Winter gear...

[spooph]

Update - the "handguards", mitten things work GREAT! I actually had to turn my heated grips OFF, at 30F and 80% humidity.... It was surreal. Also, the fog city works wonders. It's not perfectly clear, being that one's breath still condenses on the shield and makes it a bit refractory, but it's not white fogged out - can't see what-so-ever. Glasses are turning into a problem. I road without them today, luckily my prescription is small. I'm thinking with some more air-flow experimentation that I'll be able to ride with them again. Based on how I felt this morning, I would feel comfortable down into the singles, maybe even the negatives, Fahrenheit - bring on the cold!

[JMcDonald]

Yeah, I am getting ready to order some of those this weekend! great to hear they work well .

[Nemesis]

I miss riding on the streets during winter time.

[b534202]

Only thing different I wear for winter are Firstgear touring jacket, neck warmer, winter gloves, and pinlock shield (no fogging!)

[JeffM]

BRB makes a modular snowmobile helmet that has a breath box that directs exhaled breath outside the helmet. It is also equiped with a double pane visor.





Here is a review from a motorcycle rider. http://www.everydayriding.org/2010/0...-2-helmet.html

[spooph]

Have you purchased one of these Jeff? It looks sick, and I bet it looks even better when it's really cold... With the breath vaporizing on either side!

edit: I really like that guy! only 15K in and he's in like donkey kong!

[JeffM]

Spooph, local dealer has them 1/2 off - about $180. Thinking about it.

I might also look into snow visor for my Scorpion helmet. Here is is on a Skidoo helmet;

Seems that Scorpion makes helmets for Skidoo -BRP

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by JeffM

Spooph, local dealer has them 1/2 off - about $180. Thinking about it.

I might also look into snow visor for my Scorpion helmet. Here is is on a Skidoo helmet;

Seems that Scorpion makes helmets for Skidoo -BRP

I have that same helmet, BRP logos and all. It came with the full snowmobile setup: snow faceshield; breath mask; chin insert; the works. Mine always fogs up in (simultaneously) wet and cold weather. It is a counter-intuitive trait in gear meant for snowmobiles and "crazy" motorcyclists.

[highpsiguy]

Hey Spooph; would like to see a picture of your hippo hands installed please. Maybe how you have your heated grips installed as well. Mine I got off of ebay have just came in, nothing mounted yet, would like to get some ideas. Thanks.

[spooph]

hipsiguy, I'll grab pics of the handlebar mitts tomorrow, for now, I have this for the heated grips....

http://www.newninja.com/modifications/hotter-hands/

[spooph]

sorry, a bit late, but here are the pics. They work great! Best $25 I've spent, and in conjunction with the heated grips makes for some seriously toasty hands!

[SCREEM]

I use a ski glove, my hands are warm, even at -5C but, I use my torso to support myself on the bike, it makes a big difference.

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...1#BVRRWidgetID

[highpsiguy]

I like em! btw is that 39k on that bike?

[spooph]

YES! Good spot! I'm looking to clock over 40K before the end of the year (4 months late)....

[highpsiguy]

Congrats on the mileage! I just went back thru your posts and ordered some of those ATV handegrip cover/warmers. Was 27.98 by the time you figure in shipping. I am installing heated grips soon on the Ninja *they have been delivered to my motorcycle mechanic but he is swamped with ATV's for hunters* This will buy me some time until he can get me in.

The best part is that my other bike *my 1981 cx500* doesn't/wont have heated grips and I can switch these back and forth as needed.

Thanks for the idea. Will watch your posts to see how that Ninja holds up with higher mileage. My 2002 is around 5500 now, so I have a little catching up to do.

By the way do you happen to know how much extra wattage is available on pregen for heated gear/grips/jacket? I am guessing around 60 or so extra? May not be enough.....

[spooph]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

I used to know about the wattage and all that, but can't remember all the calcs I did. However, I've tried to stay away from heated gear as much as possible, quite simply because I know how often the wires on my heated grips break, and if I learn to rely on the electrics, and they stop working one day, I'm thoroughly hosed.... Body heat is an amazing, and I think there are some very effective non-electric gear out there....

However, I have a dream. My dream is to one day ride up to a ski resort with my board strapped to the passenger seat, board all day, and ride back home (cause I can lane-split all the traffic ). For that, I'll probably get some exo2 gear - seems to be the coolest, newest, most efficient heated gear out there (from the UK). Only time and money will tell if I ever realize my dream.... First up - proper traction...

