I'm wanting to be "hardcore".....er haha........but seriously, i enjoy riding to and from work, it's a 25 mile trek.and now that i'm a dad with a 9 month old ridin to and from work is about all i can do for the time being..kinda boring but I take a nice scenic route on the way home alot. Everyone at my work thinks i'm crazy and says it's to cold to be riding blalahablah.
Anyways, just wanting to know who else rides year round, your thoughts on it..why ya do it........and YOUR GEAR MOSTLY....Mine right now is an Alpinestars Ricard jacket, has a liner, under it i wear two tshirts, usually a long sleeve shirt also, my upper bodies pretty comfy, an alpinestars balaclava..it's pretty thin but it actually blocks wind perfectly, it's also kinda short compared to everything else i've seen online and in catalogs..but it goes into my jacket and does it's job, the gloves is where i'm needing to update...ICon twenty niners...i rode the other day and it was 44 and my hands got cold and numb fairly quickly, im' lookin at some other alpinestars or icon's...i know or the consensus i've gotten on here is alotta people don't use either one of those brands, anyways, any thoughts or input and especially your gear and how cold you ride in would be sweeeeeeeeett
I will be riding this winter man.. but i live in SC lol! But im gonna be wearing my hodie and thick leather jacket, also warm leather gloves not exactly motorcycle specific.. their just really worm and insulated. also i will prolly be wearing my ski mask lol..
I found out that the coldest part is my neck between the helmet and where the jacket ends lol.
Idk about pants an all that but ill see what happened when it gets cold enough.
Quote from: NorwayGT1 on October 28, 2011, 03:19:04 PM
I found out that the coldest part is my neck between the helmet and where the jacket ends lol.
was my problem until today.
only thing I had was one of my bandanna's.
folded it (not evenly, one side longer then the other) and put it over my face like you see them do in the movies holding someone/something up.
aka over your nose.
folded right it went down under my coat and surprisingly kept the wind off my neck, so it stayed warm.
my legs are freezing tho! but my seasons over.
I ride year round because I enjoy riding. I do it for me. For my own pleasure.
1 or 2 T-shirts
Cortech Coaster Air leather jacket w/O the liner ($240)
Fieldsheer Aqua Sport 2.0 jacket, without the liner or armor, over the leather jacket (for color and to block the wind, and a little rain protection) ($150)
TourMaster Overpant ($129)
TourMaster Carbon ColdFront II gloves (they don't make anymore; I'm looking at Cortech's Scarabs)
And, TourMaster WinterElites (it's good to have 2 pairs of winter/rain gloves in case one set gets wet)
Hiking boots, but I'll wear rain totes over them if it rains.
For my neck I have a couple of neck gators, one made by Sirius; I only wear one at a time.
Riding all year also means that my skills will stay the same or even improve, since smoothness in the rain is fast in the dry. This includes commuting all year round, too.
I've commuted in 40F. I've ridden in 32F (to pick up some snow on the bike and bring it home).
I ride all year. No winterizing for me! :thumb:
I always wear armored leather jacket, textile overpants, leather gloves (Cortech, forgot the model), Shoei Qwest helmet, and work boots or Cortech WP Solution boots.
Here's my routine, might work for you.
Below 70 or 80°F, put away the perforated leather jacket and start using Technics leather, no liner
Below 60°, put on TourMaster Winter Elites.
Below 50°, put on silk balaclava, put in jacket liner
Below 45°, put on neoprene face mask if the ride will be more than 10 minutes
Below 40°, put on neoprene face mask
Below 30°, put liner in over pants, put nylon windbreaker under jacket
Below 20°, don't ride more than 20 minutes, maybe not more than 10...
At those cold temperatures, the hands are the most uncomfortable.
Handguards would go a long way in helping the hands.
Yeah I ride all year. I just wear my jacket with its winter liner, my cotton drill work pants and steel caps. Because its either late at night or early morning when it's coldest when I ride. It gets friggen cold I'm glad it's only a 20 min commute.
I usually stop commuting by bike and put the bike away for the winter when it starts freezing and they start throwing salt on the roads. This morning it was just above the freezing mark. I wear Joe Rocket pants and jacket with the rain liner zipped in to keep the wind out. I wear a slacks or jeans underneath, shirt and fleece underneath on top and a fleece turtle neck thingy to keep my neck warm. Some Joe Rocket waterproof gloves and I'm reasonably comfortable. When it's cold and raining it gets a bit miserable but I still prefer it over taking the train which I have to do for the winter months.
The commute is about 50 minutes each way but it's mostly city driving so I get less of a wind chill.
Too bad riding season is almost over.
