Total Motorcycle Community Forums

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.

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

http://www.experiencebuell.com/

free winter wear

What to wear + wind protection seems to have been well covered.
What also helps me is to ride on a full stomach.

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

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.

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.

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.

flw wrote:
What do you do at these temps? Pack it away or pack more on?

Stay at home and turn up the central heating!

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.

"What do you do at these temps?"


Wear warm clothes?

Move to Texas where you can ride nearly all year round'