Don't know about you but it's getting cold over here, about 50 F and lower.
What's your favorite cold weather gear?
Snowmobile gloves? Heated grips? Heated clothing?
Handlebar muffs? Newspapers tucked under the jacket?
Shiver me timbers...
Nat
I still have my Moon boots from the 2011 WCR, they were warm.....
summer gloves ( small hands ), heated grips , dri rider summit pro jacket , and rivet pants , as for boots , leather/gortex/ touring ,, and numerous breath gaurds depending on the day
I used to Live in Palmdale, CA. and rode to Simi Valley everyday to work. About a 60 mile ride one way. In the mornings during the winter it would sometimes be 20 degrees and by the time I got to work the temp would be 40.
The gear I used was nothing fancy. I had a one piece Motoport waterproof cold weather suit, A balaclava, Motoport neck dickie, Oneil leather gauntlet gloves, and a pair of waterproof Fieldsheer riding boots.
My hands and feet would be cold, but nothing unbearable.
Fred
Cold weather gear!!! It's 105' here... :ireful: But it should be cooler in Napa this weekend.
oh hush monkey man :blum2: , we had 19c here yesterday , may reach that again next week :lol:
Quote from: fj11.5 on October 02, 2012, 07:22:25 PM
oh hush monkey man :blum2: , we had 19c here yesterday , may reach that again next week :lol:
Time to lean up the carbs and run the FJ a little hotter eh? Cold makes you put gear on, I see MC riders here in SoCal in shorts, T-shirts, (helmets are mandatory) cuz it is just too damn hot.... I fear for the poor fucks, going down in that less than panty weight gear means you are sitting directly on the black top that is hot enough to fry eggs. Bring on the cold!!!
Below 50 is balmy. I was wearing my mesh into the 50s. The FJR fairing and windscreen help out there. Just got out the FirstGear Kilimanjaro jacket when it bumped down into the 40s in the early mornings last week, but I haven't had to put the fleece liner in, yet. Still using the Violator gloves, although the heated grips come on in the morning. Just switched to the HT pants today, mainly because of rain, as it warmed up again.
I got a Gerbing jacket liner for our anniversary. And I have Gerbing gloves for when the temps drop below 30. Above 30, the FirstGear TPG gloves and heated grips can keep up.
I suspect I'll have to switch out the windscreen to the taller unit in a week or so.
Teknic Defender boots are good all year round.
see muppets here in shorts , t shirts ect, but helmets are mandatory unless its medical related, , don't see the same guys mid winter though, bloody sooks , , even hot days ill wear leather jacket, vented , t shirt , and leather pants, zipped to the jacket, , long as your in the wind and not walking around its not that roasting , , TASMANIA is excellent like that not every day reaches 30c in summer
Quote from: fj11.5 on October 02, 2012, 09:51:40 PM
see muppets here in shorts , t shirts ect, but helmets are mandatory unless its medical related, , don't see the same guys mid winter though, bloody sooks , , even hot days ill wear leather jacket, vented , t shirt , and leather pants, zipped to the jacket, , long as your in the wind and not walking around its not that roasting , , TASMANIA is excellent like that not every day reaches 30c in summer
Welcome to the freak show, guess they have not priced the cost of skin graphs, one or two square inches (25 square cm) here in the states will equal more than a full covering of good gear.... Not to mention the pain and heal time. You are good for a free pint anytime we meet mate.
thanks little monkey buddy :good2:,, good to know ,, friction threw a jacket can melt skin, let alone grinding straight onto the road , ,
Grafts*
Hey all, any opinions on this? A SEDICI electric jacket liner? Seems like a pretty good deal.
http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product/Heated_Jacket_Liner/web1011442 (http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/product/Heated_Jacket_Liner/web1011442)
-Tom
-87 FJ1200
Quote from: FJ Flyer on October 02, 2012, 09:07:42 PM
Teknic Defender boots are good all year round.
Hey Chris,
How many pairs of those Defender boots have you gone through over the years? I'm on my second pair. Do they still make them?
Ride safe,
DavidR.
Quote from: SlowOldGuy on October 05, 2012, 12:27:18 PM
How many pairs of those Defender boots have you gone through over the years? I'm on my second pair. Do they still make them?
Ride fast take chances,
DavidR.
I have had a pair for a number of years and I really like them. They still make them. Or, er, um, I guess I can confirm they are at least still available.
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_nf=1&cp=21&gs_id=2&xhr=t&q=Teknic+Defender+boots&pf=p&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&oq=Teknic+Defender+boots&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=dae224424f7f87ef&biw=1239&bih=540 (http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_nf=1&cp=21&gs_id=2&xhr=t&q=Teknic+Defender+boots&pf=p&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&oq=Teknic+Defender+boots&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=dae224424f7f87ef&biw=1239&bih=540)
Dan
Quote from: WhiteBeard on September 19, 2012, 01:52:53 PM
Don't know about you but it's getting cold over here, about 50 F and lower.