As long as it is above freezing at night so there is no ice on the road I will ride to work. Next to a good balaclava, this is my favorite piece of cold weather gear:
(http://images.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/OG/0000-National-Cycle-Plexifairing-3-Windshield-Clear.jpg)
Not the best looking thing but it keeps the cold air off :thumb:
-Jessie
I ride to work all year round which is a 20-25 minute commute. This year it dropped as low as -6.6 C (20.12 F).
Winter gloves, textile jacket and pants with liners and a silk balaclava.
28 degrees F or so, for me. I wear lightweight winter gloves; previously Racer Multi-tops, currently Held Warm&Dry. Jacket under my coat, jeans under the over-pants. Biggest thing I did that helped was to wear a scarf, and wrap it under the suit. Helps that the BMW has heated seats and grips.
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I lived in Calgary, Alberta for 13 years, so I had some cold rides. I was in the army, reg & reserve, so I used a lot of the army winter kit for riding in the cold. The rubber overboot for rain over my combat boots, wind pants over normal pants with rain gear over that. A polar fleece jacket over a normal jacket with rain jacket over that. Underneath I found the blue johns to be far warmer, lighter and better for sweat than normal long underwear.
Glove liners under normal gloves with heavy gloves over that. I took the large army scarf and wrapped it around my neck and stuffed it up under my chin in the helmet. That made a world of difference on really cold rides.
Quote from: NorwayGT1 on October 28, 2011, 03:19:04 PM
I found out that the coldest part is my neck between the helmet and where the jacket ends lol.
That's what scarves are for.
When I lived up north, I quit riding once they started spreading salt. Keeping warm is just a matter of layers. 40F: long underwear, pants, overpants, riding boots, sweater, scarf, helmet, leather gloves with liners. Face mask is a good idea too in colder weather. This combo is good down to 40F for an hour. Less time out = less layers required.
Now I live in FL. I stop riding when it's too hot to wear gear, which is around 90F with 75% humidity. My riding season is just starting :)
Quote from: NorwayGT1 on October 28, 2011, 03:19:04 PM
Keeping warm is just a matter of layers.
which is why I hate riding in cold weather.
I like being able to be loose and fluent while riding, not all bulky, slower and/or harder to move and simply uncomfortable.
Because of that I dont feel safe, better safe then sorry so I can ride another time.
Boots, Jeans, Jacket, gloves, sometimes a bandanna for neck warmth, & a helmet is the most I will wear.
Rain gear I will be getting over this winter. (already got SOAKED like 5 times) NOT fun!
Quote from: noiseguy on October 29, 2011, 08:34:50 AM
Now I live in FL. I stop riding when it's too hot to wear gear, which is around 90F with 75% humidity. My riding season is just starting :)
I ride year round down here with a Dainese Air-2 jacket - http://www.revzilla.com/product/dainese-air-2-textile-jacket, light gloves (like these in camo - http://www.five-gloves.com/index2.php5?page=gants&categorie=5&sous_categorie=250) , and icon field armour chukka boots. And a full face helmet - got a Scorpion EXO-500 a few months ago to replace a EXO-700 and I love it.
It does get warm but I'm lucky that my commute is no more than 20 minutes if I don't get the lights so I can live with it.
Hippo Hands are great for keeping your hands warm. If you don't like the bulk of winter gloves it is a great alternative -- especially with heated grips. There are some cheaper brands other than Hippo Hands that would probably be almost as good.
Quote from: NorwayGT1 on October 28, 2011, 03:19:04 PMI found out that the coldest part is my neck between the helmet and where the jacket ends
Just ordering this from Aerostich Rider Wearhouse:
http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-electric-warmbib.html
In the past I found that rain gear helps keep the wind out after layering for insulation. These days I am in pursuit of some lightweight windproof clothing as well.
I have used the Hippo hands as well, but they don't pack down easily when you're not using them. Otherwise they seemed to do the job.
I don't ride much below 10C (50F) unless I am travelling somewhere and get caught in it. Cold weather makes riding a lesson in endurance rather than enjoyment, while reducing the performance of your tires, so "heading for the twisties" is out from November/December until April/May unless you have a trailer, in which case you probably don't need to worry about getting cold on the way.
:cheers:
I'm very happy that so many of us do not let cold weather be an obstacle, so three cheers for all you die-hards!
I live in SE Pennsylvania... winters are not too bad, but it can get cold!
I commute daily year-round as well, as long as the roads are free of ice and there is no freezing precip on the way. My commute is 35 miles each way, 95% highway or country back-road riding. I average about 70 mph on the highway, 50-ish on back roads, so I get a LOT of wind. The coldest temp I ever rode in was 10 F (about -7 C). It was cold!
