Winter Riding Gear

[MahatmaAndhi]

Hi guys,

With Winter on its way, I want to be well prepared for when it does. Unfortunately, I don't have enough money to spooge in one go, so I'll be using the Autumn months to build up a winterproof collection.

I ride a Kawasaki ER5, so I have no fairings or anything. I work in an office, so wear a shirt and trousers.
At the moment, I wear a leather Triumph jacket (£40 bargain from Gumtree,) some armoured Goretex trousers over the top of my work trousers and although I do have motorbike boots, they really mess up my work trousers, so I wear big thick hiking boots - not ideal. I have some proper ankle boots in mind, just need the cash to buy them.

Bar muffs are definitely on my list. I'm going to get some of the Oxford ones on payday. I was thinking of getting some hand guards too as I've read that muffs can affect how easy it is to reach the levers (or will press it down slightly due to wind.)

I have a feeling though that I am going to still be freezing my nads off.
I do have a pair of kinda long johns used for camping. So I'll be trying them out under my work trousers to see if that helps.
I'm a big guy, so I really don't want to wear a one-piece suit. I'll end up looking like Nacho Libre.

What would you recommend for riding through winter given my situation?
____________________
2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

[lingeringstin...]

In my experience absolutely everything specifically made for winter motorcycle riding is crap. You have to get creative. Back when I was a courier and for instance had to spend ten hours a day in the sleet and rain the only gear I ever found that worked was army gear and steel toe wellies. Being warm is not so hard to do, but you HAVE to be waterproof or you'll die.

[MahatmaAndhi]

That's a good idea. There's an army surplus shop about a mile away. I might go check it out.
____________________
2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

[carpe_diem]

I saw a Deliveroo pedboi chimp in Nottingham the other week who had fashioned some waterproof riding muffs out of two empty bread bags. +1 for creativity, +5 for recycling, - 1,000 for looking like a fucking cunt.
____________________
Currently riding: Suzuki EN125 | Previous rides: Vespa 125PX, Yamaha SR125

[Snowdonia Rider]

Once you get wet it's game over. I'd look out for water proofs you can put over your gear
____________________
I want your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
Suzuki GP125 Suzuki GSX600F Suzuki SV650S KTM EXC250F SkyTeam Bongo 125
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SnowdoniaRider

[Doink]

My Tucano Urbano bar muffs have a plastic reinforcement bar at the front so they hold their shape, I'd get them over the Oxfords as the Oxfords don't look as well designed.

I ride 80 miles a day on my commute all year and will wear thermal long johns in the winter under my armoured trousers, if it's really cold then waterproof trousers over the top as they will help keep the wind chill down too.

Cheap waterproof gear can be picked up cheap too, I keep a pair of army gore Tex over trousers in one of my panniers and they can be picked up on eBay for £12-15, and you can pick up ex police/army gore Tex waterproof jackets for under £50 too.

I have since bought a lot of decent bike gear now but you can get cheap stuff online to make do, but as has been said already keeping dry is key so concentrate on that first and foremost.

[Alpineandy]

It would be wise for you to look for options of changing at work.
Whether you leave your suit there or carry it every day is up to you but when it gets real cold something thicker than suit trousers would be beneficial.

As already mentioned, water-proof is 'A+' important.
Windproof is 'A' Important as well.
Have a look on the Bay of Es, Discount sports shops, machine Mart type places, Makros and even supermarket clothing sections (inc Lidl/Aldi) for things like waterproof socks, windproof long johns/base layers. They may be marked for cycling, Ski-wear, outside work-wear or pretty much anything, especially military.
As mentioned, Army surplus is a strong option for you.
Do get a wind/waterproof neck bib as cold water dribbling down your back is quite distracting.
____________________
The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[Val]

[NJD]

First things first; ACF-50 and clean bike as soon as.. I'm sure we've been over this so may be irrelevant.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Long journey freezing cold and dry I use salopettes over leathers and thermal long johns.

On top it's thermal base layer x2. A long sleeved top that has windproof panels on the chest and front of sleeves. Leather jacket/Textile jacket and padded bodywarmer.

Woolen socks and goretex oversocks.
Goretex Touring boots.

All in 1 rainsuit.

Thermal glove liner. A*365 gloves.
Urbano Muffs.

[edit] How could I forget the freebie neck tubes.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Rogerborg]

[Wonko The Sane]

I commute all year round, my work clothes live in my office drawer being brought folded neatly in a bag and taken home for washing as required.

under my bike gear i wear a baselayer, t shirt, jumper etc, on my legs I wear cycling leggings under my bike trousers (I wear textiles with thermal layers in)

I've recently been sold a halversons jacket and Jofama trousers which I'm told are the bees knees in winter / all year riding gear (jofama being their entry brand)
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[Alpineandy]

Aldi are having another sale on Thursday 29th Sept for Cycling gear.
So Stuff like Merino Wool base layers/socks.
It's worth a look.
____________________
The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[ADSrox0r]

Fuck loads of layers. I've commuted at -5C and even with a tshirt, shirt, lightweight sweater, winter jacket liner and heavyweight Dainese winter jacket it still tweaked the old nipples a tad.