What's your favorite cold weather gear?
Snowmobile gloves? Heated grips? Heated clothing?
Handlebar muffs? Newspapers tucked under the jacket?
Shiver me timbers...
Nat
For cold weather riding I wear my Joe Rocket Alter Ego jacket and pants (also my warm weather gear with the outer panels removed). Depending on how cold it is I either just go with a Nike compression fit warm gear shirt (long-sleeve) and a t-shirt over top. If it is really cold like around 5C (40F) I include my Gerbing's electric vest and wear insulated gloves. My Alpinestars Web Gortex boots work fine in all weather – hot, cold, and wet. No heated grips required – I think it's odd to try to heat your hands through insulated gloves when it's cold out. The Gerbings' vest does a great job of keeping the core warm and a warm core means warm fingers and toes. One more thing – I also got a pin-lock visor for my Shoei RF1000 helmet. It never fogs up in cold or wet conditions.
Zwartie
Quote from: Zwartie on October 05, 2012, 02:23:07 PM
Quote from: WhiteBeard on September 19, 2012, 01:52:53 PM
Don't know about you but it's getting cold over here, about 50 F and lower.
What's your favorite cold weather gear?
Snowmobile gloves? Heated grips? Heated clothing?
Handlebar muffs? Newspapers tucked under the jacket?
Shiver me timbers...
Nat
No heated grips required – I think it's odd to try to heat your hands through insulated gloves when Uta's cold out. Zwartie
My heated grips are one of my favourite accessories. While Aus. isn't that cold, the first few hours of a winter ride are generally below freezing then staying in single figures over the day.
Even riding in snow storms in the mountains I find the highest heat setting (of 4) too hot after 15 mins. That is through thick Winter gloves. The fact they are insulated means the heat is retained better.
On my 4 day ride last weekend with temps in the mid to high teens I still used them on low settings just to take the edge off the wind chill.
I have Oxford grips, they cost $140 and have just done their 4th Winter, and they get a lot of use.
Noel
Quote from: ribbert on October 05, 2012, 07:16:06 PM
Quote from: Zwartie on October 05, 2012, 02:23:07 PM
Quote from: WhiteBeard on September 19, 2012, 01:52:53 PM
Don't know about you but it's getting cold over here, about 50 F and lower.
What's your favorite cold weather gear?
Snowmobile gloves? Heated grips? Heated clothing?
Handlebar muffs? Newspapers tucked under the jacket?
Shiver me timbers...
Nat
No heated grips required – I think it's odd to try to heat your hands through insulated gloves when Uta's cold out. Zwartie
My heated grips are one of my favourite accessories. While Aus. isn't that cold, the first few hours of a winter ride are generally below freezing then staying in single figures over the day.
Even riding in snow storms in the mountains I find the highest heat setting (of 4) too hot after 15 mins. That is through thick Winter gloves. The fact they are insulated means the heat is retained better.
On my 4 day ride last weekend with temps in the mid to high teens I still used them on low settings just to take the edge off the wind chill.
I have Oxford grips, they cost $140 and have just done their 4th Winter, and they get a lot of use.
Noel
Well you can't argue with results! There is something to be said for the convenience of heated grips - a lot easier to deal with than a heated vest. And if they keep the edge off, that's great too! I rented a BMW last fall while in Holland and it had heated grips on it. They did work well and as I recall the temp was around 10C. But when I ride for a distance at home in the cold with the vest plugged in, no heated grips are required.
Zwartie
A friend got me the Tourmaster Caliber (http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=173&cat=4) pants and a Tourmaster Transitions 2 (http://www.tourmaster.com/product/Textile_Jackets/Transition_Series_2_Jacket/240/3) jacket as a present, and it's now cold enough to wear both.
Starting with the pants. Fit isn't terrible, they're big heavy overpants, and can be worn over jeans. They're quite definitely bulky, especially with the liner in. I've yet to try them without the liners, but so far I'm quite impressed. They appear to be solidly made, and they're plenty long enough for me (though I have a relatively short inseam, ymmv, etc), so I'm able to wear them over either normal shoes or quite heavy riding boots with a large calf area. They're padded through the knees and hips, and that brings my only real quibble up: when you're sitting with your legs folded up (relatively high pegs), the hip armor digs into my hips, just below the top ridge of the pelvic crest on both sides, which is a little painful. There is a fix, and that's removing the hip padding and trimming it a little shorter, problem solved. Definitely feels a little dorky to wear them once you've arrived at your destination, shades of being a little kid in a snowsuit again....
