Winter riding

Weeeell, it's forty below and I don't gi...
Not quite forty below yet, more like +46. Enough to make me take my truck to work today.
I'm in the process of shmoozing my wife up so I can buy me some decent winter riding clothes. Need new jacket, new boots, maybe even some chaps and stuff.
But while looking around I discovered some electrically heated clothes. Vests, pants, gloves and stuff.
My question is, are these old charging systems up to the task? If not, is there a way to hotrod them? Step them up a little?

Nah you don't need all that high tech crap, just go down to your favorite store Farm and Home and get you one of these to go with your muffler.:laugh: :whistle:

Post edited by: The Gringo, at: 2007/10/11 10:22

Yeah, I tried to put some of those on my Cowasaki, but she started acting like a rabid Brahma with PMS.
(Dammit, I have a great pic in response but it's a bitmap and it won't go on here)

Post edited by: riverroad, at: 2007/10/11 10:24

Here we go:


Post edited by: riverroad, at: 2007/10/11 10:27

I assume the 80LTD should be basically the same charge system as a KZ1000MKII. I've been all over the country with a 100w halogen headlight, electric gloves, vest and chaps. Never fazed the MKII a bit. Actually probably helped matters because the MKII will boil the battery dry in 1000 miles down the highway. Needs something to calm down the charge system a little.

You know Ron, now that you mention it, I have noticed that the battery gets pretty thirsty pretty fast on this thing. The first time it started cranking a little slow, I took the battery out and it was almost bone dry. I was surprised it would crank at all.
Thanks, I might go ahead and get me some of that lectical stuff.

Your weather gets colder than what I experience here in Northern California, but there are times when I ride over the Bay Bridge in or out of San Francisco when it is in the mid-thirties, and very damp, or with gusty winds. I wear a pair of zip-side nylon ski "powder" pants, over my office pants. On top I wear my dress shirt, covered with a light-weight zip neck sweater, then my usual Firstgear riding jacket (with liner). Under my helmet I wear a thin fleece hood. For gloves I wear a pair of ski/snowmobile gloves that I bought at Costco for under $20.

I have yet to get cold doing this. In fact, I often need to crack a vent zipper a bit to keep from sweating. I do need to remember to put some anti-fog stuff on the inside of my visor.

I see guys on their BMWs with the heated gear, and I ask them why they need it. My get-up is no more bulky than theirs, and I am plenty warm.

Now, if you are going to ride when it gets down to 20 or so, I am sure that heated stuff is worth it. I generally avoid riding if there is a chance of ice on the road.

Thanks Apeman, I was toying with the idea of riding those 20- days, but my commute is forty miles each way, and I'm a lot older than when I did it before.
About twentyfive years ago, I bought this quilty thing called an Applewarmer. I loved that thing. It fit around the bottom of your helmet, and you tucked the bottom of it into your jacket after you put your helmet on. I can't find anything like it now.
I didn't have to worry about fog though. That old style visor leaked a lot of air around the edges.
What kind of boots do you wear?
Back then, I was in the Air Force, and I had to wear steel toed combat boots, which were murder in cold weather.

riverroad wrote:

About twentyfive years ago, I bought this quilty thing called an Applewarmer. I loved that thing. It fit around the bottom of your helmet, and you tucked the bottom of it into your jacket after you put your helmet on. I can't find anything like it now.

HJC makes them;) Check eBay. They even have a reflective band on the top of the "neck warmer" that goes on the bottom of your helmet. It attaches with a elastic band that's integrated into the warmer.
Kinda' like your underwear band :whistle: :lol: But probably smells better..
IF you can't find one, let me know. I'm sure I have two or three left over from before we switched over to modular helmets for the Ski-Doo's.
Pat

Post edited by: patmann, at: 2007/10/11 15:56

riverroad wrote:

What kind of boots do you wear?
Back then, I was in the Air Force, and I had to wear steel toed combat boots, which were murder in cold weather.

I wear dress boots -- simple leather, over the ankle, with a rubber sole. I know, not very protective, but I need something that looks okay with dress pants. I was thinking about getting something more utilitarian for riding, and changing into dress shoes when I get to the office. Either way, since I only ride about 13 miles each way, my feet do not get cold enough for it to bother me.

i just started wearing my helmet this last week, *prepares for jabs*

i found a set of widder gloves vest and chaps on ebay, would they be a reccomended brand.

Post edited by: themachine, at: 2007/10/11 20:54

I think I have the boots covered, but I've been wondering if I'd do okay with my coveralls?

I don't know if I can get my riding jacket over them, but I was thinking about maybe some of those WALLS insulated bib overalls at wally world.

Or should I jump off the cliff and get the insulated leather chaps?

($2200 and counting. My wife is starting to doubt that the gas mileage on a motocycle is ANY cheaper than just driving the diesel.:S )