Pro tips fer winter riding...

[jraice]

I think a few lbs less is good for cold & dry, but I think a tire with less lbs would tend to hydroplane more on flooded roads?

Yup! Not going to get much heat into your tires in the rain unless you are riding like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Etb_kqxnI). Better to keep a bit more air in the tire to insure it maintains the proper shape.

 

[Banjoboy]

Another great thang I found fer keep'in warm, are Little Hotties (No not the girls you perv.) Prolly not as good as heated socks, but much cheaper.

 

[bluenoser]

Yup. I got new tires on for the winter season *win!*

one thing i hear OVER and over and over again: "i dont ride in the winter when i can't feel my hands"

...

then get heated gloves you schmuck!

Hand guards do wonders too.

 

[scratch]

Yup! Not going to get much heat into your tires in the rain. Better to keep a bit more air in the tire to insure it maintains the proper shape.

Agreed. You want the suspension be softer, and your tires to be harder, so the suspension 'gives' and not your tires. Skinny tires in the rain rock! Splitting the water like the bow of a warship.

 

[Yakoo752]

Im a cheap arse so I use something similar to this

http://hotsnapz.com/mm5/merchant.mv...=H&Product_Code=BBLT&Category_Code=Promos-241

goal is to keep the core warm and this works amazingly well

I also have heated grips for teh hands

 

[Karbon]

Wet and warm: Do-able
Cold and dry: Do-able
Wet and cold: AAAWWWW HELLLL NAW!

 

[crick]

I think handguards would be a nice low-tech comfort measure. I wish I could find some for my ninjer. Heated grips sound nice, but if you're covering your levers they don't do any good, and they don't warm up the part of your hand taking on all the cold air.

Helmut (of Helimot) also recommended silk glove liners. So.. I guess I should look for those too.

yeah heated grips can only go so far. Better than not having them.

heated gloves have their heat ontop of your hands, the heated grips covers heat on your palm.

i was on a GS during cold weather riding, with heated grips and handguards, i didnt need to pull out the heated gloves, so +1 on the handguards.

handguards on my ST doesnt work so well, 1)looks awkward and 2) bulky, hits my windshield during low speed maneuvers.


OH.

here's a good one:

When riding and pulled over for a stop (gas, food, etc), i stuff my gloves into the crevices of the engine compartment. It really makes the gloves nice and warm. kinda like putting on warm clothes outta the dryer during a cold day.

learned that one from Helmut.

 

[Killin_ix]

Glover liners does wonders for my commute.

I just dropped by CG and picked up a pair for $15.

 

[ST Guy]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned a silk balaklava. Helmets really aren't very good at keeping your head warm and a silk balaklava does wonders for keeping your head warm which helps with the rest of your body as well.

 

[kurth83]

I use wool ski socks covered with Knox cold killers (a thermal/windproof layer), works pretty well down to 40 degrees.

I have a mesh jacket with effective but bulky inner liners, but it is almost as warm with just a frogg togg outerlayer (thin and light) as it is with the bulkier inner liners. With the rain lately I am riding with the toggs and a hi-viz vest on top of it that.

For gloves I got hand guards and grip warmers and it isn't enough. I am fighting buying heated gloves, and am going to try some over gloves next. If that doesn't work I'll try heated glove liners maybe.

 

[crick]

I use wool ski socks covered with Knox cold killers (a thermal/windproof layer), works pretty well down to 40 degrees.

I have a mesh jacket with effective but bulky inner liners, but it is almost as warm with just a frogg togg outerlayer (thin and light) as it is with the bulkier inner liners. With the rain lately I am riding with the toggs and a hi-viz vest on top of it that.

For gloves I got hand guards and grip warmers and it isn't enough. I am fighting buying heated gloves, and am going to try some over gloves next. If that doesn't work I'll try heated glove liners maybe.

heated gloves are awesome but you need to buy the adjustable rheostat with it. There's a cheaper 'on/off' one, but it means either no heat, or very hot-dam-it-to-hell heat. http://gerbing.com/Products/tempControls.php

The IMS show this month should have a booth by gerbing with heated gear for demo. What's neato is they have portable battery packs, which means i can use my heated gear for other things (like sturgeon fishing!)

it's costly gear, a good investment, but if alternatives suits peoples needs, i dont see a need to invest.

 

[kurth83]

Ok, given that I hate my current gloves (no good under about 45 degrees), I looked around, these get the best reviews of any waterproof winter glove I could find.

I chatted with a guy at sportbiketrackgear and he agreed they are the warmest non-heated glove he knows of.

