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Post by spacecowboy on Oct 15, 2010 23:51:16 GMT -5
I'm on my third winter or so of riding my 150cc Kymco, and I'd thought I'd chime in on this thread.
1) A good parka, windproof and sized slightly larger than you is essential. Fit it over your armored gear and ride warm & safe. Try to look for one with not too much "body" to it. I had one with a water/wind proof outer lining and thin fleece inner lining. It was wonderful.
2) Good gloves. They need to be warm enough to keep your hands usable. It's no
3) Open face helmet with visor. A lot of full face helmets I tried just kept fogging up. Also had an incident where one iced shut. So put something around your neck, and use that CVT to slow down
4) If your scooter's electrical system will support it, heated vest liners are a godsend. Mine wouldn't support them.
5) For pants, I used pants intended for snowmobiling worn over something else.
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Post by Bluefront on Oct 16, 2010 4:41:37 GMT -5
I'll tell you something to avoid......anything with a heavy hood that is intended to be worn under a jacket/coat. The hood is extremely difficult to stuff under the collar of the jacket......it tends to puff out the jacket making it difficult to completely close the collar. If you do get everything closed tight, it can be difficult to turn your head.
This is all personal preference of course......but I prefer to wear a jacket with a tall collar, and a separate neck gaiter or tube big enough to go over the jacket collar, and all the way up to the helmet.
FWIW.....at the local Army Surplus store the other day, I found a long black tube that does just that. It's part of the current army cold weather line of gear. Cost $6.
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Post by jeepsteve92xj on Oct 20, 2010 8:27:14 GMT -5
I'm on my third winter or so of riding my 150cc Kymco, and I'd thought I'd chime in on this thread. I do wonder what sort of winters you have since you dont display your location. Just a clue on the area, please. Milwaukee vs St. Louis are similar but not the same - and we are less than 400 miles apart, but nearly straight north and south. Either of our winter weather will be different from NewOrleans or Winnipeg Canada. Dressing for Austin TX winter and riding in Anchorage or vice verce would be a problem.
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Post by Bluefront on Oct 21, 2010 6:02:35 GMT -5
Nothing better than a ride early in the morning when the sun is coming up......even in cool fall temperatures. Just how cold can it be right now in Northern Ark.? I'm about 200 miles north of there, and always get up early for morning rides (also retired).......just watch out for ice when it drops close to freezing.
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Post by jeepsteve92xj on Oct 22, 2010 16:08:58 GMT -5
26F this morning. I stepped out and felt the humidity was high and causing a stiff windchill even at a low wind speed. I put the scooter back and drove to work. After work it was above 60 of course. I woudlnt expect ice on the roads yet when the daytime temps are in the high 50s or better. Rain expected this weekend and for several more days. Hope I can get more riding before the snow flies!
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Post by Bluefront on Oct 22, 2010 18:18:14 GMT -5
The very first time I dropped a 2-wheeler......I was riding through the local park on the way to early morning classes. It was November and and right around 32 degrees (no rain). I was banking through a curve I had ridden through countless times. Next thing I knew I was sliding on the ground. Didn't get hurt luckily, and I went back to see what did it. Nothing I could find......"black" ice maybe. I don't bank nearly that hard anymore, in the early morning when it's cold out.
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Post by jeepsteve92xj on Oct 22, 2010 19:32:00 GMT -5
Yea, later in the year when it just doesn't heat up during the day, and areas that might be in shade most of the day are more susceptible to the ice. And bridges too of course.
Higher temps and full sun all day, and I use heavy traffic roads - not so heavy at the time of morning I ride - 6:30, but well traveled all day helps also heat the roads.
Knobby tires and studs and ride all winter? I've seen bicycles set up like that.
Even at -10F I have seen a motorcycle in the mornings. I don't know what he is using for heat, but he is riding in extreme cold and high risk of ice, and no side car for that nice three wheel stability. I met a guy with a Ural. Russian knock off of a BMW from WW II, Sidecar, two Wheel drive. He said he rides only the Ural, he has no car. When I saw it, it was 2 years old with over 20k miles. Its got knobbys but no studs. I saw him in the summer, so no idea what he has for winter gear.