The jacket I quite like. It's got a bunch of pockets in handy places, and with touches that show someone really thought about things when they were designed. For example, there's a small pocket on the left forearm for your keys, but when you open it, you find a attached cord with a clasp on the end, so you can be absolutely sure your house key isn't going to fall out and get lost. The pockets have a funny little flap that's tucked away when they're closed that keeps water from getting to the zippers, which is nice. Most of them also have velcro to snap down and ensure that crap stays out of them (bugs, etc). There's a well-thought-out front zipper with a velcro flap to cover it and a anti-wet-chest-in-the-rain flap, as well. Inside that chest flap is another pocket on the left (so I hope you're not a lefty, this may not be the jacket for you, it's clearly designed for us superior people....) but it's outside the zipper, so you can get access to it without unzipping the coat, just opening the velcro'd flap. Inside, there's a number of the usual pockets, lacking the waterproofing obviously, but they're covered when the liner is in place. So the liner has extra pockets sewn to it, which is really a nice touch.
Both the pants and the jacket are really quite good in the cold, I've been comfortable at 45F without much problem. The jacket is really nice with the liner removed for medium-warm days, but their fancy venting system has a simple problem. The vents are on the shoulders, well away from the stiller air of the windshield, and can be opened in increments. Tourmaster has a really nice system that uses a velcro flap to cover the zipper in cold weather, but an extra strip of velcro lets you keep it open if you want the airflow when it's hot. The problem is that the jacket can get so much incoming air that the venting on the back is basically useless, and it will fill with air and force the entire thing up, so it chokes the hell out of you. Feels a little like helmet lift, but in the jacket! So other than on really hot days, it's been really a handy piece of kit for me.
The jacket zips to the pants with a ~8" zipper. Not as good as a full length one, but good enough to keep your flanks off the asphalt.
I've been wearing Firstgear winter textile gloves (can't find the exact model, probably a 2010 version... why do we have to have "the new 20xx collection!" each year? We don't wear this shit for fashion, ffs...) and I've been relatively comfy down into the 40's overall, with the gloves being the weakest link. The pants I've not tried on warmish (>60F) day yet, and the jacket was quite comfortable in air below 75F or so. In the colder air, I usually wear a neck dickie as well. You can buy them premade like so (http://www.amazon.com/Schampa-Tall-Neck-Dickie-Size/dp/B001AWJMV0) but I just had the wife make some from fleece; a simple tube of about the right size and cut to length. $10 was enough to make a half dozen, so my friends wear them in the cold as well.
AndyB,
I've had a Tourmaster Transitions 2 jacket for a couple of years now, and agree with most of your assessment.
The fact that the liner has its own set of inside pockets is great! The chest pockets also are added ventilation points if you choose. If you choose to ride with the zip at the collar partially open, there's a snap on the shoulder to hold it in place and stop it from flapping. There's also a large 'bum bag' pocket across the back of the jacket big enough for a pair of lightweight rain pants.
I've not had "lifting" with the scoop flaps open, but that may just be due to the adjustments of the waist closures or our different physiques or ride positions.
The collar does not close tight enough or stand high enough to keep out all the water if you're caught in a rainstorm, but this is really picking nits. It claims to use a breathable water repellant layer and this seems to work as advertised.
This is the jacket I wear 80% of the time I'm on my bikes. After a couple of years, its holding up well. Armour and pads in all the usual places and its removable as well. The jacket is also a parka length so does cover more of you than a bomber jacket.
With a RRP of US $179 (when I bought mine), I've not seen any other jacket with so many features.
It even came with its own heavy duty hanger :-)
I have not had occasion to test its protective abilities.
Arnie
The venting looks like an awesome idea, and it'd be brilliant on something with a bigger windshield. Something about it just doesn't work for me, could be the way things fit or more likely the riding position. Short arms, y`see, I'm leaning into the wind pretty good.... Just a try before buying sorta thing, unless you've got a dedicated hot weather jacket.
Quote from: andyb on October 14, 2012, 09:02:17 AM
In the colder air, I usually wear a neck dickie as well. You can buy them premade like so (http://www.amazon.com/Schampa-Tall-Neck-Dickie-Size/dp/B001AWJMV0) but I just had the wife make some from fleece; a simple tube of about the right size and cut to length. $10 was enough to make a half dozen, so my friends wear them in the cold as well.
I found the pre made ones too restrictive with head turning, as the helmet strap locks it in place while the chest protector of course is an anchor. Home made tube worked best for me too. Doug
I do have a larger windshield. '91 with a 7" extension on that. I also have long arms.
I'm very happy with the warmth of this jacket with the liner, and would rather be a bit chilly than too warm when riding. I don't use a scarf or neck wrap since I left Michigan.
Arnie
Quote from: andyb on October 14, 2012, 12:00:14 PM
The venting looks like an awesome idea, and it'd be brilliant on something with a bigger windshield. Something about it just doesn't work for me, could be the way things fit or more likely the riding position. Short arms, y`see, I'm leaning into the wind pretty good.... Just a try before buying sorta thing, unless you've got a dedicated hot weather jacket.
David,
I'm on my second pair of Defenders. Still like them a lot. Although, my office is now a couple block walk from the garage, so the soles are taking a beating.
