If there's any one heated article of clothing to buy...

[motorcyclebaby]

...which one would you get? Gloves? Shoe warmers?

I'm planning a trip across the country at the end of December starting in New York where it will probably be below 40 at that time. I will have to ride about 6 hours before getting to a warm enough location.

My budget is limited, so I won't have funds to buy a whole heated outfit. Should I get gloves at the least?

Also wondering, if by chance i can get a good deal somewhere, how many components could an old 83 GS550E handle with its alternator. Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks for your feedback.

[tkent02]

I'd start with a decent fairing if you don't have one.

After that, keeping the torso warm will keep blood flowing to the extremities, a vest or jacket is the most important.

Some people have cold hands, or cold feet, or cold legs, get what you need.

But if you are doing only one it would have to be a vest or jacket.

[Tim Tom]

Look into battery operated heated gear. This way you're not straining the bikes electrics in any way. Get a big windshield to get the windchill off your body. Consider adding handguards to do the same for your hands.

Another good idea is the budget heating vest using a T-shirt with many pockets sewn on the front and back and using lots hand warmers in the pockets. Never tried this myself but supposed to work fairly well at keeping your core temp up.


Just curious why you would choose December for a cross country trip?! Seems like your making it much more difficult and dangerous than it needs to be.

[spyug]

Definitely gloves. If your hands freeze, its all over. As I'm on blood thinners my hands freeze in even temps of around 50/60F. I can manage about an hour but once they start to hurt its game over.

I've used heated grips on a couple of my bikes and while they keep the palms toasty, they do nothing for the backs of the hands and fingers. Gloves, I believe, will heat the whole hand.. A bit cumbersome with the wires but worth it to keep warm.

In addition to the gloves ,you should get one of the thin balaclavas to wear under the helmet. Make sure they have the long tails that cover the neck and go under the jacket. A draught of cold air on the neck is another ride killer.

On the trip, you will want to stop frequently and rehydrate with hot fluids and some calasthenics to keep the blood flowing.

The bike will handle gloves and likely a heated vests but before you venture out you should make sure your charging system is working at peak efficiency. In addition, I think I would add a voltage guage to keep an eye on things as you ride along. Nothing worse than riding for hours into the middle of nowhere thinking the bike is charging fine only to stop and find you have a dead battery.

Good luck with the trip and be sure to share some pics with us.

Cheers,
spyug

[tkent02]

I think I would add a voltage guage to keep an eye on things as you ride along.

This is a great idea.

[koolaid_kid]

I am assuming that you are purchasing all the correct non-electric equipment listed above. Therefore I vote for the gloves. I have thinsulated winter gloves with silk glove liners, and it still was not enough. I finally installed heated grips and it turned the corner for me. So if it is equipment as in gear, I vote for the gloves.
And yes, a digital voltmeter is nice. Gloves don't have that large a current draw, but on a GS a voltmeter is quite handy.

[bluewool]

I put heated grips and Old style OEM KLR hand guards on Carrie's GS500(she has chronically cold hands). The Grips are great but the $30 hand guards made a HUGE difference.
I'll agree with the others who have said "vest" have to keep the core warm.

Motorcycle Superstore is having a sale and the Firstgear Thermo one piece cold weather suit is on for $171

4.6/5 with 319 reviews...

[SVSooke]

I bought an electric vest a few years ago.The best investment in motorcycle comfort I ever made.Big believer in "keep the core warm the rest will follow" here.A cross contry motorcycle trip in Dec?

[gsgeezer]

Years ago, I did use a snowmobile suit. In SE PE it doesn't get too cold.

I noticed this review posted on a local dealer's website. I just got back from picking up a part for the GS there and I was going to look at product, in person, but a factory rep from Brammo (electric bike company) was there, so I ended up watching the presentation to the employees.

Below is Dennis Martin's review of MobileWarming battery operated jackets and liners (batteries included):

http://www.martinmoto.com/default.asp?page=choice

[GelandeStrasse]

I've spent a fair amount of time riding in winter. Bar muffs and heated grips should be top of your list. The most important things to keep warm are your hands that are doing the important stuff like braking. An all in one waterproof will keep most of the cold out but you really gotta keep those fingers warm. You can keep going if you're chest is a bit cold but when your fingers cool down they don't work properly = scary! Bar muffs and grips are cheap and universal too.

