Topic: Winter gear... How do you stay warm?

[Dunk]

I'm in NJ, so fairly mild winters compared to many folks. Year long riding is possible for those of us who prefer to ride, aside from occasional snow or ice. Typical winter temps for morning/evening commute will be high 20s to low 30s for the morning commute, highs could be 30s-40s, and evening commute somewhat less cold than the morning commute. Whenever it's not raining in the morning (or there's not salt left on the road from yet another apocalyptic storm that didn't happen), I ride to work (and may or may not get wet on the way home).

I typically wear:
Under Armor cold gear socks
TCX Hero boots
Jeans, Freeze-Out long johns, underwear
Short sleeve undershirt, flannel or dress shirt, Freeze-Out shirt over that depending on temp, Mega Force leather jacket with liner
Wind blocking neck sleeve and sometimes wind blocking under helmet cap (never had a balaclava that didn't fog up my glasses worse than normal)
Cheap $20 winter riding gloves that are stiff but reasonably warm
Bell Bullitt with bubble visor

My top half stays reasonably warm but all those layers are very bulky, and wind sneaks through my zipper though it's not as big an issue with the wind blocking shirt underneath. Helmet is breezy but I worry a less breezy helmet would fog up even easier. Bottom half gets cold but tolerable. I don't mind having an extra layer when at work, it can be chilly inside. I'd like to be warmer on the bike and less stiff in the hands and for shoulder checks.

I'm thinking some insulated over-pants may help, or an insulated bib could shave a layer off the top and help mobility. Maybe a winter suit I could easily put on and take off over top of everything else. What do you guys like for winter gear? What setup works for you?

[seanbarney41]

One of my best swap meet finds was black leather Polaris snowmobile pants made by Hein Gericke...for $20.  They zip all the way down the side of the leg and go on bib overall style, so easy on, easy off even over boots and leather jacket fits ok on top.  Other than that I would suggest losing the vintage style Bell for a modern full face.  All the adjustable venting really helps with fogging and you will feel warmer too.  I have never tried Pinlock visor, but some claim they are great.

[madmtnmotors]

One of my best swap meet finds was black leather Polaris snowmobile pants made by Hein Gericke...for $20.  They zip all the way down the side of the leg and go on bib overall style, so easy on, easy off even over boots and leather jacket fits ok on top.  Other than that I would suggest losing the vintage style Bell for a modern full face.  All the adjustable venting really helps with fogging and you will feel warmer too.  I have never tried Pinlock visor, but some claim they are great.

+1

My primary warm weather gear is the insulated pants. Quite bulky, but the legs are zippered from the knee to the ankle and will slip over pants and boots. Keeps the core warm and toasty.

[seanbarney41]

Wait a minute.  Mmm, dont you live in Florida? Lol

[madmtnmotors]

Wait a minute.  Mmm, dont you live in Florida? Lol

LOL! Yep, but we get about two weeks of cool weather where the morning lows can dip into the low 30's or even upper 20's (gasp!). Of course, those only come two days at a time and then it warms up until another cool snap for a couple more days, then it warms up again. Add them all up and we get about two weeks' worth. I grew up in Ohio and have ventured as far North as Michigan on two wheels. 

[70CB750]

Depends on the distance for the commute.   My office used to be less than a mile but to warm the bike up I would usually go 12 -15 miles.  If it was around 40, i would wesr just loggers jeans - double front.  Call me the Chief Balls of Ice

Touring jacket, silk scarf for the neck, fleece warm layer and warm gloves was pretty much all i needed.

For longer commute I would look into windshield or fairing it makes a huge difference.  Also what we call elephant ears for handlebars to protect hands from direct wind.

[dusterdude]

My plan is:dont ride

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

[BomberMann650]

Being a bigger gent makes cold weather endurance a little easier.  But for those who are not gifted a higher b.m.i.  - the layers approach really works.

But it comes down to material selection.  There are times when a classic wool sweater will outperform even the most-advancing-hi-tech-extreme-survival swag the marketing wanks are pushing.

Got bribed into standing in the cold and wind and rain for days.  75% of my Gloves were junk.  The gloves with Thinsulate® carried the day.  Discovered not all goretex is created equal, and if it weren't for a thick set of synthetic base layer, things could have gotten dangerous.

To wit, dunk - if you're wearing the cycle gear freeze-out® shirt on top of other layers.  Thats a bit backwards.  Majority of thermal wear is designed to contact skin.  Thats where the moisture wicking anti-microbrial thermal lofting benefits are. 

The recommendations for snowmobile gear and pin loc helmet visor are sound. 

