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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Winter\Fall Gear
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Message started by John C on 10/06/12 at 12:08:38

Title: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by John C on 10/06/12 at 12:08:38

I'm just curious as to what gear everyone uses in the fall\winter months(october-marchish). I live near Memphis,TN and got my bike last winter. Got a pair of these gloves http://www.leatherup.com/p/Motorcycle-Gloves-/Xelement-Basic--Waterproof-Padded-/-Insulated-Leather-Gloves/50777.html and even with a lining, they still froze. Had to get the hand warmers to be able to ride in dec\jan. My jacket is fine, especially when I have a pullover on underneath it, and I have lined leather chaps. I recently found and purchased these mitts on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Tek-Scooter-Hand-Mitts/dp/B0022ZJJSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349549832&sr=8-1&keywords=kwik+tek+mitts and went riding with them today (hovering around 45 ish, with some wind) and just had fingerless gloves on. They did great ...and for the price, appear to be just as good as hippos.

Anyway, I'm just curious as to what everyone else wears, uses, etc. Or if they just drain their tanks and carb and put it up for fall\winter.

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by gdrseeker on 10/06/12 at 12:38:38

I have been riding back and forth to work for about 15 minutes on the highway at 60 MPH at about 45 degrees. I ride in my Northface jacket, snowboarding gloves, Underarmor face/hood, and regular pants with long underwear. If I was going to be riding any longer than the 15 min to work I would add my snowboarding pants over the top of my jeans.

I don’t like the mitts you have over the controls that seems unsafe to me. Just my thoughts.

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by ToesNose on 10/06/12 at 12:42:47

When I rode in NY in the winters I had a heavy 5mm thick leather jacket usually with a sweatshirt underneath, 5mm leather chaps, Parachute boots with steel toes which helped deflect the cold alot, and thick leather gloves with gortex lining. The gloves took a while to break in and get them to the point that they felt loose and comfortable, but 20+ years later I still have them and they are great. Also I would condition all my leather with honey conditioner, it helped soften the thick leather, makes it last longer and conditioned it for the rain and snow.

For NC now a good 5MM leather jacket with a liner, fleece lined jeans, decent boots and my old gloves are all I need ;)

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by verslagen1 on 10/06/12 at 12:52:19

put some water proofing on them.
I know you said they're waterproof, but if the air is blowing thru them, they won't be warm.

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by John C on 10/06/12 at 14:42:37

@gdrseeker -- I thought this might happen as well, based on seeing them initially. but after putting them on and going for a ride around the block (to test turning and slow braking), I have a full range of motion and accessibility. the turn signals take a bit of getting using to (around the block), but everything did quite well.

@verslagen, what would you recommend using?

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by verslagen1 on 10/06/12 at 15:15:45

I've used Doc Bailey's leather care on my jacket and boots when I want to freshen the black

mink oil from time to time just for treatment

neatsfoot oil is recommended

and I've used snoseal on plain gloves to good effect

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by TobyJug on 10/06/12 at 17:50:08

I wear one of these and it's been below freezing temperatures in the mornings around here lately. Nice and toasty.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-BELSTAFF-HORIZON-RIDING-JACKET-10-US-BLACK-BLUE-/370653917596?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&hash=item564cb1f19c#ht_984wt_875

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by Digger on 10/06/12 at 18:59:17

I live in Colorado Springs, CO.....and I ride all year 'round, 'cause I no longer own a cage.

I've been using Hippo Hands knockoffs for years:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/HippoHands-2E.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee201/Digger109/HippoHands-1E.jpg

In fact, I just installed 'em for the cold season today, as it was in the high 30's with a nasty wind.....overcast, too. In addition, I wear winter gloves with decent-sized gauntlets. On really cold days, I wrap my hands around the barrel when waiting at stoplights. That works well and feels good.

I use a wind resistant jacket (an old Nomex flight jacket) with layered sweatshirts underneath. I wear long johns under my jeans.

I wrap a long scarf around my neck and also have a helmet skirt (SWMBO makes 'em for us):

http://images.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/300/2009_Schampa_Helmet_Skirt_Black.jpg

If it gets really cold, that's when I put my Sorels on:

http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/ColumbiaSportswear/NM1560_030_f?$sorel_pgrid$&defaultImage=sorel_unavailable

I grew up in Minnesota.....everyone has snowmobile boots up there. I've had my Sorels for almost 40 years and they still rock....no problems shifting or anything!

This all works well for me until the temperatures drop into the single digits. I've ridden long distances with temps that low, but I had to resort to my electric vest, electric gloves, down parka, and ski pants. That was on other bikes, as my Savage is not wired for electrically heated clothing.

