 Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Well this being GA cold is relative I suppose but it is cold to me at times. I was wondering about advice on gear such as the feasibility of snowmobile suit/goggles and the best way to get the bike started in colder conditions. The all mighty and great Chy has told me the some of the secrets witihn the fabled 2002 Bonneville America owners manual such as the alternating method of using the choke and 5 seconds of attempting ignition and 10 seconds of rest. But I am curious as what other riders might think.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,268 Likes: 15
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,268 Likes: 15 |
Wickers Wickers undergarments are great. Layer up,you can always pull off a layer as the day warms up. Heated gloves are great and I understand a heated vest is the thang! a little trick I discovered some time ago, slip on a pair of rubber gloves, the good kind you can get at the auto parts. Then put your winter gloves over the top. Works great to keep the wind out and retain your body heat. You can also wear a pair of household rubber cleaning gloves over the outside of your regular gloves but you'll probably catch heck from your riding buddies. Ask me how I know! But I was warm and dry 
Last edited by mikemm03; 11/14/2011 10:52 AM.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
Well this being GA cold is relative I suppose but it is cold to me at times. I was wondering about advice on gear such as the feasibility of snowmobile suit/goggles
  
(okay, I'll stop now)
Layers. Failing that, Gerbing heated liners. I don't break out the heated gear until low 30s or below, at least.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 78
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OP
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Well my main problem it seems is keeping my pants tucked in my boots, Chy mentioned using some spats to keep them in but now luck so far finding a suitable set and a collar/chest protection to keep the air from the area between my upper chest to the bottom part of the helemt. Also trying to keep the cold air from my eyes hence I am looking into a snowmobile facemask/goggles as well as a balvaca sort of head piece.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,580
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2009
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I'm thinking of getting one of these for this winter +1 on the internal rubber gloves, though people say you shouldn't as they make your hands sweat, which then cools and chills your hands, but it worked for me last winter.  As for boots, I use some thigh length ones with long thick socks and my jeans tucked in them. Also, when it's biting cold, I'll wear my waterproof leggings to keep the wind off HTH
Too old to die young, too ugly to leave a good looking corpse
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Some helmets have a "chin skirt" sort of an attachment to protect the neck. I've used Schampa stuff before and it's pretty good (most of it doesn't fit my fat neck). http://www.schampa.com/Neckgaiters_s/4.htmOh, they make a skirt too... http://www.schampa.com/product_p/hlmskrt01.htm
Last edited by FriarJohn; 11/14/2011 8:49 PM.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
A heated vest is the beez neez! Keep your core warm and the extremities have a much easier time keeping warm.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
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When it gets really cold, I wear Gerbings heated gloves and heated jacket. It's a thin jacket that fits well under the leather and is unbelievably toasty. I recommend the gaitors John suggested. The neck stays warm with those.
About the goggles...I guess you don't have a full-face helmet? If not, get one for winter. It will keep you warm and dude, crap really hurts when your face is frozed and you take a rock to the cheek.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 78
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Oh I have a modular full face helmet but the wind gets in around the edges and under the chin. Unfortunately am trying to do some winter stuff on the cheap as it were money is a bit tight else wise I would have the saddlebags, the backrest and the risers I would like heh. I am working on a leather collar/bib to keep the worst of the chill off my chest and neck using scraps of leather and either a flannel or fleece backing and Velcro straps and am using socks with fingerholes cut out to gather the sleeves of my jacket up in order to keep the gaps between the gloves and jacket to a minimal ( Chy's suggestion).
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
This will keep your face and neck warm no problem! 
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 78
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OP
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Looks nice but where do I buy it from?
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
I've got a power port on the way for Reboot that matches the one on the Rocket, and I just got an adapter today so I can plug my Gerbing liner into the power port. I also ordered a couple things from Schampa, a neck gator thing that has a mesh skullcap, and a pair of glove liners. Should be sufficient for most short winter rides. Of course, there's enough snow on the ground now that I won't be riding for a while. Great timing.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 78
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OP
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Speaking of neat things. Any news on the lightbar Friar John?
