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Clothing/gear for the winter - recommendations?

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GTR1400
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 16 Apr 2011
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PostPosted: 22:57 - 04 Nov 2012    Post subject: Clothing/gear for the winter - recommendations? Reply with quote

Hey guys, I've not been on my bike since the start of summer, but I'll have my full license and be on the ER-5 by the start of December if everything goes to plan, meaning I'll have gone from lovely riding weather, to horrid riding weather, which I'm sure you can appreciate will be quite the ball ache.

Can anybody recommend any gear which will keep me warm? Please leave out all of the "MTFU, it's just a bit of cold" posts, as honestly I'd rather overdo it and avoid frostbite, or wanting to bite my own fingers off for the pain.

I'm going to be getting heated grips, and probably some of those highly recommended bar muffs that people on here rate.

Can anybody recommend any specific heated grips?
Anything I should wear underneath my usual textile jacket/trousers?
Neck tube thingies? I usually wear 2 of the thin Oxford ones when it's coldish weather anyway, will I need anything else?
I've not heard much about people keeping their feet warm. Anything needed other than socks & boots?

Anything that people can suggest to keep warm will be hugely appreciated Smile.

I'll make a list of recommendations at the bottom of this post too I think, just for other people to use as a reference Smile.

Cheers
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janner_10
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Joined: 26 Sep 2011
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PostPosted: 23:42 - 04 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I brought some cheap and cheerful Oxford grips - done the job the last 2 winters.

Key to keeping warm is keep the wind out and layers, layers and layers.

Wear 2 or 3 thin layers rather than a massive winter jumper for example.

You can pick up some thermals from Aldi / Lidl for a decent price.

I brought legs thermals and 2 tops for about £15 - been great so far.

In regard to keeping your feet warm, I used 2 pairs of thick socks, or if it is really cold, I put plastic bags on my feet to keep the wind out.

Same with hands, I put some woollen winter gloves inside my bike gloves and again if its really cold, I used a pair of the diesel gloves under them to keep the wind out.

Either that or drive Laughing
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GTR1400
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 16 Apr 2011
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PostPosted: 00:11 - 05 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

janner_10 wrote:
I brought some cheap and cheerful Oxford grips - done the job the last 2 winters.

Key to keeping warm is keep the wind out and layers, layers and layers.

Wear 2 or 3 thin layers rather than a massive winter jumper for example.

You can pick up some thermals from Aldi / Lidl for a decent price.

I brought legs thermals and 2 tops for about £15 - been great so far.

In regard to keeping your feet warm, I used 2 pairs of thick socks, or if it is really cold, I put plastic bags on my feet to keep the wind out.

Same with hands, I put some woollen winter gloves inside my bike gloves and again if its really cold, I used a pair of the diesel gloves under them to keep the wind out.

Either that or drive Laughing


Cheers, fantastic advice. I'll make sure I get plenty of thin thermal layers, and might need to get some slightly bigger bike gloves as I know that even a thin pair of latex gloves underneath them makes them hard to put on... probably need a slightly bigger pair, and then I'll put some warm gloves on underneath too Smile.

Not keen on having plastic bags on my feet, but I'll see what I can do to keep them warm Smile.

Anybody have any specific suggestions on heated grips other than the obvious Oxford's? They're the only ones I've looked at D:.
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DonDino
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Joined: 24 Mar 2012
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PostPosted: 01:02 - 05 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

For me the part that's hardest to keep warm is the hands. My feet never seem to get cold, windchill doesn't go through proper bike boots (and I only wear thin socks even in the current 2 degrees temperatures).

Hands get cold after about 1 hour riding in town or about 20 minutes on motorways. However today I dug up some Spada winter gloves I'd bought ages ago for last winter, and hands stayed warm! I need to try these on the motorway and see if they really are the solution.

