Cold out this morning for ride to work. Traction? Gear? | Page 3 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Cold out this morning for ride to work. Traction? Gear?

The thing I hate about the oxfords is the giant control unit. I prefer to have as few things cluttering my handlebars as possible. Some grips like the apollo kosos have the buttons built right into the grips, seems much smarter to me.
I have the switch built in to the grip on the Triumph. Fairly easy to press with my gloves off. Distracting with my gloves on. The leather gives enough that the switch doesn't connect. Worse is you don't want them on high at any temps above zero.
 
This is what I have. Might try them again before paying more for something that's not really being used often.

Honestly I'm at the stage now, where below 15C and I'm seriously reconsidering riding.
I think at 15C you are still ok.. I was riding the other night at 10C.. damn.. that gets windy and cold... worst yet.. I wear glasses.. my visor and glasses fog up like a mo'fo.....

I think when the weather actually gets to like 10C is my time to call next season..
 
My limit was 5c to say go from Sauga to the Forks but I had decent - non electric gear cept for the glover liners.
Coldest I've ridden for distance was on the Burgman at 12c, in the rain in the US...had the glove liners and the Burgman had a lot of weather protection so even at freeway speeds I was comfortable.
I never did get a reliable solution for cold feet tho - that was not an issue for 100,000 km on the Burgman..then when I switched out to the Vstroms etc it popped up ....tho with the rgular BMW boots feet were always dry and reasonably warm.
No more of that any more (y) - chilly is 15c and even then prefer 20 to go out.🌴
 
Anyhow, on another note, the best piece of kit I have ever bought for cold weather riding was my FiredUp heated vest that was on a group buy here a few years back. It's incredible how much keeping your core warm helps keep your extremities warm as well - the difference in things like my toes and legs is incredible really. And there's nothing quite like turning it on and feeling that full torso heat hit under your riding jacket. I made a cigarette lighter cord for mine so I don't have to rely on the batteries during long rides.

That was the first piece of heated gear I ever bought, along with their heated glove liners. Loved the glove liners, but it was a pain to keep the small batteries charged and finicky to fit them into the little pocket on the cuff. Then the cuff would barely fit under my ADV jacket's sleeves with the quilted and waterproof liners all in, and my gauntlet gloves barely fit on top of all that (couldn't even attach the velcro). I had mixed feelings about the vest. I thought it was the greatest thing ever at first, then I realized how unbreathable it was, and that it was making me sweat even on low heat (or no heat). And when the battery died, I was even colder than I would have been without it, because now I was wet on top of being cold. I decided to wire up an extension to plug into the bike, but noticed one of the super thin wires broke right at a heating pad.

I replaced it with a Venture heated jacket liner, and that was a huge improvement with the additional heated arms and neck, and a bit better breathability, but now I was getting picky and realized 3 heat settings wasn't enough as I was constantly switching between different heat settings as it got too hot then not warm enough. At least the bar-mounted remote was convenient.

Unluckily (or luckily), one of the zipper pull tabs broke off, and GP took care of the warranty and offered me a replacement or store credit. I used the credit for a new mesh jacket, and found a used Warm N Safe liner with infinitely adjustable wired heat controller and gloves, which is what I wore last weekend. Next step is to get a wireless heat controller to mount on the bars, and I think I'm set.

I also got a pair of TourMaster heated chaps to wear under my leather pants to warm the front of my legs when it gets really cold. Haven't had a chance to try them yet, though.
 
I think when the weather actually gets to like 10C is my time to call next season..

You're kidding I hope.

I have Warm 'n Safe jacket liner, gloves and socks + a dual remote controller. I usually just use the jacket and gloves on separate circuits and if really cold I put the jacket / gloves on one circuit and the socks on the other.

With above setup my longest cold ride was about 8 hours at 2 - 3 C. I was warm as toast, very comfortable. Spend a few bucks to get proper gear and enjoy riding as long as you can vs. needlessly cutting short an already too brief riding season.
 
