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Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:08 am
by Xdot
It was 45F (7.2C) when I rode in this morning. Not frigid but definitely a waker-upper. I was wondering what kind of cool weather riding options are available for the R1150R. I've got the heated grips and a Parabellum Super Tour windshield on order. Any other recommendations for the bike? I've seen some hand guards that look like they shed the wind pretty well. What's a good make for those? Anything else?

Yeah, it was cool but the weather was FANTASTIC. The ride home should be about perfect.

-john

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:36 am
by monomoit
Xdot,

I have the GS hand guards on my Yellow Jacket and they help a bit, but plenty of cold air still ends up hitting the backs of your hands - no avoiding it.

Image

250 mile ride yesterday was in the mid-50's. Heated grips help, but it was still chilly. Next purchase is going to be a heated liner for my jacket...

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:45 am
by sweatmark
Heated vest or jacket liner, with variable heat controller. Makes all the difference.

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:03 am
by harveyrawn
+1 on a heated vest. I've used my Widder electric vest in cold weather for over 30 years and consider it my best piece of MC gear after protective clothing.

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:14 am
by sjbmw
Electrics are a cut above all else, but pricier. I took the hit several years ago and went to a Gerbing dealer:
Not sure you would need all this in Alabama though.

Gerbing heated Jacket Liner: (This one item, along with the thermostat, will change your winter riding life.)
http://gerbing.com/Products/Liners/heat ... Liner.html

Gerbing Pants:
http://gerbing.com/Products/Outerwear/e ... pants.html

Since BMW's have heated grips, glove liners cost less than the gloves. I use the BMW winter gloves with the liners. These glove liners look bulkier than mine, mine are cloth.)
http://gerbing.com/Products/Gloves/liner.html

Don't forget the thermostat or this stuff will cook you.
Portable Temp Controller
http://gerbing.com/Products/tempControls.html

BMW accessory plug for power or install a direct battery hookup.
http://gerbing.com/Products/accessories.html

I can't find the heated socks anymore. They are the bomb.
They switched to heated shoe insoles, which are most likely wonderful on the feet.
http://gerbing.com/Products/insoles.html

It all hooks together nose to toes.
At high speed on a freezing day, you will feel like you are sitting in your living room.

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 11:20 am
by pebmr
Xdot:

I've had my 04R for about 3 years now in MN. My hands were a limiting factor in riding in cold weather. Heated grips on high don't help my thumbs or the backs of the hands. I added the GS handguards which helped some. I also wear a pair of leather goretex snowboarder gloves which are good for me down into the upper 30's (at least for my 45-minute commute). Finally last fall I sprung for the Gerbings heated liner and gloves. With that combo last fall I went for a 2-hour ride at 32-degrees and was fine.

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:06 pm
by challey
Short of adding a full fairing - essentially making the R into an RT - there is not much you can can put on the Roadster to keep the cold at bay. The means you need to work on rider accessories with heated clothing among the best - but not the sole - option(s).

Though I have a Gerbings vest, I find it bit of pain to use and have come to prefer un-electricified full liner with my one-piece suit, especially for rides that take me to more remote areas. Though an insulated suit may not be able to keep you quite as warm as electric clothing in extremely cold temps, there is no chance it will malfunction. The Roadcrafter has come to be the gold standard in the one-piece category but it is pricey. Since the 'Stich was out of my price range, I bought an Olympia Phantom a couple of years ago and have been very happy with it. I've done moderately long rides (200 - 250 miles) in sub-freezing weather in the Phantom and though I found myself looking forward to the refueling stops every couple of hours so that I could have a hot cup of coffee, was reasonably comfortable. If the coldest temps you're likely to see are only in the 40's, you may not even need to use a liner.

Charlie

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 7:59 pm
by Xdot
North Alabama actually gets quite cold. Daytime highs in the winter can be in the 30's for days on end, sinking into the twenties and upper teens for that morning commute. It is often cold enough for snow but the weather systems that bring rain in the winter are generally accompanied by 'warm' air that keeps temperatures just above freezing. The joy of 34 degree rain for seemingly weeks on end has to be lived to be truly appreciated. At times it really reminds me of Seattle except cooler and more rain. While this is nothing like more northern states it is way too cold for riding without adequate protective clothing. I'm trying to find a way to afford some Gerbings. Right now knowing that gear is out there just makes me colder!

Thanks for the info,
John

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 6:11 pm
by WorkinMan
I have the heated jacket liner, heated pants liner, and heated gloves. I've gotten my bike out when the temperature was 25 degrees, and like someone stated above, I felt like I was sitting in my living room. Is it bulky? Absolutely. When I'm diggin the bike out, I feel like Ralphie's little brother on The Christmas Story. But once under way and settled in, it's just fine. My stuff isn't Gerbing; it's something else like First Gear or something, but works just as well. And it comes with the controller instead of selling it seperately. Considering I like to wear pretty much full gear all the time, I actually prefer to ride when it's cold because I can control the climate better. When it's HOT, it's just plain hot. Unless you want to ride naked, you're gonna sweat. You might be a "sissy" for wearing heated gear... but you're a warm "sissy". (Substitute the other word for sissy to get the real effect.)

Chris

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 7:03 pm
by harveyrawn
WorkinMan wrote:You might be a "sissy" for wearing heated gear... but you're a warm "sissy". (Substitute the other word for sissy to get the real effect.)
My wife's word for it is "wimp".

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 7:47 pm
by zeke
Xdot
Check out Hippo Hands. I have a pair and they work great. If you want a pair of GS handsguards I have a set that I'd be willing to sell.
Zeke

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:38 am
by jcridge
John,

I ride all year here in upstate NY on an 1150R, cold is a relative term. Cold here, is when the exhaust moisture from cars freezes as it hits the pavement in front of you at the intersection.

Electric gear as pointed out is the way to go, less bulk and heat where you want it ( need it). Heated gloves and jacket liner are the two most important parts of the equation. And to make the best use of those two items, you will need a dual controller. Heated pant liners are something I haven't worn, mainly because my legs never really get that cold. I wear a pair of First Gear over-pants with the insulated liners zipped in when it starts getting cold ( <30F). If your core body is warm, your extremities will at lest have blood flow and therefore have the ability to be warm.
Good heated gear is not bulky and puts heat where its needed, I highly recommend trying on the gear before purchasing. Gloves especially.
Good wool socks and leather riding boots, but I would imagine if you are riding more then 3-4 hours in sunless sub freezing weather heated liners would be nice. Then I could see heated pant liners at that point.
One point not to forget, if you get a jacket line and gloves, make sure the jacket liner has glove connections in the sleeves ( and they match the gloves...) and is wired for a dual controller.

The GS hand guards work very well in providing protection from direct air hitting your hands.
You need to be behind a windscreen of at least 21"

Good helmet ventilation is also an overlooked item, I shower in the morning and jump right on the bike for a 30 mile commute, so having the visor cracked is a must for me until I get up to speed.
I have a skirt that attaches to the bottom of my helmet for those "really cold" days, it's hard to keep the visor from fogging when going slow, but it really keeps the heat in.

Where and how you tap into the 12v system to power the heated gear is important as well. For a single piece of heated gear I would just use the factory plug, but for 2 or more I would get a fuse box to prevent voltage drop and or current over load on the factory plug.

John

Re: Cool Weather Riding Mods

Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 8:09 am
by brownj
John,

I use Gerbings jacket liner & gloves controlled by the heated grip switch via a relay - so if the grips are on (either low or high) the jacket is on.

Not sure everyone would like this (as I am always cold). You may want a thermostatic controller.

Jon