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Heated Gear Opinions

Started by FJ1100mjk, January 18, 2013, 03:49:35 PM

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FJ1100mjk

Hi:

I am considering getting some heated gear (jacket liner and gloves), and have never owned any. I've been researching the gear online, looking at reviews where I can. I also read a review of some in one issue of Motorcycle Consumer News.

I was looking to see if others at this forum have opinions of the gear that they purchased. Such as: Why they purchased a certain brand over another, vest vs. jacket liner, gloves, accessories for them, what brand power port, and where you located it on your FJ, and any other things that you want to chime in about the use of heated gear.

Lastly, I've done a couple of searches on this forum regarding the output of the generator, but really couldn't find any number for it. However, I have seen posts regarding heated gear by riders here, so I guess FJ's put out sufficient power to run the gear. Has anyone experienced issues with the power output of the system when adding heated gear on it?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Marty
Platinum Zircon-encrusted Gold Member

Iron Balls #00002175
www.ironballs.com


Dan Filetti

Just bought a Gerbing like this.  Have yet to use it but I like the fit and configurability.



Dan
Live hardy, or go home. 

Flynt

Quote from: Dan Filetti on January 18, 2013, 08:50:18 PM
Just bought a Gerbing like this.  Have yet to use it but I like the fit and configurability.



Dan

I've got that one.   :good:

We just went through a 2 week cold snap with morning temps at freezing (CA really sucks I know).  This liner made even multi-hour rides to the coast doable.  Never more than 1/3 of the range and WARM.    I don't use heated boots, pants, or gloves...  this jacket liner is all I need.   :i_am_so_happy:

Frank
There's plenty of time for sleep in the grave...

Flynt

Quote from: FJ1100mjk on January 18, 2013, 03:49:35 PM
Why they purchased a certain brand over another, vest vs. jacket liner, gloves, accessories for them, what brand power port, and where you located it on your FJ, and any other things that you want to chime in about the use of heated gear.

Equipment:

Gerbing jacket liner because it was part of a package deal, no other heated gear cause you don't need it (except another Gerbing jacket for my wife or my daughter when they ride with me), Gerbing battery tap routed out under the left side fairing. 

Technique:

I plug it in, swing my right leg over, stand over bike and pull the cord from behind me as I sit down on it.  The controller is on my left front pantline and I can reach down and adjust with left hand while riding (I find inflight adjustment important due as temps outside change).  I start at 1/4 turn and go up or down less than 1/8 turn typically to fine tune.  Never been at 1/2 turn...  too scary.

That's all I got...

Frank
There's plenty of time for sleep in the grave...

racerman_27410

i have the tourmaster synergy electric gear.. ive got the jacket liner, pants and the first gear carbon heated gloves.

with it all turned on low i am comfy unless i'm on the highway where i have to kick it up to medium to compensate for wind chill.    On high i think i can relate to what a pig roasting on the grill must feel like.

I like the carbon fibre heating elements.... they seem to provide a more even heat than the conventional wire style heated jacket liners and the garments arent as bulky as a result of the improved heating efficiency. (dont need as much regular insulation i guess)

pro... i like how the first gear gloves  (which happen to be the only heated gloves with what i would consider to be enough hand protection AND ARE 100% WATERPROOF CONFIRMED)  plug into the sleeves of the jacket liner and the pants do as well... this allows one controller to work everything and i've found all three pieces to have pretty equal heat output in this configuration..... no hot spots and no cold spots.

i also like how every piece of tourmaster heated gear comes with a controller ... every other brand makes you buy the controller seperately. by purchasing the jacket liner and the pants i now have a backup controller in case mine ever does go bad. (even though tourmaster has excellant customer service and will replace any bad controller that doesnt do much good on the road)

the looks i got from cagers when i was coming home one night in 16 degree F. temps was priceless... pulled up to a stop light, raised my visor and a big cloud of steam came rolling out ...... i was actually thinking that they couldnt be any toastier in their car than i was on the bike :biggrin:



con.... there were reports of many failed tourmaster controllers with the first gen stuff but mine have always worked perfectly.
However Eric's failed on our last trip out west . I hear they have greatly improved the controllers in the last 4 or 5 years so i dont think you would have a large a risk now in purchasing them as i did back then..... Its always advisable to carry a piece of wire with a couple of female connectors on it so you can jump the connector and have heat even if you have to cycle the power to keep from roasting yourself.