Recently upgraded to pinlock shield and it's a visible improvement.  Though it does nothing to help my prescription eyewear from fogging up 😅

[BomberMann650]

Forgot to mention,

Heated gear.  Now available with usb rechargeable batteries.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Work-Gear/Heated-Gear

[RAFster122s]

Key to staying warm is don't sweat and wear windproof material outer layers...
Sometimes your body starts shutting down your extremities even when they aren't cold...was having that after an hour ride in 45f weather. Hands felt to me like they were cold because they were tingling but they actually were not cold to the touch. Core temps had started dropping so my body started self care to keep core warm.

[70CB750]

Last year, walking out of woods after 4 hours in tree stand I fell down and hit my knee really bad.  Probably because I was already very cold, the pain threw me into hypothermic shock - at least thats what i would describe it as - shaking I was not able to control.  I barely made it to the club building and helped myself to some sugar - it still took half an hour before I was able to pack up and go home.

Interesting experience.

[Don R]

 Not a popular answer here but I use a windjammer and lowers on a gl1000. I appreciate the cooling fan when it runs.

[Dunk]

I stopped at Cycle Gear on Friday and picked up these overpants (https://www.cyclegear.com/gear/bilt-storm-2-waterproof-overpants). Zero wind gets through, easy in and out with full length side ziper. I like the extra pockets of the only other pants they had that would fit (Sidici), but could not get them on easily with boots on due to a short zipper. In any event, I was super warm and sweaty Friday afternoon in the 50s wearing them home but they worked great this morning in the high 30s.

My old leather jacket is drafty through the zipper, it was too warm today to add a wind blocking undershirt. I usually wear that "base layer" on top so I can easily take it off once I get to work. It functions well enough blocking wind, but maybe a bit thick for that. Helmet is of course drafty and foggy... Maybe the next upgrade for winter riding is the helmet.

[BomberMann650]

Not sure what your preference in helmets are dunk.  Won't go into brand naming and sticker shocking you to death.
Buy quality cry once is especially true with helmets.
I've recently come to discover that I really enjoy helmets with a brow vent.  They can be annoying in the rain, letting water in if left open.  But work a treat in humid conditions, wether swampy summer nights or cold enough to see your breath.  If it gets too cold, shutting the vent is easy enough.  Though oncoming traffic might wonder why the motorcyclist is making a sudden facepalm.
A pair of big intake scoops on top and a massive chin bar vent just do it for me.  Mine has a slider for the chin vent, making it possible to set the vent partly open.  Good for keeping my nose warm on a cold ride.  Not having to smell my breath if I burp is nice too.  A closed brow vent and a half open chin vent seems to be my cold weather preference. 
The neck and chin seal make a difference too.  That feature makes a huge difference in the noise and comfort level of any helmet.  People seem to have an aversion to these.  If the neck seal collar is a tight fit going in.  That's probably the right, so long as the cheek pads feel right.  The chin flap is another thing which bearded riders pick fights with.  It has to come under your chin to work!  The manufacturer that ad a 3/4" flap of cloth there are just wasting materials imo.  On a great helmet, the chin flap is a removable accessory.
How the helmet visor is gasketed matters too.  Some helmets treat that seal as an after thought.  My old modular helmet doesn't even make contact with its seal.  My nice helmet went though a phase where i had to re-align the hinges to make it seal.  Which wasn't easy to do, but was grateful the helmet had that feature.

Adding a pinlock insert to a good helmet is such a game changer too.  Never having to ride with the visor cracked open to clear foggyness is just plain awesome.

[70CB750]

^^^^ Thats what I was going to say.  If you are looking for new helmet, pinlock is great! ^^^

 You just need to get used to seeing double lights 

Those pants are similar to what I wear over, mine are from ebay CustomSteel or such dramatic name, but knee protection helps a lot with cold.  Also my touring jacket zips to it if needed, it helps with the lower back.  Overseas I use to wear kidney belt but I dont fiot in it anymore, kindey belt helps too to keep you warm. 

I got an early Christmas present from my oldest yesterday - Gasolina Autobahn boots - I am sure they will do great for winter riding.

[Dunk]

The Bullitt I use lacks a lot in cold weather.  I have considered how a gasket around the visor may help keep warm, but make fogging worse. I like vintage or period correct style but I think I've over that hill in favor or practical. I am ready to embrace it. A few seasons of riding in temps around freezing makes me not care how silly I may look. I can save the vintage style helmet for fair weather cruise nights. I'm sure there is far better for commuting in 30* weather.. Pinlock looks promising.

[BomberMann650]

Vintage style gear gonna have vintage style problems 😜

Pinlocks are really good. 
If you're worried they're not good enough;
The next best thing is a snowmobile helmet with an electric heated shield.

