Balaclavas and underlayers?

[JoeDougieDoug...]

Just wondering how many of you actually wear balaclavas, face masks and other underlayers frequently? Do they make a lot of difference when you're travelling at, say, 60mph?

I've been looking at picking up a Balaclava, like an Oxford Coolmax one as my head gets pretty damn chilly whilst riding now, especially along the seafront.

Also, will I have any problems wearing my glasses with a balaclava on?

Cheers for any info guys.
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CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[Dilyan]

Erm, not wearing a balaclava (although they were giving them away with Fast Bikes mags) but got a cheapo Lidl neck warmer - makes one heck of a difference in cold weather.
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Current: 2007 VFR800; Ex: 2001 YZF600R Thundercat
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[Muscle Bike Rider]

I use a neck buff at the moment just to keep the chill off my neck, when the weather gets worse the old balaclava will be coming out. Makes a big difference when the temp drops, as been said many a time, layers are your friend to combat the cold.
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Previously Known As A5tra_G
Old Bikes :2010 Kawasaki ER6 F & 2000 Honda VTR Firestorm
Current Bike : XJR1300

[Darth]

I always wear a balaclava - lightweight superthin one in the summer months and a chunkier fleecey type in the winter ones. Just recently made the switch over to the winter one (currently have an Edz) and it really does help in keeping the cheeks/chin/neck area a lot toastier on these cold days (and the much colder ones yet to come!)
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Harold_Shand wrote: I suppose it's like anything, you get your fingers burned when you start out, you learn from it and eventually become a complete arsehole about the whole thing.

[BIKEVIDDER]

Always wore a balaclava to work, even in summer early starts aren't that good besides my hair got quite dirty.
I always wore one when doing an over night run to france, even in summer the nights aren't that good.
I once done a winter run to france in -14 & really really glad & I had a balaclava on.
Of course they look naff but where needed I'd rather have a warm smug look on my face rather than a frozen muppet grin.
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GROWING OLD DISGRACFULLY

[whitedevil]

I wore a balaclava last winter and it makes a big difference especially round your neck area, much better than just a Oxford comfy. But i did find that it has now made my helmet loose as the foam has given way from wearing the balaclava.
So i would suggest getting another helmet to wear so it doesn't happen.
I also wear my balaclava if im going to get my hair cut for obvious reasons.
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GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[N cee thirty]

i wear a balaclava all year round,keeps me warm and keeps my hair at bay lol.
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

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[TheSmiler]

I brought a face mask before but it wouldn't fit under my lid under the new lid however it keeps the face warm. Can't really comment about speed excess of 50mph>.

Although when I did go on the A50 once after sorting bike out with a a new friend I took the gloves off and forgot put them back on.. were boiling going 60mph though.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[Im-a-Ridah]

Balaclavas are great!

[Turks]

I've got a ProSkins one, you can only get them on ebay now Really good, but wearing glasses with it is unbearable unless you can hold your breath for the duration of a traffic light probably the same with all balaclavas

[Drake]

i use a buff neck tube thing, just pull it down so i covers your face completely then pull the front down over your chin so the the back is ontop of your head and the folded bit goes under your nose mighty handy for running noses or if you get random nose bleeds
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was: derbi senda, aprilia sx125, nsr250 mc16, cagiva mito, cb600 hornet now: mk1 bandit, KR1S, landrover series 3 light weight 2.5 petrol, 5speed box

[anthony_r6]

I wear a balaclava from time to time, when I can be bothered more than anything. It definitely helps in the cold weather though!
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[Dazbo666]

I use a neck buff when riding in the coldest weather. However I've not used it for a nearly a year (since the end of the last snow/ice)
I guess I can expect to start again in the coming month.

I tried using a balaclava, but apparently my head is larger than average, so extra padding inside the lid just doesn't feel comfortable
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Louise]

I have a neck buff, which sits just over my nose - Really makes a difference in bitter cold.
Normally I use jeans to work but this year ive started to wear my textiles (Air Summer Pants) - Just for the added protection. Under that I have HG Windstopper pants, and im still nice and warm at the moment.
I always use EDZ top to go under my T-shirt. Paid around £40-£50 for top and bottom and still have them 3 years on.

[Rogerborg]

Helmet skirt all year round.
Motorcycle specific neck tube (equivalent to Oxford Chill Out) for about half the year.
Currently looking for my balaclava. I like riding with visor open, it helps with that.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[neil.]

I have the Oxford Chill Out balaclava and it's excellent. Has a neck tube type part built into it, and really keeps the wind chill off my neck/chin. I slip my glasses on without much trouble, the only thing is they are prone to fogging up when it's very cold/damp. So I use a Respro Foggy mask to help prevent that from happening, and it works quite well. I did used to wear contacts, which were excellent, but got rid of them to save money.

[Fizzer Thou]

During the Summer/hot weather I wear an EDZ undersuit as it makes getting one-piece leathers much easier to remove.

I have owned a balaclava since my earliest days riding a bike.Nowadays I wear it when out on the dirt bike,but I get too hot once on a special stage during an enduro so it has to be left in my pocket.
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[JoeDougieDoug...]

Cheers for the replys guys!

I think I may invest in one now, seeing as the colder months are well on their way. The only thing is (as someone about said) my glasses will steam up at lights... maybe if I flip my helmet up for the duration of the lights? (I have a Caberg Flip lid)... I always ride with my visor open anyway.

Thanks again guys!
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CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[stinkwheel]

I don't wear a balaclava. I have a large enough beard to render one unecessary.

I do however wear a morino wool base layer on the rest of me during the winter which has proved to be worth every one of the very many pennies it cost.
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[pinkyfloyd]

Remember those Oxford neck warmer things we all got free that time?

I wear them all year round and they do the job fine.
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[olionel]

on really cold days I wear the balaclava then pull my neck buff half way up my face too... warmy warmy
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1989 CG125 - Childhood Sweetheart (she got kidnapped by baddies)
1998 ZXR400 - Teenage Love (lasted three years, then she turned lesbian and left me)
2001 XRV750 - Wife Material (still getting to know her but head over heels in love)

[WannaBeDude]

I don't understand why anyone would wear neck / head warm ' stuff ' in daytime summer, surely not, on a hot day, it's open face helmet shorts and t shirt, leather gloves and shoes

I am however coming to the conclusion that even in summer, i should wear jeans and my unlined textile jacket ...

[Gazz]

I have got 2.

Only wear them because I have big ears (and a big penis too) and when I put my helmet on it folds my ears over and makes it uncomfortable to wear. So wearing these helps slide the helmet over my ears and the problem is solved.

Got a thin one with the whole face cut out. I wear this about 95% of the times and a thick wooly 1 which is kinda like an IRA terrorist style.

[pinkyfloyd]

[WannaBeDude]

Agreed good point, even on my 125 i ease off around 60 /70 if cold, my bro said aere'nt you cold, yeah but not as cold as you get going 100 plus mph on a naked.