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WINTER GEAR

Hello fellow experts, I am strongly considering driving the rtl to florida for March bike week and need opinions on a heated suit. already invested in a spyder one piece thermo suit but I would like to be well prepared.
 
INSULATE

i ride to Florida most every March...
i ride an RS with the mini-windshield...
i have NO heated accessories...
i do have:
ACADEMY SPORTS: SKI BIB PANTS,
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/mag...color=Black&N=871317249&Ntt=coveralls&Ntk=All
and ACADEMY BOOTS:
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/bat...651?color=Black&N=895447678&Ntt=BOOTS&Ntk=All
LL BEAN: FLANNEL LINED JEANS,
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/23958?feat=lined jeans-SR0&page=double-l-jeans-flannel-lined-relaxed-fit&attrValue_0=Stonewashed&productId=11261
a few good pairs of insulated socks (wear 1 pair @ a time), a winter riding coat, good winter gloves, and lots of layers of clothing under that coat... of course, a full-faced helmet...
yes, you'll know it's cold out, but you won't freeze, and you will save hundreds of dollar$ to spend during your vacation....
just my opinion - not tell'n any1 what they should do....
ride carefully, and enjoy yourself...
Dan P
Easley, SC
SPYD3R
 
Let's see..!!

With what you have I would add a heated liners and gloves. Get a dual control so you can have the gloves warmer than the liner...:thumbup:
 
I've got the First Gear Thermo Suit, it keeps me comfortable down to around 20 degrees, no electrics.

john
 
i ride to Florida most every March...
i ride an RS with the mini-windshield...
i have NO heated accessories...
i do have:
ACADEMY SPORTS: SKI BIB PANTS,
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/mag...color=Black&N=871317249&Ntt=coveralls&Ntk=All
and ACADEMY BOOTS:
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/bat...651?color=Black&N=895447678&Ntt=BOOTS&Ntk=All
LL BEAN: FLANNEL LINED JEANS,
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/23958?feat=lined jeans-SR0&page=double-l-jeans-flannel-lined-relaxed-fit&attrValue_0=Stonewashed&productId=11261
a few good pairs of insulated socks (wear 1 pair @ a time), a winter riding coat, good winter gloves, and lots of layers of clothing under that coat... of course, a full-faced helmet...
yes, you'll know it's cold out, but you won't freeze, and you will save hundreds of dollar$ to spend during your vacation....
just my opinion - not tell'n any1 what they should do....
ride carefully, and enjoy yourself...
Dan P
Easley, SC
SPYD3R

If I put on that many layers I don't think I could sit on the Spyder. :roflblack: Now if I had an F3 I wouldn't need to bend my legs so maybe I could wear all of that.
 
wrong

If I put on that many layers I don't think I could sit on the Spyder. :roflblack: Now if I had an F3 I wouldn't need to bend my legs so maybe I could wear all of that.

u got it all wrong girl-fren....
every expect in the world (our mothers):roflblack: , will tell you that 'layers' is the way 2 go.... and NO, it's not as bad as you'd think....
dp
 
stayin warm

i ride to Florida most every March...
i ride an RS with the mini-windshield...
i have NO heated accessories...
i do have:
ACADEMY SPORTS: SKI BIB PANTS,
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/mag...color=Black&N=871317249&Ntt=coveralls&Ntk=All
and ACADEMY BOOTS:
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/bat...651?color=Black&N=895447678&Ntt=BOOTS&Ntk=All
LL BEAN: FLANNEL LINED JEANS,
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/23958?feat=lined jeans-SR0&page=double-l-jeans-flannel-lined-relaxed-fit&attrValue_0=Stonewashed&productId=11261
a few good pairs of insulated socks (wear 1 pair @ a time), a winter riding coat, good winter gloves, and lots of layers of clothing under that coat... of course, a full-faced helmet...
yes, you'll know it's cold out, but you won't freeze, and you will save hundreds of dollar$ to spend during your vacation....
just my opinion - not tell'n any1 what they should do....
ride carefully, and enjoy yourself...
Dan P
Easley, SC
SPYD3R