Went out Wednesday....6 or 7 degrees when we left in the AM. Heated vest on high, Oxford grips on 3/4, textile jacket with liner....wool socks. I was toasty warm. Stripped off layers as the day went on.
 
I may have those parts kicking around from an led project. Thanks for posting.

Just be sure the vest uses 12v. In the case of the FiredUp vests, the batteries are 12v, so making a direct cord was easy. They actually sell one but it was quite overpriced for what it was. This one cost me $2 - cigarette lighter cord I had kicking around and I picked up the plug during a visit to Sayal some time back.

But if the vest uses <12v, plugging it into straight 12v may not end well.
 
You're kidding I hope.

I have Warm 'n Safe jacket liner, gloves and socks + a dual remote controller. I usually just use the jacket and gloves on separate circuits and if really cold I put the jacket / gloves on one circuit and the socks on the other.

With above setup my longest cold ride was about 8 hours at 2 - 3 C. I was warm as toast, very comfortable. Spend a few bucks to get proper gear and enjoy riding as long as you can vs. needlessly cutting short an already too brief riding season.
looking to get some heated gear as well..the only reputable name I know is gerbing but neither fortnine nor GP bikes carries them it seems...

any recommends?
 
I've had good luck with FirstGear
https://www.revzilla.com/search?_utf8=✓&query=firstgear+heated
 
Last year, I swallowed the bitter pill and up'd the ante to Warm & Safe. I have the warm & safe jacket liner, glove liner, and socks. Additionally, I got the dual controller and the additional splitter cable for the socks since I don't have the pants.

I use the glove liner, so that I can wear my Held's GTX over them. That way, if I am stuck in rain, I am Warm & Dry.

I am doing local chores in and around the GTA these days on the motorbike, riding in temperatures around 6 degrees - and I am loving it.
The last long ride 2 weeks ago, it was a 7 to 10 degrees in the morning, and I didn't even have to crank up the heat all the way up.

I don't know if it's worth it or not, since its just been 1 year, but I know that cold weather is not a deterrent any more.
Plus there's a sale on these days. Plus they give a discount on the advrider code.
 
Last year, I swallowed the bitter pill and up'd the ante to Warm & Safe. I have the warm & safe jacket liner, glove liner, and socks. Additionally, I got the dual controller and the additional splitter cable for the socks since I don't have the pants.

I use the glove liner, so that I can wear my Held's GTX over them. That way, if I am stuck in rain, I am Warm & Dry.

I am doing local chores in and around the GTA these days on the motorbike, riding in temperatures around 6 degrees - and I am loving it.
The last long ride 2 weeks ago, it was a 7 to 10 degrees in the morning, and I didn't even have to crank up the heat all the way up.

I don't know if it's worth it or not, since its just been 1 year, but I know that cold weather is not a deterrent any more.
Plus there's a sale on these days. Plus they give a discount on the advrider code.
just ordered the socks and gloves

Never have problem regulating my core temp (layers and food) but hands usually do get cold (especially if temps are lower and speeds are higher) even with good heated grips
 
just ordered the socks and gloves

Never have problem regulating my core temp (layers and food) but hands usually do get cold (especially if temps are lower and speeds are higher) even with good heated grips

The controller as well, I presume?
Also, since you didn’t order a jacket liner, you would need two splitter cables to complete the circuit.
 
Last year, I swallowed the bitter pill and up'd the ante to Warm & Safe. I have the warm & safe jacket liner, glove liner, and socks. Additionally, I got the dual controller and the additional splitter cable for the socks since I don't have the pants.
This is the same setup I have been using for around 10 years and it’s amazing. But I do prefer their ultimate heated gloves over the glove liners, since my riding gloves are fairly snug.

Never failed me yet, infinitely adjustable heat and ride well below zero degrees in comfort.

WarmnSafe is the best.
 
Bought a Venture jacket liner about 10 ten ago after many years of heated vests. Having the arms and collar heated is great. The Venture comes with a wireless remote that can be mounted anywhere. My Tenere comes standard with heated grips that have 3 settings. The settings are infinitely adjustable in the settings menu.
My cutoff is 4deg.
 

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