Cold Weather Riding Gear

[Dirk_S]

Now that I finally got my BMW R80/7’s charging system worked out (fingers crossed) and my Oxford heated gears refreshed (controller wasn’t working until I WD40’ed the [wet] snot out of the pins), I feel fairly prepared for this winter season. I’m planning a winter camping trip within the next couple weeks at a lean-to in the White Mountain National Forest about an hour and half away (Province Pond, NH), similar to the Christmas Eve camping trip I did a couple years ago at another lean-to shelter just a few more miles north (Mountain Pond, NH). Hoping to come home with a Christmas tree, having already purchased a $7 tree-cutting permit from the U.S. Forest. My Silky Big Boy saw will make the trip (love that thing).

Now—the meat of this post. I just had the stupid brilliant idea of riding my BMW rig nearly 500 miles from Portland, Maine to York, Pennsylvania for a surprise visit to family over the Christmas holiday. I might plan for two days down and two days up if it’s cold enough. Not only is long exposure to weather a factor here, but I still don’t have complete trust in the inner workings of this 47-year old machine sold to me “in good condition” just 2.5 years ago. A glutton for punishment, or anecdotal resources for good storytelling? Anyway.

I want to read what works for those who have done long, cold rides. Cold as in sub-40°F. Better yet, sub-freezing. And I’d really like to see what people have used aside from alternator-draining electric gear, because my heated grips and USB port are about all the BMW’s charging system—<300 watts, similar to the Guzzi small blocks—can properly handle.

My current cold weather riding gear (keeping in mind that I ride year-round in New England)

Base Layers: wool socks over a thinner liner sock; leggings or long underwear bottoms; my Klim cold-weather top (really good!);

Mid-Layers: synthetic active pants & my thin, convertible travel pants; Amazon synthetic packable puffy (favorite warm mid-layer discovery, nears any micro-fleece I’ve tried); another mid-layer top as needed (perhaps my synthetic-down Carhartt vest or an aforementioned long-sleeved micro-fleece);

Outer Layers: wind/water-resistant Caterpillar winter coat (surprisingly chic to the gentrified city folk); cheap snow bibs; waterproof Danner winter boots; Aerostich deerskin gauntlets;

Extra Weather Protection: Frog-Toggs rain jacket and pants; Aerostich Triple Digit rain gloves (lobster-style);

Head/Neck Protection: Klim Arctic balaclava (very good!); keffiyeh/shemagh (preferred over a scarf these days)

Extra Hand Protection: Oxford heated grips, Hippo Hands (Alcan model);


A few pics from my scouting trip of Province Pond 2 weekends ago:




And some photos from the Mountain Pond Christmas trip 2 years ago:

[Kev m]

How big are you?

I can send you a snowmobile suit.

When I started my career I couldn't afford both a new motorcycle and a used car, so I sold my car.

I used to commute 1.5 hours each way to and from the Chilton offices in Radnor, PA from the edge of Lancaster county.

I'd come out of a Christmas party, push an inch or two of fresh snow off the seat of my Harley and head out for a A LONG COLD ride home.

Anyway I still have it.

On top of that I used to use heated gloves. But that was all I needed.

These days I'd be tempted to run a heated vest and gloves etc etc etc for extreme comfort. But I'd still want enough layers to keep going if the heated gear or wiring failed.

Ergo the free to new home snowmobile suit.

Your call.

[Dirk_S]

How big are you?

I can send you a snowmobile suit.

Thanks, Kev. I’m 5’ 8”, 160 lb at my heaviest usually. I’ve thought about a snowmobile suit from time to time. I think we might’ve even talked off-forum about it. Considering my hands and feet are always cold, I figured a snowmobile suit would beat an Aerostich Roadcrafter, at least in the comfort department.

[Tkelly]

Fairing and heated vest,leather jacket,sounds like you have a good plan.

[PJPR01]

Thanks, Kev. I’m 5’ 8”, 160 lb at my heaviest usually. I’ve thought about a snowmobile suit i]from time to time. Considering my hands and feet are always cold, I figured a snowmobile suit would beat an Aerostich Roadcrafter, at least in the comfort department.

Full sealed and water proof boots?  Maybe a coating of mink oil to seal them?

[Motormike]

I want to read what works for those who have done long, cold rides. Cold as in sub-40°F. Better yet, sub-freezing.

