Surviving Winter: A Motorcyclist's Guide

[Ginger]

You said tips for surviving winter. Now had you said tips for enjoying winter.

This IS the motorcycle section...

Where does one draw the line with artificial heat? Why are heated grips and vests okay, but not seats?

I don't know about you, but I don't really ever recall my butt getting cold. The statement was kind of sarcastic, but if you're getting chilly there, then I think warming everything else up first will pay bigger dividends for the current you're using. We're working with significantly less power than a car, so at some point you need to say enough is a enough. If you really want a heated seat, then for go it, but you're going to have to sacrifice something else for it.

do you have to modify your helmet to keep air from getting in?

I spent a lot money on my helmet, so it feels like it seals pretty well. I won't complain about until I'm in the low 20's and every little bit of air creeping past my visor causes my eyes to water. Right now I'm using a a Fog City Hyper Optix insert, which means I pretty much never have to think about my helmet - it auto darkens in the sun, and stops fogging so I don't even have to open the shield at a stop (separate review to follow). I've also taken to using a modified skull cap. I started using it to keep my gelled up hair from getting the helmet liner dirty, but it's also very nice to have on cold days. I like it more than my balaclava, which cuases fitment pain... I think with a neck covering and the skullcap I'll be set.

But really, far and away, my fingers are the worst. I'm going to go up to Bob's this weekend and poke around at the GS' to see if I could modify the handguards to fit my bike and see if they've got the Gerbings G3 gloves in stock (again, hand stuff to follow).