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After riding this past Sunday in 45 degree weather (and some rain), I have (once again) concluded that without some assistance (e.g., electricity), I can't stay warm and reasonably comfortable with "standard" cold weater gear. If its in the mid-50s, no problem. And I have some good cold weather motorcycle specific riding gear that works well.

I would appreciate your comments on those who use Gerbing products and others...I mention Gerbing because it looks like they have a "full" line of the stuff.

I see in my Aerostitch catalog they have the vest only...and what they say makes sense about keeping your torso warm. But, is that enough?

I know the stuff is pricey but I would really like to be able to ride on days when its in the 30's and 40's.

(((I know a windshield would help and I'm the process of mounting one to see how it works)))

Thanks for your input.

Markfly, I use the Widder System 2 electric vest. In very cold weather I layer that over my BMW winter thermal top, and under my BMW windbreaker liner, then my Savanna 2 jacket (with goretex lining). For gloves I use the Olympia winter gloves (which Rider Warehouse sells) or the Widder heated gloves. I also use the BMW tube scarf or a silk balaclava.

On the bottom half, it's the BMW winter long johns, and the Savanna pants with liner. I also wear the Savanna boots with good wool socks.

Frankly without heated arms chaps or sleeves, I've never had a problem staying warm - I've ridden down to the 20's (but I wouldn't do that a lot).

I know alot of guys swear by the Gerbing gear. I think their heated gloves are less bulky than the Widders.

Toasty !

I purchased Gerbing heated jacket, pants, and gloves last year and they keep me toasty warm. Not cheap, but extend the riding season into the snow zone
They pack down well in a compression sack and don't take up much space. I usually ride with the jacket on, on cool days, unplugged. When it gets cold I just plug it in. You lose a bit of feel with the gloves but they are so much warmer then the heated grips. The pants are probably overkill. I have been caught out in some nasty weather lately and the combo of 'stich and Gerbing has saved the day/night. I can ride for several hours in toasty warm comfort.
If you decide to by Gerbing, try to fit it in person. Don't wear bulky clothes at the fitting. You need to get the Gerbing clothes as close as possible to your body, extra thick clothing doesn't help.

Expensive: Yes!
Worth it: Yes!

I have a Gerbing jacket with heated sleves and collar . As with any jacket for riding, make sure the arms are long enough when extended forwards.

Essential for riding in the cold, and in particular if you are doing distance work. They are expensive, but really worth it - heated jackets that is.

I tried in the past to bulk up and play hero, but that is both uncomfortable and dangerous.

For years I put off the purchase of any heated clothing, reasoning that I don't do enough cold weather riding to make the expense worthwhile.BIG mistake, I mean HUGE! I bought a Widder vest, the one with the heated collar, and it has transformed my riding. The best thing about it is on a long ride in chilly weather I would get a "crick" in my neck making it painfull to turn my head at junctions etc. The Widder cures all that, I figure that the gentle warmth is keeping my neck muscles more supple or something - heck all I know is it WORKS!
Simply put it is the best bit of equipment I have.

Gerbing heated jacket is great. The collar zips up just right to warm your neck, which carries blood to your brain. The thermostat (I recommend spending the extra for it) is nice. You can get it just right. Otherwise, you are on and off all the time between toast and cold. Worth the $$ if you ride in cooler temps.

Bones

I've heard all that stuff about a vest heating your torso and the warm blood pumping through keeping your arms warm, but mine don't work that way. I gave away my electric vest and bought a Gerbing jacket - in fact two of them. One is insulated to use under my Aerostich and the other is uninsulated to use under fitted leathers. The heated collar is wonderful tucked into a full face helmet. Gerbings gloves are also better than Widder (gave them away too) because the Gerbing uses more wire of lower watt density than Widder. The Widder gloves burned stripes on my hands which resembled medium rare grilled chicken. - Lee

Thanks for the info.