Quote from: SlowOldGuy on October 05, 2012, 12:27:18 PM
Quote from: FJ Flyer on October 02, 2012, 09:07:42 PM
Teknic Defender boots are good all year round.
Hey Chris,
How many pairs of those Defender boots have you gone through over the years? I'm on my second pair. Do they still make them?
Ride safe,
DavidR.
Those of you with the Transitions jacket, how does it do in the rain? Stay dry? I've had to retreat my Kilimanjaro twice now.
And I also use a NOJ Quiet Rider deluxe in the really cold weather. Prevents cold air coming in my helmet and drying my contact lenses out.
Quote from: FJ Flyer on October 15, 2012, 06:23:23 PM
Those of you with the Transitions jacket, how does it do in the rain? Stay dry? I've had to retreat my Kilimanjaro twice now.
Normal rain showers its fine. As I said, a bit of rain gets in at the neck.
In a downpour or all day rain, the outer fabric gets wet, but I stayed pretty dry inside. My gloves and boots were soaked. :-(
Arnie
Neck isn't terribly wet for me, though I lean in a bit to keep it that way in the rain. Shell gets quite wet, but there is an internal layer of rainsuit type material in them, so no worries inside it.
I'd much rather be too hot than too cold. Either way is uncomfortable, but I'm less tense when I'm warm, easier to stay loose on the bike. Adore the neck dickies in anything under 70F and almost always at night, great bug protection when the insects come out... makes it smell a bit, but they're easy to wash.
For my trip from Seattle down to Austin via the West Coast coming up here in about two weeks or so, I am looking at buying warm gear for the first time. (We get about 6 weeks of 'really cold weather' here in Austin a year, if you ask me...)
I'm thinking this, would love some pointers from people who know more than me. I'm really trying to do this as much on a budget as possible, so please keep that in mind!
Some normal warm pants (jogging pants or something?) with these (http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Pants/Mens-Pants/Icon-Pants-Mens-Icon-Brawnson-Armored-Textile-OverPant) over them.
MAYBE this (http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Jackets/Heated-Jackets/Heated-Jacket) heated jacket, if it is recommended that a heavy duty jacket won't be quite enough or will cost just as much anyways.
These[/quote] heated glove liners seem cheaper than full on heated gloves, and will, I guess, go inside the gloves I already have.
[url=http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Boots/Waterproof-Boots/Vega-Motorcycle-Boots-Mens-Vega-Touring-Motorcycle-Boots]These (http://www.jafrum.com/Heated-Motorcycle-Clothing/FirstGear-Heated-Glove-Liners) boots look like a pretty good deal for what they are, imagine with some wool socks that they'd do the job?
Also, These (http://www.jafrum.com/Closeouts/Mens-Gloves-Closeout/Scorpion-Gunner-Black-Motorcycle-Leather-Gloves) gloves caught my eye, but I think I'll do fine with just the liners in my normal gloves. They do like nice in general, though, warm weather questions aside.
Thoughts? I also have a wool scarf I got that should be a part of this, and a full face helmet of course. (Thinking of trying electrical tape around the windshield to really isolate the face from outside air while riding.
Don't over seal your helmet, it needs some venting to clear the fog effect. And the need to raise the visor quickly can be the difference between needing a change of pants or not.... Just my $0.02....
Venting effect, hadn't thought about that. Interesting. I do have a balaclava, I forgot to mention, so that will be a part of the package. Guess I'll just stick with that.
Didn't understand the comment about the connection between the visor and the new pants...
Woops. Wish I could still edit that last post.
Glove liners: http://www.jafrum.com/Heated-Motorcycle-Clothing/FirstGear-Heated-Glove-Liners (http://www.jafrum.com/Heated-Motorcycle-Clothing/FirstGear-Heated-Glove-Liners)
Boots: http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Boots/Waterproof-Boots/Vega-Motorcycle-Boots-Mens-Vega-Touring-Motorcycle-Boots (http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Boots/Waterproof-Boots/Vega-Motorcycle-Boots-Mens-Vega-Touring-Motorcycle-Boots)
I've decided to just do layers for pants--jeans with windbreakers, and maybe a third layer in between of sweatpants for really cold days (those three should also handle a fall pretty well if I ever have one, I imagine), and realized that jacket is on sale to get rid of stock and only XXXL is available. Still tempted to consider it, haha, but have a feeling that'd be a bit ridiculous. Maybe I could just cut some fabric out and sew it up, do a self-tailor job? It's a good deal for an otherwise great jacket, and almost merits it if it means I save $100. Reviews are fantastic, and it comes with controller and everything.
