Any suggestions on Keeping Warm?

[LeftCoast]

Since you are in Las Vegas you can get what you need at Cycle Gear or at least get an idea. The Sedici 3 season jackets are pretty nice for the money. Look for one with the quilted liner and rain liner. They also have some nice waterproof pants. Combine these with the Hotwired heated gear and you should be warm.

I just picked up the Sedici today, it should be fine for NorCal winter riding. Bilt had more hi vis material but not enough back protection.

 

[UtahPete]

I wouldn’t buy mountaineering gear for an outer layer to wear on a motorcycle. I doubt any mountaineers hit 80 mph. Stick with Gortex or similar fabric for outer layers.

Ann, Goretex is a membrane that is added to another fabric to make outwear. Mountaineering gear is most likely made with Goretex or similar membrane so it only allows moisture to move away from the body, not into the clothing from the elements. I think what you meant is Ballistic Nylon for abrasion resistance.

 

[jaherbst]

Don't forget the double heated "jock strap". Never leave home without it. :joke:

I use the Gerber heated Jacket liner, heated pants and sometimes heated gloves when needed. The original heated motorcycle gear out of near Tumwater WA. I visited there shop years ago when they were in the developing stage and used only there garage. Over the past thirty years I have purchased a lot of there gear and was never disappointed. Nothing like buying direct from the inventer of heated M/C gear.

Jack

 

[UtahPete]

Don't forget the double heated "jock strap". Never leave home without it. :joke:

I use the Gerber heated Jacket liner, heated pants and sometimes heated gloves when needed. The original heated motorcycle gear out of near Tumwater WA. I visited there shop years ago when they were in the developing stage and used only there garage. Over the past thirty years I have purchased a lot of there gear and was never disappointed. Nothing like buying direct from the inventer of heated M/C gear.

Jack

Gerber makes good knives. Are they related?

 

[jaherbst]

Gerber makes good knives. Are they related?

I doubt it Pete. They were the original inventors of heated M/C clothing. They lived about thirty miles from me in WA state. Nice folks. They sold out to a large company in NC. In doing so there were some problems because the new company had manufacturing done in the Orient. Gerbing had to wait so many years before they could start up again and have done so. It is a family business. If I am not mistaken I think First Gear was the company that bought them out.As mentioned above Gordon is one of the sons and they are now selling under the name of "Gordon".

Jack

 

[UtahPete]

I doubt it Pete. They were the original inventors of heated M/C clothing. They lived about thirty miles from me in WA state. Nice folks. They sold out to a large company in NC. In doing so there were some problems because the new company had manufacturing done in the Orient. Gerbing had to wait so many years before they could start up again and have done so. It is a family business. If I am not mistaken I think First Gear was the company that bought them out.As mentioned above Gordon is one of the sons and they are now selling under the name of "Gordon".

Jack

That's interesting. All this time I thought the Europeans (Germans) started the whole heated gear thing.

 

[Dirtbag]

My wife was always cold we picked her up a heated vest and heated chaps off kijji for 50 bucks best 50 bucks we ever spend on bike wear

 

[trikermutha]

https://gordonsheated.com/index.php

15% off right now. Gerbing the original

 

[IgoFar2]

My preference for cold weather riding, is heated gear. I've gone the non-heated gear route for years, but kept getting cold enough that riding for longer than an hour caused issues. I finally invested in heated gear. After much research I chose Warm n Safe. https://www.warmnsafe.com/

I use the waterproof heated jacket liner, heated gloves, heated pants and heated socks. Eighty percent of the time, I only need the heated jacket liner and heated gloves. But, when those toes and feet get cold those heated socks are worth their weight in gold.

As a side note, their Ultimate Touring Heated Gloves are the best winter gloves I have used; heated or non-heated.

