Cold/Wet-Weather Riding Gear....Examined.

[Bluefront]

This thread will now concern various cold weather gear...and ideas.

The second week in September......the cold, wet months are almost here. Time to think about cold weather jackets......and there's a lot to consider besides price. The big thing for me is "is it water/wind-proof?" Plenty of winter jackets fail when used on a scooter.



Here's a collection I use, along with the first two that are useless when it's raining, but fair in cooler temperatures. I'm about 6'4" @ 235lbs, with long arms. Except for the last one in the list, all these jackets fit me well, since I got to try before I bought them. And the sizes are all different.....fairly common with these jackets.

If anyone is interested, I can go into more detail about each (ask).

Joe Rocket Armor Mesh....3XL. Light weight removable lining that needs a heavy sweater and something wind-proof to be comfortable around 60 degrees.



3rd Street Armor Mesh.....3XL. Similar to the Joe Rocket, but the armor fits better.



Nexgen...4XL. 100% waterproof w/removable liner. Relatively light-weight, but wind-proof so it feels warmer. Much below 60 degrees will require a sweater or something. I seem to use this one the most.



Carhartt #14806 2XL Tall. Not particularly designed for scooters, but still works very well in cold temperatures. Enough room to wear other things underneath. Can be water-proofed with some fabric spray......very heavy material.



Carhartt w/hood #14808 XL Tall. Heavyweight material that can be water-proofed. Not as warm as the other Carhartt....but pretty good. I used this in the winter when I worked on cars.



Army Cold-Weather Field (vintage M-65)..... XL Reg. Super roomy.....needs to be water-proofed. Available removable liner...big pockets and plenty of adjustments. Army Surplus stores....and you can find variations of this jacket. This is the classic color. Pretty good in the cold with the ability to be layered easily.



This last one is the Classic Barbour International Motorcycle Jacket w/ matching pants. Size 44, pants size 38 (sleeves plenty long). I ordered this from London, but outgrew it slightly (it fit ok when I weighed 210). I still fit it the suit, but it's uncomfortable. Too bad.....cost me a bunch. This may be the highest quality motorcycle jacket you can buy.....100% waterproof, but needs at least a heavy sweater to be good in really cold temperatures. Make me a good offer and it's yours.







Barbour International Review

That's about it for my jackets that work well on the scooter. The Nexgen jacket I roll up and carry with me in my tail bag. Without the liner, it works good up to 85 degrees or so......since it has a bunch of zippered vents. The mesh jackets can be worn without the liner up to 95 degrees.....did it this Summer. I don't own an armored jacket that is suitable for cold-weather use, unless you wear something waterproof over the two, and something warm under them.

Anybody with questions about anything concerning winter motorcycle jackets...ask away. I've been riding in the cold for a long time.

[educatordan]

Thanks for the info. I don't ride in as extreme of cold that I used to but finding something that the wind doesn't penetrate is a real bear.... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. What sort of luck have you had with gloves? My girlfriend gave me a pair of these last winter. lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/denimexpress/A122-BRN-m.jpg They only lasted a season (tore between thumb and finger) were waterproof but not all that warm for riding.

[Bluefront]

Those gloves you have.....I've got several similar pairs. Some came from Home Depot, Walmart and Harbor freight. One pair is called "Anti-vibration" and has gel padding on the palm/fingers. These are not cold-weather gloves however. I wore out a finger in one of them in about 6 months.



The best cold-weather gloves.....are mittens. It does become difficult to operate the controls with really good mittens.....but they're warmer. There are numerous cold-weather gloves around. The best for scooter use have really long cuffs that keep the air out of your sleeves......and most of these gloves can be sprayed with 3M fabric protector to make them water-proof.

I've got numerous cold-weather gloves/mittens......might make a separate thread on the subject.

You might want to check out this link on Arctic clothing. You'd think clothing good for the Arctic would be good for scooters.....not necessarily.

Here's a trick you can use if you get caught out somewhere on your scoot, and you start feeling chilled (jacket too light maybe). Find a newspaper somewhere and stuff your jacket with multiple layers of paper. Works pretty good in a pinch.....

