In another thread on oil, some guys mention using a lower viscosity oil for easier starting at temperatures below X degrees. Some of the values of X are pretty cold!
I'm usually comfortable enough for recreational riding down to 50 degF. Below that, it's pretty chilly at 65 mph.
I'm curious as to what you guys are wearing to ride in these temps. I'd like to extend my riding temperature range downward just a bit.
What is most important is windproofing first, to keep the airblast from drawing off what heat your body does make. Any jacket with a rain-proofness will suffice for this.
Then you need either something thermal - that will keep your body's heat in, or something that will heat you... like an electric jacket liner or vest.
Were you looking for brands? I've got a Rev'It 3/4 length jacket that I LOVE. That plus the electric jacket liner and I'm good for cold weather commuting.
I have ridden the past 4 winters here in Va using a Joe Rocket jacket with liner. I did not have riding pants then (I do now) but was using inexpensive ski bibs over jeans. If it was really cold I wore long underwear under the jeans. Generally a thermal undershirt with a sweatshirt under the Joe Rocket.
My trips would be less then two hours generally and it was bearable. I now have a heated jacket liner (Warm-n-Safe) and have only used it once as I'm inbetween bikes. I was amazed at the comfort and warmth from it and have asked myself why I did not buy one 4 years ago.
I rode all last winter when road conditions permitted. The coldest day I rode was 7 degrees and I was ok. But it was only to work and back - maybe 20 minutes one way. btw--I had GS handguards on my r and they are a hand saver! Between those and the heated grips it made winter riding enjoyable. I had a touring shield mounted as well.
I am without a bike at the moment due to an accident 3 weeks ago and it's killing me to be without. I don't care how cold it is --if the sun is shining I need to be riding.
I will agree with the other posts and say that the single biggest contributor to keeping warm, assuming you have a decent leather or textile jacket of some sort, is to get a heated vest or liner. It is important to get one that fits fairly snug and to wear only a light shirt beneath it.
When I commuted, at night, 90 miles each day, I wore a polo shirt, which I could wear at the office, a Widder vest, then a leather jacket. I usually left the insulated liner in the jacket. I also wore leather overpants. I was usually comfortable down to the 20's like this. The first year, I only drove my car to work about ten days.
2003 R1150R ABS Dakar Yellow/Ferro
Veritas vos Liberabit
I have yet to buy an electric vest or liner. If it is in the 20s, I wear 3 long sleeve t-shirts, and a LL Bean Fleece under my First Gear Kilimanjaro. Long underwear under the HT Overpants(with liner in), and a balaclava(sp) (ski mask) under my helmet.
I just bought a pair of Olympia 6000 thinsulate liner gloves. They are great with the hand guards and heated grips. They have a thin palm, but thick insulation on the back of the hand.
Santa, may provide me with an electric vest.
Jeff (lifer #289)
'17 F800GSA
'04 R1150R
There ain't no education in the second kick of a mule!
I wore my jacket liner last weekend riding one of MikeCam's many bikes. I guess we rode 200 miles or so. I was totally amazed at how warm it was and the comfort it gave me. The heated arms made a huge difference as they are more in the slipstream than my chest. I had no idea it would make such a difference. I truly wish I had bought one years ago.
btw--I was advised to buy a heated jacket liner -- not just the vest. I'm glad I did.
I had no former experience with this stuff other than what I read here. I bought the Warm -n- Safe brand. Very pleased with the quality and performance. I think it develops over 100 watts of heat too. I also bought the heat controller. Another good choice I think.
I'm retired now but in the 70s and 80s I rode a Sportster to and from work every day that it was not raining in the morning or under 16 degrees F. For three years I didn't even own a car. My winter gear was a snowmobile suit, Bell Star (full face) with Throat Coat and Hippo Hands.
I'm not even sure the Throat Coat and Hippo Hands are in production now but I was fairly comfy during my commute. My biggest worry was the inside of the visor fogging - and then icing - and ice on the road. For the shield, I tried glycerin, anti fog treatments and every thing else I could find to no avail.
Today, with heated clothing, modern anti fog treatments and the like, I should think that anything like BMW's excellent clothing (like Commuter II, my current wear) or Aerostitch would be sufficient.
Regarding road ice, there is nothing like knowing your commute and being aware of where the spots could be. My old commute included a shaded, curved, draw that would retain moisture for days after a rain or snow. I almost always had ice there in cold weather and my strategy was to ride as upright as possible and not make any abrupt throttle changes. I never had any "offs" there but I did fishtail a couple of times. If you do hit ice, try not to panic, stay off the throttle and ride through it. For what it's worth, single track vehicles do very well in snow and ice if you are gentle and don't make any abrupt changes.
I've gotta say that one of the high spots of my morning commute in really cold weather was the stares I got from "cagers" who had their windows up tight, the heater blowing on full and frost still on their windows.
I have to agree with you on the stares. For whatever reason I get motivation from the looks and stares from "cagers". I guess it has something to do with being different.
It's in the low 40's, high 30's here now. My usual gear consists of a First Gear Killimanjaro Jacket and Aerostich Darien pants. In cold weather I add an Aerostich electric vest and Gerbings heated gloves. I don't have but the one outlet so I haven't powered the gloves yet. For me, the key to staying alive is the vest. The gloves are thickly insulated and keep the cold off for my little 22 mile commute pretty well. A while back during a torrential downpour, the waterproofing in the sleeves failed on the Killimanjaro. I am now using an industrial type coat from work. It's one of those safety spec. coats, a blinding yellow color with reflective stripes on it. It has a polartech liner that works really well. And it's waterproof. I wore it in a serious rainstorm the other night and it didn't leak a drop. I'll share the info on this coat if anyone is interested.
I have one leg to ride in the dark and my co-workers tell me they can see that jacket for a really long ways.
I don't get caught in the rain, I ride in it on purpose.
And yup, that's also what I wore on today's 200 mile ride (I'm told it got as high as 60 degrees in some areas... and as cool as 50 degrees). I get cold easily, and if not for the apparel, I wouldn't be able to ride 12 months out of the year. If it gets reaaally cold, I will also put on a thermal pant liner under the jeans and wear a balaclava to keep the face warm. I have handguards too, and I think those help.
Carry your gear on long trips even if it's warm season. A trip from Sacramento, CA to Colorado (around Aspen, Vail) a few years ago presented an overnight dusting of snow... just a thin powdery coat on all the cars left parked outside. Yes, it got very cold. Who (besides the locals) woulda thunk on August 23rd?!
Traffic signals timed for 35mph, are also timed for 70mph.
KeithC wrote:
I'm curious as to what you guys are wearing to ride in these temps. I'd like to extend my riding temperature range downward just a bit.
Keith
I'm ok in the 30's with my First Gear Kilamanjaro jacket (amazing), heated gloves (awesome), ski type pants over my jeans.
I'm kind of skinny & typically freezing so this is no small feat. Heated gloves are what makes riding in the cold possible. I wouldn't be able to do it without them.
Denise
Well I do ride in temps at 40F with no heated clothing.
I have a Tour Master Jett jacket with a liner. I rode the first time the other day at 37F with t-shirt and sweatshirt under the jacket and sweatpants under my Draggin' jeans and thick wool socks and was pretty comfortable.
I do have heated grips and the GS handguards.
I do wear a windproof balaclava and a medium size windshield.
I say just bundle up and keep trying cooler temps on nice days until you kind of hit your limit! You'll be glad you did!
Thanks for the helpful input. Looks like I need to add a jacket liner and controller to my current cold weather ensemble, and see if I'm comfortable down to the high 30's or so. At temps below that, the cage looks awful good!
Hats off to those of you riding in the really cold weather. I must be a wuss.
The absolute warmest gear I own is intended and marketed for hot weather use: MotoCoolStuff longjohns and long-sleeve shirt. I'm not all that fond of it's ability to shed heat - maybe it's because my climate is not only hot, but muggy as well, and I find that lighter, thinner microfiber wicking materials (like UnderArmour's TurfGear) work far better for summer use, but man, come those cold winter riding days, I use the MotoCoolStuff as a base underlayer, and keep pretty toasty. Add an e-vest (or better yet, a full-sleeved liner jacket) and you're good to ride the Polar Express right to the North Pole.
Viagra Donor and well-known reprobate and provocateur ....
I've ridden short distances (20-25 miles) in 27f degree weather. Dress in layers longjohns, underarmor, henley shirt, and my TourMaster Flex system. Great textile outfit for ALL seasons! Mesh to lined cold weather gear...reasonably priced. Full-face helmate and a neck wrap called a turtle skin.
I have an R1150R...the only problem were my gloves!!
