How to Prevent Getting a Headache after a Motorcycle Ride

If you are not used to riding a motorcycle or are a novice rider, getting a headache after a motorcycle ride is common. Motorcycle riding can be a form of light exercise since it involves working almost every muscle in your body. However, riding a motorcycle can sometimes give you a headache if you ride continuously for hours. Other causes of headaches due to motorcycle riding include wearing a helmet, noise pollution, and dehydration. If you are a regular motorcycle rider or love to go on long-distance rides, getting a headache can be a serious problem. Read this article to learn how to prevent getting a headache after a motorcycle ride.

Several reasons why you get a headache after a motorcycle ride include:

• Dehydration
• Noise pollution
• Riding continuously for hours
• Bad riding posture
• Weak eyesight
• Wearing a helmet
• Wearing the wrong-sized helmet
• Migraines
• Riding in hot weather
• Riding in the rain
• Riding on an empty stomach
• Poor diet

It is recommended you drink water regularly in intervals while on a motorcycle trip, especially in hot weather. If you become dehydrated, the body starts struggling to balance internal fluid levels, and the stress results in a headache. When the body becomes dehydrated, the blood vessels become squeezed, resulting in improper blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. If the body stays dehydrated for a long time, your headache may become worse. Moving your head even a little will result in a sharp pain.

Noise pollution can also be a cause of headaches due to the increasing number of vehicles on the road and modern motorcycles producing louder sounds.

Riding a motorcycle continuously can cause fatigue due to needing to stay upright for hours and not stopping to drink water to keep yourself hydrated. Riding to the point of exhaustion and dehydration could result in more severe headaches.

Riding your motorcycle in an uncomfortable riding posture for a long time can cause pain in the upper spine and severe headaches. Most modern motorcycles and sports bikes are uncomfortable on long-distance rides due to having an aggressive riding style.

Riders with weak eyesight must stay alert at all times and strain their eyes when focusing on the road. Putting too much strain on your eye muscles when trying to focus on the road and traffic can result in severe headaches.

Wearing the wrong-sized helmet can result in wind entering the helmet, causing excessive vibrations, and pushing your head backward. A helmet that is too tight can result in your head being squeezed by constant pressure. You may not experience a headache if you go on a short ride while wearing an incorrectly-sized helmet. However, going on a long ride while wearing an incorrectly-sized helmet may cause severe headaches due to the blood flow and oxygen supply being cut off to your brain.

Riders who constantly suffer from migraine are more likely to get a headache after a motorcycle ride. Motorcycle riding, traffic, noise, exertion, and fatigue can cause headaches in riders who suffer from migraines.

Riding in hot weather and being exposed to too much direct sunlight can cause dehydration. The rider can feel fatigued more quickly even after riding a short distance in hot weather.

Riding in the rain can result in riders catching a cold. Unlike cars, motorcycles are not covered and are not ideal for riding in the rain. Riding with wet clothes can result in your body temperature being lowered, causing severe headaches and fatigue.

If you are lacking nutrition due to having an empty stomach, you may feel dizzy while riding a motorcycle. Make sure to eat a hearty meal before you get on your ride to give your body enough energy. Otherwise, it may be harder to stay awake and focused on the road.

Eating a heavy meal or following a poor diet plan before going on a motorcycle ride can result in headaches and nausea.

• Carry drinking water
• Take regular stops to drink water

• Wear ear plugs or ear pods with a noise-cancellation feature
• Install windshield
• Avoid riding at high speeds
• Wear a modular or quiet helmet

• Do not ride continuously for hours
• Stop regularly to relax
• Do some stretches when taking a break

• Sit in an upright back position
• Try to stay relaxed
• Do not keep your body stiff
• Keep your head and neck straight
• Do not go on long-distance rides on a sports bike

• Consult an eye doctor
• Wear glasses or contact lenses
• Take medicines and eye drops prescribed by a doctor

• Buy a helmet with proper ventilation
• Get a helmet that fits the size of your head
• Use a helmet with soft internal padding
• Use a helmet that does not put excessive pressure on your head

• Get treatment
• Use medications for migraine prescribed by a doctor
• Avoid going on long rides if you often have migraines
• Do not ride continuously
• Take measures to prevent triggers of migraines

• Take regular stops while riding in hot weather
• Stay hydrated 
• Wear breathable textile riding gear
• Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight
• Cover your neck
• Wear an evaporative cooling vest 
• Wear a light-colored helmet
• Wear a helmet with proper ventilation
• Avoid riding during the hottest time of the day

• Check the weather forecast before going on a motorcycle ride
• Avoid riding a motorcycle while it is raining
• Find a shaded area to stop if it starts to rain during a ride
• Carry a raincoat
• Dry yourself as soon as possible

• Carry snacks with you
• Carry chocolates and sweets to keep your sugar levels balanced

• Do not go for a motorcycle ride immediately after eating a meal
• Give a break of at least an hour to go for a ride after eating
• If you are having an upset stomach, do not go for a ride

Getting a headache after a motorcycle ride can be frustrating. A headache can be due to migraines which are triggered due to exertion, traffic noise, and bad riding posture. There are other reasons why riders get headaches after a motorcycle ride, including riding in hot weather, wearing an incorrectly-sized helmet, following a poor diet, riding on an empty stomach, and having weak eyesight. If you do not want to get a headache after a motorcycle ride, follow the tips covered in this article.

You can make your motorcycle more comfortable to ride and reduce the risk of getting a headache after a motorcycle ride by customizing it. Viking Bags has several aftermarket handlebars, seats, backrests, sissy bars, and crash bars. To help you carry snacks, drinking water, and other belongings on long-distance rides, Viking Bags offers several motorcycle luggage bags, including motorcycle trunk bags, saddlebags, and sissy bar bags.