[JMcDonald]

Awesome! And you don't have any problems getting to the controls?




I did about 10 miles averaging about 50mph in 35* weather this morning. I've been wearing my rain jacket when I want extra warmth (like when I'm cold all day at work and want to have a little more comfort on the trip home :P), and it has worked amazingly well. Absolutely no coldness in my upper body, except my hands were just starting to get cold by the time I arrived. I keep my rain jacket and pants (and my winter gloves) in my pack, which is with me all the time, so it is nice to have some multi-functional gear.

[spooph]

Nope, no problems getting to the control, or getting my hands in or out... They kind of like to move a bit though so you have to pull on them every once in a while to get them straight again. I think this due in-part to the bar-end mirrors, which I can't use with the covers on, and also means my head checks are much more thorough than normal. I have some ideas to use the mirrors again, and I think it's going to have something to do with cutting some slits in the covers...

[JMcDonald]

Ah nice nice.


Another free trick I recently discovered for myself is to put on all your gear a couple minutes before you head out. Time it so you are just on the verge of sweating before you actually leave. This gives probably an extra 10 minutes before starting to feel the cold during the commute . Of course, if you are going for a cross-country trip it won't make a difference, but if you work 20 minutes away it definitely will heh.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by JMcDonald

Ah nice nice.


Another free trick I recently discovered for myself is to put on all your gear a couple minutes before you head out. Time it so you are just on the verge of sweating before you actually leave. This gives probably an extra 10 minutes before starting to feel the cold during the commute . Of course, if you are going for a cross-country trip it won't make a difference, but if you work 20 minutes away it definitely will heh.

Try to avoid actually sweating, though. Perspiring is still a bodily cooling mechanism when the ambient air temp is 40*F. Moisture-wicking base layers: use them.

[JMcDonald]

Ooh yeah, sweating itself is bad, but having a slightly increased core body temp when you start off is nice . Yeah i am about to get the duck hands!
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[highpsiguy]

Mine came in. Very nice quality. Good fit on the pregen. Have not ridden with them as yet. 70 degrees today I ordered another set for my next door neighbors kid for Christmas. He rides his 4 wheeler all the time in the winter. He saw them on my bike and really liked them as well. Wish I had known earlier and saved 6 bucks on shipping. o well.

[highpsiguy]

I ran the new ducks unlimited atv hand covers today on the bike. Very much impressed. Mine do not move at all. I was able to easily take my hand out and put back in while traveling on bike. I wore perforated gloves inside of them. It was around 60 degrees and my hands actually felt kind of clammy warm at speed. I think these things will be great during the winter.

I stopped by local Honda dealership today to see if the new cbr250 had come in. While there had a Harley guy ask me where I got them. He said all he could find was ATV ones. I told him thats what these were. I let him reach inside of them and try controls. He was so impressed he said he was going to buy a pair for his bike as well.

I think this is a great winter time mod! Thanks Spooph!

[spooph]

Good news, glad to hear! I can't take all the credit though. Laurie Jennifer on Youtube was where I got the idea. She's a hoot!

[fenwaynomar45]

spooph where did u order ur duck unlimited from?

[JMcDonald]

Originally Posted by spooph

Also, the "Hippo Hands" I got are named Ducks Unlimited ATV Hand Warmers, hea:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...d-Warmers.aspx. Can't wait to try them out, but that prolly won't happen till Monday. For the first in my life I'm going to say this: Let's hope it's a cold one.... :P

[Memengkamatis]

I have Gerbing heated apparel. They're about 5 years old. Gerbing gives them lifetime warranty. If any of the heating wire breaks they'll fix it. I have the jacket liner, gloves and 2 pairs of heated socks. The gloves are wired thru the jacket liner sleeves and I wear the wye cable for the socks. I have the heat controller so I can dial in my comfort level. I wear Schampa neck gaiters and balaclava. For my legs, no heated stuff; I just layer up. One silk long john, another cotton-poly long john on top of the silk, any kind of armored pants then an overpants that's wind and waterproof. Keep me nice and toasty. I ride even when the temp is single digit but only when there's no snow and crushed rocksalt on the grow. BTW, you can get Oxford Heaterz grips for under $70 bucks. Ride safe always guys.

