Heated Apparel - Pro's & Con's

[rlfaubion]

I ride year around in Northern CA.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s31/rlfaubion/Motorcycles/snow-throwerMC.jpg

This year I'm thinking about getting heated clothing; pants, gloves, and jacket liner - maybe socks.

I would appreciate comments about your experience with these products.

What do you think the pro's and con's of such gear are, other than they are expensive :)

Any specific mfg'r you'd recommend?

Tks,
ValDez

[ringadingh]

I ride as long as I can into the season here, being stopped only by snow on the roads and the salt trucks. I don't use heated clothing at all and I have been riding in 25 degree weather. If you dress in layers,and preferably use snowmobile clothing, seal out all cold air leaks, you can stay out a surprisingly long time. Im riding home from work in a couple hours and it is in the low 30's here right now. Keeping your neck covered and a full face helmet are also important points to keep. Im not sure if you would want to do 500-600 mile rides in a day, but a couple hours at least shouldn't be a problem at all.

[taranis]

Tourmaster makes some good heated gear. My Ann has used her heated chaps from time to time because of her nerve disorder. They've saved her a few times from a very painful weekend, and they weren't even up all the way.

[schoeney]

Valdez,

Glad you posetd this. I would be interested as well.

[rlfaubion]

Tourmaster makes some good heated gear. My Ann has used her heated chaps from time to time because of her nerve disorder. They've saved her a few times from a very painful weekend, and they weren't even up all the way.

Thank you for your informative post..., and my very best to Ann - hope this fines you well...

[rlfaubion]

Hey Ring,

You're right - lay'er'n up works, but I'm just runn'n outta ideas for what I want for Christmas. I mean with my family, it's get a request in or end up with another freak'n tie.... What's your wish?

Thanks man - winter well....

VD



I ride as long as I can into the season here, being stopped only by snow on the roads and the salt trucks. I don't use heated clothing at all and I have been riding in 25 degree weather. If you dress in layers,and preferably use snowmobile clothing, seal out all cold air leaks, you can stay out a surprisingly long time. Im riding home from work in a couple hours and it is in the low 30's here right now. Keeping your neck covered and a full face helmet are also important points to keep. Im not sure if you would want to do 500-600 mile rides in a day, but a couple hours at least shouldn't be a problem at all.

[rewindgy]

Electric vest / First Gear Kiliminjaro jacket / First Gear overpants / First Gear Dakota goloves - ride until -10 C or so ( that's 14 F) or until the snow gets too deep for the KLR. Around 0 C don't turn the vest on as it's too hot! Someone gave me a new Gerbing vest last week and it has a heated collar - Woo hoo!!!!!!

[flightdoc]

I have a friend that rides with heated grips and a heated jacket. He says it will add at least a month of additional riding time to his season.

[redeye]

Hey Ring,

You're right - lay'er'n up works, but I'm just runn'n outta ideas for what I want for Christmas. I mean with my family, it's get a request in or end up with another freak'n tie.... What's your wish?

Thanks man - winter well....

VD


.

My GrandPa always said it was better to GIVE than to receive.....

[spirello]

I bought warmgear by far the best warranty out there. Got all of it socks pants gloves and a coat. Also bought a harley themastat two switches one for the top and one for the bottom. All said and done I think it was around $600.00 I bought all of it two years ago and the heating elements went out in the coat had a new one shipped to me in about two days no charge. Lifetime warranty on all the heating elements.

http://www.cozywinters.com/

[rlfaubion]

Rich,

He's right too! Now, what cha got for me?

[nomadliz]

I have used widder heated gloves for about 3 years..I can not ride when it gets below 50 because I have Raynauds and my hands get cold very easy. I purchased a vest to go with this and I really like the vest with the collar on it, The only thing I would recommend is using a temp. controller with the vest or you will be turning it off and on all the time. :)

[dragon57]

I'm with Ringadingh; dress in warm, windproof layers, and you don't need heated clothing, with cumbersome cords to hookup / unhook each time.
I ride all winter here; it doesn't stay below the teens here for long (farenheight), so, like he said, cover ALL areas or the skin, use ski/snowmobile clothing, and, you should be fine!
If it gets any colder than that, the 'Nad won't get up to decent operating temp, anyway, unless you cover part of the radiator.