I will also add that if you are going to ride in temps cold enough for heated gear i also HIGHLY recommend a pinlock visor insert.... they are fantastic at keeping the visor clear during cold and humid (rain) weather conditions.

as far as power goes the FJ is marginal on a full set of heated gear and any other additional device (like driving lights)
its easy (and cheap) enough to install one of these simple LED voltage monitors so you can keep an eye on what you're charging system is doing (or not doing)  26 bucks is cheap insurance against walking when you could/should be riding.



[url=http://signaldynamics.com/index.php/products/led-lighting?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=56&category_id=44&vmcchk=1]http://signaldynamics.com/index.php/products/led-lighting?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=56&category_id=44&vmcchk=1

KOokaloo!


SlowOldGuy

I recently bought the Gerbing jacket liner and gloves.  I can't believe I waited this long to get heated gear!

The Gerbing stuff requires a separate controller which is about $100 for the double controller.  In my experience it's good gear and worth the money.  Everything interconnects including jacket to gloves, jacket to pants, and pants to sox.

I can't compare it to the other manufacturers because I have no experience with anything else.  Gerbing was available  for a very competitive price from a local Honda dealer so I got to try it before buying.  Their prices were also better than what I could find on the internet for Gerbing.

I've ridden in the high 30s with the gloves on all the way (approx 2.5 amps) and the jacket at minimum (so far I haven't had to turn up the liner, just used to minimum setting).  It can pull as much as 7 amps or almost 10 amps with jacket and gloves maxed out.  I'm plenty warm and if it's in the 40s I usually turn the jacket off for the last 10 miles on my 30 mile commute.  For my legs, I use an insulated liner from a pair of Fieldsheer riding pants.

I have the hookup coming out from behind the front of the left side cover and have its protective cap looped around my engine guard.  The controller has a belt clip which I hook to the leftside pocket of my tankbag.  I can hook and unhook while standing next to the bike.  Controller is easy to adjust.

I'm really happy with the gear.  I can now ride the bike on those clear cold days that, before, I would have just sat around waxing it.  :-)

DavidR.

FJ1100mjk

Everyone:

Thanks for all of your detailed input and opinions on the heated gear.

Both here and everyone else's opinions that I've heard on purchasing heated gear have been universal. Such as "don't know why I didn't get it sooner", "never will be without it", "one of the best purchases I ever made", and on and on.

One last question for everyone...

I'm a little curiouis about heated socks too, as my feet, like my hands, tend to get very cold. I've heard some that have bought vests or a jacket liner say that once have this on, their core temperature stays warm, and therefore their hands (not wearing heated gloves) and feet are no longer cold like they used to be. I still plan on purchasing heated gloves, but for those riders who have used a heated jacket liner or vest, have you found that your feet no longer get cold when on a long ride in temps such as 30's or 40's?

Thanks again,
Marty
Platinum Zircon-encrusted Gold Member

Iron Balls #00002175
www.ironballs.com


fintip

Depends how cold. 30-40 is borderline--if you have good heavy leather gloves, your hands should be fine for a while at those temps, inner city stuff (with heated gear). My feet didn't get cold until things were VERY cold and I was driving for some time, personally. Since I've gotten back to Austin, it has hit freezing several times, and I've driven in that. My hands did still get cold, in spite of my massive (non-heated) gloves. But I just put up with it, since the ride was only 30 minutes, and the rest of me was heated.

I'd say just start with a jacket. Ride around. If it's not enough, go ahead and start buying other gear. A heated jacket was adequate to get me from Seattle to LA to Phoenix to Austin in November. However, if I wanted to be comfortable, socks and gloves would have been awesome... But I think I was in colder weather than you're talking about for a lot of the time.
fjowners.wikidot.com

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racerman_27410

Ive not had a problem with my feet getting cold when using the heated gear (jacket liner, gloves and pants liner all heated)

Ive heard that the heated socks were not quite as durable as the other heated gear since they tent to get a lot more wear from walking etc.


KOokaloo!