I had a chance to look over Gerbings website. I think the jacket liner and pants liner (plus gloves) would be a good start. Since I have have very good outer wear, it seems that the liners would be logical choice. But their jackets and pants do look good.

Agree or disagree?

Bones wrote:The thermostat (I recommend spending the extra for it) is nice. You can get it just right. Otherwise, you are on and off all the time between toast and cold. Worth the $$ if you ride in cooler temps.[Bones

Bones is right on - the thermostat makes a huge difference in your comfort level. I commute quite a ways every day (and yes, it actually gets down near freezing here in Phoenix - at least for a couple of days ) and absolutely love the Gerbig heated jacket. It may seem expensive, but even using it every day in the cool season (I think you call it winter in other parts of the country ) it seems like it will last for years!

HiOSilver wrote:...and yes, it actually gets down near freezing here in Phoenix - at least for a couple of days

Damn straight, and my Widder vest keeps me toasty both days!

It has been right chilly up here in Maine as of late. I rode into work the other day and it was 27 degrees F (-2.8C for those who care). I had a sport screen and heated grips on the bike. With my Aerostich suit, winter gloves and a North Face fleece over work clothes, I was comfortable. North Face makes a nice battery powered heated fleece as an option to the electric vests. Cost is about the same but you don't have to plug into the bike.

I've been using a BMW electric vest for 5 years, down to about 35, under a First Gear jacket, with pretty good success. Combined with decent gloves, heated grips, and the touring windshield, I'm good for a few hours. Also, note that these vests can be picked up "lightly used" in the BMW owner's news classifieds ($60 or so), or new for about $110.

I had Widder, then Gerbing, then Widder again. I "outgrew" the original Widder vest (don't know how many pounds exactly) and decided to ride 10 hours from Sacramento, CA to Union, WA to try on some Gerbings. What I liked about the Gerbing jacket liner is that the glove hookup is at the cuff (whereas the old Widder vest required putting on a separate wire "T harness" to connect their gloves). The Gerbing gloves were leather and more motorcycle-like; the Widders more like nylon snow-gloves. The gauntlet is wider on the Widder gloves and easier to fit over my leather jacket cuff.

The newer Widder vest (System 2 w/collar) is a better Cordura than the old one. Also, electric "snaps" allow a 2-piece wiring harness to be connected that runs down both arm sleeves to connect to their gloves (I kept my old Widder gloves).

The fabric appears more heavy-duty on the Widder than on the lightweight Gerbings jacket liner. My Gerbings had a seam that was unraveling on the inside, right underarm within a year of casual use. I should have had that repaired immediately, since this grew into a big hole over the next couple of years, and the insulated wires were exposed. Now I receive intermittent heat in my right Gerbings glove.

Although it's a heavier Cordura material, the Widder packs just as well as the Gerbings because the Widder is sleeveless. I do miss the heat for the arms that the Gerbings offered. Widder has optional "arm chaps" that connect to the vest in place of the wiring harness, which I may eventually check out.

Either one will keep you warm to extend the riding season. I like the more durable Cordura on the Widder and wider gauntlet on their gloves. I like Gerbings full sleeve heat and more motorcycle-like gloves for better dexterity.

Hope this helps.

I had Widder, then Gerbing, then Widder again. I "outgrew" the original Widder vest (don't know how many pounds exactly) and decided to ride 10 hours from Sacramento, CA to Union, WA to try on some Gerbings. What I liked about the Gerbing jacket liner is that the glove hookup is at the cuff (whereas the old Widder vest required putting on a separate wire "T harness" to connect their gloves). The Gerbing gloves were leather and more motorcycle-like; the Widders more like nylon snow-gloves. The gauntlet is wider on the Widder gloves and easier to fit over my leather jacket cuff.

The newer Widder vest (System 2 w/collar) is a better Cordura than the old one. Also, electric "snaps" allow a 2-piece wiring harness to be connected that runs down both arm sleeves to connect to their gloves (I kept my old Widder gloves).