AL

[spooph]

Sweet, thanks for the headsup Al! I'm thinking I'm going to go with the Exo2 stuff though. Seems to be pretty cool technology... That is, after I get my new leather pants... :P

McDonald, thanks for the quote, but...

Jack, I ordered them through my local shop (we see eye to eye). That was just a link I got from google for pics and such. I'm sure they're good folks... I prefer to support my local shop/economy....

[JMcDonald]

Ah, heh gotcha . Well either way, now he has a place to get them unless he was specifically wanting to track you down :P .

[highpsiguy]

Motorcycle Superstore out of stock on black hand warmers for atv. Camo is still available. Camo anyone on their ninja? Pictures if you do?

[spooph]

Originally Posted by highpsiguy

Camo anyone on their ninja? Pictures if you do?

+1

[JMcDonald]

Out of stock? Damnit!


It was supposedly 28* this morning when I left. But, ain't no thang . Surprisingly, I didn't even have to wear my rain / wind jacket. It was a short commute, only about 10 minutes over 3 miles. I did the trick of gearing up early so I am nice and toasty by the time I left, and that made it nice!

[jshox]

I'm getting mine from here

http://www.oncycles.com/catalog.asp?r=1&pn=MCL01434#

After my hands going numb last night hopefully these will work

[JMcDonald]

Aah thanks for the link! I asked for them for Christmas, but if nobody was able to find them I'll just buy from there myself.

But so far my glubs have been adequate for my short trips . My hands are mildly cold by the time I get there, but my hands are pretty much always cold in the winter, and I've never gotten any colder than they have in the 2.5 years I rode a bicycle to school year-round, heh.

[supermanzdead]

There are more winter riders than I though there would be on here...

Snow in Omaha will keep me off for awhile...

[JMcDonald]

Got got my Ducks hand guards for Xmas . They seem a lot bigger in person, lol. I haven't used them much and probably won't use them much except for longer rides or when it is really nasty. This is partially because I don't want them to get stolen or have to deal with removing and storing them all the time, and partially because they do look a little goofy :P .

[spooph]

I "install" mine every morning, and take them off the handlebars when I get to work. Usually the ride home isn't very cold, so they would just be too hot. Plus, they fit in my back pack easily!

This morning was the first time in 1.5 weeks I rode my into work. I was surprised how warm I was at 25F.

[eddiekay]

Gerbring corded gloves
A sno-mo suit ( 2 piece,,,farmer-john) sew on a stirrup for warm ankles
a REAL turtleneck that rolls over at your neck
a balaclava that goes as far down your chest as possoble
Sno-mo face shield...will not fog
Boots...I dunno...I have work boots...toes are cold but not that bad. Did near 250 miles last week at 75+ and my toes were cold...that was all.

[JMcDonald]

I rode today in temps averaging about 35* for 2 hours. For the first 45 minutes, when it was coldest (low 30s, with ice in a few puddles in parking lots), I had my normal summer riding gloves and thin cotton gloves underneath. With this combo, I lasted that 45+ minutes (mostly highway, too), whereas i know I wouldnt have made it 5 minutes to the same degree of discomfort. I then switched to my winter gloves and my hands were almost *warm*for the rest of the time. I rode a couple hours in temps ranging 45 to 50*, and by the end of it with these gloves my hands were definitely hurting.

The bad / interesting:
They were pulling on my levers, and would cause my front brake to noticably drag, especially when moving around. I know my levers are a bit bent up at the ends from previous drops by others, and my lowside, so I hacksawed about 1 to 1.5" off each lever :P . Now its good to go, and I like my new psuedo-shortie levers :P . I only did it because they were already all chipped and scratched and bent a little, and it gives me an excuse to spend some time polishing and straitening them, heh.
Also, it took a while to get used to them pushing against the tops of my fingers at higher speeds.
Finally, my riding buddy kept laughing at them, but he lived in Iceland, then Alaska before coming here to Oklahoma, so we was dressed exactly like he was in the summer, except with the liner in his mesh jacket :P . So he understood, hah.

So, while they arent magical for warming, have their minor downsides, they do make a huge difference in hand and wrist comfort when riding in cold weather.
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[setasai]

Any more locations for the Ducks Unlimited Hand warmers? Blacks still sold out. How do the camos look?