Heated vest/gloves and plug in or batteries?

Jefr0 · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Karma :

Hi all

As a spin off from the other thread. I'd like to get a heated vest and gloves but not sure who to go for and whether plug in to the bike or rechargeable batteries?

I had thought about getting the Keis gear as recommended on here, although spoke to my Dad who mentioned that you can get a heated vest with re chargeable batteries, same with gloves.

The reason I'm in two minds over battery or not is because I'm not sure how much power gets drained from the heated gear as I'd be running it on my CBR (1991) and not sure if the bike can cope?

Also, I'd be jumping between two bikes over winter but thought I could just maybe wire both bikes up ready to plug in?

Then how does the wire go from the bike to the glove without getting in the way?

I'm assuming you have to stay within a foot of your handlebars otherwise it'll rip the wire out?

I've got Tucano Urbano muffs at the moment with HG lobster gloves but my hands suffer from working in a fridge for 5 years so quite sensitive Sad

Hopefully be able to get some at the NEC Friday!

Cheers

Jeff
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Rides: Honda XR 125 ('03) Honda CBR 600F ('91), Ducati 916 Biposto ('95)

KymcoRatChop · Nova Slayer Joined: 07 Nov 2013 Karma :

Personally, I'd opt for plugged in - no chance of it dying on a long ride, and the bike is more than capable of powering them.

Plus battery ones get cooler as the batteries die

daesimps · Scooby Slapper Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Karma :

Definitely go with bike powered. I've been out on more than one occasion with a mate how has battery powered gloves and they've died leaving him with cold hands for a few hours.

Heated gloves tend to have a thinner amount of insulation as they don't need to retain the heat - the heating element just produces more. This helps as they can be a lot thinner than some Winter gloves and allow more feel.

I've tried various combinations and I've finally settled on the Gerbings jacket linner and gloves. Love the fact you can plug the gloves into the sleeves instead of running wires down each arm. The liner also blocks a lot of wind and is incredibly good even when switched off. The gloves I have are all leather with good knuckle protection. The collar on the liner is also heated, which is bloody fantastic in my opinion.

I originally had Exo2 gloves but went through 3 pairs in 1 year. Each time the heating element failed. They also had far less protection than the Gerbings as they were all textile and had no leather patches or other forms of protection on them.

In terms of wires; You have one that ends in a socket that you leave just dangling near where the seat/tank meet. If you just have gloves then you have another wire in a Y shape. One part runs down each sleeve and is where the gloves connect. The other bit sticks out of the bottom of your jacket and plugs into the other half that you leave dangling. If you have the Gerbings sleeved jacket liner then the cuffs of the liner have connectors for gloves. There's then just the one cable that comes out of the pocket to connect to the half left on the bike. Mine is curly and extends far, but is designed to disconnect if you forget instead of breaking things.
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If it ain't broke, fix it till it is!

Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

Bike powered is the only sensible option if you are on a bike. Smile

If you opt for battery powered then you have the additional hassle of finding a recharge place at the other end of your journey. Phaph at home phaph at work.

The plug in system is very idiot proof. Losen the battery post clamps, attach the lead that comes with the heated gear/s and re-fit the clamps. Run the plug to somewhere easy to get to remembering you may be cold wearing gloves and a helmet so can be a freaking arse to find and connect when all happed up.

Kies is a good make. I have both Klan and Kies. I like hte Klan as it has the heating element in the collar too. A lot of cold and wet gets in through your neck. Smile

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yen_powell · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Karma :

I've just reattached the power lead for my leccy vest. There's a chill in the air and it'll soon be time for me to forget I'm plugged in when I get off at the petrol station on my way to work.

This is why I carry a small screwdriver and wire stripper in case I need to reconnect the plug in some out of the way frosty place.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

Cadbury · Crazy Courier Joined: 05 Oct 2011 Karma :

I've been contemplating getting more heated gear after the loveliness experienced with my recent purchase of some Oxford heated grips.

