Topic: hand deflectors for wind/cold

[RAFster122s]

There are some good guides out there for heated gear.  If you go bleach bottle route they can be painted.  An aluminum strap into the bar end can yield enough reinforcement to the end for wind deflection. Fwiw

[Tim2005]

Tim this is what motorbike couriers use in the UK all the time. Its where i got the idea from. I have a photobucket pic that I cant post of me using Hippo Hands in South Dakota in October just after a snow storm - temps -2C. Worked as advertised no issue getting in out.

Cheers Andy, hope all is well with you. Yes I think I'll give those a try on my commuter 400f, I'd been looking at the Gerbing or Weise heated gloves, however with the battery packs they are pretty expensive (the stock 400f charging system is at its limit already).

[andy750]

Cheers Tim . It's true the heated gloves are expensive but after 5+ years they have paid for themselves especially when it's -10C  .  I think the hippo hands would be fine in the uk though as not as cold as here in Boston.

[RAFster122s]

The hippo hands are a great solution I think and you just have to be confident of your controls as you won't be able to look at them.  Normally you do not.  If you ride with a finger covering clutch or brake there is not any issue with the levers...

I wonder what the effectiveness for fuel economy is between the various models of Windjammers.  I like the old school look of the II and III with stock blinkers but like more of the rounded curve of the SS and IV.  Not sold on the V as its few differences do not appeal to me.  I need to find a cheap III or SS/IV to use on a CX500 for long hauls 1 hr+ each way commutes to school.

[RAFster122s]

With lithium batteries being much cheaper these days you could fabricate your own heater circuit for inside the hippo hands, just have to have the LiFE chemistry because of its safety aspects and any lithium pack would need to be under your coat as their ability to deliver power is significantly affected by the cold.  The LiFE cells are able to accept a charge much sooner than would be safe on most any other Lithium batteriesas the other types must cool to room temp low 70s to be recharged without damage or fire risk.  Virtually no fire risk with the metal cased LiFE cells.  Not aware of any LiFE cells which are not metal cased.

[Alan F.]

can I recommend emigrating to Australia.....

I didn't think that was possible these days.

[spotty]

can I recommend emigrating to Australia.....

I didn't think that was possible these days.

well it is possible you'll be shunted off to an off shore holding centre where you will be held indefinitely in somewhat inhuman conditions and if you're lucky resettled in a country worse than the one you're escaping from - unless you're rich in which case welcome to australia

[TwoTired]

With lithium batteries being much cheaper these days you could fabricate your own heater circuit for inside the hippo hands, just have to have the LiFE chemistry because of its safety aspects and any lithium pack would need to be under your coat as their ability to deliver power is significantly affected by the cold.  The LiFE cells are able to accept a charge much sooner than would be safe on most any other Lithium batteriesas the other types must cool to room temp low 70s to be recharged without damage or fire risk.  Virtually no fire risk with the metal cased LiFE cells.  Not aware of any LiFE cells which are not metal cased.

The issue with lithium technology batteries is that you need a charge controller both for charging and discharging.  If you discharge the cell too deeply, the cell becomes damaged and you lose capacity.  If you overcharge it, it becomes damaged and you lose capacity.
I like the technology, but they are sensitive little buggers and won't stand the abuse other battery technology tolerates.

Cheers,

[RAFster122s]

can I recommend emigrating to Australia.....

I didn't think that was possible these days.

I thought it only possible if you had skills they want or need to immigrate, provided you are not from a country they are not keen on seeking immigration from...
To retire there it is very difficult I think to do that unless you are in the category above and will be adding to that pool of knowledge.

I would consider the move but I would be choosy on what part of the country I would live in.  But, I am not rich...so they might not accept me.  I do not really intend to retire per se.  The problem with trying to obtain dual citizenship or citizenship there is a much more complicated and will not be delved into in this thread about hand warmers and wind deflectors.

TT, the hobby industry has some inexpensive circuits to provide shutoff when thresholds are met to prevent damage.  4S battery protection boards/battery management boards are available on ebay for below $20.  A hobby cell discharge/capacity/voltage display board are not very expensive to monitor and either show voltage values or range with leds to the engineered level.  Some utilize led bar graph display system of red, yellow, green LEDs. The later are quite cheap for various pack setup, 2S, 3S, 4S, etc.
 
Personally, a heat controller is going to be needed if you are going to need to either design a simple controller circuit with PWM or switching power to the heat without having excess wasted heat.
If I were to make a set of Hippo Hands I would construct it of a different approach than I think is being used.  Using efficient thermal barrier materials to isolate and insulate the interior.  Personally, I am not going to ride without using a good leather or leather and textile glove and usually an armored glove.  You never know when you are going to deal with the unplanned and road rash I wish to avoid or lessen significantly.  I like my skin and want to keep it if I can help it....

South American countries sometimes are a nice alternative to America if trying to be in a warmer and yet still beautiful country.  You would want to have money to do so, protection, etc. In some countries would be required.

If you live in the USA poke into the cost of reliquishing your citizenship and taxation by two countries... very eye opening.



Op

[evinrude7]

happy to report that my $30 wind deflectors for my hands were well worth the $.  the only trouble i ran into was on the clutch side.  the hardware was fouling the clutch lever.  i ordered a m10-1.25 rod coupler and it worked perfectly.  it also raised the deflector to the right height.  took the bike out this morning in low 40s weather and my fingers were not frozen after a 20 minute ride. 

on the rod coupler i ran a same size bolt up from the bottom of the clutch lever.  the length was about half the distance of the coupler and the clutch lever hole for the mirror.  then i was able to thread the mirror on with the deflector hardware securely underneath.

 

[RAFster122s]

So, any links for what wind deflectors or hand guards you employed and some pics for the same on your bike?

Thanks! David
Merry Christmas

[evinrude7]

there are a bunch of them all basically the same here https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20171225072849&SearchText=motorcycle+wind+deflectors+hand+guard+honda

[Bankerdanny]

I have something similar to Hippo Hands for my bicycle, but made from neoprene. At bicycle speeds they work great and allow riding in temps down to 12-15 degrees F with only light gloves. Only for about 45 minutes, but that's because even with winter boots the toes won't last much longer than that in those kind of temps.

If I were going to ride my SOHC4 regularly in Winter temps I would install a Vetter or something similar for the cold months.