10-29-2007, 12:45 PM
Survivng Winter: A Motorcyclist's Guide
I got my motorcyclist's license endorsement in November of 2004. Winter was fast approaching... but it meant no wait to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Rider Course, which would net me a license, and, I mean, I had a motorcycle, after all. I set about riding every day. Every day, of course, was colder than the last and the next thing I knew I was wearing 5 layers, still feeling like I'd spent the night in the back of a walk in freezer. Riding cold, though, was still more fun than driving warm.
The girl I was dating at the time had a father with a, uhm, colorful pallet. We butted heads on most every topic imaginable - motorcycles were no exception. Aside from not wanting his daughter anywhere near one of those two wheeled donor cycles, he accused me of riding in the cold because I was still green to the sport. "No way you'll do that next year" he'd say to me when I'd show up to visit his daughter, bundled up like the Michelin man. I would laugh politely while the little voice in the back of my head made nasty comments about his receeding hairline.
Riding, now, into my fourth winter I keep hoping I'll run into him somewhere. Every year I manage to make myself a little bit more comfortable and have a little bit more fun. This year, I'm hoping, will be no exception. I'm more willing to write larger checks for appropriate gear each time around, and I feel like I better know what I'm looking for, too. I'm riding around on a naked bike, too; if I can survive every little windblast of winter on it then what I learn should make year round riding a Real Alternative to a heated cabin for those with more practical motorcycles.
Here, I hope to present what I learn - what products and tricks have worked for me, and what haven't. I can't provide a comprehensive guide to everything, of course, everybody's experiences will vary, but I feel that any accumulation of knowledge is better than none.
Your Bike
If you're like me, changing to a winter motorcycle isn't a very realistic solution to changing temperatures. Bikes like BMW's R1200GS that produce enough current to power a small house have the windprotection of two or three motorcycles are simply too much money to have sitting in the wings for limited use (of course, if you can own up to the idea that you're not the next Nicky Hayden, then a less narrowly focused motorcycle than the latest sport replica should be on your short list to consider). That doesn't mean that there's nothing which can be done, however.
If you're riding a sportbike then consider something like Puig's Double Bubble windscreen. How much cold air nails you, the rider, will play a significant part in how cold (and how tired) you get while milling about in less than ideal conditions. If you're riding a naked, like I am, then it's worth looking into windscreens and deflectors there, too. I'll be investigating universal options for my bike. Bigger screens, although nerdy looking, have the added benefit of making your motorcycle more practical for longer distance, high speed use.
Some motorcycles, like Buell's Ulysses, BMW's R1XXGS, and Suzuki's VStrom are available with full wrap hand guards. These differ from supermoto and motorcross style guards in that they provide wind coverage from mount point to mount point. While dirtbike oriented guards aren't totally worthless, closed side guards pay huge dividends to keep the wind from wicking heat away from your most vulnurable extremeties. I'll be attempting to fit a pair of these soon. They won't work on your fairing'd sportbike, but they generally compliment naked bikes well and you'll be happy to have them on cold days. Functionally, I can't forsee any drawbacks.
Since we're talking about handlebars, heated grips have to come up at least once. Personally, I'm not a fan. You run the risk of leaving them on after you walk away from the bike (and unless you're using a deep cycle battery, in addition to having a bike that won't start you'll have a damaged battery). You could wire in a relay, but this, of course, entails sourcing more parts than heated grip kits come with: if this is an option you'd be interested in, you'll want to run a relay switch to avoid sucking the ~2 amps of current the grips pull through the OEM harness. Heated grips also tend to leave the tips of your fingers cold. To top it off, they rest on a giant heatsink, which reduces their efficiency. If you're working with a motorcycle not designed for electrical accessories, efficiency is something you'll want to give a nod to.
I've heard of heated seats... but really, are you serious? Don't be a pussy.