Can't speak for others, but sitting in front of the fireplace with a mug of hot coco has always worked for me. 

[Guzzidad]

   I just got home from my part time job and it was 75 degrees. Got a bit chilled. (Florida)

[Dirk_S]

Full sealed and water proof boots?  Maybe a coating of mink oil to seal them?

Seals. Minks. If we have it your way, I’ll be looking like an explorer returning from a failed Northwest Passage expedition.

…I like it.

[Tom H]

   I just got home from my part time job and it was 75 degrees. Got a bit chilled. (Florida)

Where is the thumbs down button when you need it

Tom

[bronzestar1]

You're a braver man than I, that's for sure.  This would make for a great zombie apocalypse survivor movie!  I don't ride if it's lower than 50 degrees outside, that's what my cars are for! 

[PeteS]

I have ridden maybe a half dozen times in below freezing temps. All but once behind a full fairing. Not even having a windshield is a huge handicap. I think a snowmobile suit is your best option. Those guys run all day in below freezing temps. Plus your bike would support a heated jacket liner as long as engine rpms are well above 4k RPMs. Just turn it off when in towns.

Pete

[n3303j]

Never bought electric gear under the assumption it would fail and I would freeze to death next to my motorcycle.
Polypropylene base, fleece over it, Dainese winter jacket and pants on top. Real cold I'd add a light down jacket under the Dainese.
Heavy wool under good Goretex boots and I'd add the disposable chemical toe warmers for the cold days.
I have "Ducks Unlimited" bar muffler on the Ural. Bars are heated but don't often need that feature and can ride in summer gloves.
Current helmet is Neotec 3. It's currently warm enough.

No issues at +4°F.

[TN Mark]

The coldest I’ve ridden in is 17F. Heated grips kept my palms warm but the backs of my hands and my finger tips were quite cold. Then I added large wrap around type hand guards (Amazon) which made a huge improvement.

The Aerostitch 3 finger rain over mitts also work great at blocking the wind and they have no bulk whatsoever.

I dislike bulking clothing and have found the Freeze Out type gear from Cycle Gear works great. These items completely block the wind and are less bulky than a sweat shirt.

I’ve never owned electric gloves, vests, a liner etc.

[PeteS]

I have a Gerbing jacket liner I bought 25 years ago. Still works as new. Temps in the 30s turn it on full and within two minutes its too hot. Above 40F you don’t even need heat. We learned that on extended cross country trips temps can vary a lot. One year we were in Banff,AB in July and woke up to temps in the 20s. Touring gear now is a mesh jacket, rain liner, long underwear, and the heated liner and we are OK from triple digit temps to freezing.

Pete

[TN Mark]

When I lived in Upper Michigan and rode a Bassa, I wore insulated Carhart bib overalls with a matching insulated Carhart jacket. I think I was Bassa Mark on here back then. The Carhart insulated gear worked fine in the cold but not so much in the rain. Plus they were bulky.

We got caught in a terrible snow storm from just south of L’Anse all the way to Saul’s St. Marie. We stopped at a snowmobile shop in Marquette and I bought a fantastic pair of Artic Cat gloves.

A few miles down the road I realized my feet were also freezing cold.

[blackcat]

Personally, I'd rather ride in cold temps than 95 degrees with equal humidity in a boring terrain like Florida,etc. I can get warm with clothes and electrics but that is impossible with heat and humidity.

[SIR REAL ED]

Can't speak for others, but sitting in front of the fireplace with a mug of hot coco has always worked for me. 

Sometimes, adding some Kahlua to the hot cocoa helps....

And maybe a cat or dog or two on your lap for extra BTU's....

[Motormike]

Sometimes, adding some Kahlua to the hot cocoa helps....

Way ahead of you on the Kahlua!!!

[Moparnut72]

As good as the Oxford grips are I would go with heated gloves. You can get battery powered ones but I run mine off the bike's electrical system as well as a Gerbings jacket liner. I run both off the bike, the jacket liner has pigtails that go right to the gloves so there aren't a bunch of wires running all over the place. I don't know if you alternator would support all of that. I only used that setup on my Bonneville and Mandello. I haven't tried them on my V7 yet, I intend on checking alternator output and gear draw. I wear leather.
kk

[jcctx]

Well, I see "agro=stitch" is still a thing!!!!