 

[ofdave]

I found the best winter gear to be the stuff sold for mountaineering.
Stay away from anything that is for motorcycling, they want more $$$$$ and give you crap in return.
Get the stuff that's waterproof, breathable and hurricane proof.
My Cabelas "guide wear" jacket is the BOMB over a nice down jacket.....layers work.
My ski pants (Gore-Tex) are waterproof, windproof and over my jogging pants they are also the BOMB.
My mitts are for skiing and my Spyder and since you don't need separate fingers they are …….the BOMB.
My boots are insulated neoprene rubber and with wool socks they are....the BOMB.
My skiing head sock under my helmet covering my mug and neck is …...the BOMB.
KISS..(Keep It Simple Stupid). I KISS my equipment and failure is almost nil.....making it....the BOMB. lol

so, Roadkill, do you like your clothes, boots, and other stuff?

 

[UtahPete]

My preference for cold weather riding, is heated gear. I've gone the non-heated gear route for years, but kept getting cold enough that riding for longer than an hour caused issues. I finally invested in heated gear. After much research I chose Warm n Safe. https://www.warmnsafe.com/

I use the waterproof heated jacket liner, heated gloves, heated pants and heated socks. Eighty percent of the time, I only need the heated jacket liner and heated gloves. But, when those toes and feet get cold those heated socks are worth their weight in gold.

As a side note, their Ultimate Touring Heated Gloves are the best winter gloves I have used; heated or non-heated.

I'm just curious - isn't that a mess of wires to energize all those different garments? How many outlets do you need to plug them all in? I've never gone that route (heated gear) and most of my hesitancy is having to deal with all those wires, multiple outlets, etc.

 

[samewok]

I have the remote control that controls pants, socks and vest and gloves separately. I can adjust as needed.

 

[Range Rider]

Hell-o johnsimion, was just reading your post on staying warm. Have a Can Am Spyder heated comfort seat with adjustable backrest. The seat works with the heated handlebar and passenger hand warmer. The seat has less than 800 miles while on the bike. It didn't work well with my butt and 200 miles and I was a hurting. Of course being 280 lbs probably contributed to the pain. Ended up buying a custom seat, but not heated. Girlfriend a little upset cause she really liked the warm butt, just like in a lot of newer vehicles. It was ordered for the 2015 RT and is black in color. Will sell for $600 plus whatever shipping costs. This is less than half what I paid for it, but it's taking up space in the garage. Wiring and instructions are all there. Contact me at [email protected] if you are interested. Don't get on this site very often, and spyder is in garage now as below 0 days and about 6 inches of snow around. Heck they are even riding snowmobiles on the lakes already. Jon

 

[grumpyoldretiredcop]

I'm just curious - isn't that a mess of wires to energize all those different garments? How many outlets do you need to plug them all in? I've never gone that route (heated gear) and most of my hesitancy is having to deal with all those wires, multiple outlets, etc.

In our case (and I'm certain it's the same way with the Warmnsafe gear) the gloves/glove liners plug into cords provided on the sleeves of the jacket/jacket liner, and our heated pant liners plug also plug into the jacket liner at the power distribution port. There's only one wire from us to the bike. I also have a two zone wireless thermostat, but I never found a good way to mount the controller to the bike and you still have to have that one wire from the bike to the heated jacket liner for power anyway, so I rarely use it. That technology has gotten a lot better over the last couple of years, though.

 

[canamjhb]

Lot of stuff here about electric heat. The only electric heat I use is my handlebar heaters for my hands. If riding in cold (sub-freezing) conditions, I wear from bottom to top, long knee socks, regular socks and Bates boots. Long johns over thigh length underware. Jeans and leather chaps. (4 layers on my legs). Long sleeve T-shirt with long sleeve tight necked sweatshirt and Eddie Bower Goose Down Jacket. If really, really, cold, I add a vest. I then have a full faced helmet. I usually ride in cold weather with unlined calf skined gloves (using handlebar warmers). I have been in sub 20 degree temperatures and never been cold. Layers work for me...... Jim

 

[IgoFar2]

I'm just curious - isn't that a mess of wires to energize all those different garments? How many outlets do you need to plug them all in? I've never gone that route (heated gear) and most of my hesitancy is having to deal with all those wires, multiple outlets, etc.

