Chaps or over pants ?
Found a good deal on overpants. Easy to shed if it warm a little and everything stays warm. So I keep chaps in the bag in case I get caught out longer than I expected, or the wife needs them, but if I'm leaving out when it's cold, it's overpants.
Not cold enough here to have heated gear, but that's a good option too.
Being cold doesn't mean you're tough, it just means you're cold.
Not cold enough here to have heated gear, but that's a good option too.
Being cold doesn't mean you're tough, it just means you're cold.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 792
From: Kansas City, Missouri
I agree with this. I got a pair of leather overpants, they are warmer than chaps and just as easy to put on or take off.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 844
Likes: 91
From: San Diego
I have to agree with the overpants. I used to ride with chaps, but by the time I got to work the boys were pretty cold. Overpants provide them protection from the cold, not to mention your butt if you go down.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
I ride year round in NC. It was in the upper 50s today and took the King out for a ride. I had lined jeans with chaps and heated jacket liner. Very comfy. If it was in the low 50s and cooler I wear leather overpants.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Depends just how cold your winter is, but in any event a proper fully lined weather-proof motorcycle riding suit. Nothing made in leather is suitable when it gets really cold, unless worn under that suit, when it can get really toasty!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,882
Likes: 83
Wind is the enemy and in cold weather leather is in fact your worst choice of any outer clothing. I has no insulation value and its heavy and horrible if you are wet. You'd be better served just getting an unheated snow mobile suit and you would be good to go for quite awhile. Snow gloves with hand warmer inserts are awesome. Chaps are pretty much worthless. An insulated, waterproof HIGH QUALITY boot will keep your toes warm for hours even on the bike. Ask yourself this how many extreme cold weather adventurers wear leather. None. I've never been chilled wearing my LL Bean parka on my bike in the event that i was riding in the 30's. Being out of the direct wind behind a fairing or windshield is a HUGE bonus. Leather isn't for cold weather.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,431
From: Idaho Panhandle
My girlfriend prefers chaps, but she sits close behind me. It is important to her to look good when we get off the bike. She is happy enough with studded fancy chaps and I have taken her to Eagle Leather to look at woman's overpants. The issue for me are my *****. My overpants are less hassle to wear than chaps, look good and do a great job keeping the freezing wind off my jewels. That matters to me.
We also use heated vest/jacket and gloves and she sits on a thick sheep skin. If she sat directly on the leather, she'd probably have gone for the overpants.
We also use heated vest/jacket and gloves and she sits on a thick sheep skin. If she sat directly on the leather, she'd probably have gone for the overpants.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Wind is the enemy and in cold weather leather is in fact your worst choice of any outer clothing. I has no insulation value and its heavy and horrible if you are wet. You'd be better served just getting an unheated snow mobile suit and you would be good to go for quite awhile. Snow gloves with hand warmer inserts are awesome. Chaps are pretty much worthless. An insulated, waterproof HIGH QUALITY boot will keep your toes warm for hours even on the bike. Ask yourself this how many extreme cold weather adventurers wear leather. None. I've never been chilled wearing my LL Bean parka on my bike in the event that i was riding in the 30's. Being out of the direct wind behind a fairing or windshield is a HUGE bonus. Leather isn't for cold weather.