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Post by fuwad84 on Oct 22, 2010 20:22:36 GMT -5
I was looking at the service manual for my majesty last week and noticed it is already wired for grip heaters. not for me though, as if it is too cold for deerskin gloves I go inside and get a hot cup off coffee and start the malibu. In Iowa one year around 50 years ago, I rode 365 days in a row...young and dumb. today if it is snowing, I again go back inside and turn on the tv. It just ain't worth it to go out in bad weather. Yup I am retired and I don't start that till 10:30 or 11:00, and some times sleep till noon. john nice
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Post by Bluefront on Oct 24, 2010 6:25:05 GMT -5
I bought a Dickies Storm vest the other day from my local Dickies outlet. ($42) They have a $10 rebate going if you spend over $50. This is a perfect vest for scooters. It'll turn most any jacket into a wind/water resistant piece of cycle gear. It's very thin.....should fit under any sort of comfortable jacket. The material is some new hi-tech sort of stuff that is breathable and still warm. It has a tall collar that definitely would be nice in cold weather, when used with a collarless jacket. Check it out.......
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Post by Bluefront on Oct 27, 2010 15:43:51 GMT -5
ATTENTION.....now's the time to check out Walmart for cold-weather gear. Today I saw a rack filled with the Walmart brand (Faded Glory) of fleece-lined carpenter blue jeans. These things are heavy and should be extra warm. $20......much better price than the similar flannel-lined Carrhart jeans ($50).
Walmart doesn't carry this sort of gear for very long in the cold months.
Update.....Walmart is showing a khaki-colored lined carpenter pants, and also a black color red-lined carpenter pants. The fleece lining on the black pants seems heavier (might be my imagination).
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Post by ottosear on Oct 27, 2010 15:58:54 GMT -5
When it gets under 40 F here in Wisconsin... I wear a snowmobile suit. A Yamaha neck warmer on my full face skid lid. Polaris leather snowmobile gloves. And new this fall... A scooter apron imported from England. Kinda dorky looking. But I am already on a scooter ;D
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Post by Bluefront on Oct 29, 2010 16:04:44 GMT -5
Lap covers, lap aprons, hand mitts...... here are some examples at good prices.. This lap cover they show is similar to the one I made recently, and their lap mitt is similar to my "Hippo Hands". These are items you'll rarely see because of the dork factor. But they do work....
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Post by madoka on Oct 29, 2010 20:43:55 GMT -5
I just ordered a scooter skirt from this company: www.scooterskirts.com/index.htmlI haven't received it yet but have heard lots of good reviews. As you can see, it offers more coverage of the lower legs than the smaller apron style. It's available in several colors. The order form asked for my height so I assume it can be made to suit each rider. Corazzo also makes a version with its own branding.
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Post by spacecowboy on Oct 29, 2010 23:54:52 GMT -5
I'm on my third winter or so of riding my 150cc Kymco, and I'd thought I'd chime in on this thread. I do wonder what sort of winters you have since you dont display your location. Just a clue on the area, please. Milwaukee vs St. Louis are similar but not the same - and we are less than 400 miles apart, but nearly straight north and south. Either of our winter weather will be different from NewOrleans or Winnipeg Canada. Dressing for Austin TX winter and riding in Anchorage or vice verce would be a problem. Oklahoma. Our winters are a bit loony. But the last few have been sortof nasty. The coldest I've gone out in is in 17 below freezing for an 8 mile scoot to school, and back The only condition I really don't ride in is snow because it crumbles underneath the tires, causing them to slip to the side unexpectedly, and makes safe turning difficult at any speed after the cars on the road churn the snow into a bumpy, semi-frozen sludge. Ice I can deal with.