Quote from: fintip on October 17, 2012, 05:21:26 AM
I've decided to just do layers for pants--jeans with windbreakers, and maybe a third layer in between of sweatpants for really cold days (those three should also handle a fall pretty well if I ever have one, I imagine), and realized that jacket is on sale to get rid of stock and only XXXL is available. Still tempted to consider it, haha, but have a feeling that'd be a bit ridiculous. Maybe I could just cut some fabric out and sew it up, do a self-tailor job? It's a good deal for an otherwise great jacket, and almost merits it if it means I save $100. Reviews are fantastic, and it comes with controller and everything.
No they won't
Quote from: fintip on October 17, 2012, 05:21:26 AMMaybe I could just cut some fabric out and sew it up, do a self-tailor job?
I know I've read somewhere where some folks had made their own heated gear. It's just the right wire, the proper battery lead connector, and a rheostat hemmed into clothing. It may have been on this list or over on the Yahoo list -it was years ago. Search around on-line, you may be able to make your own heated gear for far less than buying pre-made.
Anyone know what the max wattage consumption for the FJ is? Seems I remember it being ~600 watts or some such, about as much as a set of gloves, pants and jacket and maybe a GPS or so?
Dan
Quote from: Dan Filetti on October 17, 2012, 12:51:55 PM
Quote from: fintip on October 17, 2012, 05:21:26 AMMaybe I could just cut some fabric out and sew it up, do a self-tailor job?
I know I've read somewhere where some folks had made their own heated gear. It's just the right wire, the proper battery lead connector, and a rheostat hemmed into clothing. It may have been on this list or over on the Yahoo list -it was years ago. Search around on-line, you may be able to make your own heated gear for far less than buying pre-made.
Anyone know what the max wattage consumption for the FJ is? Seems I remember it being ~600 watts or some such, about as much as a set of gloves, pants and jacket and maybe a GPS or so?
Dan
i made a heated vest about 10 years ago. need some multi-strand teflon-coated wire, if memory serves. i got it from a recipe on the net. i think total cost was around $30.
Quote from: fintip on October 17, 2012, 05:21:26 AM
I've decided to just do layers for pants--jeans with windbreakers, and maybe a third layer in between of sweatpants for really cold days (those three should also handle a fall pretty well if I ever have one, I imagine),
not even close. even department store and fashion-grade leather jackets/pants will fall apart upon impact. i think the jeans have the advantage in the stitching, but the fashion leather has the marginal advantage in the abrasion-resistance of the material itself, but neither will save your skin in most typical get-offs. price a typical hospital visit bill where everyone and their mother decides to dip their hand into your bank account, and dedicated gear all of a sudden gets real cheap. i wear an aerostich, and have acquired a heated vest, heated jacket liner, and windblocker, and use a combination of the three depending on temps. for the legs i just wear long johns. turtle fur neck gaiter or balaclava, again depending. electric gloves. had grip wraps for a while, but got tired of toasty palms, but frozen knuckles. and if you're dealing with cold weather (what i consider to be below 40 degrees), get a fog city shield insert. being warm and toasty when it's 30 degrees ain't worth nothin' if you can't see 5 feet in front of you.
Call me a voice of ignorance, but while I understand that jeans alone (which is my normal attire) won't save your ass in a high speed crash, I have a hard time believing that 3 layers are going to just disappear in an instant... Even if it does go through all 3, I imagine by the time all 3 are worn through that they've taken the worst of the friction. But in any case, riding gear is just one of those things people can talk about, but should never start an argument about, so I'll just bow out now. (I volunteer to be the test dummy--if I *do* get laid down in such attire, god forbid, I'll let everyone know, haha.)
Definitely thinking that I'll be making my own electric jacket and gloves at this point. Thinking I'll just have some teflon wire shipped out to my friend's house in Washington and be sewing by night. Found several 'recipes' online, looks simple enough.
In any case, I think it should be warm enough, if I have an electric jacket? The fairing on the FJ has decent leg protection, right? If I find my legs are still cold, I'll probably wire up the windbreaker pants with the wire I'll have leftover at some point on the way, since I won't be using those pants for anything else. (I haven't owned that kind of pants since I was like 10 years old, and even then I never used them. Like I said, Texas. It doesn't really get cold here. Pretty much a jeans-year-round guy. And not the fashion-grade kind, either, fwiw.)
So:
Homeade heated jacket (liner?)
Homeade heated gloves
Tri-layer pant setup
Balaclava
Wool scarf
Boots
Wool socks
Quote from: fintip on October 17, 2012, 02:53:59 PM
Call me a voice of ignorance, but while I understand that jeans alone (which is my normal attire) won't save your ass in a high speed crash, I have a hard time believing that 3 layers are going to just disappear in an instant... Even if it does go through all 3, I imagine by the time all 3 are worn through that they've taken the worst of the friction. But in any case, riding gear is just one of those things people can talk about, but should never start an argument about, so I'll just bow out now. (I volunteer to be the test dummy--if I *do* get laid down in such attire, god forbid, I'll let everyone know, haha.)