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
fleece lined leather bandanas work for me to seal the area between the jacket collar and the helmet base. General idea A wool scarf works well too. Michael Jackson glove liners that have a pocket sewn on which holds those oxygen activated hand warmer packets. Toss some of those hand warmers in your boots too. Leather chaps keep the wind off your legs. A microfiber gerber heated vest would be the ticket (and heated gloves too). But $$ is tight for such extravagances (read that as in Central Florida those items would be used seldom if ever) Slowing up is the biggest way to thwart hypothermia on the cheap. Go fast without the gear and your nose wants to fall off. You hands hurt bad and the toes share the pain. Gearing up for winter riding is costly. Start out with the bandana, layer with what you already have and slow down. That is until you start to fulfill your winter gear wish list. Key word: Microfiber..........
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
In keeping with British riding tradition I picked up a silk scarf this year and find that it works beautifully for keeping the neck and lower face warm!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 78
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OP
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Well currently for riding I wear black thermals (Target brand heh), jeans, and leather over pants held up by suspenders, two layers of socks making sure they overlap the bottom of the thermals, xelemt boots, a tshirt (usually one of the rally shirts, a pullover hoodie, a leather vest ontop, my leather jacket, the sock gloves to help keep the sleeves gathered and the scorpion gloves, a cotton full pull over facemask and a bandana over my mouth to help keep the fogging down in the helmet. Gear is as follows. http://www.leatherup.com/p/Xelement-Mens...ants/96086.htmlhttp://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Motorcyc...ket/114525.htmlhttp://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Motorcyc...oots/41776.htmlhttp://www.leatherup.com/p/Scorpion-Moto...oves/98651.htmlhttp://www.revzilla.com/product/hjc-symax-2-flip-up-modular-helmet
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,268 Likes: 15
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,268 Likes: 15 |
Quote:
Well currently for riding I wear black thermals (Target brand heh), jeans, and leather over pants held up by suspenders, two layers of socks making sure they overlap the bottom of the thermals, xelemt boots, a tshirt (usually one of the rally shirts, a pullover hoodie, a leather vest ontop, my leather jacket, the sock gloves to help keep the sleeves gathered and the scorpion gloves, a cotton full pull over facemask and a bandana over my mouth to help keep the fogging down in the helmet. Gear is as follows.
http://www.leatherup.com/p/Xelement-Mens...ants/96086.html
http://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Motorcyc...ket/114525.html
http://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Motorcyc...oots/41776.html
http://www.leatherup.com/p/Scorpion-Moto...oves/98651.html
http://www.revzilla.com/product/hjc-symax-2-flip-up-modular-helmet
Damn, sounds like you got it covered 
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 740
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Posts: 740 |
I have been using this,it works well 
Bill.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."
-George Best
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
Speaking of neat things. Any news on the lightbar Friar John?
Nope. Bagged it. Not enough interest. http://goo.gl/zZ1v8
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531 |
I have a "bunnie-suit" from Yamaha....one piece like a rain suit.lightly insulated...works great on those cold days (lows of 34 degrees) and has vents for the afternoon when it hits a frigid 60 degrees in the afternoon on the ride home after work....on those days (a few weeks a year) when it is truly cold in the morning....in the 20's , I use a heated vest and gloves with a thermostate......I have had the "bunny-suite" for some time and it works better than my Car-harts in blocking "blow-through" at speed......IMO...just one bikers economical solution to the "cold" weather which in my area is not cold in more Northern latitudes...
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531
Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Oh, I bought one of those fleece turtle neck things from the Harley shop that comes up to cover my neck and chin whith a helmet on.....good thing in the end is I just step out of everything at work with my work clothes on ready to go .not alot of "stuff" to wear , gloves, bunnie suit and neck thing....
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419 |
No one has mentioned these so I will ...
Merino wool thermals - an extremely fine soft wool which is not itchy, naturally anti-bacterial, never smell (no matter how bad you do) and more efficient at warming and wicking away moisture than any new tech materials.
Cheers, Richard
~~~~~~~~~~~~
09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
......I have had the "bunny-suite" for some time and it works ...