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Post by Bluefront on Oct 30, 2010 6:14:19 GMT -5
Well since this thread is in the "safety" forum.......I do not recommend riding in snowy/wet conditions in freezing temperatures, unless you get caught out in it by accident, and have to make it back home. You can't turn or stop safely at all.....and if it's the slightest bit windy your tires may not hold even riding slowly in a straight line. FWIW.....in case some of you haven't seen it, Here's the DIY lap cover I've been working on. Forget how it/you look when it's cold outside......
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 3, 2010 9:42:37 GMT -5
Ordered a new jacket the other day.....looks good, has armor, plenty of pockets, and the color combo should make it quite visible. Sure hope it fits. Nobody around here has one to try out. Similar-looking jackets seem to run fairly tight when worn over a vest or heavy sweater. So I went with one size bigger than the size chart. That would make it one size bigger than the Joe Rocket mesh jacket I have (don't have to wear any heavy stuff under the Joe Rocket, since it's a summer jacket). A good price at this place, but I had to order it elsewhere for a few bucks more, since this place was OOS on the size/color I wanted. When I get it I'll give it a review.
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 6, 2010 5:30:43 GMT -5
Well I got the jacket yesterday afternoon.....three days from the left coast to St Louis w/FedEx ground. And I figured out why all of the places I found did not have a name for this jacket. It's made by Himalaya of Pakistan. Apparently......the company has it's own distributorship in the US. They undercut everybody......selling at wholesale prices to the public. (I think anyway...haven't tried to order anything off this site) Check out that link for all sorts of very cheap cycle gear. The jacket I got goes for $42 at this place. I can hardly believe some of the prices...even on leather stuff. Note..there's a $100 minimum when ordering wholesale from this place. My jacket......excellent. The fit was right on. Their sizing chart seems very accurate. I ordered one size larger than the chart, so I could wear the jacket over at least two layers of winter garments. This is a winter jacket, also sold as a snowmobile jacket. I don't think you could stand it for long much over 55/60 degrees.,,,and particularly so with the quilted lining in place) There is some attempt at venting on the sleeves...but not much. The armor fits nice (unlike my Joe Rocket mesh jacket). It's 26 degrees right now.....I'm going on a 40 mile ride when It gets light out. More info to come. ;D
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Post by thewahls7 on Nov 7, 2010 1:37:41 GMT -5
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 7, 2010 7:49:52 GMT -5
It's too bad the photos/descriptions of these jackets are so limited. There are details and features you'd think would be more adequately described. The woman's textile jacket in the first photo no doubt is tailored differently from the men's. As to the warmth factor......probably the same as my jacket if the available photos are any indication. Here's the woman's jacket.....#BL-3001 Red lines......vents missing on my jacket. Green arrows.....a buckle adjustment on the collar, and snap sleeve adjusters missing on my jacket. Here's my jacket.....#BL-2032 (a bunch of different colors are available, as well as some very large sizes. Mine is 4X) Green lines......long sleeve vents w/ a zipper closure. Blue arrows......single buckle adjusters for the sleeves, and a Velcro collar adjuster/closure. Purple lines.....the silver reflective piping around the red upper patches. Green box.....a long zipper closed pocket on the rear for gloves or whatever (it's big). There's a cell phone pocket on the inside, and another pocket on the removable liner, and another pocket on the fixed mesh liner visible when the quilted liner is removed. With the quilted liner removed the jacket fits obviously a little looser, but adjusting the waist straps takes up the excess play and the jacket still fits nice. There is a string/cord adjustment for the lower edge. The five armor pieces are tough foam and removable. The elbow and shoulder pieces are hinged, so they fit better. You can barely feel the armor while riding, and the stuff