Hitting the road during the winter causes over three-quarters of motorbike riders to feel dread, although just over a fifth reveal they look forward to driving in cold conditions as it helps them improve their control over their vehicles.

A thousand riders were questioned about winter motoring issues by researchers from insurance provider Swinton Bikes, with 31 per cent citing icy roads as their biggest winter concern.

Salt on the road came second, since it can cause erosion on bikes, followed by the cold. The risk of needing to make a winter insurance claim can be reduced by being extra cautious on the roads during the cold season, emphasises the insurer's Anthony Aronin.

"During the winter months the weather can be unpredictable, with potential dangerous driving conditions such as snow and ice," he acknowledges. "Bad weather coupled with long dark nights is the perfect recipe for road accidents."

Weather isn't the only thing on vehicle owners' minds as winter approaches, with other recent research from Swinton singling out November as one of the worst months for car crime, mainly because the end of Daylight Saving Time often leads to an increase in criminal activity after dark.

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