Definitely thinking that I'll be making my own electric jacket and gloves at this point. Thinking I'll just have some teflon wire shipped out to my friend's house in Washington and be sewing by night. Found several 'recipes' online, looks simple enough.
In any case, I think it should be warm enough, if I have an electric jacket? The fairing on the FJ has decent leg protection, right? If I find my legs are still cold, I'll probably wire up the windbreaker pants with the wire I'll have leftover at some point on the way, since I won't be using those pants for anything else. (I haven't owned that kind of pants since I was like 10 years old, and even then I never used them. Like I said, Texas. It doesn't really get cold here. Pretty much a jeans-year-round guy. And not the fashion-grade kind, either, fwiw.)
So:
Homeade heated jacket (liner?)
Homeade heated gloves
Tri-layer pant setup
Balaclava
Wool scarf
Boots
Wool socks
Try this.
Dress in the garb you plan to wear, sit down and have a friend (or to be more realistic, someone who doesn't especially care for you, because the pavement surely doesn't) take a big-ass belt sander loaded with 60-grit paper to you, because that's about what it's going to be like if you fall.
Pinlocks are the shizzle to prevent fogging.
You should check out the story on Hell for Leather. Dudes jeans ripped apart and his bare ass was kissing pavement for a 30-40 mph get off. I went down at about 55-60 on the highway and my HT Air protected my leg, Phoenix my arms, and Violator gloves and Defender boots my hands and feet. Not one bit of road rash. Had a huge black and blue bruise on my upper leg, and soreness overall, but that was it.
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2012/10/why-wearing-jeans-on-a-motorcycle-is-a-really-bad-idea/ (http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2012/10/why-wearing-jeans-on-a-motorcycle-is-a-really-bad-idea/)
That's why my tag is "wear your gear".
Quote from: FJ Flyer on October 17, 2012, 04:23:56 PM
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2012/10/why-wearing-jeans-on-a-motorcycle-is-a-really-bad-idea/ (http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2012/10/why-wearing-jeans-on-a-motorcycle-is-a-really-bad-idea/)
That's why my tag is "wear your gear".
Good article Chris. BTW, your tag "wear your gear" has become my mantra, or at least an ever present reminder. Full gear is not the coolest thing to wear on days over 75 degrees, figuratively and literally, but some day it may just save my ass so I wear it. 'To each his own', so others can do what ever they want, but it's good to hear from those in the same camp, especially with so many cruising around in shorts and sneakers.
Doesn't matter how much you wear if it's not designed for the task of sliding along the road. The material may end up okay, but the seams will open, and that's a layer gone immediately.
A set of proper leather riding pants at the low end are $100... I'm assuming the ones of questionable origin, good for one crash and no more, but one crash is all you need to worry about at a time. Layer under them, job done. Pretty much the same at the other end of the scale, too. Or you could just buy a cheap suit (http://www.jackets4bikes.com/p-1236-1pc-textile-suit-motorcycle-commuting-touring-black.aspx) and layer under it.
Purpose built stuff, even the low end stuff, is better than faking it. The first ride in a cheap rainsuit means that suddenly you realize how much better it is than doing it the way you were doing it before, and then you start wondering just how much better the good ones are. Same goes with every piece of gear, from helmets, gloves, boots... and things like seats, anti-vibe-bar ends, headlights, etc.
Honestly? Okay, if you accept that you'll be a bit cold, go in knowing what you're doing. Take your time, have multiple backup strategies, don't expect to cover much distance per day, and call it an adventure. Take pictures at your frequent "I can't feel my fucking fingers anymore and it's starting to hurt really bad now" stops as you go, y`know? I'd much rather have poor protection from the pavement and great protection from the temperature if I have to make the choice. You'll be exposed to the temperature certainly, the pavement only maybe, and being comfortable helps prevent fatigue and mistakes, so arguably it helps keep you off the pavement.
(Insert big rant here about cars having to have active stability management and ABS and stupid crap instead of simply being enjoyable enough to drive that you're paying attention to the act of driving....)
Slightly aside, do you guys all really have that much trouble with visor fogging? I'm just using a normal shoei visor, and it'll steam up a little at stops in town, cracking it open a notch solves that. Once at speed and closed, no problems at all....
edit:
Quoteull gear is not the coolest thing to wear on days over 75 degrees, figuratively and literally, but some day it may just save my ass so I wear it.
You're wearing the wrong gear then. A mesh jacket isn't as much protection as a leather one, but being comfortable and hydrated can keep your skin off the pavement as well. Gear has two forms of protection imo, one is as a physical barrier vs the pavement, and the other is as a barrier to the environment... and the latter is more important than many think. You lose an awful lot of fluid, very quickly indeed, if you're wearing a full leather 1piece while in slow/stopped traffic on a hot & humid day.
Gentlemen,
I agree with FJFlyer, Mr. Martin and Not a Lib and that protection philosophy.
