Winter Riding Gear Thread!

[Pete.]

I've got to spend a few hundred quid on some riding gear for keeping warm & dry this winter, so I thought I'd start a thread for peeps to add their own ideas & reccomendations.

Gotta get me some boots as I've worn mine right through at the outside, so warm & waterproof needed.
Got a jacket with a thermal insert but it's only a £60 jobbie so I'm thinking about a one-piece thermal suit. What we think?
Decent gloves/gauntlets. MUST be warm, pref waterproof too. I noticed those 3-fingered ones in Dumball's thread. If I can find some of those that definately won't leak and stayed warm I'd have them.
Definately, don't want any that leak dye all over my hands when they get wet!

So come on - winter gear! What's hot and what's not?
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Sam_Y_93]

Gloves wise I have recently bought some A* wrx's goretex gloves. Seem really good so far, had them out in one heavy shower and my hands were bike dry and warm. Only tested them town riding so far but I imagine they will start warm on the motorway. They are a bit bulky which is a shame as that's one thing I really hate with gloves. Price was 70 quid and I'm happy with them so far
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Bikes Past: Yamaha Aerox (sold) Yamaha R125 (written off)
Bikes Current: Honda VFR 400 (awaiting restoration) Honda CB600f F-4
Theory passed July 21st Mod1 passed August 3rd Mod 2 passed 26th August

[bencav]

[DrDonnyBrago]

If you don't already have them, handlebar muffs are an absolute must.


Did a review of the BCF muff of choice, the tucano urbanos a few weeks ago. Cost £45 but worth every penny. To put it in perspective, I have been leaving every morning at 6am and I am still wearing my thin unlined summer gloves; this time last year wearing spada enforcer WP winter gloves (shite btw) I was warming my hands on my clutch cover when I parked in an attempt to regain some feeling, my knuckles hurt from the cold.


I haven't been able to find a pair of gloves that are both waterproof and don't make my hands sweat, light gloves with bar muffs are the perfect combination. I can't stress enough how awesome they are, no bulky gloves, no sweating hands, no cold knuckles and your gloves don't even get wet so waterproof isn't even necessary.

My review:
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=231946&highlight=tucano

[G]

Tucano Urbano muffs - means you don't need to worry so much about the gloves.
Much more waterproof than any glove I've had. Also keeps a good pocket of static air around your hands.
Combine with a symtec heated grip kit for any-temperature riding.

[FerretFing]

merino wool longjohns/top for starters as a baselayer

[Kris]

As already mentioned, the Tucano Urbano muffs are de rigeur and BCF recommended...


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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[Pete.]

I got some muffs somewhere, but they aren't posh ones, just cheapies. Last set I had used to bleed freezing air round the master cylinder and make my index and second finger numb.

Really don't mind the 1-piece suits, bu tI find that the zippers never last long. Don't mind shelling out extra for better quality if someone has a suggestion.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[TheSmiler]

My winter gear consists of rugby socks, Akito leather jacket £100 (find it warmer than any textile), normal gloves, RST Jeans with balaclava.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[G]

[Okeydokey]

Got a used Hein Gericke Tricky II suit off flea bay with liners etc. To be honest currently too warm to wear the whole shooting match at once! I think the HG Tricky is on version IV now so it didnt cost me the earth, the guy I bought it from lost some weight (4XL) and it was flapping around on him. I now know why, its like a feakin sauna wearing it
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Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruitsalad!
YB100 v. Ford Sierra (1982 I came 2nd place) Honda H100S (Currently 0 - 0) CX500 Cafe project (me 1 - wife 0.... maybe!)

[temeluchus]

i find a high fat diet helps in the winter months.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!

[Rogerborg]

If you can't stomach muff diving, then hand guards can help to keep the wind and rain off of your gloves.

I'm really quite impressed with my ~£21 pair of Bike-It 3 fingered gloves. There are doubtless better ones out there, but mine are cosy enough when worn behind hand guards.

A helmet skirt makes a big difference to keeping cold air off of your neck and face, and also cuts down on wind noise (on my Marushin Tiger anyway).

On feet, I haven't worn my stinkwheel-approved goretex lined army surplus boots through a winter yet, but I can't see any particular reason why they'll perform differently to bike boots costing several times as much.

I have a silk balaclava, but it's not much cop to be honest, and might actually help to transmit heat when compressed rather than form an insulating layer. The only benefit is covering my forehead when I flip the visor open. I'm going to see if I can fit a thinsulate lined one under my lid this year.
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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

[Jefr0]

[Dazbo666]

I've not used them myself, but heard good things about the three fingered winter gloves... HG Pathan?? or similar.
Personally I wouldn't make it thru the winter without my neck buff, thermal leggings, and a fleece or thermal jacket liner under my bike kit.
I also have some relatively cheap Tech7 winter gloves that are starting to show some signs of wear going into their 3rd winter
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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

[garth]

Everyones said it, heated grips and muffs. AND ski gloves = Uber warm.

