With temps going down into the 30's again here in Maine I have been thinking of cold weather driving...Snow in PA already.... what is with that?
Bought a pair of Walls insulated bib overalls and they seem to work pretty well. $52.00 and easy to slip on right over street clothing. That plus snowmobile gloves, snowmobile helmet, battery operated socks, and heated vest make for a comfortable driving experience at this time of year. Oh ya and then there are the cheap Walmart knee pads that I wear to keep my old knobbies warm.
What do others do.......besides go to FL.
Long johns, heavy work pants and chaps + electric vest and heavy gloves...and think warm thoughts.
Denis
Stand on left side of your bike. Shift in 1st gear. Let clutch go. Run near your bike holding handlebars and controls. In 20-30 seconds you will be planty warm. Do it as needed. I use it for 35 yesrs. Always works. Do not overdo it. You need to get warm not wet.
Better add:
"Don't slip and fall down", VLAD.
That could prove expensive.
Lonnie
In my winter riding time 21+ years ago I wore a swedisch army sheep skin trouser from 1942 about 1 - 1 1/2 thick. Foam rubber boots. felt inlets socks, as said long underware, my self made norwegian pullover and sos Belstaff jaket as all year through. Over it a sailor rubber jaket, Anatomik motocross knee protectors,
Over the tank a coatchman blanket = Vynil with thick felt inside that did cover up to the chest. The handle had electric grips and very thick handle covers. that together with sheep skin fist gloves did work well even in Norway at -28ºC =-18,4ºF, Well in winter even I did use a full face helmet with double skarf.
Everbody else was swearing on Thermoboy. Nowerdays they have them even electrified.... But take care if your bike does deliver enough current from the alternator, if not you will run the batery flat in very little time. =>the day I burnt my alternator windings it felt like the light would fall in front of the beam right down on the pavement....on the Autobahn during april rain at 4oclock in the dark.
Congrats
Sven
PS:it took about 5 to 10 minutes to get all that stuff on and if you had to push or kick more then usual you were swetting soon.
Never had clean fingers and was always smelling for 2 stroker smoke.
Hippo Hands or equivalent are a plus for me.
Since building my second sidecar rig without a fairing I discovered that the fairing is very important to winter driving. Even just cool weather tests my resolve when I ride the one with no fairing. My full fairing rig conversely is too warm in July and August because it traps the engine heat and holds it right in my lap and chest.
I bought a FirstGear one-piece, insulated, water-proof suit last year for about $180. I rode all winter long in Philadelphia down to single digit temperatures with usually nothing but a pair of gym shorts and tee-shirt on under the suit with absolutely no discomfort from the cold at all. Actually, if the temperature didn't stay down below 40 degrees, I found the suit too well insulated ;^) I wear regular cotton socks with cruiserworks waterproof boots and put heated grips on the wing. I have electric gloves that I could hook up also, but didn't really want to mess with the wiring inside of the suit. The heated grips work pretty well so for now I'm good. Someday, I may go back to a full face helmet but I'm pretty good with just a a half shell and the nylon face sock or whatever you call those things. Don't really get much wind behind the windshield so it's tolerable. Last weekend we had a nor'easter here for four days with temps hovering around 40 and rain out the bazoo and I rode all weekend in it and can now fully attest to FirstGears waterproof claim. The suit is phenomenal and if you really want to ride all winter in comfort, I highly recommend it. I pretty much ride every day, year round unless there is snow or ice (or salt) on the road.
koolskins - 10/20/2009 3:40 PM
I bought a FirstGear one-piece, insulated, water-proof suit last year for about $180. I rode all winter long in Philadelphia down to single digit temperatures with usually nothing but a pair of gym shorts and tee-shirt on under the suit with absolutely no discomfort from the cold at all. .
That is an impressive testimonial !!
I run a Choko leather snowmobile suit at below freezing temps, with full face helmet..easy to move and good to -45F,..works on the sled, why not the scoot also??? heavy hiking boots with extra socks for warm dry feet,....but winter still sucks! LOL ..cheers crawf.
I actually like winter driving. I'll take sub-freezing temperatures any day over 90 degrees with 90% humidity, especially sitting in traffic on the harley. I got so spoiled riding the wing last winter that I even found it a little uncomfortable on the warmer summer days this summer. You have to take a few extra minutes to dress properly, but if done right, you shouldn't be cold. I've never been able to get into snowmobiling due to the average conditions around Philadelphia, but I figured that if the sledders can go out and spend hours sledding in sub-zero weather then why not on 2 or 3 wheels? I refuse to give up 30-50% of my year to not ride just because of a little weather.
koolskins - 10/21/2009 7:53 AM
I've never been able to get into snowmobiling due to the average conditions around Philadelphia, but I figured that if the sledders can go out and spend hours sledding in sub-zero weather then why not on 2 or 3 wheels? I refuse to give up 30-50% of my year to not ride just because of a little weather.
You are right. But, for some reason people think you are a nut if you ride a bike in the winter. I used to ride a snowmobile and we would go all day in below 0 temps and no one thinks a thing of it
In addition to the normal cold weather clothing I add Heated Pants, Vest + Sleeves, Gloves and Grips as needed for the temp. When it gets warmer durring the day on trips I simply turn off the Heated Gear or remove it as needed. Spent too many decades without the extra stuff and just love it now that the circulation isn't what it used to be with Thyroid trouble and all.
Have not gotten into the heated items yet, but just use the same techniques as winter tent camping. (Grew up in western New York with lots of snow.) Layer up so you can adjust for the weather. The GoldWing fairing and Baker built wings also help to deflect some of the cold. Scrinch, as for people thinking we are nuts riding in the winter, with the sidecar I even get some of that in the warmer weather. But then I just figure that strange look on their faces is them wishing they had a sidecar. Enjoy being unique!
The reason most people think you are nuts to be riding in freezing or even wet weather is that they either don't ride, or else they do but are more of the 'poser' variety. How many times have you seen this ad, "FOR SALE, used Harley, low miles, garage kept, never even been in the rain"? Like that's supposed to be impressive or something. So you can only imagine what's going though their minds when they see you booking down the road in freezing weather while they sit in their overheated cage, drinking their coffee and just wishing that their electric seat would hurry up and get toastee ;^)
