View Full Version : Who rode where today and how did you keep warm?
Amid all the debate on free speech and events in Paris has anyone had time to get the bike out and blow away the cobwebs and crap?
I had a bit of time late on yesterday so took the RE out for a burble across the Forest in the evening, chilly but found a pub with a nice log fire to warm my cockles before setting off back home. The headlight is not great, okay on main up to about 50 'ish, going to dip cuts light drastically and suddenly you think you need to half your speed, takes me back to my teens and my pre-halogen headlight days ; )
Took the NC700X out today and covered just over 150 miles, bloody frozen when I got home, actually beginning to believe my BM riding mate who swears by his heated jacket. Seems a bit poncey and I've managed for 30 years without one but may have to admit the truth - I'm not a rough, tough biker after all! Does anyone have experience of using a battery powered liner/vest/jacket rather than one powered by the bikes electrics?
Just been using the ped mostly to get from A - B. Fired up the ZZR about an hour ago just to get petrol, took a while to start and a slightly worrying clicky noise coming from it once it gets moving, will have to investigate in the week (got a feeling it's a blown exhaust gasket on one of the headers).
I still need to get that paddock stand out to you, thought about coming out your way today but not too keen on strapping it to the back of the NC, it's quite a big box, will have to wait until I'm passing in the car.
Went to broad hinton from the nam. Couple of base layers and heated grips. Toastie :)
Burbler
11-01-15, 05:24 PM
Out to Portishead, moving chicane to Clevedon and back through Nailsea. Was lubberly.
I still need to get that paddock stand out to you, thought about coming out your way today but not too keen on strapping it to the back of the NC, it's quite a big box, will have to wait until I'm passing in the car.
Much appreciated Trev, send me a message when you do and I'll get the kettle on ready. No pressing rush though current weather means I limit my work on the bike and project to what can be done indoors or what is absolutely urgent.
Much appreciated Trev, send me a message when you do and I'll get the kettle on ready. No pressing rush though current weather means I limit my work on the bike and project to what can be done indoors or what is absolutely urgent.
That's good cos I'm all over the place for the next couple of weeks. Pity you're not a bit nearer, I know a nice lock-up ideal for project work, bit of a commute on a 'ped though ; )
redken1
11-01-15, 06:47 PM
I was planning a little blast on the bike just to keep everything moving (me and the bike lol) but by the time I got the few jobs completed it was coming over dark and cold. Getting soft in my old age.
I would have gone out Today however, my bike is currently under repair.
Was on pedal power today but got both Beemers out for a couple of hours yesterday - and yes, have heated jacket liner and gloves so was toasty. I have never tried the battery ones as prefer to have the alternator doing all the work for as long as I like it to. I managed well enough for 30 years + without them but as I get older I feel the cold a lot more :D
A Softie jacket is a good tip for keeping really warm, millions of squaddies can't be wrong (I even used to have the matching trousers). Slightly bulky though so no good to go under tight fitting leather.
Was on pedal power today but got both Beemers out for a couple of hours yesterday - and yes, have heated jacket liner and gloves so was toasty. I have never tried the battery ones as prefer to have the alternator doing all the work for as long as I like it to. I managed well enough for 30 years + without them but as I get older I feel the cold a lot more :D
I think it's a combination of being a bit older and the fact that I now ride more in the Winter than when I was younger as I played footie through the Winter and with three kids riding time was limited, one advantage of being a bit older is more time and too old to chase a ball around a football pitch. I called into a bike clothing shop in Bournemouth on my way back today and they said they wouldn't stock battery powered versions as don't get warm enough for long enough. Despite their advice I think I'm going to try Lithium battery powered Oxford 'vest' as think I only want an hour or two of warmth later in the day and a couple of my bikes won't power accessories, I'll probably end up wishing I had listened to the advice!!
We went to Monkey World, was a great day out although a little frosty, she was cold and we bought some extra clothing/socks from the gift shop on completion. Sun was low directly in front on the way there and the nice straight road parallel to the A350 from Shaftesbury is still closed so ended up on the windy A350.