Andyb, one never knows when the inevitable will happen. To be less than prepared is foolish. Two very competent riders fell at the ECFR without warning. One had on jeans (ouch!) the other proper gear (with much better results) as in no injury.
However, why are comfort and protection are deemed mutually exclusive?
I wear full leathers with wind/water proof zippers. In hot weather the vents are open, in cold weather the vents are closed. In uncomfortably cold weather I use the zip in jacket liner and heated gloves (the cord for the gloves are in the mesh lining of the jacket and plug into the dash - simple & no hassle with the cord).
That is all that is needed and I have been in all types of extreme weather and remained comfortable and dry. However, protection is the key...
Ride carefully,
Mike Ramos.
Comfort and protection are not exclusive, but getting both is frequently expensive, and that can prevent people from bothering at all--as above, layering with jeans. Mostly, I'm saying that great gear is better than cheap gear is better than halfassed gear is better than no gear. Gotta start someplace, y`know?
Ideally, we'd all have a good all-rounder suit, and various other outfits as necessary for the type of riding we do. In this instance, it's possible that a really great pair of pants may be a bit expensive (http://www.aerostich.com/jackets-pants/transit/transit-pants.html), but I'd bet that a much cheaper set would still provide more protection than jeans would, layered or not.
I wear the most situationally appropriate gear that I can afford, every time I ride, and that's what I'm suggesting. Even the best gear isn't a guarantee that you're going to walk away from a wreck, and you're accepting risk every time you ride. Minimize that risk by doing the best you can with equipment, but understand that the biggest piece of staying intact is your own judgement.
Quote from: fintip on October 17, 2012, 02:53:59 PM
Call me a voice of ignorance, but while I understand that jeans alone (which is my normal attire) won't save your ass in a high speed crash, I have a hard time believing that 3 layers are going to just disappear in an instant... Even if it does go through all 3, I imagine by the time all 3 are worn through that they've taken the worst of the friction. But in any case, riding gear is just one of those things people can talk about, but should never start an argument about, so I'll just bow out now. (I volunteer to be the test dummy--if I *do* get laid down in such attire, god forbid, I'll let everyone know, haha.)
Definitely thinking that I'll be making my own electric jacket and gloves at this point. Thinking I'll just have some teflon wire shipped out to my friend's house in Washington and be sewing by night. Found several 'recipes' online, looks simple enough.
In any case, I think it should be warm enough, if I have an electric jacket? The fairing on the FJ has decent leg protection, right? If I find my legs are still cold, I'll probably wire up the windbreaker pants with the wire I'll have leftover at some point on the way, since I won't be using those pants for anything else. (I haven't owned that kind of pants since I was like 10 years old, and even then I never used them. Like I said, Texas. It doesn't really get cold here. Pretty much a jeans-year-round guy. And not the fashion-grade kind, either, fwiw.)
So:
Homeade heated jacket (liner?)
Homeade heated gloves
Tri-layer pant setup
Balaclava
Wool scarf
Boots
Wool socks
ok so you don't like leather pants . here ya go http://dragginjeans.com/ (http://dragginjeans.com/)
a way old school cold weather trick is wear women's nylons . probably queen size for you.
not a joke this is for real.
I was wearing mesh pants and jacket with leather gloves and boots when I went down and I didn't have a scratch. Get good stuff and WEAR IT. Doesn't do you any good hanging in the closet. Oh, didn't mention my RF1000, which sacrificed itself.
The biggest thing to keeping warm is to stop the wind from getting in. Rain gear over your riding gear does wonders, but only for a time. The cold will penetrate through the layers and reach you.
Personally, my arms and chest get cold. My legs and feet not too much. The biggest help for my head was using the neck warmer to cover my neck and chin, plus it reduces the amount of air getting into my helmet.
I'm down in Portland and our temps are into the low 40's for night and mid 50's during the day. They say snow in the Cascade Mountain as soon as this weekend. You've got a couple of passes to go through on I-5. The worst being the Siskiyou's in Southern Oregon.
The cold sneaks up on you. I rode to one west coast rally and dealt with mid 40's temps from Portland to Grants Pass. It was foggy the entire time, so no sun to help keep me warm. My reflexes and judgement was seriously impaired even though I was wearing multiple layers. After that rally I bought a electric jacket liner.
I'm sure you're tired of us beating the table about gear. The weather here can change in a matter of minutes and usually not for the better this time of year. Klavdy and Marsh know first hand what it like not to be prepared. They rode through blizzard conditions on I-80 West from Reno wearing summer gear.
You're taking one hell of a trip and we want to make sure you make it to your destination unharmed. Conditions should get better once you're through Northern California.
Gentlemen,
Yes, stop the wind from getting in: hence the wind/water proof zippers.
Since I had them installed in my riding gear, I do not use a sweater or any "layering", just the jacket liner in extreme cold. Heated gloves for the hands.
