Heated Gear users
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 48
From: Eastern N.C.
I have gloves (hd the only ones I could find that day in stock) and vest. I'm cold natured and with chaps I'm good with the settings on low med. in 38 40 deg f. hd gloves only have one setting. wide open. so I have to turn them off sometimes.
kroozeabout. ...you won't be sorry. oh and if I remember right they will interchange, plugs are all the same.
kroozeabout. ...you won't be sorry. oh and if I remember right they will interchange, plugs are all the same.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 137
Likes: 22
Warm n Safe
Check out Warm n Safe before spending money on other products.
I wear a Warm n Safe jacket liner under a TGP Rainier jacket and glove liners in insulated gloves using a wireless dual remote. Quality gear and technology, wonderful customer support - you can talk to Mike the owner. They take trade-ins as well. I have ridden hundreds of miles in 40 F temps nice n toasty. Toe warmers in the boots, long underwear, my regular riding pants under my quality rain pants. I think chaps are more fad than function any time.
Being cold is very dangerous as it takes your mind away from paying attention and you crash. Warm is Safe. Life changes forever in a bad way when you crash.
Any brand of quality gear is not inexpensive. Riding in the cold should not be taken lightly.
I wear a Warm n Safe jacket liner under a TGP Rainier jacket and glove liners in insulated gloves using a wireless dual remote. Quality gear and technology, wonderful customer support - you can talk to Mike the owner. They take trade-ins as well. I have ridden hundreds of miles in 40 F temps nice n toasty. Toe warmers in the boots, long underwear, my regular riding pants under my quality rain pants. I think chaps are more fad than function any time.
Being cold is very dangerous as it takes your mind away from paying attention and you crash. Warm is Safe. Life changes forever in a bad way when you crash.
Any brand of quality gear is not inexpensive. Riding in the cold should not be taken lightly.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
It's been my experience that when riding in cold weather, and I am talking about temps below 40 and sustained riding at these temps with occasional precipitation, you have to wear the appropriate outer gear. Forget about looking cool or fitting into the HD look.
My approach is not letting the cold air penetrate the first layer. There are plenty of ballistic nylon, Carbolex, 500-600 Denier Cordura Gortex, and other materials that will prevent wind chill and rain from penetrating to your lower layers. Do the research. But understand that the right gear is not jeans, chaps, and a leather jacket. And the best gear is not cheap.
Lots of manufacturers such as Tourmaster, Courtech, Olympia, Aerostich, etc., make gear for serious cold weather/wet weather riders. If you get the right outer gear, you won't really need all the "heated" vests and liners.
So .staying warm or looking cool? I choose warm every time.
My approach is not letting the cold air penetrate the first layer. There are plenty of ballistic nylon, Carbolex, 500-600 Denier Cordura Gortex, and other materials that will prevent wind chill and rain from penetrating to your lower layers. Do the research. But understand that the right gear is not jeans, chaps, and a leather jacket. And the best gear is not cheap.
Lots of manufacturers such as Tourmaster, Courtech, Olympia, Aerostich, etc., make gear for serious cold weather/wet weather riders. If you get the right outer gear, you won't really need all the "heated" vests and liners.
So .staying warm or looking cool? I choose warm every time.
well said advntr
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
It's been my experience that when riding in cold weather, and I am talking about temps below 40 and sustained riding at these temps with occasional precipitation, you have to wear the appropriate outer gear. Forget about looking cool or fitting into the HD look.
My approach is not letting the cold air penetrate the first layer. There are plenty of ballistic nylon, Carbolex, 500-600 Denier Cordura Gortex, and other materials that will prevent wind chill and rain from penetrating to your lower layers. Do the research. But understand that the right gear is not jeans, chaps, and a leather jacket. And the best gear is not cheap.
Lots of manufacturers such as Tourmaster, Courtech, Olympia, Aerostich, etc., make gear for serious cold weather/wet weather riders. If you get the right outer gear, you won't really need all the "heated" vests and liners.
So .staying warm or looking cool? I choose warm every time.
My approach is not letting the cold air penetrate the first layer. There are plenty of ballistic nylon, Carbolex, 500-600 Denier Cordura Gortex, and other materials that will prevent wind chill and rain from penetrating to your lower layers. Do the research. But understand that the right gear is not jeans, chaps, and a leather jacket. And the best gear is not cheap.
Lots of manufacturers such as Tourmaster, Courtech, Olympia, Aerostich, etc., make gear for serious cold weather/wet weather riders. If you get the right outer gear, you won't really need all the "heated" vests and liners.
So .staying warm or looking cool? I choose warm every time.
I will agree though that jeans and chaps are the last things you should be wearing when it's really cold.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
If the 40s are what you consider cold, then yes, you can absolutely do without heated gear and just use insulation. If you plan on riding for any amount of time in subfreezing temperatures, there's no better solution than electrics.
I will agree though that jeans and chaps are the last things you should be wearing when it's really cold.
I will agree though that jeans and chaps are the last things you should be wearing when it's really cold.
IF you read my post carefully, you will see that I said below 40, not in the forties. And yes when you start getting down below 25, then use whatever you have to stay warm.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
I've got a closet full of good textile gear. There is no way I'd leave for a ride without my electrics below 50 degrees. I'll happily submit that I'm a sissy when it comes to being cold, so why screw around?
What the textiles are good at is keeping the wind off of me. That allows the insulation and the heated stuff to regulate my temperature. Leather's great, but it simply won't keep the wind off as well.....And if you get caught in a 35 degree rain? Textile's the shiznit.
Cold is about temperature, speed, time, and personal tolerance (to a point). Anyone can suffer through a 5 minute ride at 40mph at 30 degrees. You're asking for trouble doing an all-day ride in serious cold without serious gear.
Link to a bigger wind chill chart here.
Last edited by '05Train; Jan 5, 2014 at 08:37 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Again, I said below 25, not between 39 and 29. I give up.
But, at the risk of being picked-apart and mis-read, I will simply say that there is some good cold weather stuff out there, most of which will not be found at the local HD shop.
The wind chill chart pretty much tells the story, a chilling story! Bundle up!!
But, at the risk of being picked-apart and mis-read, I will simply say that there is some good cold weather stuff out there, most of which will not be found at the local HD shop.
The wind chill chart pretty much tells the story, a chilling story! Bundle up!!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,268
Likes: 47
From: Tokyo
Anyone can ride in cold weather and most of us have done and some continue to do so, but to me its about enjoying the ride and to enjoy the ride I want to be warm and comfortable, I have layered up and ridden in freezing cold with snow on the ground, cant see the point in trying to prove anything to anyone at my age now.
Electric gear is the final answer for warmth, comfort on and off the bike.
Layer up walk around like the Michelin man and sweat your **** off in the shop or restaurant or simply unplug your gear and walk around in doors and dine comfortably as a normally dressed person would.
But if you have a choice to be warm and comfortable, or cold and stupid what would you choose?
Electric gear is the final answer for warmth, comfort on and off the bike.
Layer up walk around like the Michelin man and sweat your **** off in the shop or restaurant or simply unplug your gear and walk around in doors and dine comfortably as a normally dressed person would.
But if you have a choice to be warm and comfortable, or cold and stupid what would you choose?
Last edited by Tanuki; Jan 5, 2014 at 09:43 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 23
From: Mishawaka,Indiana
I want to be comfortable anytime. I put heated gear on anytime below 60, one of the features of the warm n safe brand is temp neutral so you don't overheat when it is warmer just turn it on when nec. I did a 3 day camping trip in oct when highs were 50 and lows in high 20's and the warmest time was out riding during the day with the heat on. Mike