Fall/early Winter riding

frostbite · 10-31-2008, 12:32 PM

Those of us in the North East know the chill this time of year when out riding. Since the DS crowd are usually the last to hang up the keys for the year I was wondering.....What are you guys doing to keep warm?

I'm still commuting to work and the new handguards are a God-send.

katoranger · 10-31-2008, 12:38 PM

I turn the dial to warm in my jeep.

I have handguards and I wear insulated carharts when it gets colder, but this year I have really backed off of riding in the cold. Mostly since I have a carpool partner now.

Allen

frostbite · 10-31-2008, 12:54 PM

I thought you lived in Georgia. Define cold, but be warned - laughter may ensue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by katoranger

I have handguards and I wear insulated carharts when it gets colder, but this year I have really backed off of riding in the cold. Mostly since I have a carpool partner now.

Allen

katoranger · 10-31-2008, 01:00 PM

It was 28F degrees this morning we had a frost.

I rode in the 30s last year and my cut off was freezing.

I am from MN further North than alot of Canadians.

Gas is $2.09 a gallon so driving my Jeep has been easier.

Alle

Natemare13 · 10-31-2008, 02:53 PM

I can actually finally help out someone else on this board!! woohoo!

The key (for me atleast) is base layers. Do you SKi or snowboard? I'm a big time snowboarder so I throw on all of my "Long Johns". These are also called Baselayers or thermals.

They are thin, light weight and great for winter under wear. THEN you can put a t-shirt on, a sweater or something long sleeved warm top layer. Then a jacket and you are good to go!

Same for legs, get thermals. It's a face palm solution but it works and its light weight and best of all not bulky like most other "winter wear" solutions.

Cheers!

katoranger · 10-31-2008, 03:04 PM

Layers is key.

My typical cool/cold weather setup. I wear a uniform so that is my base layer. Then a hooded sweatshirt on backwards so the hood is at my chin. I then put on my insulated bib overalls. Then I bought a used Teknic cold weather riding jacket. It is waterproof and keeps the wind out. That is my top layer. I also have a pair of guantlet gloves that combined with the handguards work pretty well.

The purpose of the backwards hooded sweatshirt is that is makes a great wind breaker for the chin/neck area. I just tuck the hood into the chin of my helmet and the crack the shield to vent it at stop lights.

This works great down to freezing temps and I rode once in the freezing rain last year.

I told a guy at the IHOP that was riding a scooter as his only transportation. He ask how I stayed warm. I pointed to the Home Depot behind me.

Allen

IronFist · 10-31-2008, 03:18 PM

My base layer is thinsulite longjohns top and bottom.
Then, electric vest.
Then pants and sweater over the vest.
Leather jacket under a 3/4 length winter coat/ no hood.
Boots and snowmobile leather gloves.

Proviso:
I'm so thin I vent heat like an air cooled motor.
I've been cold in August.

I have rode highway for over an hour when it was 6 degrees C. while dressed for it.

My chin and legs got cold, but for a while I could have turned off the vest. I didn't, but I could have. :wink:

katoranger · 10-31-2008, 03:21 PM

I am thin too. My knees get cold first when riding.

Allen

Kawazacky · 10-31-2008, 04:00 PM

Back when I was in university, I rode from Charlottetown, PEI, to Fredericton, N.B., in the middle of March once, to see a girl.

I remember wearing snowmobile gloves, a rain jacket, full leathers, snowmobile helmet, and multiple layers, and still being very very cold.

I usually wear lots of layers now, in the spring especially, but my hands get cold. This will be my first year with hand guards, so I'm hoping that will make a difference.

IronFist · 10-31-2008, 04:20 PM

I can't praise my electic vest enough. Even the turtleneck on the vest is heated. Keeping your core warm keeps you warm. Sure my legs are chilled and a bit stiff when I get off, but I'm NOT SHIVERING. Oddly I don't use it to extend the end of my season, but it's great for starting the season early.

It's been cold here, but today was great and early next week we're supposed to get nice and warm. I might not be riding far, but I will be riding.

chinaguy · 11-01-2008, 12:38 AM

Compared to you guys, I am a wimp. I can ride a short spell in cool (not frigid) weather. I just wear long pants, a jacket, and some insulated gloves. But when I get cold, I go home. I like to ride but I don't like freezing. I would never consider commuting on a bike in the winter; because I'd get too cold, and I won't/ can't drive in the snow. I can plow our driveway with our garden tractor, but in 30 minutes I'm done and go indoors. I just can not imagine how you guys can drive in the snow. I have a hard enough time staying up on a bike in the dry weather!

