Let's face it, if you are just jumping on the bike to run to the corner store all you need to do is dress warm. your body will stay warm inside your clothes for a short period. But if you want to ride, Then you need the correct gear.
No matter how you look at it, riding in the cold can be more than bone chilling and ear burning, as your body loses heat it also loses maneuverability. Muscle tightens as the body tries to keep the trunk warm.
Heated gear is the way to go, it keeps you warm, comfortable, and operating without bulky layers of clothes which can also restrict body motion.
What you need depends a lot on the individual and how far you plan on riding. You maybe able to get along with a sweat shirt under leather and heated gloves. Fingers, it seems, feel the cold the earliest and the most. Heated gloves come in many styles, plug in or rechargeable battery powered. They are made by many companies such as Gerbing, Grabber, Technic Longear, and Venture with prices ranging from $15.00 to $211.00.
You can be sure that the cheaper the price, the cheaper the product. battery powered also limits the ride time to whatever the battery can hold rather than running off the bike.
For the quick commute or short rides (think parades ) battery powered may be the way to go if you are strapped or cash. These are also good if you don't plan on riding often and don't want to make a huge investment. But remember not to go too cheap, You should also keep quality in mind. It makes no sense to spend a few dollars today and find that the item doesn't last. So if you are planning short to medium length rides I would suggest a mid-range priced item. Something with a good name. remember not only does the item have to have heat but you have to be able to wear it more than once and you have to be able to wear it and be flexible enough so you can control your sled.
For longer rides there are a number of companies that offer heated gear and you can decide how much of the ensemble you which to wear. Myself I have the gloves and jacket liner by Gerbing. I run that with thermal pants and chaps. But the truth is, if you are going to be on your bike for an extended period of time the full suit is the way to go.
There are jacket liners (which you wear inside another jacket) or heated jackets. There are also heated vests. Pant liners and pants, socks and sole inserts, No matter what you get or where you get it, none of it works until you buy a controller to run the equipment. (Harley requires a separate power connector, the others include that wire with the controller).
Below are some of the options available.
Gerbing appears to have the widest variety of equipment
HARLEY DAVIDSON
Jacket $230.00
Vest liner $190.00
Dual source heated vest $195.00
Heated Pant liner $175.00
Battery gloves $170.00
Heated gloves $185.00
Dual control $100.00
Single control $60.00
Connecting harness $20.00
GERBING
Lady riders gloves $169.95
T5 gloves $169.95
G3 gloves $139.95
Hybrid gloves (battery or bike) $195.95
Nubuck gloves $119.95
Glove liners $79.95 (fit inside your gloves)
Jacket liner $199.95 (worn under another jacket)
Vest liner $139.95 (worn under a jacket)
Pant liner $199.95 (pullover)
Extreme Element jacket $369.95 outer wear
Hybrid Light jacket $349.95 outer wear
Extreme Element pants $279.95 outer wear
Socks $89.95
Insoles $59.95
Controller (single) $69.95
Controller dual $99.95
Permanent Controller (single) $89.95
Permanent Controller (dual) $119.95
FIRST GEAR
Jacket liner $199.95
Pant liner $189.95
Socks $59.95
Rider gloves $129.95
Carbon gloves $169.95
Passenger gloves $119.95
Glove liner $59.95
Controller single item single control $39.95
Dual controller up to $139.95
HEAT DEMON
VEST $135.00
Single controller $59.95
Single with USB port for charging cel phones and mp3 players $59.95
Foot warmer kit $89.95 (cut to fit insole).
Stay warm and enjoy the ride.
There is no reason to be on your bike and miserable,
if you want miserable....take your cage.
klay
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