When it gets cold, the hardest thing about riding is surely your fingertips. But switch to thick winter gloves and the levers and switches become harder to use.
My answer is handlebar muffs (handlebar covers). I've been using them for about five seasons now. In this article, I'll show the Rough & Road handlebar covers I use, fitted to my BMW G650GS and my Honda XR250 BAJA (the Japan-market XR250 / MD30).
Key points
- With the covers on, mesh spring/summer gloves were fine for me at December and late-February temperatures
- They fitted both the G650GS with its hand guards and the XR BAJA with its large hand guards
- Inside the covers I could still reach the kill switch and starter button on the G650GS, and the indicator and horn switches on the XR BAJA
- The downside: you can't get your hands out quickly if you fall
Pros and cons of handlebar covers
With the covers on, I'm fine even in mesh spring/summer gloves. That said, I don't ride in midwinter, so this is at December and late-February temperatures.
Some riders say handlebar covers look old-fashioned or spoil the look of the bike. I care more about practicality than looks, so I keep using them.
However, not being able to get your hands out quickly if you fall is a downside.
I've written about how I choose my gloves here.
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Motorcycle Gloves: How Switching to Kushitani Stopped My Hands Going Numb
I ride in Kushitani spring/summer gloves with soft protectors. After switching, my hands stopped going numb on long rides, partly because the depth between the index finger and thumb fits my hand.
What the covers look like and how they're made
First, the outside. I've put a pen next to them so you can get a rough idea of the size. At first glance they're on the large side.
The material isn't soft and floppy; it's stiff enough to hold its shape when you pick it up.
Here's one turned over. On the underside, towards the front, there are two drain holes on each cover.
A close-up of the drain holes. I've never been caught in heavy rain in the cold months when I need the covers, so I haven't needed them.
Note that the maker says the product is for protection against cold and wind, and asks you not to use it in the rain.
Fitting them to the G650GS
First, the G650GS. It has hand guards, but the covers went on without any trouble.
If anything, I think that without hand guards the covers might not keep their shape against the wind at speed (this is my guess).
The cover slips right over the hand guard.
Once it's on, fasten it with the hook-and-loop straps.
There are two hook-and-loop straps.
That's it fitted. My hand is holding the throttle.
I took a photo inside the cover with it fitted. The grip sits inside the cover.
You can also operate the kill switch and starter button inside the cover.
My covers have a zip on the top of the throttle side only, which opens into a pocket for small items. On a bike without ETC (Japan's electronic toll card), you can keep your motorway ticket and some change in it.
Fitting them to the XR BAJA
Next, the XR BAJA. This BAJA has large optional hand guards.
Because the hand guards are large, it was harder to get the covers on than on the G650GS, but they went on without forcing anything.
This is the grip seen from inside the cover.
From inside the cover you can see the indicator, horn and other switches, so you can still operate them with the cover fitted.
This is before fastening the hook-and-loop strap. Even inside the cover, I can reach the indicator switch and others with my thumb.
And this is with the cover fastened.
Things to watch when fitting
The maker's instructions include the following cautions. Check them on your own bike before you ride off.
- After fitting, check that the switches, mirrors, indicators and all the levers work without interference
- When fastening the straps, make sure they don't catch on the brake lever
- Don't mix up the left and right covers
- Thick or unusually shaped grips may cause problems with operation
Depending on the bike and the size of the hand guards, they may not fit, so it's worth checking compatibility before you buy.
Summary
- With handlebar covers, mesh gloves were fine for me in December and late February
- They fitted both the G650GS with hand guards and the XR BAJA with large hand guards
- I could reach the switches inside the covers. The downside is that it's harder to get your hands out if you fall
The covers I use are the Rough & Road RR5927 (a Japanese brand).
For keeping your neck warm, see this article.
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Motorcycle Neck Warmer for Cold Rides in December and March
How I keep warm on the bike in December and March: winter jacket and trousers, a thin Rough & Road neck warmer and handlebar muffs. The successor model (RR5898) and what I'd buy next.