Technology is awesome.

I'll be holding out for a universal environmental body suit like John 117 😅
Looks like a wet suit, but the sci fi story goes it can manage bodily fuction in extreme heat
and extreme cold.  Not sure how it handles taking a poop though.

[70CB750]

Anybody looked into Aerostich?  Yes, the full coverall is expensive but lot of the pro riders wear them. 

[BomberMann650]

Anybody looked into Aerostich?  Yes, the full coverall is expensive but lot of the pro riders wear them.

Aren't aerostitch tailored to fit the rider?

Klim gear is worth the money too from whay I've seen.

[Alan F.]

Holy Cow! I just looked up Klim. Vanson is just 89 miles from me, i'd think if I'm spending that kind of money I'd head down there. Right now I've got Pakistani leathers from Leatherup.com with thin Wal-Mart thermals to take me into the high 30F temps. Along with some $25 ebay thinsulate gauntlets over cheap brown cotton work gloves. Leather work boots are the weak spot.

[BomberMann650]

A good pair of boots is a worthwhile investment along with merino wool socks.

I have some speed and strength high top shoes that do okay in a rainstorm.  At least with the belly pan fairing there to help.  Without that, they'd probably get cold and wet.  No rush to go test the notion however.

Oddly enough, my $35 wal mart hiking boots can handle torrential storms.  A little sno-seal wax goes a long way.
The lugs on the sole aren't a great feel on the footpeg, but they are hiking boots after all. 

Motocross boots offer the ultimate protection and durability.  Have considered getting the short version of those for street riding.  Since the knee high boot probably won't fit well with kevlar street ieans.  I've stood in creek beds and tide pools with mx boots.  They don't leak until you're already in too deep.

[RAFster122s]

Don't know if motocross books are going to have the same accident protection for your ankles that good street riding boots will have... True they are going to protect from frontal smacks of branches and some rocks but I won't trust them on the street.

Call up RevZilla and talk to their gear geeks about the two boots, they are engineered for different purposes...

Adventure riding boots mix good off-road protection with street riding protection.

[BomberMann650]

Don't know if motocross books are going to have the same accident protection for your ankles that good street riding boots will have... True they are going to protect from frontal smacks of branches and some rocks but I won't trust them on the street.

Call up RevZilla and talk to their gear geeks about the two boots, they are engineered for different purposes...

Adventure riding boots mix good off-road protection with street riding protection.

Oh Raf, you haven't seen a good mx boot put in some work!

I wouldn't have been able to do any off road riding if it weren't for my fox racing boots.  The bottoms are shanked, rigid AF.  When all buckled up, they lock in the ankle pretty dang firm.  All that launching and landing the dirt bikes do - is what these boots are made for! 
Since i had a linemans tear in my calf/ankle tendon (not the Achilles thank god) - the way the mx boot effectively gusseted my joint was a huge benefit.  The forces from my body to the footpeg basically transferred straight from the heel to my knee.  They're so stiff, kinda had to learn shifting with your whole leg instead of just a toe.
So the ankle doesn't move.
They're armored, they're waterproof, and some of them are pretty understated in the aesthetics department.

Unless you happen to like fluorescent color schemes with big logos and aggressive shaped mouldings 😎
 

[RAFster122s]

What is their side impact protection? You need to move your ankle on a street bike for rear brake and shifting as you cannot move your whole leg to actuate those controls quickly as you can just the foot. At least I cannot while seated.

[BomberMann650]

Can't really say what their side impact absorbtion rate is.  Hardly ever noticed when i did get hit 😆. I have done some aggressive trail clearing with them too.  Rocks just bounce off 🤷‍♂️

Seriously over built, so many material layers.  Leathers and plastics.  In a road slide, the asphalt would have to break through 3/8" thick fiber reinforced buckles, their support base, the outer plastic/rubbers, outer layer leather, and inner layer rigid support, plus the internal padding.  All before ever reaching the skin.  Chances are the average motorcyclist won't be sliding that far on just their boot.

As far a a likelihood of rotational injury - we should probably heed the flying doctor J. Hind's warning against planting a foot down in a corner tip.  Lower extremities will at least be contained inside a quality boot.  Even if they become misoriented.

The learning curve on a full height mx boot isn't all that bad.  Everyone in the sandbox still manages to bang through the gears just fine.  The feel improves once the boots break in.  Just a little different.  Instead of raising your toes at the tarsil joints in your foot, you're kinda rocking your whole foot on the peg.  Adjusting the buckles offers a little flexibility in the area.
They do make shorter off road boots for those that don't need the shin and calves covered.  Which might be the ones marketed to ADV style riders.