Topic: Your cold weather gear?

[DJ_AX]

It's COOOOOLD here in Michigan ... and it's just going to keep getting colder.
I hate the F'in cold!
But I need to ride my 750!
I have a nice down coat... for which I plan on getting a gore-tex shell....
but obvoiusly I need something for my legs, feet, hands, neck, and head.
I can't stand even a little chill... I prefer to be especially toasty...

For all of you experienced cold weather riders... what's your extreme gear?

The electric stuff looks pretty nice.

PEACE

[cmorgan47]

i've got a buddy that uses the electric vest and swears by it.

good gloves are key.
the down/gortex is good as the down is quite insulating for the weight and gortex is pretty wind resistant, but it'll billow up like a parachute.

[eldar]

cold weather gear? please a REAL biker takes the cold!

Some leather pants or chaps will protect quite well add some long johns and you should stay quite warm.
insulated leather gloves are best against the wind.
My helmet keeps my head warm enough but I use a mask thingthat covers the lower half of my face and neck. It is neoprene and while not really insulated, wind does not get through it.
shoes are not such a big deal. You can either get hicking boots that are insulated or just wear 2 pairs of socks

[upperlake04]

You can either get hicking boots that are insulated

Eldar - are those special for the American market? 

[Brunow]

Normal boots, (motoboots)
leather jacket with a scarf
full helm. nice and warm
if it rains i use a wind&water proof pants above my normal.

Ow and i have two pair of glove's winter / summer

Well that's about it 

[ProTeal55]

Cold weather riding gear = My truck with the heat on

[eldar]

Well pack boot are too clunky to shift with!

Besides, hiking boots are lighter which allows a person to run from them canadian "mounters" oh I mean "mounties"

[heffay]

let's start at the head...

helmet of course: best wind block there is
neckwarmer
moisture wicking long sleeve tee: many skiers/snowboarders wear them
another tee over that
sweatshirt
maybe another sweatshirt
agv reinforced leather riding jacket
any normal undies (i hear that some here prefer their wive's)   
sweatpants or longjohns
sturdy demin jeans
retired snowboarding pants
3 or 4 layers of socks
hiking style riding boots

also, on the zx7r i installed the heated handgrip elements.  they really help... just don't connect them to the hi beam power wire 
unless you run your hi beams constantly

as you can probably see... i get cold.  as long as you've got enough layers though... you can stay fairly cozy.  and, believe it or not, i don't look like one of those babies with their arms sticking out cuz they have too many clothes on.   

[upperlake04]

  I have to assume you guys are talking about 'winter' without snow and ice

[nickjtc]

Cold weather riding gear = My truck with the heat on

I thought you were going to say "cuddling up with my honey".

[nickjtc]

let's start at the head...

helmet of course: best wind block there is
neckwarmer
moisture wicking long sleeve tee: many skiers/snowboarders wear them
another tee over that
sweatshirt
maybe another sweatshirt
agv reinforced leather riding jacket
any normal undies (i hear that some here prefer their wive's)   
sweatpants or longjohns
sturdy demin jeans
retired snowboarding pants
3 or 4 layers of socks
hiking style riding boots

also, on the zx7r i installed the heated handgrip elements.  they really help... just don't connect them to the hi beam power wire 
unless you run your hi beams constantly

as you can probably see... i get cold.  as long as you've got enough layers though... you can stay fairly cozy.  and, believe it or not, i don't look like one of those babies with their arms sticking out cuz they have too many clothes on.   

What he said. Make sure it's a full face helmet.

[ieism]

I was wondering, most off these heated grips run off the battery right? Will my 550's battery/alternator be strong enough for this?

[dusterdude]

Cold weather riding gear = My truck with the heat on

I thought you were going to say "cuddling up with my honey".

durn tootin

[johnny-from-bel]

electricaly heated vest, handshoes and boots.
Thermo underwear.

[heffay]

I was wondering, most off these heated grips run off the battery right? Will my 550's battery/alternator be strong enough for this?

i've run into some problems with my elements on my 7r.  they are the same elements i installed on the gf's vfr.  her's work MUCH better than mine.  but, a viffer is a sport/touring bike and puts out more electric than a race ready 7r. 

most elements are wired into ANY power wire.  meaning, if there is power to a wire when the key is on you tie into that and run a ground.  so, no... they are not normally wired directly to the battery. 

but, i'll soon be wiring mine directly to the battery to hopefully pull some more power into them.  (just got to make sure they get turned off every time.)

i think each one pulls 2amps.

[750goes]

Jeans, boots, jacket  - oh helmet as well...
underwear is optional  - i prefer leather

we talking about riding or fancy dress ??

[eldar]

As long as I dont see your crack, I dont care!

[nickjtc]

but, i'll soon be wiring mine directly to the battery to hopefully pull some more power into them.  (just got to make sure they get turned off every time.)

Don't you just unplug when you get off? Then it doesn't matter if the lead is 'live' all the time. Assuming you've got a shrouded connector, that is.

[johnny-from-bel]

but, i'll soon be wiring mine directly to the battery to hopefully pull some more power into them.  (just got to make sure they get turned off every time.)

Don't you just unplug when you get off? Then it doesn't matter if the lead is 'live' all the time. Assuming you've got a shrouded connector, that is.

I have put a switch on the wire as it the vest can get pretty hot at times. The whole setup vest, gloves, boots draws about 4 amps.
The 750 can handle that, no problem.

[heffay]

but, i'll soon be wiring mine directly to the battery to hopefully pull some more power into them.  (just got to make sure they get turned off every time.)

Don't you just unplug when you get off? Then it doesn't matter if the lead is 'live' all the time. Assuming you've got a shrouded connector, that is.

huh?  i'm talking about heated hand grips.  i refer to them as elements because that's all i got... simply the elements w/out the grips.  they are elements with a sticky back that goes directly on the bars then you install the grip of your choice over them.  they are hard wired and non-removeable.  hope that helps the understanding 

[nickjtc]

i'm talking about heated hand grips. 

Pardon me, I assumed you meant an auxiliary power source for heated vest or whatnot. The grips should come with an on/off switch (at the very least) or a variable rheostat (luxury) so you can switch them off at source when you're done riding. I'm no electrician but assume that it is possible to fit an inline switch without too much hassle...

On my VFR I had 'Hot Grips' with the rheostat switch, which I mounted on the flat part of the left hand upper fairing panel.

[heffay]

oh yes... they are definitely switched... so not quite hardwired i suppose.     my bad.

[ieism]

That's good to know. Perhaps I can get trough this winter without frostbite. Is there any particular brand hetaed grips that's better than others?

[nickjtc]

That's good to know. Perhaps I can get trough this winter without frostbite. Is there any particular brand hetaed grips that's better than others?

I've used 'Hot Grips' three times, with good success.

http://www.hotgrips.com/

[heffay]

really just depends how much cash you've got.  i bought the elements cuz they were about 30 bucks for a pair vs 60-150 bucks a pair.  granted, i also had to buy grips but i also had a choice of grips and if my grips deteriorate my heat doesn't have to be replaced.  i know that the brand i use works well it's just that my 7r doesn't have enough extra electric to run them as well as the gf's vfr. 

i can't remember the brand but, i'll get back with you if i can find it.