Heated clothing and adaptors

Now that the cold weather is upon us in Northern Cal I am considering adding a power outlet to my 07 so I can be more comfy when the temp is in the 30-40 degree range. Heated gloves and jacket liner would take care of the chill I think. Any thoughts or experience with what is available and works well?

 

Don't have it in my hands yet, but I've tried on and tested at the shop the new Tourmaster toaster stuff. Will be testing it for my winter commute.
http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/home.php?cat=59

Can install it yourself and all the components plug in to each other.

 

about time tourmaster jumps into this arena...
firstgear is looking promising too.

 

http://www.gerbing.com/

 

I've had good luck using Widder gloves and vest for many years.

Here's their website . . .

http://www.widder.com/html/Product/System1/index.html

I still haven't wired up my '98 for using this but could use some feedback
on what type of connections are recommended. I want to be able
to have a system that no plastic gets drilled. Any suggestions?

 

I haven't been able to afford heated clothes yet, but I did install a Powerlet brand outlet on my VFR. It's a very low profile outlet that accepts those strange BMW type plug-ins. Very easy to install. Put it on the inner fairing just below the left handle bar. I've been charging a cell phone and running a GPS off of it with no problems. I ordered it thru Sport Touring Accessories www.sporttouringusa.com. Take a look under their electrical products, lots of interesting cables and such there.

 

So, SLOav8r, do you drive a white truck with a white shell? I saw a license plate with SLOav8r on it and thought of you.

Anyway, how much have you investigated the TM stuff. Their website doesn't give much detail on what kind of current draw the liner uses (both on low and high settings) and also, is that doodad connected to the wiring a "controller" ?? In other words, can you adjust the temp with a variable controller, as opposed to just having an On/Off button.

One thing everyone has told me, is that you want to be able to control the amount of heat via a controller....just having On/Off sucks! (other peoples comments, not mine).

I've been doing quite a bit research as I will be purchasing soon too. I like http://www.warmnsafe.com/ as well as Powerlet themselves http://www.powerlet.net/products/phg.php

Both of these have controllers, but was curious about the new Tourmaster....but their website is pretty short on details :frown:

 

Reg I'll get pricing. You want pants, gloves and long sleeve? No matter how many layers i put on, or how thick my gloves are i can't keep my hands warm in the cold and rain.

RMC, I've seen that guy, unfortunately after I picked up the sloav8r handle. I do have a white truck though, but it rarely moves.

I'm having a brainfart on the TM controller. I thought it was on/off, plus had low-medium-high settings. Not really a thermostat though. Will try to stop by today and verify.

 

Has anyone done any research on the charging system and it's ability to keep up with the electrical demands of adding heated clothes? Additional loads may have some bearing on the charging system and RR issues. Honda publishes the power output of the charging system, but not what’s required to operate the bike with all electrical system components operating. I would like to consider using heated clothing, but I’m not sure how much the charging system will support without damage. Just curious.

 

Nah, it'll work. I just wouldn't sit at idle with everything on at once.

Very un-scientific I know.

 

I just bought a bunch of Gerbing's stuff. Ordered the socks, classic gloves, single control, Union Ridge pants, and then sent my liner off to be fitted with their heated elements.

I'm still waiting on the pants and liner, but used the gloves and socks lastnight on the way home from work. It was 23 degrees out by my gauge, and I was comfortable like being held by a fat chick. I felt like I didn't need the gear, which is exactly the way I like it. Well, I don't like being held by fat chicks, but hey I was cold.

I have Widder's heated vest (with collar), heated gloves, arm chaps and leg chaps. I like them ok, and have used them for years, but.... I've been riding 85 miles to school one-way. In the morning it has been around 25 degrees at the lowest. I needed something for my feet!! Widder does not make anything for your feet as far as I know. After some searching I decided to give Gerbing a try. It's not cheap, but with just the socks and gloves so far... I'm very pleased.

I'll be selling my Widder stuff on ebay after the rest of my Gerbing stuff comes in if anyone is interested. Fat chick not included. It's good stuff, but 30 below... I'll be using Gerbing.

 

Roll your own, boys:

"Shadowriders.org" search FAQ for "electric vest"....open up your browsers and get Googling!!

 

MCN did a comparo a couple of years ago on heated clothing, Gerbring was the tops overall. That was a couple of years ago, so things might have changed, but really no reason to think so.

 

The Honda dealer had a Tourmaster display set up with the jacket, pants, and gloves. They were all hooked together and plugged in. Looked like a cool setup the temp was vairable and it heated up quick. I would probably only go for the gloves. Rode to work last week and the temp was a chilly 19 degrees. I had my JR Meteor jacket w/liner, TM Caliber pants, Set Up boots, neck gaiter, and winter gloves. Only thing cold was my hands.

Action

 

1st off you all are PU55IES ound:

Cold, try Wisconsin or up here in Utah, Idaho, Colorado Ect, ect,.
Still haven't used any elect assistance & just wear proper layered gear & a Joe rocket 3 season suite to about 15F, or less if you add wind chill.
Oh & I'm from SoCal:wave:

If you do go the wimpy accessory heating route, the best systems warm your core as in your chest with a elect vest. the best hand warming device is grip heaters, not elect gloves, because Elect gloves make your hands sweat easier & moisture is a big time enemy when it's cold out.
Your feet would be better to use a thermocare type product (lasts 5 to 8 hrs) on the top side of your feet, because again, elect socks tend to make your feet sweat & you don't want that.

Oh & most importantly - stay away from cotton products in cold weather, because cotton is a cooling fibre in were it doesn't displace moisture & moisture means cooling & possibly turning to Ice.
There is a old saying in the hunting world & pioneer days in Winter "COTTON KILLS" !

be safe & prepare properly, you only have 1 life :wink:

p.s. improperly geared can take your mind of the road & can get you hurt or dead, as well as to bulky of gear can restrain you & slow your reaction time that can get you hurt or dead:frown:

be careful out there Bro's & ride safe !:biggrin:

 

It isn't the cold I fear so much, I can gear up for that; it is the possibility of ice that has me put away the bike. The idea of landing on my backside and wrecking the bike -- or worse, just isn't worth it to me to prove I can do it. I know I can do it, I rode in CT in Dec & Jan I can certainly do it again if I had to. But that was when I was:
1) young and indestructible
2) young and foolish
3) young and poor

now I am older and just #2 ;-)

 

There you go :biggrin:

As my other statement earlier, I was just messing with you all, I for some reason have excellent circulation & Cold weather just doesn't bother me & it doesn't take much to keep me warm.

My point was with proper layering with good material (not cotton) that it's easy to stay warm with out elect. assistance.
Just make sure if you go the Electrical warming route that you have a back up plan on a ride "IF" you have a battery/charging system failure
Because it does happen, espcially on the VFR's.

Thats why I don't use Electrical warming devices, & carry as a back up small to store thermocare products if it really gets nasty cold.

I've only had to crack open the heat pads once, not because of cold hands but my arthritus was acting up (from grip position) & lost mobility & the deep heating helped that & I was back to normal w/o the pads after a half hour for the rest of the rde down to CA.

As for Ice, thats a big NO for me, I do draw the line there, although I did hit some last night under the overpasses, but I just made sure I was totally upright going over the 5' patches. But I also believe that the new Dunlope 616's help keep the ruber on the ground, because I can't brag enough how they handle in poor conditions :wink: