THERMO SUIT -VS- ELECTRIC SUIT?

[fordguyupnorth]

howdy gang. gettin tired of riding in 20 degree weather with snow flurries! wanted to ask everyone's opinion of the "first gear thermo suit" as compared to one of the many electric or battery powered vests/jackets available out there. my fiancee and i put our ski-doo riding pants and jacket on now but are pretty cumbersome. i know dave and teddy from ohio use the thermo suit and seem pretty happy with it. hard to believe it would be warmer than my snowmobiling gear? the electric suits seem like they would be perfect. any help?:dontknow:

 

[ARtraveler]

I have been a proponent of Firstgear items for many years. I have two complete suits--jackets and pants with the winter liners. They work well for me in cold weather driving here in Alaska. The electric stuff keeps you nice and toasty--but I dont like the idea of plugging/unplugging every time you get off the bike. Just my .02

 

[Slybird]

My wife and I both have Firstgear Thermo Suits. I flew down to Phoenix in early December to pick up her "new" "used" :spyder2: RT-AC and drove it back up here to Oregon. :shemademe_smilie: When I left the motel in Williams, CA on my second morning, it was 25 degrees and it didn't get much above 35 degrees most all of the day (and it also rained most of the day, too). While I'm not saying that I was as toasty as I would have been had I had on my Gerbings, I must say that I was perfectly dry and comfortable. All that being said, I highly recommend the Firstgear Thermo Suit.

 

[NancysToy]

I doubt anything would keep you warmer than the snowmobile gear, either. If you switch, it won't necessarily be for warmth, and it won't be for convenience either, since it still takes forever to dress for a winter ride. It is strictly a matter of bulk.

I have some heated gear, but I seldom use it. Too hot, IMO, even with a good thermostat, set on low. My wife loves it! Sound familiar? "Honey, turn up the thermostat." Biggest problem, especially with two people using heated gear, will be that the electrical system is limited in capacity. Also remember that the Spyder only charges half its rated amps at 4,000 rpm. If you use heated gear, keep the rpm up. You can likely get by with just two vests, and maybe even with two jackets. Nancy has used both jacket and gloves on her RS, and they have a lower electrical system output. If you add gloves, pants, or socks, you may have to juggle things on and off. Leaving the foglights and heated grips off, are about the only options, although the audio system might help, too. Without an ammeter, it will be hard to tell when you are over the edge. A voltmeter might not tell you until it is too late. You'll have to experiment a bit.

 

[NorthStar]

Gerbing

We have Gerbing Jacket Liners and plug them directly to the battery tender cord that we have hooked up to the battery under the seat. I also have a simple two unit controller, but find myself just plugging the jackets into the SAE jack and unplugging them when I get toasty.

I find that ballistic pants combined with the wind protection afforded by the RT tupperware allows me the opportunity of doing away with heated pants. Of course the heated grips on the Spyder RT takes care of the hands and I have a full face helmet.

As Scotty has indicated, running heated gear draws a fair amount on your system. To be safe, I installed a digital voltmeter so that I can monitor any drop in the systems voltage. To date there has been no issues with the charging system but I like the peace of mind associated with this dash mounted gauge while running extra electronic devices.

 

[CyncySpyder]

since it still takes forever to dress for a winter ride. It is strictly a matter of bulk.

Just my added 2 cents here.
I estimate it only adds 3 minutes time to get dressed with the Thermo Ryde'n Suit. Not much time to pay to play (IMHO)
For Comfortable cold-weather ryde'n :thumbup:- (forever it does NOT take pps

Dave & Teddy

 

[syclemom]

GERBING

We have had Gerbing heated clothes for several years, their warranty is second to none {LIFETIME} on any product. We have send items in a few times over the years only to have them replaced with new garments, I sent my jacket liner in in Feb. a sleeve quit and we are going to Alaska in may and I was returned a NEW liner, others on the market have 1 or 2 yr. warranty for maybe $20 or $30 less , not even a second thought GERBING, would not consider anything else. NO I dont work for gerbing but I do believe in their products and their service.My wife has gerbing from fingers to toes and we routinely leave in 20 or 30 deg. weather.I checked the voltage when she got her Rt last year , the system handles her clothes fine and I also installed a Kuryakin LED volt meter so she could keep an eye on it .