Well , hey , if it works for ya - I 'spose it's the heart-shaped red Jaccuzzi . Or the spinning round bed . Hmmm . 
.............grammer cops , on duty even at 1:30 A.M.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,883
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,883 |
I have one of those silk and fleece buffs. It is a great way to keep your your neck warm, and it you can pull it up over your head like a balaclava. I bought mine from the our local Triumph shop, but you can get them at any motorcycle shop I suspect.
~Brent
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"Nothing you can be is more terrible than what I am." ~ 2007 Black Speedmaster!!
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 237
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Back when I was in service at San Diego .. I found that a section of newspaper under the shirt w/ the jacket zipped up did a wonderful job of blocking all the cold and wind from the front .. it was amazing !! if we got caught out late ..or up in the hills... lol
Guess the homeless had it figured out .. but it works !
07 SPEEDMASTER ..SLASHCUT BUBS..
NOLOGY COILS/WIRES ..PHANTOM BLACK ..CHROME COVERS...K&N PODS..
BEAUTIFULL WHEN SHE RUNS RIGHT..SHE WAS ..
.. I LIKE HER>> ALOT ~~
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
There is a story circulating the internet for some time now I think, about a kids early encounter with a biker while with his dad. The only part of the story I remember was the father giving him an old phonebook out of the trunk so he could tear out the pages and line his jacket. I guess it'll do in a pinch.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Well, when I was young(er) the BEST thing going for beating the cold was having a beautiful fair maiden strapped on the back with her arms wrapped around me. Decades later I can't seem to find her, so a heated vest will have to do!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590 |
Quote:
Back when I was in service at San Diego .. I found that a section of newspaper under the shirt w/ the jacket zipped up did a wonderful job of blocking all the cold and wind from the front
Knew of the same thing. I wonder how the proliferation of newspapers online will affect cold weather riding? Might have to stuff a laptop in there instead 
jh
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
I wonder how the proliferation of newspapers online will affect cold weather riding? Might have to stuff a laptop in there instead
jh
Or a few dozen iphones!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 641
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 641 |
Newspapers cost money..for the frugal rider,use little nickel want adds or the real astate booklets at most convenience stores.We used this back in the 60s' on our trip up the alcan!
life is good..I am retired..sold my America in 2008,bought a Rocket and sold that in 3/2013 and now own a new Triumph Bonneville T-100
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 237
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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that and a good set of chaps and your there.. lol really it was amazing how well a " Thermal Layer " kept all the cold and wind out.. Just make sure you have a great pair of gloves.. Love the old laptop idea 
07 SPEEDMASTER ..SLASHCUT BUBS..
NOLOGY COILS/WIRES ..PHANTOM BLACK ..CHROME COVERS...K&N PODS..
BEAUTIFULL WHEN SHE RUNS RIGHT..SHE WAS ..
.. I LIKE HER>> ALOT ~~
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,465 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,465 Likes: 2 |
Effective winter gloves are too bulky, so I bought another pair of silk liners and use my summer gloves until temps drop too low (yeah, it does that now and then in NORTH Florida). This year for those cold 5 a.m. mornings, I'm trying a pair of neoprene, fleece lined Ice Bay fishing gloves from www.glacieroutdoor.com Windproof and they have a textured surface that gives great feel for the controls. Only $20 from the local Army/Navy store.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 280
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Well, here in Arizona, the only adjustment I make for winter riding is to put away my mesh jacket and wear one that doesn't let the wind whistle through it.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,260 Likes: 59
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,260 Likes: 59 |
Quote:
Well, here in Arizona, the only adjustment I make for winter riding is to put away my mesh jacket and wear one that doesn't let the wind whistle through it.
On a ride in S.E. AZ a few years ago I woke up to hear a groan from a friend and then a question asked "Does a Honda Goldwing have antifreeze in it?" The TV was showing 24 degrees in Bisbee that morning.
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Re: Cold Weather Riding.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,726
Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I couldn't do without my Fox Creek thinsulate lined gauntlet gloves when it's cold. Got to stop that air going up my leather jacket sleeves.
Bob
2005 America, 904cc - sold. 2014 Trophy SE.
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