[redeye]

Rich,

He's right too! Now, what cha got for me?

http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gifI got something special for you. A self priming siphion, just in case you ever run out of gas on a lonely hiway. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[rlfaubion]

Thanks Dragon - thinking about it more and what you and Ring said, a few of us just rode for a weekend in temps from 40 down to 22 degrees a few weeks ago without heaters, and all of us were fine, (we were layered right).

However, I wonder if it wouldn't be nicer to not have to wear so many layers by having heated clothes that I presume would not be as bulky?

The reality of it all is I don't see myself on necessarily long rides in the dead of winter, but more about being as comfortable as possible for two to three hours in the colder temps.... tks

[cheriann]

Thank you for the suggestions in here on the heated gear!!!!
Every winter I manage to layer and stay warm in every region EXCEPT my hands!!!! I have bought expensive gloves that are "made for the cold", additional glove liners for the cold and STILL suffered.

I'm looking around now for some heated gloves that are easy to install. I wish I could find a pair that I can plug into my 12V ciagrette lighter accessory!!! That would be REAL easy to use ;)

[trip]

Well, being in Texas, I've never really felt I needed heated gear for winter riding. So, I don't really have any experience in this area. I have a few friends that run "electrics" during the winter. Sometimes they complain because it gets too hot.

[bearbait]

Great and useful thread. I too have wondered about heated gear: not whether to get it (I will), just which brand, etc. I expect the good stuff will be expensive.

I believe heated grips are a pain to install, so I have been considering heated gloves instead. Any comments on that?

[spirello]

bearbait As for the gloves I would recomend a heated coat or vest and gloves. The gloves are a liner that goes in your gloves works very well. As for it being a pain to hook up it is so not. All once you get it all hooked up you leave it that way. Its very simple all you do is plug in one cord at the back of your seat and your done. As for getting off I dont even unplug it it just unplugs when you get off.

[dhomoney]

Thank you for the suggestions in here on the heated gear!!!!
Every winter I manage to layer and stay warm in every region EXCEPT my hands!!!! I have bought expensive gloves that are "made for the cold", additional glove liners for the cold and STILL suffered.

I'm looking around now for some heated gloves that are easy to install. I wish I could find a pair that I can plug into my 12V ciagrette lighter accessory!!! That would be REAL easy to use ;)

Cheri,

HD makes battery opperated heated gloves. They may be your best bet. I think they are $170 plus $40 for the battery.

[dhomoney]

Thank you for the suggestions in here on the heated gear!!!!
Every winter I manage to layer and stay warm in every region EXCEPT my hands!!!! I have bought expensive gloves that are "made for the cold", additional glove liners for the cold and STILL suffered.

I'm looking around now for some heated gloves that are easy to install. I wish I could find a pair that I can plug into my 12V ciagrette lighter accessory!!! That would be REAL easy to use ;)

Here is a cigarette lighter adapter.

http://cozywinters.com/shop/wg-dcpa.html

[dano]

I have both bikes wired for Gerbing G3 Gloves and my Harley also
has heated grips. The wires of heated gloves are a pain in the butt but when the temp in below 10 degrees, they sure feel gooooood ;) I ride all year and down to as cold as it will get here in East TN which is around zero. (I can't remember but a couple times in my life when it got below 0) My commute is about 20 miles one way to my Office and 36 miles to my main office. Never felt the need for any other artificially heated gear.
Ride safe,
Dano

[cheriann]

Here is a cigarette lighter adapter.

http://cozywinters.com/shop/wg-dcpa.html

YIPPPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!
Thank you!!!!!! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[michiganmike]

I use the Aerostich Kanetsu AIRVANTAGE Electric Vest. It fits nicely under my leather jacket and my Cortech jacket. I like it and would recommend it. I can ride in the high 30's for 45 minutes before my hands get cold while using the electric vest and snowmobile gloves. Luckily work is only 6.5 miles away.

[ells]

Don't have the numbers handy(modify: about 300 Watts), but your body produces more heat than you would likely want to pull off the the Nomad electrical system. Windbreaking insulated gear will take care of it, windshield and engine guard chaps help too. But, I just can't keep my hands warm. I think those handle bar deflectors would do it.

[rlfaubion]

Ells,

You might want to check with Redeye about those before buying. He has them and has said they don't work so well....