ride to enjoy the changing colours of the boreal forest which covers their region.

McTaggart has sometimes ridden right through November, while a close pal has even taken his bike out for rides in December.

Two years ago in early April, they left their hometown from which McTaggart’s family operated a chain of clothing stores and other  businesses, and headed south to Arizona. They raced to stay ahead of a snowstorm and in the course of two days had to deal with tornadoes and then ice pellets. They were rerouted from a forest fire and returned  home to flooding. So they’ve ridden in all sorts of different  conditions. And McTaggart is fond of autumn journeys.

“Fall riding is a great time to be on the bike,” he says. “The colours are magnificent, the smells are fresh and clear and it’s not blistering  hot.”

And insects are not so abundant – which is a bonus, he added.

His advice for riders who try to lengthen their two-wheeled season includes wearing a heated jacket.

“Having the jacket allows you to ride later into the season,” said McTaggart, who also recommends heated hand grips.

A modular helmet and/or a good face shield used in combination with a  balaclava and neck tube are also good for warmth, he said.

McTaggart cautions riders to be aware of changing conditions and ride accordingly.

“Early in the  morning, be cautious in shaded areas that the sun hasn’t hit yet; if there is moisture it can be slick. I ran into a case  (where) in front of a car wash the road in front was icy from the  water dripping on the pavement from cars as they pulled out.”

The website Woman Motorcycling Enthusiast recommends checking tire pressures and giving tires time to heat up when riding before increasing velocity, because cold tires don’t have the same traction as  warm ones. The Ottawa Safety Council notes that tires of sport and race compounds operate over a limited temperature range.

Woman Motorcycle Enthusiast also suggests planning riding routes to make the most of dwindling daylight so riders can be home before dark.

Also important before heading out on the highway – we won’t say “hitting the road” – is to check weather forecasts and schedule trips for days when conditions are appropriate for riding.

Charging batteries the night before a ride is also essential because cold weather can drain batteries quicker than when conditions are warmer.

Sun glare can be an issue depending upon the direction a rider is headed with the sun being lower in this sky in fall. Riders can also  become distracted from the strobe light effect caused by patterns of  light and shade on barren trees.

Riders also need to be wary of deer crossing in front of them, their movement, which peaks at dawn and dusk, which McTaggart is well familiar with in his neck of the woods.

“This time of year, animals are on the move more than ever so riders  need to be super vigilant. I even saw a moose cross the highway in front of me east of Lethbridge about a year ago. Be aware, be smart and get out and ride,” he says to fellow enthusiasts.

Wind, which southern Albertans are well familiar with, can also present challenges with gusts blowing bikes into other lanes.

A Canadian insurance company website suggests riders consider using oil of a different viscosity in the fall and to check brakes to make  sure they can handle emergency situations that might arise. That  company also recommends packing an emergency kit with first aid  supplies and tools, a phone charger and portable battery and extra  clothes.

And riders should let a friend or family know when and where they’re going.

The Ottawa Safety Council recommends filling up gas tanks on the way  home and to keep an eye out for road debris.