gear up for cold weather riding

[johncam4]

well in texas there isnt much cold weather but  this xmas im planning on riding with some folks thatll be in for the holidays...heres what i was thinking

---i was gonna make some type of mine wind shield out of plexi plastic from home depot....and mount it with the head light bolts and kinda cut it to curve over the gauges.

---mount the wind flag hand guards off my xr on the gs

---a big coat with lots of layer :dunno:

who has advice for cold weather

[pantablo]

use those warming sticks skiers use inside your gloves. Keep your core warm and your extremeties will have more blood flow. I also use a windbreaker under my leathers.

I use a heated vest even though I live in SoCal it can get into the 20's where I ride...best ~$100 I ever spent. I also bought heated grip kit but yet to install, but now that its starting to get cold...

[Frost]

cold?...lol...i laugh at you americans when you guys complain about the cold...lol...j/k

i ride year round and i wear my JR ballistic meteor suit when it's cold or raining...

even if it's -10 celcius i only have to wear a t-shirt, sweater, and the jacket to protect me from the cold...a tight undershirt will help too...
and for my legs i only wear jeans and the JR pants...sometimes with longjohns if it's too cold out....

i'm planning on gettting heated grips this year...and some kind of hand protection....maybe the ones dirt bikers use?...cost only 30 bucks so it's a good investment...

a fairing may help too...but dont' cheap out on the small nice looking ones...get the BIG ones that calprice or kerry has...they should be awesome blocking the wind in winter...

[ghostrider]

Just getting into winter? Serves you right for living in the wrong hemisphere!

A silk balaclava is very cheap and will keep your head and neck warm.

You can get glover liners designed to insulate your hands, you wear them under a normal pair of gloves (preferrably something waterproof).

Obviously, you want to seal off your body from the wind as much as possible, so overlapping sleeves/gloves, pants/boots, and jacket/pants will help (or ones that zip together).

[vtlion]

when it comes to winter, I head to my local backpacking outfitter.  Backpacking gear is some of the lightest, least bulky windproofing ever.

I will ride with capilene base layer, fleece insulating mid-layer, and a gortex or conduit shell for windproofing.. .and it all still fits under my leather jacket and riding pants  

[cay]

I have to say, vtlion's cold weather gear is pretty striking:

[scratch]

...and some kind of hand protection....maybe the ones dirt bikers use?...cost only 30 bucks so it's a good investment...

Are you going to use the ones off of one of the DR's? I'd like to know what you go with.

[Ed_in_Az]

I have to say, vtlion's cold weather gear is pretty striking:

:lol: Awesome!  :lol: Best one liner!

I'll wear long johns under jeans. long sleeve under leather jacket, bandana to cover from nose over neck, and insulated gloves. No Exposed Skin is essential. If it's too cold with all that... I'll drive. :mrgreen:

[splatt]

any kind of winter hat that you can fit comfortably under your helmet helps.  and i'm with everyone else on the wind blocking layer underneath your riding gear.  especially wind blocking that's not breathable...keeps wind out and body heat in.

[dsmirnov83]

check out my set up for the winter

http://www.geocities.com/ebgs500e/BearMtPics.html

it's the:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&tc=photo&rd=1&item=2492890662&category=35590&sspagename=WDVW

It will fit the gs just fine. I got mine on ebay for like $70 shipped (don't quote me on the $, but it's less then $100
It covers the hands and legs (it's skirted). And it is also the quitest ride on a bike you will ever have. Very little wind noise.

I also wear a spartan suit and a Balaclava:

http://www.geardirect.com/product_detail.cfm/store_id/2/dept_id/69/product_id/5016/cart_id/1102161001111034949576249220042010

I ride year-round (in the 20F unless there is snow on the road).
Chears
-Denis S