is hardly noticeable from the outside...... since the armor area is covered with the large red patches. There are also small hand pockets (not even noticeable) that go behind the two lower front pockets. Not much more than your hand will fit in them. The wrist area closes up nice and tight. There are outer zipper adjusters, as well as a Velcro adjustment. The collar is fleece lined...soft. This jacket should be 100% water-proof (haven't tried that). It is 100% wind-proof. My three hour ride yesterday was between 28-38 degrees......stayed plenty warm. I had on a long sleeve heavy T-shirt, and a light-weight collared sweat-shirt with a tall collar and a zipper front. My guess is......if I'm riding in temperatures below 20 degrees I'll wear thermal underwear, and maybe a sweat-shirt with a hoody pulled up under my helmet. Recommendation....worth the cost for sure. I'm well satisfied. This jacket does not feel bulky to wear, and my red color stands out well. The photos don't do these jackets justice....mine looks every bit as good as a $600 textile jacket that I've seen. Need more info....ask. ;D
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Post by tvnacman on Nov 7, 2010 10:34:00 GMT -5
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 7, 2010 11:05:23 GMT -5
^^^^Can't get that link to work......many of the snowmobile jackets do not have armor, which puzzles me. Well yeah you're not riding on pavement usually, but any armor would help in a crash. Anybody who gets/has a good jacket suitable for scooter use.....please post about it. After looking at tons of these things, it seems a person will need at least two, maybe three different armored jackets to cover all the seasons. Here's a tip I know to work.....wear a wide kidney belt right over your belt/tee-shirt/underwear/whatever. It's warmer and prevents your shirt from pulling out of your belt while you are bent over. I bought a nice one at Harbor Freight. It's orange/reflective.....and came with shoulder straps that I cut off. You could also use it as an external safety device if needed....
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 9, 2010 5:36:05 GMT -5
FWIW....there are a few jackets around that are made/advertised to be converted from a summer mesh type, to a water/wind-proof colder weather jacket. This Fieldsheer Moto Morph jacket is an example.... There are front zipped panels and inner liner panels that remove on this one. As to how well they pull off this design.....hard to say. You'll have to try to figure it out by reading the reviews. Motorcycle Superstore has this one on sale for $90. Looks pretty good.
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 11, 2010 5:32:08 GMT -5
Regarding this last Fieldsheer jacket......apparently this is a discontinued jacket, and being closed out in many stores. It sure does look good and the concept is sound....but. The jacket looks to be a real hassle to deal with. Check out this Video on the Moto Morph. Just taking off the outer shell (which appears to be the only way to vent the thing) is more than I'd care to do while on a trip somewhere. I'm going to pass on this one. And here's a video review on a similar jacket, a Scorpion Hat Trick. The main difference between these two jackets......the air/water-proof liner is on the inside of the mesh on the Scorpion. Still looks like a difficult setup....
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 18, 2010 9:06:46 GMT -5
^^^^Well I finally broke down and bought the Fieldsheer Moto-Morph jacket....from Motorcycle Superstore. Cost $90 including free shipping, and I got it in three days. They had the jacket in the color and size I wanted.....red/4X. It is on sale....so act fast if you want one.
This jacket should replace the Nexgen jacket I have been using in these moderate/cool temperatures. It is an armored jacket....the Nexgen is not. Plus....this Fieldsheer is versatile, and could probably be used in all weather conditions.
I've just started using it, so not too much to report yet. But it's much heavier than the pictures would indicate. And it looks like a really warm jacket with the inner liner in place. The armor fits pretty well, but will take some getting-used-to if you've never had an armored jacket before. Fits me well (ordered one size bigger than the chart indicated), and the sleeves are long enough. (I usually buy tall sizes).