I'm not sure how effective heated grips really are.
My instructor had them on the CBF600 I was learning on, and they didn't make any difference to me. The biggest problem is the windchill coming from the front as you're riding, and that's going to freeze your hands anyway as that part of your skin is not touching the heated grips. Thermal or woolen gloves under your bike gloves might help.
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Currently riding: ER-6N since Oct. 2012
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DonDino
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Joined: 24 Mar 2012
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PostPosted: 01:03 - 05 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

DonDino wrote:
For me the part that's hardest to keep warm is the hands. My feet never seem to get cold, windchill doesn't go through proper bike boots (and I only wear thin socks even in the current 2 degrees temperatures).

Hands get cold after about 1 hour riding in town or about 20 minutes on motorways. However today I dug up some Spada winter gloves I'd bought ages ago for last winter, and hands stayed warm! I need to try these on the motorway and see if they really are the solution.

I'm not sure how effective heated grips really are.
My instructor had them on the CBF600 I was learning on, and they didn't make any difference to me. The biggest problem is the windchill coming from the front as you're riding, and that's going to freeze the top part of your fingers anyway as that part of your skin is not touching the heated grips. Thermal or woolen gloves under your bike gloves might help.

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Currently riding: ER-6N since Oct. 2012
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magpiemale
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Joined: 04 Feb 2006
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PostPosted: 20:03 - 06 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wear a polo neck ski t-shirt that'll keep the windchill off your neck with a buff tucked in side as for jacket a spada highland or similar (they are around 100-130 ) really warm jackets I have an xxl jacket doing nothing for a small fee.Italian clothing comes up small I am only 48" chest but fits a treat.alpinestars jet road gloves are real warm.if your wanting warm feet I wear ski socks around £20 a pair the thing is with thick socks in boots is that you still need to be able to move your toes in the boot as your feet stay warmer if after you put thick socks on there is still a bit of room for the heat in your boot that is my experience of winter riding.A balaclava for inside your helmet full face bike trousers n jacket as a suit I would recommend vanucci suit from getgeared.co.uk I have had it for a few years and it is warm with a base layers underneath.
Hope this helps
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bridgedino
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Joined: 22 Oct 2012
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PostPosted: 20:58 - 06 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have found out that a £10 basic Kagoul from Tescos, worn over the top of my textile jacket makes a fantastic wind breaker and is great at keeping out the chill. Plus it keeps all that winter road scum off the jacket and helps out with water proofing.

Perfect for me
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Dan79
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PostPosted: 16:00 - 11 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

The single thing that I found made the most difference was when I acquired a set of thermals.
Secondly, when the temperature gets below about 10 degrees C, I wear a large thigh length textile jacket over my leather jacket; helps keeps the core toasty, and lets me get away with wearing summer gloves for a bit longer.
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U_W v2.0
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Joined: 07 May 2012
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PostPosted: 16:17 - 11 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

primark and malatan both sell thermal layers @ £4 each, so £8 for a set.

primark ones arent bad, i actually bought some yesterday and they work well under my leathers.

didnt buy the top because i tend to wear a vest, tshirt, long sleeve and a jumper then my bike jacket lol.
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Howling TerrorOutOfOffice
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Joined: 05 Dec 2008
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PostPosted: 19:59 - 11 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quite a few like Merino wool
https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=3386694
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Mattaria
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 05 Nov 2012
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PostPosted: 20:07 - 11 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I swear by my Icebreaker merino wool gear for winter, it's comfy, wears well and is incredibly warm. it's quite pricey though.
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stocksmenace
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Joined: 24 Apr 2012
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PostPosted: 06:55 - 12 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wife bought me a onsie last chrimbo as a joke....well i put it on under my bike gear last winter and it was appreciated....
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Adam80UK
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PostPosted: 07:53 - 12 Nov 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gerbing heated motorbike gloves = one of the best purchases I've ever made!

Had them a few years and the are simply awesome. They have a lifetime warranty on the wiring too.

I'm seriously tempted to buy their jacket liner this year.
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Previously owned: '08 Yamaha R1, '10 Kawasaki Z1000, '07 Honda SH300i, '04 Suzuki SV1000S, '11 Honda CB1000R, '09 Kawasaki ZX-10R, '08 Aprilia Tuono 1000R, '07 Triumph Daytona 675, '95 Honda CBR600F.
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