IronFist · 11-01-2008, 01:11 AM

If there is snow on the road I'm not riding either brother. But in the spring when there is still snowbanks sometimes the roads are bone dry. After a season of bike fixing and polishing the urge to test ride can get pretty strong. Riding cold can be very dangerous, tunnel vision and get- home-itus.

tigertamer · 11-01-2008, 07:30 AM

I wear long-johns, leather chaps, boots, sweater, leather jacket, full-face helmet, insulated gloves and a toboggan with a hole cut in the top to wear around my neck like a turtle-neck.

The hand guards, windshield and chaps are the saving grace for me. I also ride a little slower to reduce the wind chill factor. Following a big-truck helps too!

Last year I blew-up the oil tank on the Harley in 17 deg. F. because of frozen moisture in the oil line or breather...I'm not to sure, because I was warranted. 8) I didn't like standing around waiting for the rescue wagon though :evil:

Ride safely,
Tigertamer

theENIGMATIC · 11-02-2008, 08:59 AM

2 Coats, 2 pairs of pants, long underwear, balaclava, thin gloves regular gloves and winter gloves over top, 3 pairs of socks.......its not the cold that bothers me, watch out fo ice, I already wiped my back tire out going up my dads driveway last week hit some ice, I was only going about 5kmph so no damage to me just popped the lense of the right front signal, its fixed now, my dad laughed! :P

squire · 11-02-2008, 09:20 AM

I plan to ride at least into the upper 20's as last week a 34 degree day wasn't too bad. I night need to add coveralls. Might even add a windshield for the winter.

10-31-2008, 12:32 PM	#1
frostbite Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada Posts: 1,744	Fall/early Winter riding Those of us in the North East know the chill this time of year when out riding. Since the DS crowd are usually the last to hang up the keys for the year I was wondering.....What are you guys doing to keep warm? I'm still commuting to work and the new handguards are a God-send. __________________ Frostbite "The beatings will continue until moral improves"
	0

10-31-2008, 12:38 PM	#2
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I turn the dial to warm in my jeep. I have handguards and I wear insulated carharts when it gets colder, but this year I have really backed off of riding in the cold. Mostly since I have a carpool partner now. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

10-31-2008, 01:00 PM	#4
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	It was 28F degrees this morning we had a frost. I rode in the 30s last year and my cut off was freezing. I am from MN further North than alot of Canadians. Gas is $2.09 a gallon so driving my Jeep has been easier. Alle __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

10-31-2008, 03:04 PM	#6
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	Layers is key. My typical cool/cold weather setup. I wear a uniform so that is my base layer. Then a hooded sweatshirt on backwards so the hood is at my chin. I then put on my insulated bib overalls. Then I bought a used Teknic cold weather riding jacket. It is waterproof and keeps the wind out. That is my top layer. I also have a pair of guantlet gloves that combined with the handguards work pretty well. The purpose of the backwards hooded sweatshirt is that is makes a great wind breaker for the chin/neck area. I just tuck the hood into the chin of my helmet and the crack the shield to vent it at stop lights. This works great down to freezing temps and I rode once in the freezing rain last year. I told a guy at the IHOP that was riding a scooter as his only transportation. He ask how I stayed warm. I pointed to the Home Depot behind me. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

10-31-2008, 03:18 PM	#7
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	My base layer is thinsulite longjohns top and bottom. Then, electric vest. Then pants and sweater over the vest. Leather jacket under a 3/4 length winter coat/ no hood. Boots and snowmobile leather gloves. Proviso: I'm so thin I vent heat like an air cooled motor. I've been cold in August. I have rode highway for over an hour when it was 6 degrees C. while dressed for it. My chin and legs got cold, but for a while I could have turned off the vest. I didn't, but I could have. :wink: __________________ IronFist ___________________________________ The "chain" of command is used for beating spammers. ___________________________________
	0