A screen.

Boots and gloves aren't too tight.

A jacket with a high collar.

And a bike you dont mind dropping.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Rogerborg]

[sickpup]

[ajbsmirnoff]

My waterproof necktube (goes from nose to sternum so a bit more than just a neck tube) is ace, keeps the wind and rain off my neck, and looks cool too.

Last year I put a pair of thin fleece gloves as a lining inside my Spada cheapo summer gloves, and got by pretty well. This year I'm foregoing the liners in favour of some Oxford Hotgrips.

The only bit(s) of me that ever feel cold when I get to work are my nads and frost-shrivelled winkie. Couldn't find a suitable muff on the Oxford website though.

[gorillaonabik...]

- Daytona boots. Amazingly warm. Dainese trousers (can't remember exactly what) but really good from this year.
- Hein Gericke Tuareg jacket from possibly 10 years ago? Don't believe the hype about it being warm. It's cold on long, winter journeys and I need to wear loads of stuff on top.
- Aqua Racing gloves (no idea where I got them from). Chilly but reasonably waterproof.
- Neck / head warmer.

If I had to keep one piece of kit, I'd keep the boots. Absolutely superb in terms of waterproofing, protection, warmth and they feel really sturdy.
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[Serendipity]

Just got in from an hour long blast back from Gatwick and I’m toasty warm. I know it’s not super cold yet, but 6 or 7 degrees at 80mph for 60+ miles can be chilly enough, especially when it’s damp and misty.

HG Tricky Gore-Tex suit without the lining in (but I was wearing a fleece underneath the jacket).
Standard buff necktube. (I fancy one of the thicker fleece ones for when it gets colder)
Sidi B2 Gore boots. (100% water proof so far through some very testing conditions)
Summer race gloves in conjunction with Tucano Urbano neoprene muffs.
Flexothane jacket like this one to keep out the wind. (Without the lining in).

I also had flexothane overtrousers under the seat, but didn’t bother to put them on. Even if it was raining I’d like to think I would still be warm and dry now.
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2016 CBF1000F - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[neil.]

I have an Oxford Chill Out balaclava and can't rate it highly enough. It does a wonderful job of keeping wind chill off my neck/chin as well.

+1 for the neoprene Tucano Urbano muffs. Still wearing my summer gloves with these.

I also have a Tech7 rain oversuit which cost £30 and keeps me dry even after an hour of heavy rain. By that time my textiles would have soaked all that water up like a sponge. I did try Nikwax for re-proofing but it didn't help much. Only thing it's a bit of a faff to get the thing on but well worth it, as well as adding a wind-proof layer for when it's really cold.

Nothing special with the boots, just a pair of Gore-Tex lined Alpinestarrs Web X that are starting to show their age (holes in the soles). I clean and wax them every couple of months and they haven't let water in yet over the 3 years I've had them. They are also quite warm, but not so warm that I can't wear them in summer. Only needed an extra pair of socks on once or twice last winter.

My jacket and trousers are REV'IT (Warp and Factor) and were fairly low budget. They are still very warm with the thermal liners installed, but not waterproof any more despite my efforts at re-proofing. The inside lining has split a lot of times, so I keep getting my sewing kit out. In their defence, they have been with me for 3 and a half years and 46'000 miles. They also survived a fairly low speed crash involving a car changing lanes into me and I wasn't injured, so they did an excellent job there!

Oh yes, and I'm working on my beard right now...

[Charlie]

There is a heated jacket for sale on xrv if you're interested in heated clothing.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[sickpup]

[chris-red]

Right

Boots,

Alpinestar SMX4 WP. I have had these for 4+ years now, other than the soles wearing through (I walk about in them too much, they have been replaced) They are brilliant, warm, comfortable, and 100% waterproof even after 4 years. Brilliant boots.


Gloves, I have worn the HG crab gloves and they are good, but very bulky I only use them for extreme cold. I mainly use a pair of triumph mid season gloves ATM.


Textiles, My experience is that Triumph (or whoever make it on their behalf) make the best kit I have ever used. My textile jacket is about 5 years old and cost £55 from a bike show (£350 RRP) I have crashed in it several times and it is still solid and fully waterproof (barring you put it on right and don't let water pool by your belly.) I have a set of triumph Textile trousers that are just as good.


I have got to the stage now where if any of my kit needed replacing I would be willing to buy the exact same bit of kit at full RRP.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
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