My gear:
First Gear Kilamanjaro Jacket (w/out liner) Fluorescent Green for the winter for extra visibility
T-shirt
Cotton turtle neck
Fleece pull-over
Goretex w/ windstopper shell (Made by KLIM) - this has a high neck when zipped up - keeps wind off of my neck
Gloves: KLIM Klimate gloves
Pants: KLIM Klimate insulated bib snomobile pants
I just got the bib pants this year, and I am stoked! I wore them for the first time yesterday, and my legs stayed nice & warm. Last year, it was a pair of long-johns and a goretex overall. That setup was pretty chilly.
The worst part are my hands. I got the KLIM gloves last year, and these were a SIGNIFICANT improvement over the prior year, but on really cold mornings (below 30 degrees), I'll often stop halfway in and warm my hands on the motor for a few minutes.
I'm planning on maybe getting a balaclava or neck gaiter, but can live without them.
I have a pretty high tolerance for the cold, and I love to ride. My attitude is if Lil Suzi will wake-up for me, I'm more than willing to ride her!
:cheers:
Quote from: applecrew on October 29, 2011, 10:03:41 AM
I live in SE Pennsylvania... winters are not too bad, but it can get cold! The coldest temp I ever rode in was 10 F (about -7 C).
The worst part are my hands. I got the KLIM gloves last year, and these were a SIGNIFICANT improvement over the prior year, but on really cold mornings (below 30 degrees), I'll often stop halfway in and warm my hands on the motor for a few minutes.
Try the Hippo hands and electric grip warmers with the KLIM gloves.
http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-warm-wrap-grips.html
I ride in all weather. It gets as low as 30 here during the day, and can drop incredibly low during the night. Static cold (cold without wind) doesn't bother me, but riding introduces serious windchill - so that being said I've probably rode in windchill-effective weather well below freezing.
I have a balaklava and my regular riding gear. I need to buy some winter gloves, but the amount of maneuverability you lose wearing them makes me want to just tape my summer gloves shut. I also need to buy some freeze-out under shirts and long johns, though the place I lose the most heat going 85 down the interstate in 30 degree weather is my hands.
Cover your hands, feet (if applicable, my fairing covers my feet fine so I can wear my summer boots), and neck.
Coldest temp? I don't know, maybe -5c (23f).
Winter gear: Dririder jacket with rain liner inserted to stop the wind and winter liner to create a buffer zone between the cold rain liner and my clothes. Gloves are Chilhowee deerskin gloves (http://www.chilhowee.net/motorcycle-gloves/GL-IM008.html). I can do 30 minutes in below freezing and Not have numb hands. Pants, just normal cargo work pants. Top is singlet, fleece skivvy type thing without that horrid neck and normal work shirt (I wear this around at work cause I work outside so it keeps me warm in the open air at work in winter). This does Not feel extra bulky on the bike. If it's real cold like the coldest, I might also throw on a sloppy joe just for the ride in.
This year, I didn't have the winter lining in, instead I used a parker in conjunction with the rain liner. Worked a treat.
When it's near freezing I also wear a balaclava. This not only keeps the cold circulating wind from whisking heat away from my face but also keeps it from circulating on the skin of my neck. I also have a Thick neck warmer but find it too warm - and a little restrictive with head movement.
Footwear is normal steelcapped boots on workdays and my normal riding boots on the weekend. No extra socks or anything.
One weekend I did put on a pair of tracky dacks under my pants and my legs were quite warm. But I only did this once as I find my legs aren't really the problem, it's the chest.
On the weekends in the cold I will usually have singlet, short sleeve polo, long sleeve kevlar top and then the jacket with both liners. And I'll toss a vest on over that. The vest is great at keeping the wind from the chest. And the arms don't feel too bad.
Before riding below freezing I make sure of the previous night's weather due to the possibility of ice on the road.
==
Rain
It is rare to rain all day. So if I can get to work without getting wet I will. If it is still raining when it is time to come home, then it doesn't matter as I'd be having a shower at home anyways. I will take my jacket rain liner in this case but don't have rain pants. Many many times I have been caught in the rain and gotten totally soaked (no liner) - and loved it. I know the car dwellers must think either "lunatic" or "poor guy" but they don't know how exhilarating it can be.
Only thing I won't ride in is hail.
Michael
I have a Turtle Fur brand balaclava that is long in the front, like a bib, that tucks into your jacket- works very well at keeping your neck warm!
The coldest I rode in was 18F. About a 1 mile trip to work. Full fairing, thermal underwear, jeans, leather jacket and gloves. That was back when I had an 81 Goldwing, and before I got my truck.