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So... about your gear...

3.6K views 47 replies 29 participants last post by  nickr914  
#1 ·
What kind of gear is everyone running? Its getting chilly out, some places its down right frigid. I am curious as to what kind of fall/winter gear everyone is using to keep warm...

As of right now i am using layered summer/fall gear to keep me warm. I need to amp up my gear and am looking for options.

So... Post your cold weather gear...

if you want

I am not your dad...

or your boss...

Just a curious guy...

D
 
#3 ·
Rode HD 3 years, year around when I was a kid and learned a lot. Of course breaking the wind chill is task one in staying warm enough. Layering of course, jacket is a hi-vis Tourmaster intake 3.0 and has removable warm liner and separate windbreaker, or my old leather bomber jacket if not so cold. Pants layered up, jeans, then chaps. I discovered feet and hands are huge getting less circulation. Boots heavy wool socks, Danner Goretex lightweight and strong. Gloves having heated grips I use an ancient pair of wool lined HD heavy mittens with gauntlets I got from HD in the 70's...kinda strange my warmest pair. I use a face mask if very cold, can't recall brand..works great and cheap.
The hard lowers are off for summer but go back on for heat from the engine. Hope that helps!
 
#4 ·
You ride a CC. I take it , not the tour version? I ask, because I have found that it matters concerning dress. Since riding the CCT, I only need wear my jeans. Unless it is really cold (here, that would be 24 to 32) , then I wear silks under neath. I find no need for the chaps. Up top, the silks, long sleeve T or thermal garment, maybe a short sleeve T over that, then Leather jacket with liner. The most important piece of gear I have found is a good winter type scarf to wrap around my neck. The only vulnerable spot for me is down the back of my neck. Cold air will find it's way down there and everything becomes useless. Plug that hole, and all is well. And, again, if really cold, gauntlets.
 
#6 ·
That new Victory jacket that is fleece lined and not that heavy, had me sweating when it was mid 40s out and I was riding. The only part of me that was cold was my face.
 
#13 ·
#8 ·
If you really want to stay warm a nice HD branded FXRG will do the trick. I am at year 8 with my fabric one. The leather version is a bit nicer but who has that kind of money for a jacket? The FXRG with just a flannel shirt under it keeps me warm riding at 20ÂşF. BTW I was riding a Yamaha when I bought that jacket at the clothing store that also sells bikes.
 
#9 ·
I struggle with this on my gunner. I have a good leather jacket with a liner but my chaps seemed to have shrunk over the years while in storage .....

No windshield makes it hard but my problem is and always has been gloves. I have to have dexterity or else I feel like I'm fumbling around. I wear some really good leather gloves with armored back and knucks but they aren't good enough for the cold
 
#10 ·
(Riding behind a medium fly windscreen)

Yeah layers, really. I have a sweet Wilson's leather (alleged to retail for $830ish- bought for $200) that I stole from the outlet in the OBX. Quite warm. Not the exact model- but almost identical. Legit bike gear too- not just a show piece. Thick, flexible joints, zip out, armored, fully adjustable vents front and back. As warm as it is- it's also surprisingly wearable when it's not so cold out too.

Joe Rocket Atomic 4.0 as an alternative.

Victory Winter gloves- leather. These are quite nice- but I will say the wrist cuffs could have been done better. The way they gather up when velcroed is kind of sloppy. They will neither tuck into nor overlap your sleeve very nicely. LOONG rides have resulted in chilly fingertips.

Victory logo neckwarmer. Probably the most important piece of clothing here. SRSLY.

Variety of sweatshirts- A very well done Victory logo sweatshirt- not from the mothership. Got from a facebook vendor.

Base layer- Under Armour super duper nuclear insulated turtleneck & pants. Top of their line- Bass Pro.
 
#11 ·
I use a textile jacket and Gerbing Heated jacket Liner with a thin tee shirt. Some people make the mistake of using something thick under the electric liner. Heated gloves are a lot better then heated grips I have tried both. I wear my draggin jeans and thermals down to about 30 degrees and then switch to textile riding pants down into the teens.
 
#12 ·
Depends on which bike.
XCT: Down to mid 40's I'm comfortable with t-shirt, flannel shirt, leather jacket & jeans & gloves.
Below that I'll add on long johns top & bottoms & a scarf to block the wind getting in the collar & a cotton liner inside the gloves.

Guzzi's don't have a wind screen so high 40's will have all the above plus either the chaps or the insulated leather pull over pants & double socks.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Well my Texas fall attire is usually the same as my summer with a t-shirt and leather vest. Occasionally I will add a sweatshirt. This morning I pulled out my stored Vic zip up since it was in the high 50's. The Shark has been great in the cool temps. I also have a mesh textile jacket and a perforated leather jacket that I will wear if A.) Im in uniform, or B.) I am riding for an extended period in the sun.

During the actual cold I have many things to choose from but I usually always add my Mobile Warming heated vest. It is battery powered and I really like it because I can use it off the bike too. I have an extended battery for it so it will run for hours. Over that I will go with my leather Attitude jacket or my textile Tour jacket. I have a review thread on the Tour and I have been really happy with it. This vest is usually all I need but if it is really cold I also have a Mobile Warming fleece jacket that really adds warmth when worn. I prefer the vest as it is thinner and less bulky.