And leather is waterproof, last year on the way to the ECFR I spent at least 12 hours (in excess of 800 miles) in the rain & stayed dry & comfortable. I'm in the rain on many cross country rides. My summer gear is my winter gear.
I live in far northern California in the mountains. Any rides entails going to the valley floor or into the high desert. The weather often changes from perfect to in-climate (hot or cold, perhaps rain) during the length of the ride.
Most of this talk is nonsense; while it is true you never know when your number is up, one visit to the hospital for skin grafts far surpasses the cost of proper gear.
As Mr. Conlon (and a host of others) state, not to mention their personal experience, All of the Gear All of the Time.
End of discussion.
Sorry fellas,
Mike Ramos.
Quote from: pdxfj on October 18, 2012, 05:59:42 PM
The biggest thing to keeping warm is to stop the wind from getting in. Rain gear over your riding gear does wonders, but only for a time. The cold will penetrate through the layers and reach you.
Personally, my arms and chest get cold. My legs and feet not too much. The biggest help for my head was using the neck warmer to cover my neck and chin, plus it reduces the amount of air getting into my helmet.
I'm down in Portland and our temps are into the low 40's for night and mid 50's during the day. They say snow in the Cascade Mountain as soon as this weekend. You've got a couple of passes to go through on I-5. The worst being the Siskiyou's in Southern Oregon.
The cold sneaks up on you. I rode to one west coast rally and dealt with mid 40's temps from Portland to Grants Pass. It was foggy the entire time, so no sun to help keep me warm. My reflexes and judgement was seriously impaired even though I was wearing multiple layers. After that rally I bought a electric jacket liner.
I'm sure you're tired of us beating the table about gear. The weather here can change in a matter of minutes and usually not for the better this time of year. Klavdy and Marsh know first hand what it like not to be prepared. They rode through blizzard conditions on I-80 West from Reno wearing summer gear.
You're taking one hell of a trip and we want to make sure you make it to your destination unharmed. Conditions should get better once you're through Northern California.
Did we what!
(http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R03CsT7FAr4/TgRCsEWqzFI/AAAAAAAAF9k/GSl68F5hg1I/s529/IMGP0002.JPG)
But if you're prepared, it's not too bad,even up high,,,
(http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2gGl1060flo/Tx9V9vmQKdI/AAAAAAAAGn0/b8EPouZgEb8/s529/IMGP1364.jpg)
Good gears worth it, it lasts for ages and even if you do come off, it can usually be repaired.
On a tight budget?
Check out "BILT" gear. (http://www.cyclegear.com/eng/categories/street-gear/mens-street-apparel)
Under $300 should see you with a pair of kevlar jeans, a sturdy, water resistant motorcycle jacket with armour and a one piece foul weather suit.
Good to see you check in agent K, hope the ice is not getting too thick.
Quote from: Mike Ramos on October 18, 2012, 07:03:01 PM
All of the Gear All of the Time.
End of discussion.
Sorry fellas
Right on brother... I think these are some of the best dollars spent. The saying goes "not if, but when" and that when is an accident (not planned by definition). Do what you want, but I'd rather have the odds tipped my way a bit if possible...
I'm getting some new kevlar mesh/liner kit that should work year round. Still have leathers and some kevlar jeans to wear to work on riding days (most days). I've read stories of kneecap and elbow grinding offs that are entirely avoidable if the right gear was in play. Father Pat can send us all an Amen on that one (nice to be 100% again?).
Frank
Amen brother Frank!
I wear a leather jacket and textile pants, and i have had a few low speed accidents, none on the fj, but the last one , i layed my xs400 down after hitting a patch of pea gravel at the apex of a turn. Got my left foot out in time, and rode the bike thru the slide. Left arm hit the ground fairly hard and i had a friction burn from the liner of the jacket. Glad i had it.
I wear all textile riding gear, Joe Rocket jacket and first gear pants, leather full gauntlet gloves (with liners if needed). Under that I layer up for the weather, the other day I wore my wranglers, sweat pants over those, and the riding pants of course, under the jacket I wore 2 light weight sweat shirts. I like this because you can remove layers as it gets warm. Though I don't like thick gloves, so I ordered a set of Hippo Hands for the FJ, excited to try them out.
Bro-in-law and I both have Joe Rocket Alter ego jackets, Canadian Edition. We've been riding the last few days here on Vancouver Island, Canada just south of the 50th parallel. with tempatures in the single digit (cel.). No complaints on the jackets at all. Looking forward to testing their versatility in the summer months.....hmmm summer.
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff458/potkev/1984%20Yamaha%20FJ1100/IMG_2174.jpg)
Recently came back from a great trip thougth BC/Wash. in which we had over 102F tempatures. The Joe Rocket gear was stripped right down and fully vented, with lots of water. Worked fine. A week after this picture was taken there were six landslides in this pass.(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff458/potkev/1984%20Yamaha%20FJ1100/Cascades_zps43d336ae.jpg)