It's not nearly as bad as you may think. You can hook up two items to one set of connectors that go to the battery. So, all told, for all four garments you're only dealing with two plugs. It's as difficult as hooking up a charging plug for a battery tender. The connector that goes to the garment is for powering the heated gear, not controlling the gear. All of the wiring that looks so daunting is actually in the garment, i.e., jacket. Warm & Safe has some YouTube videos that help to explain it, and their printed directions are fairly straight forward, too.

For controlling the heat, I use the "Remote Heat-troller". I use two Heat-trollers. Each Heat-troller is capable of controlling two garments independently. Because these are the remote Heat-trollers there aren't any wires to worry about. I have them in leather pouches (available from Warm & Safe) that have padded clips on them, very much like a money clip. I clip them onto my dash. They're also waterproof hyea: So, the only wires I have to deal with are the ones that connect to the power plugs for my garments. The power plugs are run under the seat and under the lip of the seat in front of me. From there I attach them to my jacket and pants. (One for jacket & gloves, the other for pants & socks). When the weather warms up I just put the power plugs fully under the seat.

Here's a picture of the connector that goes from the battery to the garment. As you can see there is only one female connector that connects to the garment. That connector powers the garment or two garments, i.e., jacket & gloves, or jacket & pants, etc. Also, Warm & Safe is very responsive to email or phone if help is required.

 

[trikermutha]

I have one outlet and a POT to adjust the heat that's it, all my wiring is under the covers. Only one wire is connected to the heated gear and they usually plug into each other if you have more that one. (Jacket,gloves,vest)

 

[lstayner]

Lot of stuff here about electric heat. The only electric heat I use is my handlebar heaters for my hands. If riding in cold (sub-freezing) conditions, I wear from bottom to top, long knee socks, regular socks and Bates boots. Long johns over thigh length underware. Jeans and leather chaps. (4 layers on my legs). Long sleeve T-shirt with long sleeve tight necked sweatshirt and Eddie Bower Goose Down Jacket. If really, really, cold, I add a vest. I then have a full faced helmet. I usually ride in cold weather with unlined calf skined gloves (using handlebar warmers). I have been in sub 20 degree temperatures and never been cold. Layers work for me...... Jim

You are a lucky one to be able to go non electric. I got hypothermia a few years back riding at 50 degrees. trust me when I tell you that you never want that to happen. I didn't know it was happening and almost took a car out that was turning left in front of me. I took a gravel shoulder and missed him by a couple feet. I bought heated gear the next week. Be safe.

 

[Road-Kill]

All of my clothing is Gortex.
Designed for severe outdoor use.

I wouldn’t buy mountaineering gear for an outer layer to wear on a motorcycle. I doubt any mountaineers hit 80 mph. Stick with Gortex or similar fabric for outer layers.

No armor and happy as can be.
Besides....the amount of layers I have are in a way armor.
Since I don't wear armor in the summer its a non-issue for me.

No armor in this set up tho right? I’m also looking for something for cooler weather riding and got a decent Bilt jacket for 120 at cycle gear but discovered the pocket for spine armor is tiny. Sedici has a nice 3 layer with 16 inch spine protection but the collar bothered my neck. I’m thinking of returning the built anyway though and seeing if I can’t make the Sedici collar work somehow.

Since I woke up the fallacy of MC gear I now find the best clothing made.
Grossly overpriced uncomfortable clothing with a few plastic/foam inserts does not add to safety.

so, Roadkill, do you like your clothes, boots, and other stuff?

 

[Highwayman2013]

They connect together, there are plugs in the jacket liner that hook to the gloves, pants to insoles etc. https://youtu.be/g3bWaQegMA8 Just one wire to the bike.