I must have looked over dozens of jackets.....this one seemed the best for the low price. Working out so far..... ;D
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 19, 2010 17:52:31 GMT -5
I've ridden about 200 miles with this Morf jacket.......from about 35-60 degrees, with and without the inner liner. The liner is really warm, and gets uncomfortable much over 60 degrees. I haven't ridden with the outer panels removed, and the liner removed.....too cold here for that. But it would act about like a full mesh armored jacket. When you remove the outer panels, the jacket still looks about the same, with the same red panels and logo. Here it is with the liner removed, the outer panels zipped up. You grab the yellow pull tabs, pull them all the way down......and you have two very large vents. There's another zipper at the rear of the collar that you can open as a rear vent if necessary. Here's a view with the front opened (by a zipper with an inner storm flap). It's a full mesh liner, even the sleeves. The armor is attached in pockets in this liner (the armor is all removable). The inner liner/jacket is wind/water proof, with a fleece liner. You could use it as a light jacket by itself. With this liner in place, the outer venting is pretty much useless. But you only need to use this liner when it's really cold......like below 40 degrees. In those temps you wouldn't be wanting the vents open anyway. So far.....my only complaint is that I miss a belt on the outside about half-way up, to prevent the slight "balloon" effect all these sorts of jackets have at speed, when you have a windshield. I bought a black stretch belt at Walmart that works ok....no belt loops for it however. This jacket should be fairly well water-resistant with just the outer panels attached. With the inner liner installed it would be completely water-proof........except for any water that might enter around the neck opening. If you only want a single armored jacket for all the seasons......this one should work out well. If you get one big enough, you could layer it with enough other clothes to take even the coldest riding. Quite a neat jacket..... ;D
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 22, 2010 15:17:59 GMT -5
Road about three hours this morning at about 71-74 degrees, mostly overcast day. I used the Morf jacket with the two large front vents wide open. That video on this jacket doesn't even mention using the jacket this way.....liner removed, and the front zippers open. Man it vents well this way......I was not at all uncomfortable. Had I been using my Nexgen jacket in these temps with it's vents open, I would have been hot. I have ridden at about 40 degrees, without the liner, and the front vents closed......with only a short-sleeve T-shirt. Quite doable. I'm waiting for a really cold day to see how well it works as a winter jacket with the liner..... Temperature update......I've ridden about two hours straight with the temp at around 28 degrees, with the liner in place, and a sweatshirt with the hoody pulled up under my helmet. Great.....even got in a little rain which I wasn't expecting. Plenty warm, no leaks. With everything in place this is a very heavy jacket.....
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Post by Bluefront on Nov 30, 2010 8:59:58 GMT -5
Here's a good solution for face protection, if you're forced to wear an open-face helmet/face-shield due to fogging issues with glasses/full-face helmets. This is a "Comfort-In-Action Road Bandit", available many places for around $20-$25. Motorcycle Superstore has them for $24. Actually they don't work well pulled over your nose like the picture. Very uncomfortable and leaks air around your nose.....works better just covering your mouth. You can pull it up/down while you're moving along. This model has a Velcro closure in the rear, rather than being a pull-over. Much more comfortable like this, as you can adjust how tight it holds. It's not as long as the picture would indicate. I wear it completely over the helmet strap. And....I applied some Velcro to the back of my helmet, so I attach the thing completely to the helmet, rather than around my neck. I find this to feel much better on a longer cruise. At the little logo tab on the bottom I attached a 1/2 oz weight....holds it down completely so the wind doesn't blow it around. Tip to keep an exposed nose much warmer......practice breathing in through your mouth, and out through your nose. Really works.... ;D
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Post by Bluefront on Dec 16, 2010 5:52:57 GMT -5
Holiday deals at Motorcycle Superstore.....free shipping on orders over $39. They have a big selection of Hi-Viz riding gear......some on sale. Many of the cycle jackets have reflective areas...this takes it one step further. I do see many riders, even Harley riders, wearing the reflective orange vests. Myself.....I don't ride after dark, and never in poor visibility (unless by accident), but I do use reflective orange or green on my gloves. And I always use exaggerated hand signals when there is traffic close to me. Just a small part of trying not to get crunched by some moron on a cell phone......
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Post by astrobufff on Feb 25, 2011 0:17:08 GMT -5
Thanks to Bluefront I have bought the same Fieldsheer Motomorph on closeout.
For superb cooling on a short trip, I insert a set of cool gel ice packs in between the mesh and the outer textile jackets. The packs cool you for a good 90 minutes with all the vents and zipper shut tight. Extremely handy in the hot Mumbai, India climate.
By the way I am experimenting with making custom sized cool packs using a saturated salt solution from cheap coarse salt. (NaCl) The dirty turbid look is masked by adding a few drops of fountain pen ink or any other suitable ink. This will NOT freeze when kept in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator even after a few days. Gel packs are ideal.
Astro
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