| Author | Message | ||
     Xbimmer |
Just got back from a loosely-organized annual run to a remote location in Nevada which at 6000 ft was friggin cold most of the ride to and from. About 30 bikes showed up to start, only about 20 actually made it to destination. Of those were my brother on his KTM Adventure and me on the Uly, the only unfaired bikes in that group. Got to the hotel @ 1530 and it was 15deg outside, with a headwind most of the way at 80-90 mph does anybody know what the windchill factor would be? I knew it had to be colder than I thought because all the other guys on their fully-faired and farkled HD's and Beemers and a couple Japanese bikes were also freezing. My electric vest and a whole bunch of new-tech thermal understuff kept me from dying and falling over and I can deal with cold toes but... The Uly hanguards proved mostly inadequate as wind blockers, and 300 of the 400 miles I rode each way were spent digit-flexing constantly to keep circulation going. Talking with some of the other guys in the bar last night some like electric grips and some gloves, but they all ride behind fairings. Considering the Uly's design, do you guys like electric gloves or grips better? | ||
| Adrian_8 |
I have the Gerbing gloves..When the temperature gets in the 30's and below I run the gloves separately from the jacket. The gloves need to be run at a higher temp. than the jacket to keep my hands warm. I use the "Y" wire and have the dual controller...one for the gloves and one for the jacket, works great. I bought mine at www.Derbycycles.com | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Having both the Touratech spoilers and the Polly heaters that will melt your palms, I would prefer to have Gerbing gloves to go with my Gerbing Jacket for when the weather is as cold as it is right now. Otherwise, down to 40ish, grips and spoilers do a good job. One thing to consider is how comfortable you are in the gloves. I have not tried on the Gerbing gloves, but I haven't found any style of winter gloves that I like because they feel too padded. I just don't feel like I have control of the grip with winter gloves on. I actually ride with summer gloves (mesh back and finger tops, leather on palm side, carbon fiber knuckles) almost all the time because I like the control better. The spoilers seemed to cut a lot of air from the back of the hands and forearms. I would like to have the heated gloves just for below 40 because that is when my finger tips really start to feel it. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I think the Polly heaters work best when you are using winter gloves that are a little more padded. I use full leather gauntlet gloves here where the temp doesn't get too low. The heaters are PLENTY hot. With thicker gloves, I think that the heat would be a little less intense. I like having the heaters when the weather is variable. If you don't have the gloves with you, you have nothing. At least with the grip heaters, you have something even if your glove choice is less than ideal. | ||
| Ulyssesguy |
I would definitely go with Gerbings heated gloves and jacket liner if you planning on riding below 35 degrees... The Gerbings factory is located in Union Washington and the will sell you their stuff and fit you for it right on the spot. I recommend doing this because it is essential to how well your heated gear works... just my 2c | ||
| Hughlysses |
I've had a set of Widder heated gloves for about 3 years. I don't have their heated vest but may get one at some point. The main drawback I have with the gloves is that putting on and hooking up the wiring harness is a bit of a PITA. You have to run a wire up each sleeve of your jacket, put on the jacket, zip up, get on the bike, plug the lower end into the pigtail on the bike, hook up each glove and then put them on. It's not bad to do once or twice, but on a long trip it gets tiring to go through this process every time you get on and off the bike. The gloves do however, work great at keeping your hands warm. I can see where the grip heaters would be a big advantage in this regard, nothing extra to hook up or bring along. If you get caught in cold weather out on the road, flip a switch and you're good to go. | ||
| Sanchez |
I have the HD heated jacket and gloves, and they feel goooood in the cold. Like Jmhinkle says, though, the gloves are very thick. I feel a bit disconnected from the bike, and I have to consciously relax my hands and trust that I'm holding the grips, or my forearms will cramp up from squeezing too hard. | ||
| Dr_greg |
While I certainly second the Gerbings jacket liner, I've found that heated grips work well enough for me...even down in the teens (or six degrees like it was this morning here in the balmy southwest). Less hassle than gloves. Fingertips do still get tingly, however...lets me know I'm still alive, I guess. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I love my heated grips. There are times when it's cool in the morning, but hot in the afternoon. The heated grips allow you to make due with one pair of gloves. Same applies after sunset...just turn the grips on and keep riding. Nice in the rain too. If your hands get wet, turn on the grip heaters and they will stay warm. Still wet, but warm. | ||