[educatordan]

Thanks for the advice Amigo. I did ask this question having already ordered a pair of cold weather riding gloves from a site that specializes in motorcycle gear, they were very highly reviewed by 80+ other reviewers on the site, we'll see how they work. They do have nice long "gauntlet style" sleeves to keep out cold air.

[Bluefront]

The main problem I've had with gloves.....the finger fit. When you grip a handlebar, most standard gloves will tighten up on the end of your fingers, and will feel very uncomfortable. If you buy a big-size glove to compensate, it will feel loose/sloppy when not on the handlebar. The solution.....a glove with pre-curved fingers, designed for cycle use. The summer gloves with open finger-tips avoid this problem completely.

Some things to consider when looking at winter jackets.......

You'll have to get real lucky to get one that fits properly, without trying it on before you buy. That mostly leaves out a mail-order jacket for me......unless you don't mind returning things that don't quite fit, and the associated shipping costs/bother.

To be warm when riding on a scooter, the jacket must block the wind from penetrating, and yet allow some ventilation to occur. A waterproof fabric will block the wind well, but usually ends up feeling very stiff in use.

Depending on your scooter seat, and your body size, if you get a jacket with a tail section too long......you'll end up sitting on the tail of the jacket as you're riding along. This will pull the collar section against your neck and is very uncomfortable. Jackets between 29"-33" long seem to do this to me on my Xingyue seat. Longer jackets don't seem to have the same issue (just enough extra play back there I guess).

The collar.....personal preference mostly. I like a collar long enough to grip any other neck/head gear I might use. The collar must have a firm closure method......Velcro is best cause it's adjustable.

Sleeve length.....obviously must be long enough to almost touch your hand to keep the wind out. A too short sleeve might be compensated for with a long glove. Real cycle jackets have pre-curved sleeves, designed for a cycle riding position. The sleeve needs to close tightly to keep out the wind, and fit inside the glove gauntlet section.

Material.....black color is hard to keep clean. Some materials attract dirt easily. I like jackets w/o reflection......you can always wear a orange vest over the top for night rides. The rest of the time a standard-looking jacket can be used anywhere, without looking strange. Those armored jackets I showed in the first post, always attract stares.......but are good for daytime summer riding.

Removable liners.....un-necessary for me. I like jackets slightly large so I can wear anything I want underneath. Most removable liners are much too light to be of any benefit. A leather vest worn under a jacket, blocks the wind very well. A heavier vest can turn a light-weight jacket into a winter coat......the jacket must be large enough however.

Obviously......much of this is personal preference, so what I like may not suit everybody.

[Bluefront]

Here's something some of you older riders may remember......Hippo Hands by the Vetter Fairing Company. I used these on some Kawasaki bikes I had some years ago. But they fit my Xingyue pretty good.

You want warm hands in the coldest weather with the lightest or no gloves at all? These are the way to go.....the only thing much better would be some electrical or chemical heaters of some sort. But these also protect the throttle and switches from freezing rain or snow, and keep all the wind out of your sleeves.

And yeah they look silly, and take some getting-used-to......but they work. Maybe there is a newer/better version of the things available, but I don't know how it could work much better.

Here's a Link to a new Hippo Hands company This place does sell scooter specific Hippo hands around $70.

[educatordan]

I had something like that. It was designed for ATVs. I found them too cumbersome and I had to modify them to get my turn signals out and visible the way my scooter is designed. I ended up ditching them after a small accident I had. (I don't blame them for the accident but the cuffs were pretty banged up so... sayonara.)

[Bluefront]

Obviously those Hippo Hands are an extreme solution for people who ride/commute longer distances in very cold weather. These things were designed for motorcycle handlebars.....but luckily fit this scoot very well. I have almost unobstructed access to the switches....luckily. Something designed specifically for a scooter would be an easier fit.

I'm not going to post any photos of gloves.....just too common, and available everywhere. But here are the two cycle mittens I have. The first is a leather mitten with a long gauntlet, lined with a real sheepskin mitten on the inside, It probably was designed with British cycles from the 50s in mind. It's very difficult to work the controls on a modern bike.....I used these when I rode Nortons a long time ago. Very awkward to use on this scoot, but extremely warm/waterproof.



