Any tips on cold riding?

[Bulwark]

I just got my bike a couple of weeks ago.  I will put the hand grip warmers on this summer but for my first winter my hands are freezing.  I have joe rocket guantlets. 

Is there a glove that you can put over top or something for a easy helper for this year?  I dont mind riding in the cold but I need something more for my hands.  Today my fingertips went all warm as a first step from frost bite.

[scratch]

$10 silk glove liners.
$2 extra large dishwashing gloves to pull over your gauntlets
$24 dirtbike handguards (search handguards on this site)

And/or, $80+ on a pair of TourMaster WinterElites with the built-in, pull-out rain covers (nice, and I got to use them this morning; stayed warm even without the liners in!    )

[Jarrett]

You need two things.  Heated grips, and wool lined full leather gloves.  The wool insulates, the leather blocks the wind.  The grips and gloves go hand in hand.     In extreme cold, below 30, one doesn't work well without the other.

[Blu_Spd_Dmon]

The GS is an "air cooled" engine. how do you know if your operating it beyond its temperature limits?
Hot engine + 30* = high stresses 

[ajaxgs]

$10 silk glove liners.
$2 extra large dishwashing gloves to pull over your gauntlets
$24 dirtbike handguards (search handguards on this site)

And/or, $80+ on a pair of TourMaster WinterElites with the built-in, pull-out rain covers (nice, and I got to use them this morning; stayed warm even without the liners in!    )

=priceless

[Wondertwin]

You could try the snowmobile handwarmer/weather protectors that mount to the handlebars.  Not very stylish, but I bet they'd work!  Also, one of those monstrous Plexistar bolt-on touring windshields would help keep wind-blast off of your upper body.  Again, at the expense of looking like a dork. 

[espm1000]

When I got my bike the people gave me a textile jacket and I rode it around in 32* weather. Buy a set of winter gloves that are lined on the inside or a cheap pair of cotton/wool gloves to slide into your regular ones. I also wear a thick sweater underneath my riding jacket. Long and thick socks are a must, and the joe boxer pant like underwear or long johns work well too.

[Jace009gs]

I've also found that multiple pair of gloves help, but at stop lights I do the warm up by placing a hand near the engine then switch hands

Also under armor (the sports gear stuff) is great at insulating the body from moisture and wind.....I usually wear a pair of spandex pants and a long sleeve top (look like a jogger) then gear  up with my riding pants and jacket with liner, then mechanics gloves, then my reactor gloves then a pair of industrial leather gloves.....I feel like the Michelin tire guy but I'm warm for the most part down to about 28* in the city riding

[hmmmnz]

i have xt660 handguards and heated grips, the guards wernt enough but they stop your hands getting wet and stop the wind, the heated grips makes hands toasty,
i wouldnt have one with out the other

[scratch]

Picture please, of the XT660 handguards!

And, how much $ ?

[GeeP]

Generally speaking, the extremities will get cold first.  Start with the hands and feet and work your way in to the core with layers.

Ski gloves work well down to 25 degrees or so, but they're not abrasion resistant.  I wear snow pants under my leathers to keep my lower body warm.  The bottom half of my leathers are fully perforated, so I have to get some kind of wind-blocking layer underneath.  I can just fit thick wool socks inside my sidi's.  They're good to about 15 degrees before it's time for heated socks.

Oh!  Get something to go around your neck.  The underside of your chin and neck will get VERY cold otherwise.  They make little knit tube thingys for this, but I just use a big wool sock and a safety pin.   

[bobmelvin]

I have been riding in the 30 degree weather. I have found these things to be the most valuable. A winter windshield - Plexistar 2. It really takes the bite off the hands and body - butespecially the hands. A scarf or a neck wrap. I never knew how cold my neck got. Gloves. I got black diamond sub zero gloves with polar tech and gore tex. These three things have made all the difference to my 80 mile daily commute.

Bob

[Bulwark]

Great tips all, thx a ton.

I have an F series so a windscreen is out.  My hands are my biggest problem atm and you guys dropped some great tips.

thx again

[bobkins]

Hi,

You could always try out the gloves with three fingers. I use them during the colder days and they work great. Much warmer then regular gloves. I have used mine with temperatures down to -2°C wich is around 28°F. I use the HG Pathan 3 finger glove.

[Bulwark]

Yeah, -2 or so is about as cold as I wanna get.  I didnt see any 2 finger gloves on that link but it is alot of German for my Canuck ass to figure out,hehe.

[bobkins]

I modified my link a bit after I found out that you go to there home page instead of the place you need to be.  But here is a link to something simular
http://www.motobrio.com/ShowProducts.cfm?CatId=2&Page=1

The only problem with my winter gloves is that they do not offer the same protection than my summer gloves. But they are warm

[Bulwark]

Those look very good.  I drive very catiously especially in the winter.  Im a new driver PLUS digging rocks out of my skin scares me,hehe.

Im not overly concerned with alot of protection.  Just moderate protection with blood still flowing in my fingers is my goal.

[scratch]

Linky w/picture: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=22110.msg215924#msg215924

[davidcl]

As a rider whose soul transportation is a GS and who is still riding in December (you should see the looks I get) in the Northern IL area, I've come to know what I'm talking about.   

According to my manual you should wear for your inner lining: face mask (ski mask), wool shirt, glove liners, thermal underwear, heavy pants, and wool socks; for the outer lining you should wear: safety helmet, goggles, insulated suit, leather gloves, and motorcycle or snowmobile boots. It also gives a wind chill factor table. At actual temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit going over 40 mph it will be the equivalent of -6 F. At 10 F and going over 40 mph it is the equivalent of -37 F with a "Danger from freezing of exposed flesh."

For me personally, I wear cloth gloves inside my leather studded gloves on my hands, two shirts under my leather Icon thermal lined jacket on my torso, ski mask under my full face shield helmet on my head, and thermal pants. I've never road in the snow yet, but have road over frozen rain (ice) and did fall. However, after I got up, I took it slow and kept the bike as upright as possible. Surprisingly, and lucky for me, it has been a mild winter (except for the > foot deep of snow blizzard last month) as it was > 50 F today. I have, however, road in low 20's high teens and after about 20 minutes my hands were in great pain. I hope to get heated gloves or heated grips soon. Although, I hope to make it through to February where I'll fly to boot camp in southern Texas where cold won't be a problem. 

Thanks.   

[bobmelvin]

You kick much ass