Your Gear
Lets get one thing straight right off the bat: your Marlon Brando jacket goes in the closet this winter. That goes for Power Ranger leathers, the top half of your two piece suit, and even your mondo expensive Vanson/Dainese equivelant... leather doesn't cut it in the winter. One can make it suck less than normal by adding layers and liners, Vanson offers the Streamliner series of liners for their jackets which are extremely effectively at extending the range of the leather into the deep fall, but leather won't hold a candle to a well engineered textile. When I bought my winter textile the difference between it and my layered leather was night and day... as an added side benefit, when you buy a nice cold weather textile you don't have to worry about how the layers you stack on underneath will effect fitment. I don't have to wear any extra layers down to about 40*!
Of course, you want to make sure that whatever you buy fits you well. Poor fitment will create problems that wouldn't exist otherwise.You want a good, snug fit. Air space is your enemy in the winter time.. but too snug and things start getting uncomfortable. Use good judgement here.
There are a couple features that I feel are worth looking for. First, I like a good 3 layer jacket - heavy duty textile outer, some kind of rain and/or phase change material (PCM) liner to help block wind and, uhm, rain, and a nice, thick thermal liner. These combine the right elements to keep you warm and provide flexibility to extend the temperature range of the garment... no more fussing with early spring and late fall. It also seems to be an ideal solution to the cold morning/warm afternoon problem. Venting is nice, but make sure the zippers are waterproof as they're a potential weka point in the rain as well as a source for cold air to cut in (and if it's raining and cold and you're cold and wet then life doesn't get much worse).
Second, I like a good 3/4 or full length jacket. They help keep Your Boys warm and provide tremendous utility... I've got 2 huge, easily accessible outer pockets, a Napoleon style chest pocket, a cell phone holder in the liner (so i can actually feel when it vibrates - not like I can answer it, but it's nice when I'm waiting for an alarm or call), and an internal kidney pocket. And they're all waterproof. If you can't stomach the look, though, several manufacturers make sport-style cuts for the winter. Before you pull the trigger you should ask yourself if winter is the time to make fashion calls.
I'll post more as I write it. I'm tired of writing now, so check back later.
I got my motorcyclist's license endorsement in November of 2004. Winter was fast approaching... but it meant no wait to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Basic Rider Course, which would net me a license, and, I mean, I had a motorcycle, after all. I set about riding every day. Every day, of course, was colder than the last and the next thing I knew I was wearing 5 layers, still feeling like I'd spent the night in the back of a walk in freezer. Riding cold, though, was still more fun than driving warm.
The girl I was dating at the time had a father with a, uhm, colorful pallet. We butted heads on most every topic imaginable - motorcycles were no exception. Aside from not wanting his daughter anywhere near one of those two wheeled donor cycles, he accused me of riding in the cold because I was still green to the sport. "No way you'll do that next year" he'd say to me when I'd show up to visit his daughter, bundled up like the Michelin man. I would laugh politely while the little voice in the back of my head made nasty comments about his receeding hairline.
Riding, now, into my fourth winter I keep hoping I'll run into him somewhere. Every year I manage to make myself a little bit more comfortable and have a little bit more fun. This year, I'm hoping, will be no exception. I'm more willing to write larger checks for appropriate gear each time around, and I feel like I better know what I'm looking for, too. I'm riding around on a naked bike, too; if I can survive every little windblast of winter on it then what I learn should make year round riding a Real Alternative to a heated cabin for those with more practical motorcycles.
Here, I hope to present what I learn - what products and tricks have worked for me, and what haven't. I can't provide a comprehensive guide to everything, of course, everybody's experiences will vary, but I feel that any accumulation of knowledge is better than none.
Your Bike
If you're like me, changing to a winter motorcycle isn't a very realistic solution to changing temperatures. Bikes like BMW's R1200GS that produce enough current to power a small house have the windprotection of two or three motorcycles are simply too much money to have sitting in the wings for limited use (of course, if you can own up to the idea that you're not the next Nicky Hayden, then a less narrowly focused motorcycle than the latest sport replica should be on your short list to consider). That doesn't mean that there's nothing which can be done, however.
If you're riding a sportbike then consider something like Puig's Double Bubble windscreen. How much cold air nails you, the rider, will play a significant part in how cold (and how tired) you get while milling about in less than ideal conditions. If you're riding a naked, like I am, then it's worth looking into windscreens and deflectors there, too. I'll be investigating universal options for my bike. Bigger screens, although nerdy looking, have the added benefit of making your motorcycle more practical for longer distance, high speed use.