The fabric appears more heavy-duty on the Widder than on the lightweight Gerbings jacket liner. My Gerbings had a seam that was unraveling on the inside, right underarm within a year of casual use. I should have had that repaired immediately, since this grew into a big hole over the next couple of years, and the insulated wires were exposed. Now I receive intermittent heat in my right Gerbings glove.

Although it's a heavier Cordura material, the Widder packs just as well as the Gerbings because the Widder is sleeveless. I do miss the heat for the arms that the Gerbings offered. Widder has optional "arm chaps" that connect to the vest in place of the wiring harness, which I may eventually check out.

Either one will keep you warm to extend the riding season. I like the more durable Cordura on the Widder and wider gauntlet on their gloves. I like Gerbings full sleeve heat and more motorcycle-like gloves for better dexterity.

Hope this helps.

My set up for colder weather is a BMW 3phase jacket - liner in, Aerostich windblock jersey, Aerostich electric vest and a long sleeve tech shirt with a nice collar, silk balaclava, Olympia winter gloves with Wind-Tex and a sport shield. Geez that's a lot of stuff to put on. Anyhow, went out this past Sunday through the Berkshires with some friends. Low of about 35 and high of maybe 50 and was toasty. Arms were fine throughout the day. The other guys had Gerbings and were good too. Of course I am always looking at gear and thinking the grass is greener. Kept the thermostat from about half to three-quarters to keep some reserve. So far so good with the current setup.

Peter

It's probably been said above, but I am too lazy to read all this good advice. So, in case it wasn't mentioned: What kind of hot/cold person are you?

I am a hot natured guy. I keep the house at 60-65 degrees all winter; I kick the blankets off at night; I overheat readily.

For me, the heated vest and heated grips over a regular layer of T-shirt, THEN Vest (close to body), then a sweatshirt/fleece, then the Gear (usually an Aerostich Roadcrafter Jacket) and below a pair of khakis under Roadcrafter pants. Dry socks and leather riding boots; sometimes a silkie in the helmet; dry leather gloves--- mid-weight. That get up is good to 35 degrees F for me. I've gone out and had temps drop to 25 degrees F and survived. My thighs get a little chilly and that's all. Speeds range from 45-75 mph on a Roadster with handguards and a small windscreen.

For colder natured guys and gals the sleeves, leggings, socks, and such make a difference. So determine what metabolism you are first, then follow the various advice givers appropriately.

I went with a RT for the inherent advantages of a full fairing in cold or foul weather...so understanding my priorities may have been different from square one, I just bought the 2nd set of gerbings...I made the mistake of letting the wife wear the first set...everytime I got near them after that she'd pout and moan about the nature of my intentions towards her...and sometimes it's just easier to shoot the damn horse and walk on.

gerbings jacket (liner) has a heated collar, and heat down the sleeves...and that beats any vest.

the gloves are killer, but real bulky...you loose a good bit of dexterity and facility...but you'll have warm hands down in the 20 degree range...I have them, but don't use them...I prefer a cheap $10 pair of ski gloves when it's cold...they do OK (w/wo the heated grips on) and you retain better dexterity.

If you get the full set (jacket, pants, socks, gloves), have them wire the jacket and pants on one control, and the gloves and socks on the other...because the first way they came (jacket and gloves on one...pants and socks on the other control) sucked. you want to keep the body core consistant, and the extremities require a different setting to balance the whole picture out.

...and yes it's perfectly comfortable down to where there's ice on the road and folks think you're deranged.

Gerbings, hands down.

You guys must be skinny. I have a bit of a gut, and as such have no problems keeping my torso warm

I did lose 20 lbs. over the summer, and I've noticed I'm not as resistant to the cold as I was last winter. For some odd reason, we're getting freezing temperatures in Virginia this fall. Anyhow, my extremities are what require aid in warming, and thus I'm planning to get some heated gloves.

Generally, when other folks are comfortable I'm chilly. I thought my heated vest was the berries, until I got my jacket liner. No way I'd go back to a vest. Sarah