Here's a lightweight modern mitten, lined with "Thinsulate". Much better on a Chinese scooter....you can work all the switches easily. It's very warm (haven't used it in the rain). I doubt this mitten would provide any protection if you had an accident.....looks like it would shred easily.



I've never been around any snowmobile stuff, but there's a ton of different gloves and mittens available. Just keep that switch thing in mind if you order any of these gloves or mittens.

[Steven Spielburgman]

I purchased some overpants a couple years ago because it got down to below 60 on some mornings during the freeway commute to work. But the above is hard core stuff! What are the streets like in that kind of weather?

[choirguy]

I went to Cabela's and bought lined Gore-Tex (jacket, pants, boots, and gloves). A little spendy, but I rode in 12-18 degree weather in WA State and never got cold. I'm a Gore-Tex convert. Live in FL now, and will wear lighter Gore-Tex. It breathes and is water-proof.

[Bluefront]

The St Louis area suffers temperature extremes.....very hot in the summer, and can get very cold in the winter. The last few years we've only had a few days with snow......so scooter riding is quite possible if you can deal with the cold.

I've ridden in cold temperatures since I was a kid. Back then there was no hi-tech cold-weather cycle stuff you could actually see locally. So I made do with some primitive riding gear. Now the selection is unlimited......

Actually.....Army Surplus stores have a bunch of nice cold-weather gear, if you don't mind the colors. Some stuff is really neat, cheap. Check out this German parka for $62.

[dasurfguy101]

mittens for sure!i learned that last winter.was riding down the road and found on the side of the road.4 pairs of sweet ass mittens with liners.so i gave all but one pair away.i kept those for myself.the big thing with winter riding is the wind.i ride with snowboarding gear.very lightweight and its made for the cold.but i dig the german parka.im gonna have to get one.i keep an extra large rain suit under the seat.so it definatly fits over what i am wearing comfortably for the times i get caught in the rain.but either way if you wanna ride you will ride.regardless of the conditions.but it definatly is extreme.i ride mine 365.

[Bluefront]

I used to ride all the time also.....snow, rain, sleet, whatever. But I was crazy about 2-wheelers, and convinced I would never own a car. But I grew up....somewhat anyway. Snow is way too dangerous, as are the wet/rainy days when the temperature is around freezing. Don't even ride the car much then.....

One important thing to look for in a cold-weather jacket.....what the ad for the German Parka calls an "adjustable inner drawstring waist gaiter". A lot of longer jackets have one....but they seem to be an after-thought. Many are simply a piece of string you're supposed to tie like a shoe-lace. There are better setups, much easier to operate, that won't just pull back into the lining.

If I didn't already own that US Army jacket, that German Parka looks/sounds like a great deal.

[Bluefront]

Underwear for scooter riders? Yeah it's available. The key-word is "wind-proof".Check this out. I've never much cared for the various kinds of thermo-underwear I've tried.......it always feels hot/uncomfortable when I'm not on the bike. But there is newer stuff available......

[jeepsteve92xj]

I've been riding every day that it isn't raining when I leave the house. Only 6 miles each way
It was 42F one morning last weekend. Brrrr
I need a balaclava next, and some pants for sure. My chin and knees are taking the worst of the chill.

here is my jacket - with liner - I think I like to wear a sweatshirt or fleece instead of the clumsy liners.
www.leatherup.com/site/product?pid=56913

I'm using seemingly light gloves, but my fingers haven't complained
www.leatherup.com/site/product?pid=47763

I've got a two piece rain-suit that I haven't used at all yet.
Still using the Hawk duel visor open face, and I have a closed face to switch to when the afternoon temps are still quite cool.


Unless I pop for knobbies, I wont be riding in the snow!

The hand guards look like they would be very handy. A windshield would be sweet too.

I just found a Google streetview of an ITA 150 right beside the Colosseum in Rome, with windshield and hand guards. I was surprised at the random find, and Italy where I'd expect to find Vespa scooters.
www.flickr.com/photos/33238041@N00/5007173248/

[Steven Spielburgman]

Italy has the most scooters per capita than any other country. But I think Aprilia is the most popular

[lshigham]

Sept 20, 2010 1:57:48 GMT -5 Steven Spielburgman said:

Italy has the most scooters per capita than any other country. But I think Aprilia is the most popular

Most scoots there come from the Piaggo group, that includes Aprilia and Gilera. They all are made, or at least, assembled in Italy, so it isn't surprising that they are so popular.

[jeepsteve92xj]

Piaggo, Aprilia, Gilera or Vespa, either way I really didnt expect to randomly find the ITA 150 (or a variation) on the streets in Italy.

In case my link didnt work due to the @ symbol:

tinyurl.com/38s5h4t

58°F this morning, looks like rain, but was a dry ride.


speaking of wet weather

stay dry!
tinyurl.com/29yh72o

[Kiwiscoot]

I ride year round here in Christchurch New Zealand. Our weather varies from 30degC/86degF to -5degC/23degF with the odd -7degC/20degF and we do get a little snow and some black ice in winter.
I find good snug fitting thermal(wool or polypropelene) underwear goes a long way. Long sleeve wool or flanelett shirt. Sleeveless polypropelene jacket/vest and a cheap Pakistani touring m/c jacket(long body) like this

You can see the glow of the reflective strips. This is made from Condura 600 Denier and is winds and water proof. This has armour in the back, shoulders and elbows. It has a zip-out liner, but it is not much. Only downside to this jacket is it makes you look like you have a potbelly(which I don't have), but I'm of the age where that is a minor. Jacket a bit like this cgi.ebay.com/ARMORED-VENTED-CORDURA-REFLECTIVE-MOTORCYCLE-JACKET-S-/310244064673?pt=US_CSA_MC_Outerwear&hash=item483bfcbda1
I wear Jeans to work and on cold morning I put a waterproof pants over to keep the wind out. I put elastic loops at the bottom of each leg of the waterproof pants to go under my shoes to stop it riding up. For long trips I use a cheap touring m/c pants.
I use cheap Pakistani leather m/c touring gloves

they have Thinsulate liners and you'll notice zips on the top of them. Inside these there is a windproof/not 100% waterproof mitten cover which takes care of long cold trips.
I also use a neckwarmer (like a woolen tube) around my neck.
In winter I put my riding gear on before breakfast to build up heat for the ride to work. By the time I'm finished with breakfast I am hot and can't wait to get out of the house! ;D
This gear has been good enough even for winter mountain rides with snow and ice next to the roads. A flask of hot coffee supplies replenishes the heat lost during the trip. A good wide high screen goes a long way to make a cold ride pleasant.
happy scooting
Kiwiscoot - from where the summer is coming! ;D
Kiwiscoot

[Bluefront]

Electrically heated grips or gloves might be the best solution for cold hands......I'd prefer heated grips myself.



But these things draw a lot of current......like 3-4A, maybe more. My system can't stand the extra current draw. A solution would be to install another battery (in the seat bucket perhaps), and use it to power the grips. This would require you to hook up a battery charger every night for this other battery. A 7AH extra battery would power the heated grips for about two hours or so....

Here's a lot more info on the subject.

[Kiwiscoot]

Man that would've been welcome tonight as I had a very wet, wintery 5degC/40degF ride.
Kiwiscoot - who boasted summer was coming - hmmm don't know about that now!

[Bluefront]

How about rain-gear? It's usually a different product from cold-weather gear.



My experience with these things....the one-piece rain suits never fit properly. If you order one, the jacket section might fit, but the pants won't. Get a 2-piece suit. With a long enough jacket section, you'll be just as dry as with a single-piece suit.....and you'll stand a better chance of fitting in the things.

Some of the better brands have sizing designed to fit over winter jackets/pants......which usually means you'll need a smaller size for summer usage. Frankly....I don't usually go scooter riding when it's raining, so these rain suits don't get much usage. They'd be more useful to somebody who lived in an excessively rainy place.

Tour Master products. This site shows a bunch of rain gear.....

[jeepsteve92xj]

Frost advisories just north of my area. Could be as low as 36F for me in the morning. My knees will be chilly!

No balaclava or cold weather pants yet. Farm and fleet has balaclavas for $4 listed on the website, Ill see if there are any in stock tomorrow.

[Bluefront]

Cold knees.....can get serious on cycle rides, but very uncomfortable also on a scooter. You do get some knee protection due to the scooter design, but still.....

Think about lined jeans. Flannel or fleece lined really help out, as do standard double-layer work jeans. The idea is to get a size big enough so the material is not stretched tight over your knee while in the normal riding position......and a size longer than normal so your lower leg is not exposed while riding.

Some of the double-layer work jeans can be modified due to the design.....allowing extra padding to be inserted between the two front layers over the knee area. This is an area about 8" above and 8" below the knee, with a close-able bottom edge to hold the extra protective material.

Prices vary.....I found some lined jeans at Walmart for $12 last fall. The standard double-layer jeans are around $35. LLBean makes some good stuff, but pricey.



Carrhart and Dickeys make real heavy-weight double-layer work jeans, that might give added protection from scrapes during a fall. And still....they look like normal jeans when not on your scooter.

[jeepsteve92xj]

I will see if Farm & Fleet has any on sale when I stop to get the balaclava for $4.

It was between 36 and 43 according to my two closest city reports this morning. I forgot to check my own thermometer. chilled knees and chin.

Back to the main ITA thread - what is the correct/prefered oil for cooler temps?

[Bluefront]

I went to my local farm supply store (Buckheits in Festus Mo)....they sell all sorts of winter clothing. I found Dickeys double-layer work jeans on sale for $25. These things are tough jeans.....had to buy another pair.

They also had Carhart flannel-lined jeans...$50. I passed on that one....

[jeepsteve92xj]

flannel lined Work & Sport jeans at the Farm & Fleet are $25, and every other brand is $30 and higher - the Carharts are way up there.

Id like to buy a huge size and have a pair of zippers put in to use them like chaps over my regular jeans rather than having to change at work.

I have a nylon balaclava and a fleece balaclava - each made a huge difference on these chilly mornings.
This morning the temp was 32 on the news, 36 by my thermometer.
Plenty of frost on the cars and grass, none on the scooter as I took it out of the garage.
My single layer leather gloves are fine so far. Haven't worn the lined jeans on the road yet, so my knees and thighs get cool. And my visor gets fogged.

sportsmansguide.com has Chinese gear - $10 silk balaclava, and military surplus wool 5 in a pack for $15
www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=40252
www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=573660

And lined jeans and gloves and mittens...

[Bluefront]

I got a new visor for my helmet......it's a fancy one, designed to prevent fogging. Super Seer double-lens face shield. Fogging up has always been a problem for me in cold weather, since I wear glasses. This new shield is very nice to deal with....it slides up, rather than pivot. And it can be used in the up position, or anything in-between, while riding along. The red arrow points to a black-out stripe I added. This is the short version....and you can get it with the top edge smoke-color. I prefer the top edge to be completely dark.

Anyway....it hasn't been cold enough yet to test for fogging in really tough conditions, but riding at 50 degrees or so led to no fogging for me. Recommended for sure......you can find it for around $35 various places.

[Bluefront]

Here's a device you'll have to make......A scooter lap cover, although there are similar setups available (see the link). I have never tried the commercially available versions, but this DIY lap cover will work good around here.....particularly for those long, cold, winter rides.

I'm about ready for winter.....

[Bluefront]

Head/neck protection......there are all sorts of neck protection devices out there. Most just pull over your head. Some wrap around, held together with Velcro. A few wrap around with a zipper closure. The idea is to provide maximum coverage when used with jackets with low collars. There are a few that can convert to many shapes. Here's one.....I found a bunch at a flea market for $5 ea.



It's called a Maxit headgator 6 in 1, by Maxit Designs. I really like the concept....you carry around a single device that can do multiple things, since it stretches so well. Stretched over your head into a balaclava-shape, it fits easily under your helmet, and is still long enough to cover your neck.

I'm waiting for colder weather to try this out....

Here's another type that looks pretty good.....



Found that one at Motorcycle Superstore under "random apparel" ....they have several types at this site.