Cold Weather Gear

[scott1792]

Well, its getting to be that time of year when my summer riding gear just isn't going to cut it anymore.  Does anyone have any recommendations for some cheap or moderately priced cold weather gear?

[hppants]

I'm afraid our weather doesn't get cold enough to render a good test.  However, I have ridden with these gloves down to 40 degrees and like them very much:

http://www.joerocket.com/catalog/index.cfm/238/141/Gloves/Nitrogen_Glove

[bajakirch]

'Cold weather' is a subjective term. What you guys down south would consider downright frigid might be equal to the first great riding day of the spring for us northerners.

That being said, I picked up a Weise DynaStar jacket through my local CL and it's phenomenal in the cold weather. I don't know that the Weise brand is readily available in the US (the PO said he purchased it when he was working in Ireland for a year), but it's worth the overseas shipping charge in my estimation.

I've worn my Weise jacket, with the liner in, in temperatures down to the mid-20s with absolutely no problem. It's warm and doesn't let a lick of wind in. Not the most comfortable jacket for 80+ degrees in the summer, but fabulous when the temps start to dip.

[fishmeister]

 

[green427]

Does anyone have any recommendations for some cheap or moderately priced cold weather gear?

Motodirect.com has pretty decent gear at rock-bottom prices. Jafrum.com is another choice. Textile jackets with quilted linings are good for keeping you warm, along with textile overpants.

What size jacket do you wear? I have a new EXL 3 season jacket that is size 2XL and is way too big for me, looking to sell it.

[Option13]

The trick is layers. Make sure to wear something windproof, then insulation under that.

I normally wear a Tourmaster leather jacket. Now that it's cold, I put on a down vest on underneath, as well as a long sleeve shirt. Two pairs of pants keep the legs warm.

[scott1792]

This is the jacket I have right now http://www.bikebandit.com/scorpion-cool-rod-jacket.  Even though it has a windproof liner in it, somehow I have the feeling that I'm going to need to get something warmer.

[hppants]

The trick is layers.

+1 - I left the house this morning at 40 degrees on the button.  By late this afternoon, it was in the high 60's, and I was 2 layers lighter.

[detdrbuzzard]

fleece lined jeans, tourmaster venture overpants, leather jacket and synergy electric jacket liner. still looking for some decent gloves but will look at getting a pair of synergy gloves too

[rwilli1228]

Does anyone in your family play golf?  They might have an old Gore-tex shirt hand me down.  I got one from my brother and even in 20 degree weather all I wear are my jeans, a long sleeve T, the Gore-tex shirt, a scarf, and my jacket.  

For my gloves I went to the boating store and got me some boat gloves.  They are wind and waterproof and with my summer gloves worn over these amazingly thin gloves my hands stay pretty warm.

By the way.... not all Southerners are freaked out by the cold....

[drdubb]

Scott;

When I was your age, I tolerated the cold much better than I do now.
Have you been down to CycleGear. They are having some sales. Also check Newenough. com..oops they changed their name.

Is that 700 the one I see parked at Crabtree from time to time?

[Soupskin]

The Tourmaster Synergy jacket has a serious design flaw.

The controller wiring connection comes from the jack through a grommet that easily rips out of the liner.

I'm sending mine back for a refund.

[Soupskin]

I just got the Synergy 2.0 jacket.  They've gotten rid of the grommet that used to tear out of the liner and replaced it with three leads that connect to the controller.

The controller that comes with it is a dual one that can control the jacked and another item independently of each other.

Wore it this AM for the first time and it was great.  Hope it holds up better than the 1.0 version.

$211.99 from MotorcycleGear.com

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/heated_gear_and_snow_helmets/upper_body/tour_master/synergy_2_0_heated_jacket_liner.html

[LOKi]

Stay away from the longer jackets. They seem like they would work well but they don't. The longer ones cup under your butt facing the bottom of the jacket forward. Like a big hood scoop it cups in the air and leaves you cold. Better to have a waste jacket that zips into the riding pants.

[mattrowe19]

Lots of talk about jackets and pants. What is everyone wearing for gloves in the cold? My Drystars are great down to about 40 but my fingers were frozen at mid to upper 20's the last few mornings. I'm looking for the best bang for my buck.