Like @MagVic CCT said I usually don't add anything more than jeans until it starts getting to freezing temps. When that happens I will add some silks or thermals, or go with my over pants with an insulated liner. The over pants are bulky but they are warm and waterproof.

As for my hands I again have several pairs of gloves. Cool days the regular leather work gloves work fine. In the colder stuff I have a pair of Blackhawk tactical winter gloves. They are thick insulated but have trimmed down trigger fingers as they are designed to let you shoot in them. I like that as I can better press button and such instead of fumble around like MagVic also mentioned. I have another pair of gloves that are another Mobile Warming product that are battery heated like my vest. Being heated they can be a bit lighter on the insulation but still work well in on
the cold rides.

For my face and neck I have many options. Everything from a regular neck gaiter, a face cover alone, or a Vic balaclava. I also have another balaclava from CycleGear in their Freeze-Out line. I usually let the wife wear that one as the Vic is a much thinner fleece.
 
#23 ·
Like a lot of guys here, I layer. You have to around here because I ride in micro climates than can be 30 degrees or more different from starting point to destination point. I am also an ATGATT rider, so my gear collection has gotten bigger over the years. I currently have the Kingston and Attitude leather jackets, a variety of textile jackets and pants (A-Stars P-1 Touring is the primary) and a whole lineup of gloves and boots. Boots and gloves are all leather / Gore-Tex. I also have a specific travel suit I wear for long-haul duty, which is also my favorite, an Aerostich Transit 2 2-piece leather. Absolutely unbeatable for looks, wear and durability.

Base layers consist of a lot of different pieces, but mostly I use Under Armor stuff. Comfortable and moisture wicking, I find that they work extremely well.
 
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#27 ·
HeAlly Hanson deep warmth long Johns one piece with a second set of the bottoms only !
PAnts ,tee shirt over long Johns and a warm thick sweater then a down filled vest thick over rideing leather PAnts and a heavy longer leather jacket with liner!
Thick lined warm mitts and electric grips!
Boots are heavy minus forty igloo work king fabric tops leather bottoms felt liners knee high!
Complete helmet and thinner style slip over the head ,head and neck warmer! Good for 100 miles at 0 to 5 above F.
 
#29 ·
... Thick lined warm mitts and electric grips!
@poptop Good point on the grips. I cannot tell you how big an impact the heated grips and seat have made. First time I tried the seat it freaked me out a little! :biggrin: I don't use the seat heater much but the grips are a really nice feature. It's remarkable how well this Vision handles wind, weather and such. The bike has become part of the gear collection!
 
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#28 ·
I just put the liners in my regular gear: Milwaukee jacket and chaps. I might add a pair of the Freeze-Out long johns. Milwaukee lined leather gloves. zipper hoodie under the jacket, over a long-sleeve shirt. Put soft lowers on this week...the seem to help some.
 
#31 · (Edited)
I like to use my Castle gear, the leather street jacket and riding pants aren't cold weather but plenty of layers and I'm good to go. I also wear a full face helmet with Klim facemask, I also have the Klim cross gloves that I haven't gotten to test when its really cold but so far in the 40s it keeps my hands warm and they breath so sweat free was well.
 
#32 ·
No secret, but try LeatherUp.com: Motorcycle Gear, Biker Apparel and Leather Clothing they have great prices and Xelement brand is pretty decent with great prices. Make sure you browse the Closeout section as well. They also carry Joe Rocket. Just a tip, when ordering Xelement, go one size up. They have a great return policy, so if it's not to your standard or liking they will take it back. There is a 10% code (101101), that should be current. They include a business card with the code for your next purchase.
 
#33 ·
For cool weather I wear one of several lighter weight jackets (all with shoulder and elbow armor) that provide sufficient venting or warmth depending on what is needed.
For cold weather I wear a Klim Latitude jacket with a Klim Inferno lightweight mid layer.
If it is REALLY cold, I wear the above with a base layer.

I just bought my first pair of riding pants, but in the past I wore jeans along with a base layer. I also have a pair of Colorado Ballistic chaps that I will wear depending on temps.

I have about a dozen pair of gloves, but when temps are warm I wear my Vic lighweight gloves. For real cold temps, I have a pair of heated gloves that I will plug in.

And I ALWAYS wear my full-face Arai helmet when it's cold, as I get terrible headaches if my ears get too cold (comes with age...).
 
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#34 ·
Damn, yall have so much more gear than i do... I have... a Icon Jacket that I have had since 2005ish... then i have been running a soft-shell and base layers...

I have been looking at some jackets but i hate bulk... which is why I haven't bought a new full leather insulated jacket... Last sping my nice winter gloves decided to disapear off my bike in a parking lot between california and arizona.

Thanks for all of the great ideas...
 
#47 ·
Damn, yall have so much more gear than i do... I have... a Icon Jacket that I have had since 2005ish... then i have been running a soft-shell and base layers...

I have been looking at some jackets but i hate bulk... which is why I haven't bought a new full leather insulated jacket... Last sping my nice winter gloves decided to disapear off my bike in a parking lot between california and arizona.

Thanks for all of the great ideas...
In coastal CA you shouldn't need much for warmth. I need gear because I ride down to about 20ÂşF but you are probably facing more cool moisture than real cold in your area. A good warm jacket, lined jeans and a heavy flannel shirt should be plenty except when it comes to hands. I never could keep my hands warm until I got the fairing of my Vision. Now my hands are good down to below freezing temperatures with just a light weight pair of jersey gloves and the heated grips.