Author |
Message |
Towpro
| Posted on Monday, November 14, 2011 - 01:28 pm: |
|
I have messed around with different winter jackets for riding street bikes and snow plowing with my ATV. I have some that work great, but you feel like the Michelin man. Last week I screwed around with building my own heated vest. it worked good but I used the wrong (solid core) wiring. Saturday I went on a long ride where I was going to be coming home after dark so I took the heated vest I made. I had it running on the way out in the morning, bent over to pickup a glove I dropped and broke another wire. During the ride I stopped at the BMW dealer to get an oil filter and there it was: a Gerbing heated vest in my size (XXL). I tried it on and it fit great. I happen to notice the connector was the same one I already was running for my home made jacket, SOLD! I hooked it up without a controller and it's perfect. Now I can be comfortable in the winter = more miles! Best buck and a quarter I spend. They say "heating the core allows warm blood to travel to the arms and legs which make them feel warmer". I now believe it. I was comfortable in low 40's at 70 mph. This vest might allow me to use jackets that are normally too cold for winter riding. Just waiting for it to get cold again. (it's back up to 70 today). |
Buewulf
| Posted on Monday, November 14, 2011 - 05:46 pm: |
|
They are amazing little gadgets. I don't need heated cloths anymore now that I live in Texas, but along with heated grips, you just don't realize how comforting they can be. Like sitting next to a fire on a cold night. |
Towpro
| Posted on Monday, November 14, 2011 - 05:53 pm: |
|
I liken it to "feeling the sun on my back while sitting at the beach" |
Rparnel1
| Posted on Monday, November 14, 2011 - 06:02 pm: |
|
I have a warm-n-safe jacket and gloves with their wireless controller. Man, that is the cats ass! I don't need it often, since I live in Texas, but when I do, it sure is sweet. The power plug also doubles as a handy place to plug in my battery tender. |
Ourdee
| Posted on Monday, November 14, 2011 - 08:30 pm: |
|
I use an AlpineStars Dry-Star with the insulated liner. It is good to below freezing for me. |
Pkforbes87
| Posted on Friday, November 18, 2011 - 05:33 pm: |
|
I do a layer of long johns, then HD heated jacket and pants, then a Tourmaster Transition II jacket and Caliber pants. The long johns prevent me from feeling the individual wires in the heated gear getting hot. Tourmaster gear is sealed up really well and keeps the heat in. I've done a couple of 300 miles rides in high 20's temps.. my feet are the only thing that gets cold. I think gerbing sells electric insoles but I haven't purchased any yet. I've seen electric socks from other sources, but not too keen on that idea. I doubt they'd survive very many wash cycles. |
|