Winter riding

[Tucci]

Started buying heated gear back 2003, first for my wife, who now has heated jacket, gloves, socks, pant liners. Got myself jacket,gloves,pant liners. Fantastic to just frank up heat going through mountains especially in late October early November, barring snow.

Www.warmnsafe.com.

 

[GTK]

If it gets down in the 50's at night here in South Florida in the Winter,I have to dig out my Northern riding jacket and gloves. Sure glad I kept them,hate those shivers.

 

[NC Triker]

I have a heated jacket liner and heated gloves. Don't wear them much here in SE North Carolina. I am old enough that I figure if I need heated gear it's just too cold to ride and I will sit here next to the fireplace and read Trike Talk.

 

[Tucci]

Slick ****bustin'

(GTK). If it gets down to 50! Back when i was younger and dumber, I decided to ride my 70flh out to penn state to see a friend. Mid November 4pm 55° to start. 75 miles into the trip thru the nittany mountains and 40 miles and 1 hour to go temp dropped to 34°, leather jacket and chaps so stiff couldn't bend arms or legs. Took clutch hand glove off to keep putting it on rocket boxes and oil tank. Seriously contemplated stopping and putting bike on fire to get warm. Ahh to be younger and (more) stupid again.

 

[Marc H]

A few years ago I was testing how well my heated gear worked and work was only 15 miles away I rode in 1 morning when it was 17 outside.BTW the people that say carbed wings wont start when its cold are doing something wrong cause mine don't care.

 

[trikeman]

I ride yr round. Hot cold rain and snow. But I must admit we don’t have much snow. :wave4:

 

[hogcowboy]

I got heated jacket liner and gloves but I really don't like wearing them. Especially the gloves. To keep my hands warm on the outside where wind hits I have to turn them up which causes the palms to sweat. Wet and cold don't work. Got heated grips too and just using them my palms are warm but the outsides are freezing. I can't win. Getting frostbite too many times probably hasn't helped.:Shrug::Shrug::Shrug:

 

[1dn5up]

Wanted to get out of this house and ride yesterday, as a local town shuts down for a large rod and custom show. Not far, about 1hr away. Started out around 50* , so the sweat shirt, tourmaster mesh jacket went on. I also have Boot Suspenders to keep the pant legs from riding up from the wind. By noon the sweet shirt was off as the coat was off while checking out all the fine machinery desplayed. The ride home was with the jacket only. Very comfortable ride home.

My point is that I finally got a good mesh jacket that’s roomy, warm, water resistant, so I don’t need to carry a wardrobe anymore. Money well spent. Does any one need 4 useless leather coats ?

 

[Tucci]

Leathers

Gave all my leathers away several years ago. Too big bulky and in 35° weather, no matter how much leather conditioner you use, too stiff. Heated jacket liner is wind resistant and rolls up small in trunk. Only wear t shirt underneath and if gets real cold put hooded jacket over liner. I have heated grips (got them added when I put on 14" bars February ) Worked in lumber mill as kid, wet gloves in winter, mild frost bite gave me weird condition in finger tips. Temp below 50 and fingers feel like there are vise grips on them

 

[Tucci]

Addendum

No helmet law in Pa. so I have a lined neoprene balaclava. I haven't been able to find gloves that keep the top of hands warm while using heated grips. Tried carharrt, leather, mittens, rubberized, and almost anything else I could find. Any suggestions are more than welcomed.

 

[dannymax]

'Ritis in my hands is becoming pretty noticeable lately, will be no more winter driving but heated grips would be nice on some of the cooler fall rides that are quickly approaching (actually, they're already here).

Does Harley have a plug n play heated grip option that fits the Freewheeler anyone is using?

 

[rhino 2]

For those cool days when you just need a lite jacket, An Under Armor ''T'' Shirt Cold Gear works wonders......I have two of them and they make a great first layer....ThumbUp

 

[Tucci]

Reply Danny

The dealer i trust Susquehanna Valley HD, ran a 1/2 price labor this past Jan to mar. Got 14" bars on and my wife ( reason why I love her) insisted I spend the extra for heated grips. I get 11% discount on mvp plan, but here's the break down.