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=5735

revzilla likes them too:
http://blog.revzilla.com/2010/10/held-freezer-held-warm-n-dry-gloves.html

So I ordered a pair, I'll let y'all know if they are better than my current gloves.

 

[TEAMWORK]

Ok, given that I hate my current gloves (no good under about 45 degrees), I looked around, these get the best reviews of any waterproof winter glove I could find.

I chatted with a guy at sportbiketrackgear and he agreed they are the warmest non-heated glove he knows of.

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=5735

revzilla likes them too:
http://blog.revzilla.com/2010/10/held-freezer-held-warm-n-dry-gloves.html

So I ordered a pair, I'll let y'all know if they are better than my current gloves.

I have the Held Warm 'n Dry gloves, and agree that they are very high quality. They are definitely waterproof, and offer enough warmth for most Bay Area riding while not being too bulky. They are also quite handsome, I must say.

There were definitely a few times last winter where they weren't warm enough and my hands were still cold, and I wished I had some super-thin liners to wear in conjunction. Will have to pick up a pair before too long for this winter. For the most part, though, they were warm enough.

 

[SNsMoto]

All I wear under my heated liner is a t-shirt or the like. Never needed more than that.

with heated gear, i had my long sleeve shirt, heated jacket, jacket. But the riddler is right, if you have good insulation like thicker motorcycle fleece thermals, a windproof weather proof insulated jacket (doesnt have to be thick), and outer jacket - it can sustain you pretty well. Temps about 40 i can tolerate with insulation - it's not comfy tho.

that said - there's some jackets who's insulation sucks ARSE. no amount of inner layers will prevent it from getting cold. There are others that are awesome but breathability SUUCKSSSS.

right now i got hte D-system dainese gear, and it has been stellar down to 40 degree temps, after that i need better insulation/heated gear.

Is the "D-System" the items you're using for everything (gloves, jacket, pants etc) ? How do they operate? Plug in to your bikes battery?

Could you guys post up links or names of the items you're using? Interested in expanding my accessory closet for the winter.

 

[RRrider]

I used to ride down to the mid to low 30's back in germany with layers under my motorcycle gear. My bike at the time had heated grips which really helped.

Now, i no longer have heated grips. I find my layer trick plus balaclava works pretty well, but my hands still get cold. I have tried heavier duty gloves and liners, but am considering heated gloves. any recommendations or things to watch out for?
thx

 

[budman]

I was expecting a long list from a pro like you BB.

Pro tips fur winter riding was stickie bound. Where is that Gary J winter riding tips thread again?

 

[CoolBDPhenom03]

What about making sure your visor doesn't fog up?

 

[Kornholio]

Is the "D-System" the items you're using for everything (gloves, jacket, pants etc) ? How do they operate? Plug in to your bikes battery?

Could you guys post up links or names of the items you're using? Interested in expanding my accessory closet for the winter.

I use the 90-watt Firstgear liner and I have the carbon fiber Firstgear heated gloves.

I don't use the heated portion of the gloves anymore since the BMW has heated grips...I just really like the gloves in the colder/wetter months.

You'll need a heat-troller to control it all, which Firstgear produces too, and you can either it hook it all to your battery directly with the connection kit that comes with the controller or just go to www.powerletproducts.com and get yourself a Powerlet plug (commonly called the "BWM style" plug) to connect everything with.

Seriously though, peruse the Firstgear website for their heated gear. It's top notch and dead simple to use.

http://www.firstgear-usa.com/Heated/CSSHeatedGear.html

 

[hypergirl]

Ok, given that I hate my current gloves (no good under about 45 degrees), I looked around, these get the best reviews of any waterproof winter glove I could find.

I chatted with a guy at sportbiketrackgear and he agreed they are the warmest non-heated glove he knows of.

http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no=5735

revzilla likes them too:
http://blog.revzilla.com/2010/10/held-freezer-held-warm-n-dry-gloves.html

So I ordered a pair, I'll let y'all know if they are better than my current gloves.

I have the Held Warm 'n Dry gloves, and agree that they are very high quality. They are definitely waterproof, and offer enough warmth for most Bay Area riding while not being too bulky. They are also quite handsome, I must say.

There were definitely a few times last winter where they weren't warm enough and my hands were still cold, and I wished I had some super-thin liners to wear in conjunction. Will have to pick up a pair before too long for this winter. For the most part, though, they were warm enough.

FYI I've got a pair of Held warm and drys for sale
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385763

 

[plumber]

05' or better RT with wind protection and good alternator------check
Heated Grips------------check
Heated Seat------------check
Gerbing jacket with controller-------check
Cleaned and waterproofed 'stich--------check
new PR3s-------------------------check


I'd rather ride in 35 degree weather than 105 degree weather any day.