Just wondering what people will be wearing this winter? I only have a leather jacket at the moment, it has a removable liner but it's still pretty cold (already) and obviously not totally waterproof. I've had it for years now and love it so I've struggled through previous winters but either the winters are getting colder, or I'm getting older and feeling it more (probably the latter). I really like the Belstaff range but they're bloody expensive and the warm, weatherproof options don't really suit the 848 look. I do a fair bit of walking, climbing, etc during the winter so have a decent collection of all weather gear, I suppose I could just wear a good fleece or insulated jacket under the leather and maybe a waterproof over it but it's not very cool looking. Any suggestions, recommendations or just stories about a quality jacket you've had? Oh and gloves, gonna need some decent gloves soon Cheers guys, Apologies if me talking about winter is depressing you.
A good set of thermal's would be the best place to start, and then thin layers on top with textile jacket and trousers would be the way I'd go.
Good quality base layers have worked for me in the past.Also had a Keis heated vest,it runs off its own battery pack or the bikes 12v supply.A really usefull piece of clothing which you can wear under a leather jacket.
Moto-x socks.... mmmm toasty feet! I have a pair of Shift knee-brace ones which come halfway up your thigh? WELL toasty legs!
Like the alpinestars goretex gloves, pretty warm and still give good feel. astars drystar jacket, bloody warm with the lining in and just got the gerrik goretex breeks at a great price as my old ones had snuffed it, only time i wont use the bike is if its snow or ice and been using that kind of set up to commute to work for yrs and normally toasty when i get their
The last five winters have got progressively colder and I've ridden through them all. I use a HG Master IV Goretex jacket, HG Goretex pants, Keis heated vest, Alpinestars Jet Road Gore gloves with heated grip (will be getting Gerbing heated gloves this year), Alpinestars Goretex boots and an EDZ Inner Shell top.
I don't do winter riding as such. I always ride in leathers. In the autumn when it got chilly going to the Bol d'Or the thing was to wear a paddock jacket over your leathers. I suppose that was very 90s but I think it was a wizard wheeze. Kept you toasty warm, and when the day heated up, you just took it off and stuffed it into a rucksack or whatever. Maybe you can't fit a paddock jacket over your speed hump these days... Do Dainese still make paddock jackets? The early 90s ones were cool (must be about time for a retro revival). I still have mine.
Obviously textiles is the way forward. I have an alpinestar drystar jacket with removable liner (this has just been tested in the deluge thats on the news and several other occasions) and its totally waterproof, fleece type neckwarmer or the neoprene type that Aldi do for cycling. Good base and mid layer with an edz windchill jacket (madew from pertex so folds to the size of a mobile) and some frank thomas textile pants that again have proved totally waterproof. Also have alpinestar goretex gloves but normal alpinestar leather boots. At the end of the day it depends on the length of commute / amount of winter riding. HG Master is excellent equipment but very expensive although it is worth its weight in gold if your on a long touring ride! Failing all of this then I get in my citroen van and turn the heater to max!
View attachment 6542 I have a (discontinued now) Belstaff Explorer 2-pce suit which is excellent and very warm and waterproof but the best bit of biking kit I own is the BMW RallyePro suit. I've used it through a couple of winters and it's been through some extremely bad/wet weather and long days on the bike. BMW gloves are very good too. I either use Daytona Goretex boots or Sidi Trials boots and, underneath it all, Icebreakers merino base layers which are available from Cotswold Outdoor. :smile:
Top tip, makes a world of difference. I wear Rukka textile kit, with thermals, and Goretex gloves and boots. Without heated grips I still get cold hands, but my core stays comfortable.
I use a windstopper base layer long sleeve top and bottoms, textile trousers with liner, Klan heated fleece and textile jacket and either fleece or neck warmer Never found heated grips much good, thick winter gloves are like wearing oven gloves, this year i am looking at some heated gloves that attach to klan fleece.
This Winter I will mostly be wearing my diesel Clio? :biggrin: Fleece neckwarmers are cheap enough in ebay, wear two to stop any draughts? Bought one of the motrax "Stop Wind neoprene helmet skirts a while back: Google Image Result for http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/b/0/0/9f/7/AAAAC2AhceQAAAAAAJ90ZA.jpg%3Fv%3D1261359465000 SUPERB! Stops all draughts and wind noise! Kept it on all summer too? Bit tight getting your head in at first but soon stretches to accommodate... Tried bar muffs for a bit? Amazing if you can get used to them - sold them after dropping my VFR VTEC TWICE in one day after leaving the disc lock on (couldnt attach the safety cable to the bars )