 

[bruceofthebronx]

Firstgear suit

I've had my Firstgear Hypertex suit for 3 years, I think it might be the biggest bang for your money. Toasty and waterproof ( never caught in a downpour) I'll be getting 1 for my lady very shortly. Good luck, ride safe

 

[boborgera]

howdy gang. gettin tired of riding in 20 degree weather with snow flurries! wanted to ask everyone's opinion of the "first gear thermo suit" as compared to one of the many electric or battery powered vests/jackets available out there. my fiancee and i put our ski-doo riding pants and jacket on now but are pretty cumbersome. i know dave and teddy from ohio use the thermo suit and seem pretty happy with it. hard to believe it would be warmer than my snowmobiling gear? the electric suits seem like they would be perfect. any help?:dontknow:

I ride all winter, I quite often have to make a 80 mile run [one way] to Honesdale Pa. Two runs this Jan. stick in my mind, One at 6f and the other 10f, I use the Firstgear heated jacket, I Couldn't be more comfortable.
As a matter of fact i had go up there today, It was a warm 37f But i still plugged the jacket in. I have snowmobile clothes and such, But with them when i go into a store, I got tired of people asking me where did you park the Snowmobile.?:roflblack:

 

[fordguyupnorth]

wow i checked out the gerbing website $89 bucks just for the socks! anyone know of any dealers in michigan that carry the $150 dollar thermo suit so i could try them on? the gerbing stuff sounds like what i need at least for my bride but lots of $$$$.

 

[murphybrown]

wow i checked out the gerbing website $89 bucks just for the socks! anyone know of any dealers in michigan that carry the $150 dollar thermo suit so i could try them on? the gerbing stuff sounds like what i need at least for my bride but lots of $$$$.

Did you go to Gerbing's outlet store? That is where I got my gear. 1/2 price. Love, love it. Figure it will get lots of use when I head for Spyderfest .. I haven't used anything other that the heated...but know I love it.

 

[murphybrown]

wow i checked out the gerbing website $89 bucks just for the socks! anyone know of any dealers in michigan that carry the $150 dollar thermo suit so i could try them on? the gerbing stuff sounds like what i need at least for my bride but lots of $$$$.

FYI I just went to Gerbing clearance and bought a pair of their heated sox..$25!!!!

 

[fordguyupnorth]

is gerbing clearance a website? or an actual store?

 

[SpyderRider]

I bought my lady, Janice (pampchic43) a First Gear Heated Jacket and Pants for a Christmas/Birthday present (she bought the Gloves and Socks) and she loves them/it! Wired it over the winter to her RS and she has used the set now a couple of times, including ryding down to Daytona this past weekend. Keeps her toasty and happy ryding...and that's a good thing as if "Momma is happy, everyone is happy" :lecturef_smilie:.

:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[murphybrown]

is gerbing clearance a website? or an actual store?

go to gerbing site and on left is "clearance"....I think the "store" also has it's own website...but I always find the same thing by above method. Happy Bargain Hunting...:2thumbs:

 

[bikeguy]

I bought a Firstgear Thermo suit from BajaRon in January. It's the warmest thing I've ever had on. I left home one morning with the temperature 24 degrees and rode for about an hour and was very comfortable. The temperature hasn't been cold enough here to test the suit since then. I've ridden a couple of times with the temperature in the 40's and it's almost too warm for that. It's incredible because the suit weighs next to nothing and still keeps you that warm.

BajaRon is a Spyderlovers sponsor and you can find his ad on the Home page. He's cheaper than anybody else, very helpful and easy to deal with, and shipping was just short of instantaneous. I'd highly recommend both the Firstgear Thermo suit and BajaRon.

Cotton

 

[Hobstopper]

I have the Firstgear suit and my coldest ryde to date is 13 degrees on the interstate, I feel that I should be able to make it to approx 5 degrees before I would have to look to something else to keep me warm. I have rode all this winter except for the snow or salt days.

 

[Sarge707]

My thermal suit is great for riding BUT not for stopping at Walmart or the Food store because you will roast in a few minutes!nojoke

 

[fordguyupnorth]

wow, you guys have me sold!! bajaron where are you???? pm me so you can send me out a couple of these bad boys! thanks all so much.:bowdown: i almost pulled the trigger on the gerging electric vest and pants, but i think for our application, the first gear will work perfect. plus all the money we will have left over for spyderfest!!

 

[Lamonster]

wow, you guys have me sold!! bajaron where are you???? pm me so you can send me out a couple of these bad boys! thanks all so much.:bowdown: i almost pulled the trigger on the gerging electric vest and pants, but i think for our application, the first gear will work perfect. plus all the money we will have left over for spyderfest!!

I just ordered a suit from him yesterday. :doorag: