What do you do to stay warm?
- flw
- Site Supporter - Silver
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- Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:16 pm
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 8
- My Motorcycle: '98 Honda Goldwing GL1500se
- Location: Rockford, Illinois U.S.
What do you do to stay warm?
I'm at 3 layers top/bottom with a head/neck pull over (thin but warm) and its only in the mid-40's. I almost feel like and look the michelin man. I'd like to ride down to the upper 30's but since all the roads are at least 55 mph, it gets cold quick.
What do you do at these temps? Pack it away or pack more on?
I'm at long johns/sweats/jeans, I think I need a barrier type on the outside like rain pants maybe? On top I have t-shirt. sweat shirt, hooded sweat shirt, leather coat, and winter coat with winter gloves. On my noogin I have a head/neck thin pull over and helment which is fine. Its my legs that feel most of the cold at this time.
What do you do at these temps? Pack it away or pack more on?
I'm at long johns/sweats/jeans, I think I need a barrier type on the outside like rain pants maybe? On top I have t-shirt. sweat shirt, hooded sweat shirt, leather coat, and winter coat with winter gloves. On my noogin I have a head/neck thin pull over and helment which is fine. Its my legs that feel most of the cold at this time.
Goldwing 1500se '98
VN500 LTD '07 Sold
VN500 LTD '07 Sold
- dr_bar
- Site Supporter - Diamond
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- Real Name: Doug
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- Location: Surrey BC, Canada
When it gets cold out I wear a pair of long johns instead of my shorts, (athletic shorts ) under my riding pants.
Long sleeved t-shirt and a heated vest show up under the jacket. If it's a long ride, I'll zip in the rain liner for a barrier to keep the heat in as much as to keep the cold out.
I have a couple of different pairs of winter gloves. I can't wear the warmest for long as they cause pain from too much fabric between the fingers, so when I start to feel too much pain I swap them with my not so warm gloves.
I think I'm going to look for a heated mitten (3 finger style glove) so I don't have that "fabric" problem...
Long sleeved t-shirt and a heated vest show up under the jacket. If it's a long ride, I'll zip in the rain liner for a barrier to keep the heat in as much as to keep the cold out.
I have a couple of different pairs of winter gloves. I can't wear the warmest for long as they cause pain from too much fabric between the fingers, so when I start to feel too much pain I swap them with my not so warm gloves.
I think I'm going to look for a heated mitten (3 finger style glove) so I don't have that "fabric" problem...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Four wheels move the body.
Two wheels move the soul!"
"Four wheels move the body.
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Shiver.
Seriously though, layers are the way to go. When it's cold I'll wear jeans and a t-shirt, then a sweatshirt, with overpants and my Kilimanjaro jacket over the top. I've got big puffy winter riding gloves to keep my hands warmish. If it's real cold I have a face/chin mask that goes on under my helmet.
Of all the things I've tried, I think overpants made the biggest difference by themselves, they go a long ways toward keeping you warm.
Seriously though, layers are the way to go. When it's cold I'll wear jeans and a t-shirt, then a sweatshirt, with overpants and my Kilimanjaro jacket over the top. I've got big puffy winter riding gloves to keep my hands warmish. If it's real cold I have a face/chin mask that goes on under my helmet.
Of all the things I've tried, I think overpants made the biggest difference by themselves, they go a long ways toward keeping you warm.
'07 Suzuki V-Strom DL650
An armed man is a citizen, an unarmed man is a subject.
Molon Labe!!!
An armed man is a citizen, an unarmed man is a subject.
Molon Labe!!!
- Flting Duck
- Elite
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:29 am
Buy an electric heated vest if you're riding in the 30s. It keeps your body core warm. Aside form that, it keeps you pumping warm blood to your extremities so it keeps you generally warmer overall. You will also fatique less as your body won't be using as much energy to keep you warm.
I also layer up with a North Face base layer with fleece over that. Great stuff - if you seal up, it keeps you nice and toasty, if you open up some venting you can cool odwn quickly so it works for a wise variety of temps.
