Author |
Message |
Charlie_zulu
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 02:27 am: |
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Has anyone here lowered their hand guards? Living here on the northern shores of Lk Superior,there's plenty of seat time in sub 45 degree weather for 1/3 of the riding season. I've gone with the heated grips and that does help but the tips of the thumb and fingers still get some wind blast. I do ride alot of early morning commutes to work (4 am ) and it's cold out! Went with the Tourtech guards but that gives you more cover on top. Anyone else experience this? |
Tipsymcstagger
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 02:46 am: |
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If you want function over form, there's the not-so-elegant Hippo Hands. Tipsy |
Charlie_zulu
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 04:11 am: |
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Whoa . I'm to vain for those but I'm sure they would work. Thanks. |
Hughlysses
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 08:47 am: |
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Charlie- Touratech makes some ~1" extensions that are supposed to be mounted to the top of the Uly's handguards, but I've wondered if they couldn't be used on the bottom (where it seems like they'd do much more good). When I've ridden in the cold, I have the same problem as you. |
Ratbuell
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 08:56 am: |
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I found on my FLHP that heated grips are good down to about 35*. Anything colder than that, I now use heated gloves. I also have a heated jacket liner; jacket plugs into bike, gloves plug into jacket. Most of the heating elements on the gloves are on the backside of your hand where it counts...if you ride a lot in the cold, I strongly suggest them. With the jacket under a fleece under my FXRG nylon jacket, and the gloves, I can ride comfortably in 10* or less. |
Skyclad
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 09:37 am: |
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I use the Hippo Hands when the weather gets down to around freezing. For longer rides, the temperature limit does go up a few degrees. I absolutely agree on the ugly factor of the HH, but they represent $80 of very well spent money to me. Not only do they keep the wind off the hands, but also provide protection against rain/sleet/snow. The biggest downside that I found, other than the general dorkiness, is adding that much frontal area to the bike does cause a noticeable change in fuel mileage. |
Bearly
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 10:21 am: |
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I'm with the Ratmiester on that. Although I use Widder heated liners and gloves, I think heated gloves WITH heated grips are good down to a very low temperature. At least low temperatures for the mid Atlantic states (in the teens?). I can't say what you folks up in MN or WI would do except maybe light it on fire and go for a ride? |
Sekalilgai
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 01:55 pm: |
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Here's something I tried and seems to help. I took a couple of pieces of Lexan (0.060 thick) and cut them the width of the handguard and roughly 2.5" tall. After a little 'industrial' velcro is applied I can deploy them with about 1.5" extending below the handguard. It is enough to take the bite out of the windblast. Nice thing is when not needed, just flip the bit of plastic about and it hides cleanly behind the handguard. No clearance problems and it sticks at sustained highway speeds..in the rain. Allows me to keep the winter gloves in the backpocket a little longer.... |
Hoon
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 06:19 pm: |
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I like the lateral thinking Sek,very clever. That's now stored in my memory banks for a future project. |
Sekalilgai
| Posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 - 10:49 pm: |
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Thanks for the compliment Hoon... now if I can somehow cleverly combine that with ...say a sidestand pad on one and say a laminated cheat-sheet for suspension settings on the other....nah sometimes the brain farts just...smell bad |
Charlie_zulu
| Posted on Monday, May 12, 2008 - 06:39 am: |
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Thanks for the suggestions. Any pics of that modification? |
Sekalilgai
| Posted on Monday, May 12, 2008 - 10:54 pm: |
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will post some when I get home on Wed.... it's kinda low tech |
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