10-31-2008, 02:53 PM	#5
Natemare13 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13	I can actually finally help out someone else on this board!! woohoo! The key (for me atleast) is base layers. Do you SKi or snowboard? I'm a big time snowboarder so I throw on all of my "Long Johns". These are also called Baselayers or thermals. They are thin, light weight and great for winter under wear. THEN you can put a t-shirt on, a sweater or something long sleeved warm top layer. Then a jacket and you are good to go! Same for legs, get thermals. It's a face palm solution but it works and its light weight and best of all not bulky like most other "winter wear" solutions. Cheers!
	0

10-31-2008, 03:21 PM	#8
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	I am thin too. My knees get cold first when riding. Allen __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

10-31-2008, 04:00 PM	#9
Kawazacky Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Saint John, N.B. Posts: 279	Back when I was in university, I rode from Charlottetown, PEI, to Fredericton, N.B., in the middle of March once, to see a girl. I remember wearing snowmobile gloves, a rain jacket, full leathers, snowmobile helmet, and multiple layers, and still being very very cold. I usually wear lots of layers now, in the spring especially, but my hands get cold. This will be my first year with hand guards, so I'm hoping that will make a difference.
	0

10-31-2008, 04:20 PM	#10
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	I can't praise my electic vest enough. Even the turtleneck on the vest is heated. Keeping your core warm keeps you warm. Sure my legs are chilled and a bit stiff when I get off, but I'm NOT SHIVERING. Oddly I don't use it to extend the end of my season, but it's great for starting the season early. It's been cold here, but today was great and early next week we're supposed to get nice and warm. I might not be riding far, but I will be riding. __________________ IronFist ___________________________________ The "chain" of command is used for beating spammers. ___________________________________
	0

11-01-2008, 12:38 AM	#11
chinaguy Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 125	Compared to you guys, I am a wimp. I can ride a short spell in cool (not frigid) weather. I just wear long pants, a jacket, and some insulated gloves. But when I get cold, I go home. I like to ride but I don't like freezing. I would never consider commuting on a bike in the winter; because I'd get too cold, and I won't/ can't drive in the snow. I can plow our driveway with our garden tractor, but in 30 minutes I'm done and go indoors. I just can not imagine how you guys can drive in the snow. I have a hard enough time staying up on a bike in the dry weather! __________________ 2008 HSUN GY 200
	0

11-01-2008, 01:11 AM	#12
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	If there is snow on the road I'm not riding either brother. But in the spring when there is still snowbanks sometimes the roads are bone dry. After a season of bike fixing and polishing the urge to test ride can get pretty strong. Riding cold can be very dangerous, tunnel vision and get- home-itus.
	0

11-01-2008, 07:30 AM	#13
tigertamer Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wheeling, West Virginia Posts: 683	I wear long-johns, leather chaps, boots, sweater, leather jacket, full-face helmet, insulated gloves and a toboggan with a hole cut in the top to wear around my neck like a turtle-neck. The hand guards, windshield and chaps are the saving grace for me. I also ride a little slower to reduce the wind chill factor. Following a big-truck helps too! Last year I blew-up the oil tank on the Harley in 17 deg. F. because of frozen moisture in the oil line or breather...I'm not to sure, because I was warranted. 8) I didn't like standing around waiting for the rescue wagon though :evil: Ride safely, Tigertamer __________________ 07 H-D XL883C 06 LF 200GY-5 Yin and Yang CAUTION Obey The Traffic Regulation. Always Wear a Helmet. Don't Ride After Drinking Wine. Before Operation, Read The Owners Manual Carefully.
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11-02-2008, 08:59 AM	#14
theENIGMATIC Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 392	2 Coats, 2 pairs of pants, long underwear, balaclava, thin gloves regular gloves and winter gloves over top, 3 pairs of socks.......its not the cold that bothers me, watch out fo ice, I already wiped my back tire out going up my dads driveway last week hit some ice, I was only going about 5kmph so no damage to me just popped the lense of the right front signal, its fixed now, my dad laughed! :P
	0

11-02-2008, 09:20 AM	#15
squire Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: central Arkansas Posts: 79	I plan to ride at least into the upper 20's as last week a 34 degree day wasn't too bad. I night need to add coveralls. Might even add a windshield for the winter. __________________ Squire, http://lifanlf200gy-5.blogspot.com/ http://1948model.blogspot.com/
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