Heated gear

[The Flying Dutchman]

Florida boy and his gal taking auto train to Va. then riding down the Blue Ridge Parkway, touring Asheville and home to Orlando. Departure near the end of October, hoping to catch some fall leaves.

I've got a Johnny Rocket with a liner (pants too) which is pretty damn warm (can zip out the liner and convert to mesh if needed) and my gal has a leather jacket and pants with a liner. Problem is that I'm afraid she is going to get pretty cold with early am departures. We'll probably pack layers because not sure of daytime temps (and we each have only one saddlebag to pack in!)

Thinking about getting a vest for her and just hardwiring the control to the battery for this trip. Anybody got any suggestions? I need a good pair of gloves too, my "Florida" gloves are mesh. Suggestions?

 

[Bayou Boy]

If you're even thinking about a vest just get the jacket.

The heat in the sleeves makes a big difference.

 

[luvtoride]

If you're even thinking about a vest just get the jacket.
The heat in the sleeves makes a big difference.

I agree hugely. You figure, most of the air that's going to hit her is coming around you & mostly hitting the arms. Personally, I went through a similar thought process last year. I got a full length liner as opposed to the vest. Gerbings to the rescue!!!!

Edited to add: hardwiring will definitely work... if you want to cook your girl. Hardwiring is full on or full off. I don't know so much about the Widder vest... but my Gerbings liner hasn't been turned all the way up, yet because it's been "cook me" hot without doing that. The temptroller was a must for me.

Did I mention that the neck on the Gerbings is also heated? Well, it is.

Also, a small tip from someone who rides in the cold regularly... get her one of those fleece neck tubes. Very inexpensive & effective (& they pack small). You might think about one for yourself, too. You can wear it under the helmet strap & tuck it in around the cheek pads & it'll keep your chin warm in cold, windy conditions.

Have fun on your trip, Heidi

 

[FJRay]

Gerbings for sure. You won't be sorry. Widder is also well thought of and is said to use less juice.

 

[luvtoride]

I forgot to add... I know that Widder draws less juice. The widder is also not a full length unit. You can get arm chaps for a Widder vest. They are not completely full coverage, though. I figured the cost associated w/ the vest & arm chaps & then the cost of the Gerbings then figured how many power accessories that I run. For me, the decision was super simple. The 1 piece fully sleeved Gerbings cost less than a Widder vest w/ arm chaps added. The Gerbings draws more power but the saved power wasn't huge once adding arm chaps to the Widder. The only other power accessory that I run is a GPS... which draws 0.3587924876987 watts, so power wasn't an issue. I figured the cost reduction of the Gerbings plus the less hassle of fastening/unfastening of the arm chaps clinched the deal. A Gerbings was purchased not terribly long after that.

 

[angus]

Gerbings for sure. You won't be sorry. Widder is also well thought of and is said to use less juice.

After using a Gerbing liner I sold all my Widder stuff.

 

[TriggerT]

Anyone tried the new inflatable heated vest from Aerostich? I know the sleeves aren't heated, which is a drawback, but I have heard from one person that the inflatable part of the vest works great. I am REALLY in the market for heated gear in the next few weeks, so I will be interested to see this thread develop.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Anybody recently done the shopping for Gerbing to determine who has the best pricing/availability right now?

 

[SkooterG]

WarmNSafe

Word.

 

[Randy]

Anybody recently done the shopping for Gerbing to determine who has the best pricing/availability right now?

IIRC, Gerbings is very strict on their pricing/discounting policy.

 

[Ignacio]

WarmNSafe
Word.

Gunny.

Although Widders are more efficient for Gen I watt-challenged bikes...the simplicity and qulaity of the Warm-N-Safe makes many LD folks go week in the knees.

 

[HaulinAshe]

There are some interesting articles on WebBikeWorld about heated clothing.

JettBatteryVest-WebBikeWorld

NotSoGoodBatteryVests-WebBikeWorld

Gerbing review-WebBikeWorld

IMO, and after having read/researched this for over one year, those who ride in the truly colder regions need the full liner with sleeves, gloves and all. That means Gerbing or WarmNsafe.

I'm seriously considering a battery powered vest since that would cover 90% of my cold weather riding. The Jett vest gets the best reviews, mostly because of the battery packs they use (LiPoly I believe).

My biggest concern about LiPoly packs is what can happen with an impact. It might be convenient to have them stuffed in the vest pocket, but one could become a human fireball in a get off. We see what LiPoly packs can do in RC Helicopters all the time. They can quickly become grenades when damaged or shorted.

So my opinion is... just that, undecided, barely educated and still wandering.

 

[luvtoride]

I've heard good things about the Warm & Safe gear. I've never seen it or know anyone with some.

About Gerbings pricing... I got my liner on sale last year. If I remember correctly, it was 120ish dollars. I am almost positive that it was a closeout of the old style, though.

Does anyone else want to tell this gentleman about a heat-troller as opposed to no heat-troller?

 

[Checkswrecks]

Gunny on the Gerbings. Worth every dime and you can re-sell it later.

It's the wrong time of year to buy off EBay but their stuff does last forever and some shows up there.

If you hard wire with the stock Gerbing on-off switch, she'll have something to do. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute. On for a minute. Off for a minute.

Till you arrive.

 

[TriggerT]

Has anyone ever tried the Powerlet heated vest? I have a gift cert to a place that sells them, but don't want to buy one just because of than. Interesting how almost every single heated vest is the same price buy the time you get a good switch for it. Basically, you are looking at $300.

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

I've heard good things about the Warm & Safe gear. I've never seen it or know anyone with some.
About Gerbings pricing... I got my liner on sale last year. If I remember correctly, it was 120ish dollars. I am almost positive that it was a closeout of the old style, though.

Does anyone else want to tell this gentleman about a heat-troller as opposed to no heat-troller?

Thanks. I've read enough to know I need the troller to control the juice and heat. I just meant I'd hardwire the TROLLER to the battery as opposed to putting in another outlet, etc.

Damn I hate to spend $250 for five days!

 

[Zorlac]

"Damn I hate to spend $250 for five days!"

www.schampa.com

 

[Dangerous Dave]

Although Widders are more efficient for Gen I watt-challenged bikes...the simplicity and qulaity of the Warm-N-Safe makes many LD folks go week in the knees.

Iggy, can you elaborate a bit on this?? I'm also looking ahead to the upcoming winter months. Grip heaters and handguards just didn't cut it for me last winter in the sub-freezing temps, so I'm looking at heated gloves. I have a gen I bike, but don't really run any accessories day to day. The Widders are a bit less expensive I think than the Gerbings or the Warm-N-Safes, but I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish. I'd REALLY like to hear more from those who've already been there done that and know the pros and cons of each manufacturers gloves. I have no problem doing the wiring, but I don't want it to be a giant pain in the ass plugging in and unplugging everytime I get on and off the bike, so I'd like to know what you mean by "simplicity".

BTW, NOT trying to hijack this thread! I think I'm still on-topic. Any additional insight on this will be GREATLY appreciated! I have a Tourmaster 1-piece that keeps me pretty warm, but my hands just FREEZE!

TIA,

 

[650cent]

Hey,

I have seen Gerbings at every International Motorcycle Show giving fittings and show discounts. Fairly good sized booth with all their products. The gloves are nice and warm. I'm going to have to give a gunny for Warm-N-Safe though, check out their site, its very informative.

Bill