What do you do to stay warm?
- storysunfolding
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Part of it is you, and part of it is your bike. If you can, put a windshield, handguards, and leg guards on to keep as much wind as possible off your body.
I have windshield, hand guards, and heated grips on the bike.
Personally, I wear
-Ski socks, winter riding boots
-Under Armoresque long johns
-flannel lined jeans
-wind/waterproof riding pants
-Wicking layer
-Wool sweater
-Electric jacket liner (if needed)
-Winter weight and length (3/4) riding jacket
-Balclava
-Full face helmet
-Winter weight gloves and silk glove liners
That's in the coldest of weather.
I have windshield, hand guards, and heated grips on the bike.
Personally, I wear
-Ski socks, winter riding boots
-Under Armoresque long johns
-flannel lined jeans
-wind/waterproof riding pants
-Wicking layer
-Wool sweater
-Electric jacket liner (if needed)
-Winter weight and length (3/4) riding jacket
-Balclava
-Full face helmet
-Winter weight gloves and silk glove liners
That's in the coldest of weather.
Layers, Layers, and layers. In september, oct, and novemember, here in ontario, being on the road at 6 everymorning for school, i have thought of even tucking a hot water bottle under my leathers, just for that extra bit of warmth, havnt done it yet though. At intersections, hands down to the side for extra warmth 

Faster, Faster, Faster, Tell the thrill of speed overcomes fear of Death.
- storysunfolding
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- zed
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What to wear + wind protection seems to have been well covered.
What also helps me is to ride on a full stomach.
What also helps me is to ride on a full stomach.
I always follow the rules.
The only exception to the rule occurs when I make an exception to the rule not to make an exception to the rule and that only occurs under exceptional circumstances.
2005 Vulcan 500 LTD
The only exception to the rule occurs when I make an exception to the rule not to make an exception to the rule and that only occurs under exceptional circumstances.
2005 Vulcan 500 LTD
- safety-boy
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Tourmaster winter jacket and winter pants, plus gaiters for added warmth (the pants let too much air up the leg - I think I bought too big). Combat boots. Cheapo Wal-Mart type. Full helmet and balaclava. Sometimes the balaclava keeps the helmet from venting well, unfortunately.
Gloves are a problem. If you can afford it, get electric. Gerber (Gerben?) I hear makes great electric gear. Pricey, but hands are the hardest part to keep warm. Check with a gear shop that caters to the Harley crowd, or maybe a BMW dealer.
Not sure what the coldest I have riden in was, but I have gotten to work with ice on my jacket. Also have had hypothermia from not dressing properly. Gonna ride in the winter, get some good gear.
BTW: How well does your 500 run in the cold. My 500-R has problems when it is damp and cold. Same engine still in those bikes still, I believe.
--Dave
Gloves are a problem. If you can afford it, get electric. Gerber (Gerben?) I hear makes great electric gear. Pricey, but hands are the hardest part to keep warm. Check with a gear shop that caters to the Harley crowd, or maybe a BMW dealer.
Not sure what the coldest I have riden in was, but I have gotten to work with ice on my jacket. Also have had hypothermia from not dressing properly. Gonna ride in the winter, get some good gear.
BTW: How well does your 500 run in the cold. My 500-R has problems when it is damp and cold. Same engine still in those bikes still, I believe.
--Dave
Don't think of it as a stop light. Think of it as a chance-to-show-off light.
Vulcan 900 Classic LT (2007)
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Vulcan 900 Classic LT (2007)
Ninja ZX-6R (2006)
Ninja 500-R (2004)
454 Ltd. (1986)
Boulevard S-40 (2005)
- Skier
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I have found the wind slices right through jeans. Even with thermal underwear, jeans and warmup pants the wind feels like it is directly on your skin. Overpants are the only way to go for protecting your legs from the cold. You should be wearing them every ride, anyways.
A trick for my body is heated gloves. More surface area receiving heat than heated grips. It keeps my comfortable 10 to 15 degrees cooler than otherwise.
A trick for my body is heated gloves. More surface area receiving heat than heated grips. It keeps my comfortable 10 to 15 degrees cooler than otherwise.
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- Dragon on Wheels
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I love my overpants! My legs are probably the warmest part of my body when I go riding right now. I layer up, but the only armored jacket I have is a vented textile one for the summer and even with several shirts underneathe and a windbreaker on top of it, it still is cold! I suppose because of that I haven't gotten around to riding as much as I would like during the winter. I want to get a warm leather jacket, but I need to save some money first.Skier wrote:I have found the wind slices right through jeans. Even with thermal underwear, jeans and warmup pants the wind feels like it is directly on your skin. Overpants are the only way to go for protecting your legs from the cold. You should be wearing them every ride, anyways.
A trick for my body is heated gloves. More surface area receiving heat than heated grips. It keeps my comfortable 10 to 15 degrees cooler than otherwise.
2007 Kawasaki Ninja 250
- sv-wolf
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Stay at home and turn up the central heating!flw wrote:
What do you do at these temps? Pack it away or pack more on?
Alternatively, loads of layers and as much windproof gear as I can get under my leathers.
My great (re-)discovery, though, is a pair of 100% non-waterproof trousers I bought for hiking 25 years ago. (The idea is they get instantly soaked but then instantly dry out again the moment it stops raining.) The great thing about them is that although they are made of very thin synthetic material they are incredibly warm. Wearing them under my leathers, I feel like toast. Much better than any specially designed base-layer I've ever tried.
Hud
“Man has no right to kill his brother. It is no excuse that he does so in uniform: he only adds the infamy of servitude to the crime of murder.”
Percy Bysshe Shelley
SV-Wolf's Bike Blog
“Man has no right to kill his brother. It is no excuse that he does so in uniform: he only adds the infamy of servitude to the crime of murder.”
Percy Bysshe Shelley
SV-Wolf's Bike Blog
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