Weather - Follow up question

[dougster]

Hey all,

After reading numerous comments in threads about riding in cold weather (whatever "cold" means! ), I have this question:

All you who ride in weather below 50, do you have some excellent cold weather gear you wear?

What kind of gear do you wear for cold weather riding?

thanks,
dougster

[rksaw]

It is often below 50 degrees on the coast and to handle that I ride in layers. I always wear an HD leather jacket that my father-in-law gave me with a leather vest over it. I also always wear gloves (fingerless in the summer and one of two other pairs when the weather gets cold or wet), a half face and boots.

When it gets colder I always add leather chaps first. If I'm still cold, I'll add either a sweatshirt or henley style long underwear shirt and a neck gator for my face, ears and neck.

Only one time have I been cold with all that on (maybe it's that extra "natural insulation" that I'm carrying). Five buddies and I made a Memorial Day run that included a pass near Crater Lake in Oregon and when we passed packed snow on the sides of the roadway near the summit, I was glad that I added a simple Wally World rain suit that I wore over all the aforementioned.

I hope that helps,
Rich

[dogdoc]

Only thing I added new this year was a bib over-alls from wally world. They are Walls insulated, black, leg zippers to the pockets for easy on/off, very warm when relly COLD and leather chaps wont do. I have all the winter riding gear except this new addition. I also added a turtle fur hood. The top half is thin material so you can still wear your helmet, but the face face and neck is double thick turtle fur, very WARM and wind proof. Im SET!

[Top Cat]

Turtle's have fur ??? Up here in NY they just have a shell and scaley skin. I never looked under the shell, maybe thats the furry part ;)

[dank]

I frequently ride all day in the 30's and low 40's here in Michigan. Rain being included is not rare. I use the Firstgear Kilimanjaro Jacket and their mesh pants with a liner. Mine is red. With the liner in the jacket is too hot to wear above 45 degrees, it is rainproof and completely windproof. In the low 30's I wear underarmor too.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...c=2&zmap=16579

They have changed the colors and style since I got mine. Might not buy the current one because of that.

I also use Tourmaster Winter Elite gloves. They are fantastic!!!

http://www.newenough.com/gloves/insu...le_gloves.html

[classic1]

For temps in the upper 30's to 50 deg, I wear chaps, flannel shirt, leather jacket, insulated gauntlet gloves, a thin neck gator and 1/2 helmet. The gauntlet gloves are a must to keep the air from going up your sleeves and coming out at your neck (brrr). The shirt adds insulation and acts like a baffle if air does go up your sleeve. I tuck the neck gator in my coat collar and pull it up to my lower lip and use the helmet strap to hold in place. This keeps air out at my neck. Don't pull it up over your nose cause when you breathe it will fog up your glasses. When it's 25 - 35 deg, I leave the chaps and 1/2 helmet and use Walls insulated bibs and full face helmet. Sometimes on those really cold mornings I will use one of those thin full head covers inside my helmet. You will be surprised at how much air actually flows around inside a full face helmet. These things will make your hair look pretty wild when you take it off too. But, I'm not worried about the fashion police, cause I figure that I'm riding and they're not.

[dantama]

I ride in the 20's if the pavement is clear, but only like 20 miles out and 20 back, not long distances. The windchill factor is real!

Until recent years, I just bundled up with thermals etc, and froze my ass off.

I found the secret is leather on the lower half too. I ride in below freezing temps with thermals, leather jacket and pants, neck gator or scarf, boots and winter gloves, and a full face helmet.

I stay warm (relatively :) ) except for my hands and feet. Even with good winter motorcycle gloves my hand eventually got real cold, as did my feet. Crash bar chaps took care of the feet, but hands were still cold. This month I finally got those clear hand guards to put on for winter. I think that it will solve the hand problem and all should be well.

Believe me, a 70mph windchill at 20 degrees is cold, but with leather and some insulation it's still pretty good. If my bike wasn't in the shop I could try out the new hand guards, it's only 33 degrees right now.

[bigjohn]

For most local "cool weather" riding I just wear my Thinsulate insulated leather chaps and heavy leather jacket, with the vents closed up, maybe. Gloves are either my driving gloves or the Olympic riding gloves and a maybe a rag around the neck.

When it gets below 40, or if I'm going long distance in the spring or fall, I'll brake out my big yellow reflective construciton jacket and my ski pants. Add a sweater under the jacket, some heavy Olympic gauntletts and a bandana to kee the cold off the cheeks and I'm good to go for quite a while.

I might consider getting a set of HippoHands for really cold weather. B, probably not. I'm not planning on any extended cold weather riding anytime soon.

John

Dan - the National hand guards do some good. They won't block everything though.

[scott2007nomad]

I think I rode once in temps less than 40 once.
But that was only at daybreak when leaving the house. It subsequently warmed up to the low 60's by noon.
It doesn't get that cold much in Texas south of I10.

Therefore not much gear other than a full face helmet, leather jacket and leather gloves required.

Scott

[paul]

I'll go with the basics, Heavy leather jacket, chaps, gauntlets, full face helmet or ball cap and full face neoprene mask depending on my mood. If it gets really biting cold (in Houston, HA) i'll add a pair of silks as my first layer. Light weight, body forming,(try to get rid of that image), and warm.

[triguy32]

I ride into the low teens, basically in North Alabama, it doesn't get too cold for me to ride. Like the others, I wear chaps, a heavy FirstGear jacket with quilter liner (a light fleece jacket underneath when we get into the 20's or lower), and a neopreme (?) facemask. I'm totally fine. Oh did I mention my batwing fairing? ...Sweet! The only problem I have ever hand is cold hands, but no longer. I wear a pair of Joe Rocket winter gloves, but the secret is I have handlebar covers on the bike in this cold weather. These are the ones made for snowmobiles. I found a set in black, at a local bike shop for only $25, and man, what a difference they make. No problem slipping my hands in and out. I work on a military base and have to produce a badge several times every morning on my way in. They install with velcro in seconds. I highly recommend.

[formikec]

Here's the gear I use:

Jacket with Quilted Zip Out Lining:
http://leatherup.com/p/Mens-Motorcyc...ket/50865.html

Insulated Chaps w/zipper from bottom almost to top:
http://www.cyclemaxohio.com/inc/sdetail/11330

A spandex with velcro mask (ski mask), hiking boots, and gloves.

Still looking for the best pair of gloves. I've tried some that were warm but way to thick and padded for my comfort in trying to operate everything on the bars.

I've ridden down into the 30's this year in the morning and after dark about 30 miles from Nashville on the interstates. The wind is a bitch, but everything stays warm except the hands...still need good gloves.

Still wearing a half helmet as well. The one I bought has a zip out bottom lining which keeps me amazingly warm when used with the ski mask.

I don't wear underarmour or any liner. Just khaki pants and a short sleeve polo to work under the above items.

[formikec]

And here is what Skeet shared with me. She said the metro motorcycle police use these in the winter:
http://www.hippohands.com/

[bigjohn]

Originally Posted by formikec

And here is what Skeet shared with me. She said the metro motorcycle police use these in the winter:
http://www.hippohands.com/

Yep, HippoHands have been around for at least 30 years. Good product, good reputation. They work.

[nomad561]

I highly recommend under armor.It is great for ring in colder temps.I wear it and a couple layers of clothing then my chaps and jacket and haven't had any problems so far. My hands get cold,but I'm working on that.