when does every one stop riding?? | Page 9 | GTAMotorcycle.com

when does every one stop riding??

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regder said:
Heated gear is awesome, should have bought it a long time ago. I'm running Firstgear socks and pant liners, Warm N Safe jacket liner, Gerbing T5 gloves, and a Warm N Safe wireless troller (infinitely better than the Gerbing wired one, no comparison). Great setup, have cruised all day long down to 5C without getting chilly which says a lot for me.

Still commute every day and do longer rides on the weekends. Bike isn't going to sleep until they put a heavy layer of salt on the ground.
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Nice set up. Can do 200kms+ on a single weekday rides with heated gear. Then use it for downhill ski ing. Would never consider not using heated gear. Common sense.

Makes for a longer season without trying to be Macho and suffering the cold.
 
Rode on Sunday... it was a little chilly but not to bad... My wife doesn't like me riding when there's snow on the ground, so I think I'm done for the year.
 
BradW said:
Rode on Sunday... it was a little chilly but not to bad... My wife doesn't like me riding when there's snow on the ground, so I think I'm done for the year.
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Wednesday looks to be nice were I am. Then starts to trail into pretty consistent snow. I will get out for my last ride wed night wash her of and do an oil change.
 
Dry roads, that is all. My car's in the shop right now, and it'll probably be in again for a couple days sometime within the next few months. During that time, it's all bike.

That said, I work from home 60-100% of the time.
 
regder said:
Heated gear is awesome, should have bought it a long time ago. I'm running Firstgear socks and pant liners, Warm N Safe jacket liner, Gerbing T5 gloves, and a Warm N Safe wireless troller (infinitely better than the Gerbing wired one, no comparison).
Click to expand...

The only problem with heated gear is the tendency to drain the bike's batteries. Bumpstarting a bike at below zero suuuuuucks.

I'm toying with getting the mod for the DL650 to switch off one of the low beams when I'm stuck in traffic in heated-clothing weather, just to shave a few amps. Gotta get a battery-charge idiot light for the winter beater too.
 
MacDoc said:
I guess I'll stick with the Burgman in the colder days as really don't want to deal with cold feet.

Both bikes have heated grips and about the same wind protection up top.

Just my boots get cold on the Wee.

I was actually thinking about wrapping some insulating tape on the clutch of the Wee....bloody aluminum is cold on the finger tips.
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A less expensive (lol@$3) option is a few wraps of electrical tape. Ran into the same issue: palms would be toasty, but when stuck at a light, clutch hand would be screaming. (no handguards). Few layers make it a lot better!
 
FiredUpX.com has great heated gear that doesn't use your bikes battery. Great battery life and very very warm and comfortable. I'll be posting a review tonight........would highly recommend it!!


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regder said:
Heated gear is awesome, should have bought it a long time ago. I'm running Firstgear socks and pant liners, Warm N Safe jacket liner, Gerbing T5 gloves, and a Warm N Safe wireless troller (infinitely better than the Gerbing wired one, no comparison). Great setup, have cruised all day long down to 5C without getting chilly which says a lot for me.

Still commute every day and do longer rides on the weekends. Bike isn't going to sleep until they put a heavy layer of salt on the ground.
Click to expand...

I've had a similar setup for about 5 years, the wireless 'troller is great. Longest day was 550km / 8 hours at 2 or 3C and warm as toast. I usually skip the pants as it gets a bit bulky. Keep your feet, hands and core warm and then a set of woollies, jean and JR Ballistic pants will do for your legs. Gear was an e-bay special at $250 and the troller + a few SAE to coax adapters was another $150. Best $400 investment I've made to date.
 
sadrik said:
The only problem with heated gear is the tendency to drain the bike's batteries. Bumpstarting a bike at below zero suuuuuucks.

I'm toying with getting the mod for the DL650 to switch off one of the low beams when I'm stuck in traffic in heated-clothing weather, just to shave a few amps. Gotta get a battery-charge idiot light for the winter beater too.
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Fortunately, my ancient ST has a fairly large alternator (40amps) and plenty of power to spare.
 
sadrik said:
The only problem with heated gear is the tendency to drain the bike's batteries. Bumpstarting a bike at below zero suuuuuucks.

I'm toying with getting the mod for the DL650 to switch off one of the low beams when I'm stuck in traffic in heated-clothing weather, just to shave a few amps. Gotta get a battery-charge idiot light for the winter beater too.
Click to expand...

One of the biggest draws my FZ1 had was it's 550W stator output. I thing the bike probably draws around 250W, leaving me a lot of room for electrical doodads. My heated gear getup sucks 14A or about 200W. Figure that leaves me a good buffer, still want to get a volt meter to be safe though.
 
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Tomorrow... or today that is (Wednesday) might just be my last day for the year. Might do Friday if it stays clear but beyond that, it doesn't look pretty.
 
likebutta said:
Tomorrow... or today that is (Wednesday) might just be my last day for the year. Might do Friday if it stays clear but beyond that, it doesn't look pretty.
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Ditto. Rode to work tonight. Expecting a ride tomorrow then wash, oil change and stands for the next 5 to 6 months.
 
Yeah looking pretty chilly out now.
Kid will ride to work.
I don't really stand the bikes down at all beyond oil change and battery tenders.

Kid will winterize the FZ-08 and ride the Wee as weather permits ( short commute )
We are both happy with the heated grips and the Scot jackets.

Any further for me will be on the Burgman for weather protection.
If El Nino develops we could see some warmer stretches - but for the next while we are on the wrong side of the jet stream after this week. :(

acttemp_600x405.jpg


El Nino pattern sees a warm flow up the coast from the Gulf but really depends on where the line sits if we get it or not.
Still very rideable to the south of us for a bit yet.
 
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Rode to work this morning, 530 am. Not bad out. +1 for the heated jacket, although it wasn't too cold to begin with. The "fog thief" was meh. A little uncomfortable, still had to crack the visor when stopped, and am not able to wear facemask, therefore, face was chilly from air coming under the helmet. Verdict: $20 lost.
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I think i'm done for the season. Forecast doesn't look too good this coming week, calling for rain or snow. I don't think it'll get any better from here on out.
 
Yup. I think I'm done too. I rode to work on Monday. The time change had me riding to and from work in the night. It was not enjoyable. Bright lights(in my mirrors) make it hard to judge distances so cutting through traffic was a chore. Weather was ok. But time spent dressing made my commute time even longer.
 
Just when you think you're down for the count, up pops one last nice day. That's what I'm waiting for, that one last nice day. Of course last year was an anomaly, where there was no last nice day. I hope that doesn't happen this year.
 
About the stator output... 2014 KTM 690 Enduro R only outputs 225W, and uses approx 100, gives < 100ish for electrical gear.


Powerlet Jacket - 60W
Gerbing T5 - 27W

Even with the powerlet jacket on the low setting (60W) it can make me absolute swelter. Personally I love not having to worry about batteries in my clothing. I can definitely see the appeal, but I just love having the dual wireless controller on the handlebars and being able to easily modulate the power output.

It's really amazing how you can easily extend your riding season with some good gear. I remember a couple years ago I would put the bike away when it hit < 12-13C.


Just need some contacts to avoid this damn fog on the glasses.... ;(
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