Protecting the extremities is foremost in my opinion. Once the nip gets into your fingertips or toes you're fucked. Keep those layered up and warm and the rest follows.
____________________
Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[carpe_diem]

[NJD]

[MahatmaAndhi]

Thanks for all the responses so far guys. Some really handy info and ideas which I hadn't considered.
I got a few bits from Aldi in the Spring. I'll be heading to the local one on Thursday!
____________________
2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

[faffergotgunz]

+1 for Ski\Snowboard gear. Its good when it's in the 0°c range over your leathers, tracksuit bottoms, long johns ect...just Baggy as hell.

Gortex\waterproof socks, over regular socks.

I'm considering getting some waterproof overgloves. Tried muffs but found them a pain in the rain (trying to get your hand back into the muff
____________________
Sent from Samsmums mobile using Tapanarse

[Azoth]

Last winter, I did a bit of bike commuting, and my formula was 2-piece leathers and a 70L+ rucksack (which appears quite small when there's little in it). Reaching my workplace(s), I put the trousers, gloves and boots in the rucksack, and carried the jacket and helmet in separately. It was necessary to spray the leathers with waterproofing stuff (you get this from shoe shops). It really works, and you need it if you want to go with leathers. So, riding in to work, I wore my (treated) leathers and was wearing trousers and a shirt and tie under the leathers. Inside the backpack, I kept my blazer, my work ID, my lunch and my nice shoes.

If you choose this portable formula, take note that although it works, its weak spot is cold legs syndrome, so you might want to consider long johns. Cold legs can make things really unpleasant during winter. Also, there is a certain time you have to spend getting changed when and where you park.

There is another neat trick: wear a scarf. If your neck is warm, you are warm.
____________________
Safety in numbers

[Shinigami]

my winter gear is as below

£70 - textile jacket from aldi
Winter gloves (or close to), currently rst paragon v gloves (£50?)
"texspeed" waterproof armoured trousers = £35


does me well, don't use any fancy warming gadgets and not had any particular issues, anything more than this and you just need to man up

forgot to add wear a 'buff' thing around your neck/jaw. I actually wear these year round as they make it easier to get my lid over my ears properly and i get a seriously painful jaw otherwise, these keep your jaw warm surprisingly well for such thin material
____________________
Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[Doink]

[nitrosurf]

+1 on the army stuff, but the key word is Goretex if you can get it for a good price. I have an army surplus Goretex waterproof coat that is big enough to go over anything, had it years and it's never let me down even in sustained downpours at speed. Something else I started using is boot covers; waterproof things with proper soles on them that zip over your boots. They're elasticated and strapped so they stay still and work a treat. Make you look a bit silly but hey-ho. They're one of the only Oxford products I've used that's any good (the Oxford 'waterproof' boots themselves however, not so good...). The over trousers I use I originally had from work, basic waterproof over-trousers that are bone dry. My gloves are Goretex Bering and they're brilliant, but you can get waterproof glove covers much like the boot things I mentioned if you don't want to splash out (only £60 those gloves mind you), although I wasn't fussed on the restriction of finger dexterity they may result in.


🏍
____________________
"Multiple exclamation marks," he went on, shaking his head, "are a sure sign of a diseased mind."

[UncleFester]

Layers layers layers.

Winter gloves for me are a size bigger then my summer ones with a pair of thin silk under gloves worn separately underneath them.

Moisture wicking thin socks with thicker merino wool socks over the top.

Good quality thermal base layers top and bottom - keeps moisture under control and keeps the heat in. A warm core keeps the extremities warm for longer.

Thick Balaclava (not much hair left) neck thing under the lid - tucks in well below the jacket collar. Keeps the cold out and also bugs and stuff out - anyone that has had a wasp disappear down their jacket / smack into their bare neck will not be in a rush to repeat the experience.

That stood me well back in March/April 2015 when it was well into the minus figures before adding 70mph of windchill. A warm dry biker is a happy biker
____________________
2017 Z1000SX

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I go for many layers - however and NB relatively baggy layers. I'm not convinced by all these close fitting base layer thingys. Looser fitting layers may be bulkier - but they definitely make for warmer riding. My Spada trousers and jacket are quite generous so come winter I can fit a fair amount of layers underneath. Then, on top, I put a cheap ass quilt lined hi-viz coat - a bin man special - off ebay for about a tenner tops. Three winters later its fluorescence has been seriously fucked by oil fling, shite from green laning and spatters of turd from urban crap etc. So it looks "better" than it used to. NB I don't have suggestions for wet riding cos I don't do it very much - but my gear stands up to it, pretty much, except for the gloves. One last thing - work on keeping your core temperature up and your extremities won't be far behind.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[andyscooter]

my waterproof hi viz jacket has never leaked yet

in fact the one I used at the track was that good I tend to stand in a field in the rain for about 8 hours some weeks I bought one especially for use on the bike

it is warm and dry and people think you are a copper on a bike so tend to notice you a bit more
____________________
gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet