Riding a motorcycle through fogs

Being a motorcycle rider, if you truly are a passionate biker but haven’t ridden in fog, then you have missed the real travel experience. Fog challenges your skills, tests your patience, and reveals the raw essence of adventure on the road. Remember,

Let it remind you to ride with patience and focus.

Last time I rode in fog was in January 2025. This Year (K2K).

In North India, fog typically starts near Diwali to thicken after Christmas. It continues to intensify through January, often reducing visibility to zero at distances of 10 to 15 meters and stays till late February. We encounter fog almost 99% of the time near farm areas, national highways, and forest regions. I also realised the importance of neon colours/ reflectors during rides in rain, fog, and at night, as they significantly enhance visibility and safety.

Even in the hills, it’s less about fog and more about riding through clouds.

I will divide this experience into four parts:-

I’ll be sharing only my fog riding experience from Himachal Pradesh to Shivpur, Madhya Pradesh, where the fog persisted throughout. On my return from Kanyakumari, the fog began again from Betul, Madhya Pradesh AH47 and I faced significant trouble.

While returning from Kashmir to Chandigarh on 2nd January, I took a halt. The next morning, I woke up at 5 a.m. to thick fog. I waited patiently for hours until visibility improved to at least 50 meters, which finally happened around 8 a.m.

Motorcycle

I was riding a Triumph Tiger 660s(Jan 2024 Model), which I call “Ghost.” My experience includes riding in both dry and wet fog; there is not much difference except that dry fog is smokier, while wet fog drops water like rain mixed with dust. Even with the Tiger 660’s LED headlamps, visibility drops sharply during the day. After every hour, the visor on the motorcycle gets dirty, making it difficult to see the road ahead. I remember when I crossed Delhi, dirt and small stones started hitting my legs, and even a few hit my face. I kept a toilet roll to clean the visor after pouring water on it. I had to clean the chain every day while the fog lasted because it got covered in mud. Checked the filter as it got dirty too. On reaching Bengaluru, I fixed a rear puncture. Ghost LED light is too low for FOG, a disappointment on this part.

I was advised to get heated grips for my TTRed, but I chose to preserve the raw experience of the motorcycle.

Safety Gear

Jacket: As I was travelling to South India from North India, I wore a Scala mesh riding jacket with L2 protection on the shoulders, back, and arms. I wore body Extra Warm under top from Uniqlo.
Pants: Mesh riding pants from Royal Enfield for women, with side hip and knee protection. Extra Warm pants from Uniqlo.
Gloves: Winter glove liners from Decathlon are a must-have.
Boots: Anti-friction high ankle socks from Decathlon, Triumph x Alpinestars waterproof boots.
Helmet: Flip-up Airoh helmet from FC-moto, size XS. Nothing works if we can’t see clearly, which is why we rely on a Helmet Visor Anti-Fog Film. However, after trying anti-fog films from three different brands, I realised I had wasted my money. Finding an anti-fog solution that protects not only against water but also pollution, dust, and night vision, all at a reasonable price in India, is difficult. On this ride, I could not see clearly, so I rode with the visor open.
Rain Set: I always carry a Rain Jacket, Rain Pant from Decathlon, also HEATTECH Extra Warm from Uniqlo.

Rider

As a rider with a genetic sinus problem.
Sinus issues can worsen in foggy weather due to cold, damp air and reduced air quality, causing congestion, headaches, and breathing discomfort. Airborne pollutants and cold weather intensify the challenges of foggy rides. Pollutants worsen visibility and irritate the eyes and skin, while cold temperatures can cause discomfort and affect concentration. Managing these factors requires specialised gear and heightened mental focus to maintain safety and resilience

Please take care of yourself whenever you ride a motorcycle. I rode with my visor open, which exposed my eyes and face to harsh dust, damaging my appearance. I experienced bloodshot eyes, burning sensations all over my face, and chafing. I still recall that I was frozen to death, could not feel my fingers, my face mask was soaked, making it uncomfortable to breathe and adding to the challenge of the ride, and I was wearing 2 sets of rain jackets. It was not that difficult in the morning, but very challenging after 6 pm

• Face and body powder to keep skin dry and comfortable

• Anti-fog cream or spray for helmet visor

• Basic first aid kit

• Medications like Cetirizine (Zyrtec), Fexofenadine (Allegra), and Loratadine (Claritin) for allergy relief

• High visibility neon clothing accessories/ Reflecter

• Protective eyewear or goggles

• Moisturising lip balm and skin cream to combat dryness

• A hydrating water bottle to stay refreshed

• Portable charger or power bank for communication devices

• Reflective tape or stickers for added visibility on gear

These essentials help manage the physical and environmental challenges of not only foggy rides but also winter rain. Mostly, the preparations are the same.

Technique/Skills

Based on my experience, I follow these safety skills during foggy rides:

• Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles

• Avoid overtaking and abrupt movements

• Control speed to prevent overspeeding

• Use hazard lights and

  Quote:

  Dipper signals effectively

  . It’s a game of how good you are at Dipper Signals. Low Visibility = Low Reaction Time. Our brains take longer to process movement and light in low-contrast environments. A dipper signal helps others judge how far the vehicle is and how fast it’s approaching.

Pay close attention to

• road markings

which become very important in low visibility conditions.

Have you ever followed the white line on the road? I have. That’s what I do when visibility drops to zero, but not blindly. It’s a guide, not a rule, helping me stay on track safely when everything else disappears. I have raced cars at 120 km/h in fog and almost lost my life, which happened on the turn that I missed due to fog. I broke at 120km/h, and I could feel the imbalance of the rear tyre. This was particularly noticeable when I did engine braking, and , that’s when I said sorry to myself. As they say, speed thrills but kills. It’s about riding with responsibility.

I stopped at a spot where villagers had gathered around a small bonfire they made by burning all waste paper, wood, and plastic, warming their hands. At a tea shop, I sipped 20ml of tea with a biscuit for just ₹15 for tea + ₹5 for a biscuit. The only woman standing there, I felt safe, as few were asking me 100 questions

Day-wise snacks that I carry in the top box are dry fruits, Vicks, chocolate, my all-time favourite orange biscuit, and Parle-G biscuit. I also carry a hot water bottle and a regular water bottle.

I’ve understood that we can’t conquer nature or the weather. So I follow because the only thing I can truly change is my technique and Skills.

Thank You, Have a Safe Ride.