Some motorcycles, like Buell's Ulysses, BMW's R1XXGS, and Suzuki's VStrom are available with full wrap hand guards. These differ from supermoto and motorcross style guards in that they provide wind coverage from mount point to mount point. While dirtbike oriented guards aren't totally worthless, closed side guards pay huge dividends to keep the wind from wicking heat away from your most vulnurable extremeties. I'll be attempting to fit a pair of these soon. They won't work on your fairing'd sportbike, but they generally compliment naked bikes well and you'll be happy to have them on cold days. Functionally, I can't forsee any drawbacks.
Since we're talking about handlebars, heated grips have to come up at least once. Personally, I'm not a fan. You run the risk of leaving them on after you walk away from the bike (and unless you're using a deep cycle battery, in addition to having a bike that won't start you'll have a damaged battery). You could wire in a relay, but this, of course, entails sourcing more parts than heated grip kits come with: if this is an option you'd be interested in, you'll want to run a relay switch to avoid sucking the ~2 amps of current the grips pull through the OEM harness. Heated grips also tend to leave the tips of your fingers cold. To top it off, they rest on a giant heatsink, which reduces their efficiency. If you're working with a motorcycle not designed for electrical accessories, efficiency is something you'll want to give a nod to.
I've heard of heated seats... but really, are you serious? Don't be a pussy.
Your Gear
Lets get one thing straight right off the bat: your Marlon Brando jacket goes in the closet this winter. That goes for Power Ranger leathers, the top half of your two piece suit, and even your mondo expensive Vanson/Dainese equivelant... leather doesn't cut it in the winter. One can make it suck less than normal by adding layers and liners, Vanson offers the Streamliner series of liners for their jackets which are extremely effectively at extending the range of the leather into the deep fall, but leather won't hold a candle to a well engineered textile. When I bought my winter textile the difference between it and my layered leather was night and day... as an added side benefit, when you buy a nice cold weather textile you don't have to worry about how the layers you stack on underneath will effect fitment. I don't have to wear any extra layers down to about 40*!
Of course, you want to make sure that whatever you buy fits you well. Poor fitment will create problems that wouldn't exist otherwise.You want a good, snug fit. Air space is your enemy in the winter time.. but too snug and things start getting uncomfortable. Use good judgement here.
There are a couple features that I feel are worth looking for. First, I like a good 3 layer jacket - heavy duty textile outer, some kind of rain and/or phase change material (PCM) liner to help block wind and, uhm, rain, and a nice, thick thermal liner. These combine the right elements to keep you warm and provide flexibility to extend the temperature range of the garment... no more fussing with early spring and late fall. It also seems to be an ideal solution to the cold morning/warm afternoon problem. Venting is nice, but make sure the zippers are waterproof as they're a potential weka point in the rain as well as a source for cold air to cut in (and if it's raining and cold and you're cold and wet then life doesn't get much worse).
Second, I like a good 3/4 or full length jacket. They help keep Your Boys warm and provide tremendous utility... I've got 2 huge, easily accessible outer pockets, a Napoleon style chest pocket, a cell phone holder in the liner (so i can actually feel when it vibrates - not like I can answer it, but it's nice when I'm waiting for an alarm or call), and an internal kidney pocket. And they're all waterproof. If you can't stomach the look, though, several manufacturers make sport-style cuts for the winter. Before you pull the trigger you should ask yourself if winter is the time to make fashion calls.
I'll post more as I write it. I'm tired of writing now, so check back later.
When it comes to Ryan Jenkins, the story ends with me putting him in the wall.
2009 Speed Triple | 2006 DR-Z400SM | 1999 CBR600F4 | 1998 Jeep Cherokee
-Ginger
2009 Speed Triple | 2006 DR-Z400SM | 1999 CBR600F4 | 1998 Jeep Cherokee
-Ginger
![[Image: f150.jpg]](http://boostrot.net/gallery/d/6099-1/f150.jpg)
It's not always that simple, of course, but I'm hoping it'll beat what I've got. 