Streamlined heated grips pn56100255. $269.00

Electrical connection kit pn69200722. $ 23.95

Labor. $ 90.00

Again this is with the new bars off the trike

Bars, grips,wiring etc $492. LABOR: $438

 

[MDO]

Another option would be a pair of electric gloves.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I rode a new 92 FLHS home 48 miles in MN the month of February

No heated gear but lots of layers

Being a mechanic all my life, my hands cant take the cold no more, hit with hammers and smashed too much I guess

The coldest day I rode here in Florida was a couple years ago coming out of Key West in early March, 28 degrees with side ways wind felt like 15 below

 

[Tucci]

Jack

Worked on farm equipment, hung out in auto garages all my life. Makes you wonder what we did to ourselves blowing asbestos dust out of brake drums, soaking our hands in parts washers, holding on to parts as we sprayed them clean with ,now outlawed, parts cleaner and carb cleaner. Not to mention how much granny fluid, brake fluid, and gasoline we swallowed laying under the vehicles

 

[Jack Klarich]

Worked on farm equipment, hung out in auto garages all my life. Makes you wonder what we did to ourselves blowing asbestos dust out of brake drums, soaking our hands in parts washers, holding on to parts as we sprayed them clean with ,now outlawed, parts cleaner and carb cleaner. Not to mention how much granny fluid, brake fluid, and gasoline we swallowed laying under the vehicles

Indeed, I am part of the class action suit against Monsanto

Many years ago the state of Mn came to the shop I was working at and had a asbestos meter hooked up to me while I did a brake service, The results were not good for the company I was working for at that time

 

[Tucci]

MDO

Have a pair of 12v glove liners. Wires get too uncomfortable on long rides, not the heat, just the wires pushing against back of hands. Plus to take it the jacket you've got to unplug everything. Hand grip warmers work fantastic but tips of fingers still go numb. Bulky gloves usually have the fingers too slippery to work clutch in traffic

 

[Tucci]

Jack

Like the cw song says.. " I drank from a garden hose, ride in the back of a pick up truck and worked it the sun yet I'm still here.

 

[Tucci]

Side frame heat deflectors

Was just looking at the fw and thought it would be a good idea if the side heat reflectors could be swiveled so in the cooler weather you could channel the engine heat up towards your body. Years ago 70's i saw an Erie, Pa motorcycle cop (they rode the old shovels year round) it had to be about 25°, and nighttime. He was sitting an intersection, with a big horse blanket somehow secured over his lap to catch engine heat.

 

[dannymax]

I installed Symtec grip heaters on several bikes, they don't cost much and work really well, granted they don't warm the backs of the hands but those 26 deg. rides are in the past for me! Just don't want to do that type modification to my FW if there's a nice plug n play set up.

Altho, when it's cold enough for grip heaters there is generally snow around here....which means salt :gah: and that means my bike is under a quilt in the garage till spring.

 

[Tucci]

Dannymax

I know what you mean. For me it's about riding for distance in comfort and enjoying the ride. Days of full throttle "hey! Watch this" are done with. Takes too long to heal anymore. Rode recently with group of mixed ages, 30's on up to my age mid 60's. Stayed to the back of the pack to observe, then the first stop at a drinking hole, I went on my way with a few other trikers. I still hit the gym everyday for 1 1/2 hours workout, gave up alcohol years ago. Got nothing to prove to anyone. Got no attitude, don't care what you ride, and I'll help you if you ask.

 

[TWISTED1]

I know what you mean. For me it's about riding for distance in comfort and enjoying the ride. Days of full throttle "hey! Watch this" are done with. Takes too long to heal anymore. Rode recently with group of mixed ages, 30's on up to my age mid 60's. Stayed to the back of the pack to observe, then the first stop at a drinking hole, I went on my way with a few other trikers. I still hit the gym everyday for 1 1/2 hours workout, gave up alcohol years ago. Got nothing to prove to anyone. Got no attitude, don't care what you ride, and I'll help you if you ask.

 

[ShapeShifter]

Still have my northern winter gear; an old insulated and armored fxrg jacket, silk thermal crew undershirt and pants, thermal balaclava, moisture wicking wool socks, leather chaps, heated gloves, xelement riding boots, wool scarf and full face helmet w/neck curtin. All this gear isn't always needed for winter riding in SW Arkansas.

 

[Tucci]

When I started buying gebring style heated clothing 14 years ago I paid $90.00 for the same jacket (with some updates) you buy today for $215.00. I found a site back then with factory seconds and bought my wife a jacket liner for $70. The heated clothing is great, no more layering until you end up like Ralphies brother in Christmas story.