No, if it is 8 degrees F and I need to ride my Savage, I just accept the fact that I'm going to get cold. The Hippo Hands and the snowmobile boots minimize any chances of frostbite (BTDT!).

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by Johnny57 on 10/06/12 at 21:06:34

I used to tease "out of state" people that most Minnesotans are given their first "SORELS" at their "baby shower".

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by Paraquat on 10/06/12 at 21:29:04

I was just asking about heated gear. Research conducted two weeks ago shows I'm ok with 47 degrees but I draw the line at 42 degrees.

20 minute ride to work at 6:30 AM.
Full thermals, jeans, boots, shirt, leather jacket, balaclava (which I didn't even think about until someone here mentioned), and Mechanic's brand gloves. I did find my old Fox racing full finger gloves but haven't had a chance to try them. Just had a week of rain and this morning was nice enough for the fingerless.

I'd like to try a heated vest or jacket or liner. Still haven't looked into the wire that someone suggested.

--Steve

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by WD on 10/07/12 at 09:52:13

Hey neighbor, I'm just down the road from you in Rosemark. I've ridden out west in 10*F and colder. Lined gauntlet gloves, heavy lined leather jacket, heavy leather chaps, Chippewa "jack boots", hunting socks over polypropylene liners, polypropylene long johns and a 3/4 helmet with flip down face shield. Works fine but if the fingers got cold I'd just pull over and hold the cylinder for a couple minutes. Or on my v-twin stick one glove at a time over the muffler outlet and warm my hands at the other one.

Swing by some time, 2 of us here rode year round in Washington for years, you can check out what weight of gear works in real winters. Most of it will be available at BMW, Triumph or HD.

We're at the old plantation on Deadfall, right on the Tipton Shelby line, the little house is mine.

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by runwyrlph on 10/07/12 at 20:46:57

Winter gear: long johns, insulated bib-alls,hooded sweatshirt, fabric jacket with liner, wool socks, neoprene(?) balaclava, snowmobile gloves over my leather gloves.

I figure I'm good down to a little below freezing, upper 20's. That's for a 45 min commute. If it gets much colder, we usually have slop on the roads anyway, plus it takes so long to bundle up/undress/change....

I keep thinking I ought to get some hippo hands or rig up some kind of "There I Fixed It" subsitute.

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by Gyrobob on 10/07/12 at 21:08:00

I just added three 12v size N power ports. 1 for an electric jacket. 1 for GPS. One spare.

I'll have some heated hand grips installed within a few weeks.

For really cold temps, I wear a USAF old-style nylon winter flight suit with a thin rain jacket over it to remove the chill factor. The electric jacket is only needed every once in a while underneath THAT outfit.

The helmet has the neck cover that velcros shut. This reduces wind noise some too.

For gloves I use larger than normal thinsulite lined gloves to keep airspace inside,.. and then rain mittens over that if it is really cold. The rain mittens remove chill factor,.. sort of the same effect as hippo hands.

For boots I use something windproof and large enough to keep some airspace inside. Boots that fit too tighly reduce circulation and make it easier for the heat from your feet to get sucked away.

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by Pine on 10/08/12 at 11:16:19

I am thinking about some chaps for winter wear. I have to wear dress slacks and dress shirt to work. So far the leather jacket keeps the top warm enough. But the slacks sure aint cutting it... I saw some 1.5mm leather chaps with zip-out liner... should that work?? its MS and yes 50 is cold when the humidity is 77%.

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by Gyrobob on 10/08/12 at 17:47:07

152C2B20312A37450 wrote:

For that purpose, I'd use snowmobile bib overalls .

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by Cavi Mike on 10/08/12 at 20:19:12

Whatever you get should be 100% water-proof because they're non-breathable. The air-movement is what kills you. I use Helly Hansen poly-urethane pants but I'm gonna have to NOT recommend Helly Hansen because I've had to repair the seams multiple times to the point where I don't even care anymore, the top elastic is only holding on by a few threads. But they sure do wonders for keeping my legs warm.

Most of last winter I got away with just those over my work pants - only on the coldest teens/single-digit days would I wear thermals underneath my pants.

Title: Re: Winter\Fall Gear
Post by Savage_Rob on 10/09/12 at 09:00:39

CycleGear has what I believe may be their own brand of cold weather gear called FREEZE-OUT (http://motor.cyclegear.com/search#w=freeze%2Dout). I know BILT (http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/brandpages/bilt_brand.cfm) is their in-house brand and I believe FREEZE-OUT (http://motor.cyclegear.com/search#w=freeze%2Dout) is also. I have the boot liners and glove liners and they help quite a bit. Well enough that I will probably be getting a few more items soon (looks like they're currently on sale). But I'm just in north Texas which may not get as cold as some other folks' areas. I have ridden in freezing weather with them before and they significantly improve whatever other gear you are using.