[Soupskin]

Lots of talk about jackets and pants. What is everyone wearing for gloves in the cold? My Drystars are great down to about 40 but my fingers were frozen at mid to upper 20's the last few mornings. I'm looking for the best bang for my buck.

This will be my third season with these:

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/gloves/insulated_and_or_waterproof/cortech_by_tour_master/scarab_winter_motorcycle_gloves.html

So far so good.

[happycommuter]

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/gloves/insulated_and_or_waterproof/tour_master/polar_tex_2_gloves.html
Tour Master Polar-Tex.  I have version 1.0 apparently.  They're quite good but I should probably be wearing a smaller size, so I'm stuck with polypropylene liners and teh dang wrist straps aren't quite tight enough.  This should worry me more.

But they're pretty warm and waterproof, provide decent enough dexterity.

[mattrowe19]

Happy-how are those gloves at fighting off the wind? I've been leaning towards leather because I'd think it's wind resistance would be better. I've been looking at the Winter Scarab in particular. However, $25 cheaper is a big plus in my mind. That's over 2 tanks of gas!

[happycommuter]

Hard to say.  I don't really feel the wind, or even particularly the cold, while riding.  It's more chronic than acute, as they are comfortable but not impervious - eventually enough gradual exposure becomes an issue.  This morning (32F, ~25miles, ~1hr) I had a finger that took a while to warm back up, but I was underinsulated in general, so the extremity went sooner than it should have.  But I don't feel any breeze, and the fingertip going before knuckles or the back of the hand get any discomfort is probably a good sign...for the glove.

BTW, turns out I have a size Small, and I normally wear a size 8-8.5 glove so I'm saying the Tour Master size chart is off or I have a mis-sized pair. 

[LOKi]

What is everyone wearing for gloves in the cold?

Not armored but lately I have been using my snowboarding mitts. I thought it would make working the controls too difficult but it doesn't. If the mitts where a little bigger I could actually wear my summer armored gloves under them.

Very warm though. With heated grips my hands sweet in low 30's.

[Poligrafovich]

What is everyone wearing for gloves in the cold?

I have a pair of these:
http://www.Motorcycle-Superstore.com/1/1/37/703/ITEM/Olympia-6000-Mustang-I-Gloves.aspx
Below 30F I've been wearing liners under them, but I'm not sure how much they actually help. One thing that does help is making sure the gloves are absolutely dry, as in not just "not damp", but metaphysically bone dry. I keep mine parked over a heater vent. It looks like someone's trying to escape from the basement.

[mattrowe19]

What is everyone wearing for gloves in the cold?

I have a pair of these:
http://www.Motorcycle-Superstore.com/1/1/37/703/ITEM/Olympia-6000-Mustang-I-Gloves.aspx
Below 30F I've been wearing liners under them, but I'm not sure how much they actually help. One thing that does help is making sure the gloves are absolutely dry, as in not just "not damp", but metaphysically bone dry. I keep mine parked over a heater vent. It looks like someone's trying to escape from the basement.

Wow! Reading the reviews of those has me wanting to try those. At less than $20, they're worth a shot. How is the fit compared to the other gloves you wear? Larger? Smaller?

[ariwhiteboy]

I also use the Scarab winter gloves soup mentioned. They work well, but the waterproofing leaves much to be desired. 

[Poligrafovich]

What is everyone wearing for gloves in the cold?

I have a pair of these:
http://www.Motorcycle-Superstore.com/1/1/37/703/ITEM/Olympia-6000-Mustang-I-Gloves.aspx

Wow! Reading the reviews of those has me wanting to try those. At less than $20, they're worth a shot. How is the fit compared to the other gloves you wear? Larger? Smaller?

The fit for me is comparable to others I've worn (L). They're a bit snug with liners though, which may be why the liners haven't helped me a lot.

Be aware these aren't armored MC gloves.

[mattrowe19]

I did notice that they are not armored. I'd be using these primarily for those mornings under 40 degrees. I have armored gloves for the rest of the temp range. But even with liners, the Drystars I have just don't cut it at 35 or below.