I presume there is a limit to how much gear a bike will power? Is there a quick and dirty way to calculate this, or should you just presume it will be fine? I'd rather not kill my battery by overloading it with heated goodness.

Would for example, heated grips teamed with a heated vest/gloves combo end up too much for my Fazer?

Peirre oBollox · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Karma :

Jefr0 · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Karma :

Thanks for all your replies.

I decided to get the Keis vest in the end but not any heated gloves.

The vest which I'll try later seemed to be the best option with also using Rukka lobster gloves:

https://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/product/rukka-lobster-gore-tex-gloves/2674

The Keis gloves I tried were really thick and I don't think I could get on with them. I also tried the options of the Gerbing gloves, one of the pairs weren't too bad actually but seemed a bit thick still.

I'm going to see how I get on with the vest and Rukka glove/Tucano Urbano muffs are then see if I need heated gloves, if any it would be the Gerbing.

The Keis vest has a controller which has 3 options of heat which sits in your pocket. It can be plugged into the optimate lead I've already got on the bike, or can use the lead which comes with the vest.

It has optional batteries you can buy for £60 for 1 and half hours or £90 for 3 hours.

Under the arm it has connectors for if you wanted to plug in the gloves and run the lead down your arm.

The guy at the stall said the vest drains 1 amp and the gloves also 1 amp.

Ill post progress on how I get on with the vest.

Cheers

Jeff
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Rides: Honda XR 125 ('03) Honda CBR 600F ('91), Ducati 916 Biposto ('95)

Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

Jefr0 · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Karma :

I remember you saying about those gloves, they do seem good, I like the idea of the lobster gloves though.

Had my Hein Gerike lobster gloves for maybe 7 years? I just fancied a spare pair, also interested to see what the visor wipe is like on the left glove.

With the vest, I just tried it before I leave for work tomorrow to make sure it all wires up fine and is not in the way. It consists of a plug on the vest which hooks up to the controller which has another plug which goes into the lead from the bike.

https://imageshack.us/a/img545/2919/r7bw.jpg

With the vest on and the two piece suit, it shows quite a length of wire and fits just right under the jacket into the trouser pocket with no trouble of it catching. With the pic below it shows the jacket done up and the controller in the pocket, which can be easily accessed when on the bike to change the temperature or ON/OFF.

https://imageshack.us/a/img31/6660/j6g7.JPG

Here shows the leads all together with me on the bike with the controller (it has 4 settings all by the use of the one button and a different colour LED for each setting - Max, high, medium, low.

https://imageshack.us/a/img571/4474/zm0b.jpg

Controller in pocket.

https://imageshack.us/a/img571/2510/45y1.jpg

Me on bike, leads hidden and not in way of anything or anything that it can catch on.

https://imageshack.us/a/img24/1508/fur6.jpg

I'll be testing it tomorrow morning!
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Rides: Honda XR 125 ('03) Honda CBR 600F ('91), Ducati 916 Biposto ('95)

Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

conker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Karma :

My Keis vest packed in after 14 months, they replaced it FOC. Now a month later one heated insole has packed in.

I'm loosing faith in heated gear, I've never had a working pair of heated grips for more than a month or so. Vest and insoles seem to last one winter.

Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

conker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Karma :

The grips are Oxford, controller died, replaced, and died again. Now replaced with a simple on off switch. That worked for a month or two. Since died again, no idea what the problem is yet.

The heated vest and jacket were used twice per day. Nothing extreme.

Tempted to just think fuck it and ride cold.

Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

conker · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Mar 2013 Karma :

Guess I'll have to scrap the bike and start again.

But seriously, I think it might be the connectors been a little corroded now on the grips as every time I get a meter on the output of my switch there are 12-15v and as soon as I get on the damned thing it is pot luck if they work or how warm they manage.

Maybe I just don't know what I am doing Mr. Green

EDIT**

I've only gone and got a couple of muffs. Cold hands should be a thing of the past now, I've all ways found muffs to be warm.