I also layer up with a North Face base layer with fleece over that. Great stuff - if you seal up, it keeps you nice and toasty, if you open up some venting you can cool odwn quickly so it works for a wise variety of temps.
93 BMW K1100LT "The Green Hornet"
91 BMW K100RS 4V "Kato"
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
91 BMW K100RS 4V "Kato"
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
For me it's all about the windproof outer layer. I was up to 4 layers on top and freezing on my commute earlier in the month when it was still in the 40s. Friday I switched out the top two layers for my fancy ski jacket and I was fine riding in to work at 31 degrees.
I do also wear the electric gloves when it's below 50, and they make a world of difference.
I do also wear the electric gloves when it's below 50, and they make a world of difference.
- Gadjet
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For me:
Wool socks - Riding boots
Jeans - Waterproof/windproof overpants
t-shirt, turtleneck,electric vest - riding jacket with liner
Insulated waterproof/windproof gloves
skullcap - full face helmet
If it's really cold (below freezing), I'll wear a polypro balaclava under my helmet.
I've ridden comfortably in -5C in this gear.
Wool socks - Riding boots
Jeans - Waterproof/windproof overpants
t-shirt, turtleneck,electric vest - riding jacket with liner
Insulated waterproof/windproof gloves
skullcap - full face helmet
If it's really cold (below freezing), I'll wear a polypro balaclava under my helmet.
I've ridden comfortably in -5C in this gear.
1983 Suzuki GS650GL (sold)
2005 Kawasaki KLR 650 (sold)
2020 KTM 200 Duke
IBA#20953
IG: @greenmanwc
2005 Kawasaki KLR 650 (sold)
2020 KTM 200 Duke
IBA#20953
IG: @greenmanwc
Re: What do you do to stay warm?
I wear much of what you describe but I also wear a thick cover alls over every thing else. I commute 25 mles to work it gets cold if not covered up well.flw wrote:I'm at 3 layers top/bottom with a head/neck pull over (thin but warm) and its only in the mid-40's. I almost feel like and look the michelin man. I'd like to ride down to the upper 30's but since all the roads are at least 55 mph, it gets cold quick.
What do you do at these temps? Pack it away or pack more on?
I'm at long johns/sweats/jeans, I think I need a barrier type on the outside like rain pants maybe? On top I have t-shirt. sweat shirt, hooded sweat shirt, leather coat, and winter coat with winter gloves. On my noogin I have a head/neck thin pull over and helment which is fine. Its my legs that feel most of the cold at this time.
1993 750 Vulcan
one seater
ear shave, pod filters
rear turn signal relocation
lowered rear 2" soft tail
converted to manuel cam chain tensioner
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one seater
ear shave, pod filters
rear turn signal relocation
lowered rear 2" soft tail
converted to manuel cam chain tensioner
horn relocation
- flw
- Site Supporter - Silver
- Posts: 899
- Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:16 pm
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 8
- My Motorcycle: '98 Honda Goldwing GL1500se
- Location: Rockford, Illinois U.S.
Today I tried the usual but with a cheap plastic rain pants under my jeans but on top of the other layers. It worked very well.
The thin head/neck pull over I have is nice because I don't feel like my head is being crushed by my helment.
With my winter gloves they do keep the hand warm but I do get that irration from the material between my fingers. If it becomes a real problem I can always switch to mitten syle.
My regular Army boots wth a extra pair of thick white socks do just fine for my feet and ankles.
With all the layers its always a challenge to be sure that all overlap each other.
The thin head/neck pull over I have is nice because I don't feel like my head is being crushed by my helment.
With my winter gloves they do keep the hand warm but I do get that irration from the material between my fingers. If it becomes a real problem I can always switch to mitten syle.
My regular Army boots wth a extra pair of thick white socks do just fine for my feet and ankles.
With all the layers its always a challenge to be sure that all overlap each other.
Goldwing 1500se '98
VN500 LTD '07 Sold
VN500 LTD '07 Sold