Was nice to ride in the dry and daylight as my commuting is normally dark/wet, also nice to hear the new exhaust. :)
I've got 2 jackets, an old leather with a new XXL Oxford over the top to keep things dry so never get cold, extra socks and inner gloves help, just tried battery heated inner gloves but finger tips still get cold, may try heated grips next. Takes a long time to get all the kit that works.
Went out towards Cotswolds water park, down the 419 into swindon and did a few stops around swindon. Covered about 60-65 miles in all today, got in about 10 minutes before it started raining. No issues with cold over here at all, just had a very thin jumper on below my leather jacket.
decarteret18
11-01-15, 11:40 PM
Went out on the Thundercat with the Mrs for an hour or so. Thermal lined trousers and jacket with comfy jogging bottoms and jumper, just right! 😊
Ducatista
13-01-15, 10:26 AM
I've got a keiss heated waistcoat and heated inner gloves.
I tend to run the gloves off a seperate battery - which can last all day on a low setting, and run the waistcoat on the bike battery.
They were a godsend when we went to peak district last year at easter when it was close to freezing temps (-1 at the cat & fiddle).
I have 5 settings on my battery so if I'm going to be out all day I put it on low.
I like having a seperate battery as I can use it for other non-motocycling activities - like cycling or watching the rugby.
Last Train
13-01-15, 03:04 PM
I didn't brave the ride over to Broad Hinton for the meal.
I didn't want to sit about for ages in my gear. Or lug a change of clothes over there.
So i haven't been out for a blat for what seems like kin' years.
Got a bit of cabin fever going down......
http://yoursmiles.org/ssmile/negative/s0957.gif (http://yoursmiles.org/s-negative.php?page=2)
I went to a biker friends funeral today down in Exeter, I think I experienced every type of weather there is. On the way back I had to stop half way to regain feeling in my extremities. The nice people in ilchester services took pity on me and let me behind the counter to toast mysrl on their heater. It was most appreciated. Funeral was good though, especially with the turn out of bikers.
^^^ made me smile Nano, 'funeral was good' there speaks a biker :cool:
StreetHippo
20-01-15, 12:13 AM
I'm with Ducatista, been using a Keiss vest for a few years now. I use the battery, fine for my 1hr commute and back. Use it off the bike too, makes a huge difference.
I'm with Ducatista, been using a Keiss vest for a few years now. I use the battery, fine for my 1hr commute and back. Use it off the bike too, makes a huge difference.
Thanks Steve + Ducatista, been thinking about a heated jacket/vest for a while and really want one that runs off its own battery pack as I'm lucky enough to have a few bikes some of which I'm doubtful (or bloody certain in one case!) will run electrical accessories. A dealer advised me that he didn't stock the battery pack versions as they don't get hot enough for long enough but after 30 years of managing without I'm not looking for something that keeps me toasty for hours and hours on end but rather something that can lift the chill for the last hour or two after a long day out in the cold. Two shout outs for Keiss prompts me to look for one of these and give it a go, thanks again
jfranci1
20-01-15, 02:30 PM
I ride 100 miles round trip daily commute (work in Wales), and I use an ST1100 with 80K + miles. I find heated grips are a real bonus, as I can still get to wear normal gloves, and the fairing does a good job of keeping the wind chill off.
Having said that my toes were cold by the time I got to work this morning though. Several thin layers is always good.
Marmalade
10-02-15, 08:03 AM
After millions of years of riding, I was given a heated vest in exchange for a banner on one of my sites. This was a couple of years ago.
Since then, I've bought heated insoles, heated grips and a set of tucano muffs.
Heading back from Paris last week, I was all toasty coming up the motorway, until I stopped for fuel and getting off the bike made it feel like I was in the arctic.
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On the road to nowhere
After millions of years of riding, I was given a heated vest in exchange for a banner on one of my sites. This was a couple of years ago.
Since then, I've bought heated insoles, heated grips and a set of tucano muffs.
Heading back from Paris last week, I was all toasty coming up the motorway, until I stopped for fuel and getting off the bike made it feel like I was in the arctic.
--------------------------------
On the road to nowhere
It's gonna have to be a heated vest for me I think, I'm okay for a couple of hours but all day out in 3 - 4 degrees sees me bloody knackered when I get home, can't help with my concentration
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