| Xgecko |
well I commute 20 miles each way to work pretty much year round. I have my dad's BMW Dakar hand grips with the Touratech spoilers on the way. I also have heated grips that do a great job of keeping me warm. Good gloves make a huge difference. My hands are almost as warm in my regular leather gloves as they are in my "Insulated Joe Rocket gloves" My next choice is a set of Elkskin Gauntlet with silk liners (which BTW are a requirement for temps below freezing). I've not had any issues with a cold body so chalk that up to my Joe Rocket Ballistic pants and jacket. My next boots will be Combat Lites for both durability and quality. Yeah I like Aerostich...no I don't work for them they just make/sell quality gear. | ||
| Wademan |
I have the heated gloves (gerbings) and love them but I have also had heated grips that worked equally well. The choice for me depends on how often I will be on and off the bike. Off road, I would much rather have the heated grips because you can get on and off the bike quickly without unplugging, etc. But for on road, the gloves I like much better because the warmth is much more even. I have ridden in 34* weather with no spoilers and the heated gerbings and am very comfy. The gerbings are not TOO thick as I still feel like I have decent control. As mentioned heated grips are nice because you dont have to carry and extra pair with you, they are always there when you need them. | ||
| Debueller |
I like wearing a lighter glove, then flipping the switch when my hands need it. (some times it's all day) | ||
| Windrider |
I prefer heated grips. You always have them when you want them and all you have to do is flip the switch. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Thanks for the responses, guys.  My winter gloves are new Tourmaster Cold Front Carbons, for the weather in the 30's here recently they're great and not as bulky as some. True like most winter gloves they reduce feel but after a couple of weeks of break-in I was satisfied. However they just couldn't deal with sub-20deg windblast. When my brother and I left the hotel yesterday it was 5-6deg and for about 60 miles down to lower elevations the only relief for my fingers and thumbs was to stick them directly behind the handguards and steer with my palms. Not exactly reassuring... I'm heading up to Ojai this week to check Widder's gloves out again, but I'm leaning toward heaters. I'm sure there's a controller arrangement out there to modulate the heat output. | ||
| Lorazepam |
I have some Kombi Cyclone Ski gloves with a goretex liner, and leather palms. The palm side is much thinner than the top, I am guessing for feel on ski poles. They take advantage of the heated grips, and give better feel on the controls than the average winter gloves I have had. The insulation on the back looks like wool, but is synthetic, and works great into the 20's. The goretex liner works, at least for an hour, as that is the longest I have worn them in the rain. My first gear winter gloves are now collecting dust as these gloves rock. | ||
| Stevenknapp |
I don't ride when it gets below freezing, but I DO have a snowmobile. My nod goes to the grips. | ||
| Dr_greg |
The grips I installed (Dual-Star or something like that) have a two-position rocker switch. On "HI" they heat up pretty quickly for those 6-degree mornings. "LO" still gives a fair bit of heat, but noticeably less. | ||
| Sleez |
that would equate to a "wind chill" of approx. -15 deg. | ||
| Hotredjohn |
I have ridden many thousands of miles with both heated grips and heated gloves. I have had Widder and currently use Gerbing under jacket, over pants, heated socks and gloves. My heated grips were HD and no longer work (I would not buy them again). Like most riders the bulk of the heated gloves are a PITA but keeping warm overrides that distraction. The Widder gear is very good, but I always had a problem with my hands being cold and my body burning up. With the Gerbing gear you can have separate control for gloves and the rest of the system. I have ridden in some pretty cold weather and unless the temperature drops into the teens and below the gear will keep me warm. John | ||
| Xbimmer |
John I agree, with competition out there from Gerbing and Warm-n-Safe I don't understand why Widder doesn't offer dual-controllers for clothing. The electronic controller I bought a couple weeks ago works great on my vest. I wired up a second harness for a passenger vest last night and road tested it today with my daughter and a Widder switch cord, worked great. And what I like best about the Widder stuff is the connectors, roadside fixable. And my vests are 20-plus-year-old English-made Thermotex I picked up from Racecrafters for $20 each in a clearance box. They take Widder hookups and have proven failsafe for over two decades. I've decided to go with the Pollys and a Warm-n-Safe grip controller. I think the intense heat reported from the Pollys might be better regulated with a Heatroller and I don't like flipping switches around. Thanks for all the input and links here! |