You are starting from where [my son lives in Hartsville SC] its already not quite as cold as for us farther North, having said that, everyone has different tolerances to cold, my father never wore gloves in the winter while at the same time my hands were cold with fur lined leather gloves. I keep the house at 73 Degrees in the winter and one of my friends is comfy at 68 in his house and I wear my overcoat when I visit him. For me its Gerbing jacket, pants, gloves, boot liner and heated grips. On my Gold Wing I had heated seats, but dont have those on the RT, also had Hippo Hands on the Wing, but so far I have had difficulty fitting them to the RT handlebars. I have dual permanent controllers for the Gerbings which I have yet to install, so I am using a simple on/off switch until I can figure out where to put the dual controllers. I wear smart wool socks, Mereno wool long johns, my own designed balaclava type neck warmer, Bilt lined riding pants and First Gear Kilimanjaro lined riding jacket. Being a tightwad cheapo I tried layering until I could barely get on the bike and I was still cold, with the heated gear as described above I have been toasty warm when the thermometer on the Wing would not register that low. I love to ride year round and with my current set up for the winter I can ride year round
 
Everyone has a different level of tolerance to cold.

But when you add the wind chill factor (as is always the case on a motorcycle), it usually changes the game.

Layering works for some based on the conditions and the individuals tolerance level. Heated gear is designed for adjustable comfort. If your hands, feet, etc., are too cold you simply dial up more heat to those locations. Too hot? Simply dial it down.

Electric gear not only shines on bitter cold days but it is also much more flexable than layering and you lose all that bulk. As it warms up you simply dial down the heat. You don't need to get all sweaty and uncomfortable, finally give up, pull over and take some layers off hoping that you don't take too much off and have to pull over again and put more back on. You can also dial more heat to the colder parts and less heat to parts that don't need it.

Not to mention that some parts of your ride may be colder than others. Especially if you're going through elevation changes where temps can change 20 degrees or more in a relatively short distance.

If comfort is the name of the game, electric can't be beat. If you are a Polar Bear, then it's not so much a big deal.

Electric is also a huge advantage for riding 2-Up as it is almost a given that one rider will need more heat to be comfortable than the other. Layering becomes even more of a hassle with 2 people as each will need to stop and adjust for comfort at different points in the trip.

Electric isn't for everyone. But it sure is a great option.
 
There's always the "Snowmobile Suit" option... :2thumbs:
I've ridden sleds in -35 degree temperatures; all day long, at speeds up to 80 mph...
You probably don't need THAT much protection; but it's available! nojoke

Go with FirstGear, and Ron... :thumbup:
 
think of winter riding like you are a battery.... when you first start your ride your body has a full charge of heat...cold weather riding depletes your body heat.. you need a way to replenish your body heat..... electric clothing is the best option for comfort...
 
As above, every has a different idea/level of comfort.
At the risk of being yelled at. I have ridden down to about 20 with nothing more then mesh jacker with liner, cotton sweatshirt, cotton sweat pants, regular pants with a Frog Tog rain suirt over that. A Barclava under a full face helmet. I feel if you are a little cool, okay, but if you suddenly feel warm, you should have stopped at the last resturant and warmed up. You are not safe on a bike in that shape.
Gloves I left for last. A good friend and I have the same kind of gloves (which shall remain naneless). I think they are great in conjuction with the heated grips on my 2010 RT. the other one is 2012 RT (I think) and he hates the same gloves.
One advantage of this information, it can be used with short notice, if "Wal Mart" is available and you have your rain suit with you. Consider waking up from a Gold Wing Rally on a Sunday in April at Pigeon Forge, TN. to discover snow falling and you should leave to get back to work. Wal Mart (and it actually was one) sold out of towels for scraves, and sweatsuits of any color. Looked a little strange, but we/I were warm.
Oldmanzues
 
Get 'Stiched up!

I discovered Aerostich clothing years ago. I have never found anything better. The stuff works as a system, and extended my Michigan riding season a lot! Now, our season is year round, but we do leave and travel the country. Not cheap, but have you ever regretted buying the best?
 
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