[jpaul]

I would go with either a vest or jacket liner, preferably a battery powered one. The best thing you can do for your hands is to use some type of fairing or handguards to get the direct wind blast off of them. If you need a little extra help to keep your hands warm, buy some of the chemical hand warmers. I have used the toe warmers applied to the inside of the wrist area, where the blood vessels are close the the surface. I always ride with long sleeved t shirts in cold weather, and put the warmers on the outside of that.

[gsgeezer]

I forgot to mention chemical hand and foot warmers, I use them too.

[Steel Toed Tank]

+1

eliminating the wind is one of the biggest aids, and layers of clothing can do as well as heated sometimes, unless your going to be riding in the SK...right Tank?!

You aren't kidding!

My sled has heated hand grips, but the gloves I use run about $75.
I tested them by putting one on and hanging it out the car window at 100km/h for almost 40km at a temp of -5C and still didn't feel the cold seeping through.
All my outer gear is arctic rated and windproof, and none of it is cheap.

Boots $230
Overalls $130
Coat $145
Sweater $75
Gloves $75
Head
w/helmet $30
w/o helmet $20

So it has cost me about $700 to dress warm in the winter, lol.



Tank

[koolaid_kid]

Layers does it for me. I did my cold weather gear in stages. I have multi-layered riding pants from Joe Rocket. With a pair long johns, they are fine. Wool socks with my riding boots are good for my feet. A balaclava for my helmet (a baklava is for eating, balaclava is for wearing) is good for my helmet. I do use anti-fog on the facemask and have to vent it slightly to prevent fogging, have not found a fix for that one. I wear a Tourmaster Rincon 3/4 jacket. This is a fantastic, multi-layered, many pocketed long jacket that is awesome, and only $100 on-line. My hands were the most difficult and last thing to fix. I have thinsulated gloves and silk liners, but they still did not do it. This year bwringer installed grip heaters for me. Those things are awesome. Tested in 40 degrees with absolutely no issues afa warmth, except that I did have to turn the grip heaters down a bit after about 30 minutes into the trip, they were too warm. 40 degrees was my goal, and I was toasty warm. 35 degrees would probably been just fine also. Below 35 degrees and I will cage it.

[Crankthat]

A lot of really good advice here + 1 on everything Spyug posted , and will add the colder weather will tax you quicker, make you less aware. Plan on making a lot of stops to keep hydrated and just for rest as you will need it even though you may feel you do not, VERY IMPORTANT for a long trip.

+ 1 on anything you can do for your hands, without heated grips or heated gloves my finger tips were always the coldest part of me on winter motorcycle trips. Must make sure you can still use controls easy, will take a little time to get acquainted with larger gloves.

Have always read that the core is the most important thing to keep warm and though a heated vest is so highly recommended If it outside of your budget dress in layers but must be the right kind of layers. Even with a heated vest dress in layers.

What I ride In during the winter, or at least below freezing.

Turtle polertec fleece hat, turtle fleece neck gaiter, long sleeve t shirt, short sleeve t shirt over, cold weather windproof dirt bike jersey, polertec fleece over that, then a insulated wind proof abrasion coat over that.

Smallish sweat pants that fit under jeans, jeans, goretex snowboard pants.
If you have armor pants that will fit under your top layer I would recommend.

For boots I just wear my trusty all leather slip resistance combat boots, but my feet are pretty warm to begin with. Not recomended for you though, make sure your boots are not to tight or steel toed.

You must try to dress right and still have good movement, not as easy as you might think.

When it is cold your visor on helmet will fog up real quick.
Use your helmet that has the best ventilation. Be able to lift visor quickly every time you stop/really slow down as it will fog up without the movement. I think you can buy spray on stuff to help with breath on visor.

Be very weary in the winter as there are always more debris on the roads! Wash out from rain storms, salt and cinders from past snow/ice, salt and cinders fall off cars at stop signs and lights and collect more so breaking easy is recommended. Thing that were ice like to melt during the day and run onto the roads and then refreeze in the shadows. And you thought you were invisible on a bike in the warm weather!

Have worked at ski resorts half of my life and always out in the cold, Was a lift mechanic and also made snow and 12 hour days making snow is cold. One winter all I had was a motorcycle and a hour drive each way. For longer tripps you must stay as warm as possible as the cold will sap your strength and leave your brain a little foggy and you wont even realize it, so stay rested and don't push yourself to far as you may regret it.

Do you know any people who live close by to the route you will be taking?
If so let them know you may be stopping by to visit a hour or so.

Your forum name is Motorcyclebaby so I figured I was allowed to mother you a bit
Be safe and have a good time.