Topic: Heated vest on CB550- can the bike handle it

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Has anyone mentioned hand guards? 

[grasscutter]

Andy750:  You've got a good set of hand guards on there.  I've done similar 1000+ mile adventures in cooooold temps!  True ADV spirit, eh?

Got to disagree though.  (this is going to turn into a 'ford vs. chevy' thing...)  My hands chill easy, yet with a set of curved guards and good gauntlet gloves, I've had zero trouble riding all day in the 26-30deg temps.  Do have a small removable windshield, but it covers headlight area only.  No hand protection.  Thus the use of hand guards and top quality gloves.  Ridden with my ski mittens as well.  No issues operating controls, and stayed very warm!

Go back to thinking about snowmobile guys.  They are out in sub zero temps.  Guards and good gloves suffice for the majority.  I've used heated grips, and have concluded they cause overheating, and sweating.  Which when its cold out...moisture is the last thing you need you on your hands.

Although everyones cold tolerance is diff....  And there's an even smaller percentage of riders who ride in those type of temps, anyways.

[andy750]

Oh no problem on disagreeing as when it comes to cold - everyones thermoregulation is slightly different so we will all have different experiences. I have yet to find a good pair of leather motorcycle gloves with protection that will keep my hands warm for more than 1 hr at cold temps. Scott snowmobile gloves (bulky) are good as are Marmot Goretex mountaineering gloves (no protection though) for sustained cold weather riding. I have not tried the more expensive motorcycle Gore tex leather gloves ($190+) and no longer need to as now have heated gloves (thinner and warmer but no sweating when heat troller is used).

My point was that even with a fairing and layered up sitting in a cold environment (its still <32F behind the fairing if riding in those temps) for a full days riding can still lead to being chilled and fatigued. Heated gear takes that away so you are more alert when riding. You dont even realize its 20F! However heated gear is only as good as your battery so always a good idea to have the layers in case of battery failure

cheers
Andy

[Bankerdanny]

I've had the Windjammer SS on my Goldwing off multiple times over the past 18 months. It's much lighter than you would expect. I wouldn't hesitate t put one on a 500/550.

MJStone has an SS with lowers AND the matching bags/trunk on his 500 and had no problems keeping up on the highway when we rode around Lake Michigan in the 2011 Rally.

[TwoTired]

My point was that even with a fairing and layered up sitting in a cold environment (its still <32F behind the fairing if riding in those temps) for a full days riding can still lead to being chilled and fatigued.

...except if you have the lowers, too.  Then you get hot air off the engine's cooling fins keeping your legs nice and toasty.  And, with no added electrical drain from the battery.  In fact, if your legs get too warm, you end up sticking the knees out in the breeze to cool them down a bit.    ...which is what you need to do in summer heat.  Or, in my case, ride a different bike!

Cheers,

[seanbarney41]

[quote author=Bankerdanny link=topic=117632.msg1328944#msg1328944 date=1360184526

MJStone has an SS with lowers AND the matching bags/trunk on his 500 and had no problems keeping up on the highway when we rode around Lake Michigan in the 2011 Rally.
[/quote]ummm, err, yes he did...but it wasn't because of the Vetter stuff on a 500    ...sorry MJ, I know school bus drivers need to keep that cleeeean driving record

[Duanob]

Hey if nobody has mentioned handguards I would suggest those 

Seriously another member here in Seattle put them on and noticed a huge difference in how warm his hands stay after riding to work.

If you stay on the coast I wouldn't worry too much about figid temps anyway. What time of year are you heading north Mooshie?

[Mooshie]

I am going to BC in July so I think I should be fine (I mean how cold could it possibly be at that time of year?). I was actually asking because others want to ride and I always beg off if the weather is not to my liking (I have the worst circulation in my fingers/extremities). I rode to Monterey in November and it was cold but I did not have anything heated and made it just fine (leather gauntlets with silk glove liner).  So a friend purchased a heated vest for me and I thought it may be a good idea especially because I can run gloves off of it.  But the responses here tend to lean toward not running the vest and using other alternatives. I do have a viper fairing which has helped and I am the queen of layering so my core stays perfectly warm.  I would have to look at the hand guards and see if I like the looks of them (I know that's a lame reason to not consider them and  I can take them off but I really do like Dash to look his level best at all times).