Some time in the future I am hoping to get an electric vest and pant liners/chaps(?) etc. What I was wondering apart from general observations about all the gear was that is it best to get the vest with or without the collar? I was going to get one without the collar as I am thinking a collar will just be too much with other gear on under my belstaff and I'll end up feeling strangled.

This is a tough question to answer "correctly"!

It's personal choice! Susan loves the collar, I hate them. They do draw more juice.

I find that the chaps/pants are not needed on our world travels. If the weather is cold enough to need them, it's past time to get out of Dodge!

For "at home" to extend the season, terrific.


------------------
Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Anyone tried BMW's new gadget? A shirt with paraffin filled capsules which store your body heat and release it later when you're cold. I have the brochure here if anyone wants more.

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If a thing is worth doing, it\'s worth doing to extremes.

Ok Nick, now you have our interest piqued - cough up the details!

Grant

__________________
Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------
Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Gosh, I'm a bit late replying to this - didn't get my email notification! Anyway, I bought it...effing brilliant it is too. I'm wearing it now. Check out www.bmw-shop.com/cgi-bin/c1.storefront/el


Grievous price - 122 squids. What you get is the Comfortemp Functional Jacket. Basically a high tech waistcoat, all black, with removable sleeves. For wearing over a shirt and under a jacket - but also makes for a very smart outer layer when you're not on the bike. Beautifully made, superb detailing. Very modern looking - chicks say it looks cool. Uses a "smart" fabric developed for NASA. "Paraffin capsules react to changes in body temp - gives you optimal temperature balance at an outside temp of 10 to 20 degrees C." (They also do a 2 piece undersuit which works at 5 to 15 degrees C. Dread to think what it costs). Anyway, it does what it says on the tin, like all BMW clothing - expensive but well worth it. Put it on in a hot room - you don't get any warmer. Walk outside into the cold - you don't notice the change in air temp. Amazing. I wear it round the house, in the garden, shopping, boozing, and will get tons more use out of it sailing, skiiing, camping...and even biking.

They also do gloves with a liner of the same stuff - of course I bought them. More gear, got to have it all....

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If a thing is worth doing, it\'s worth doing to extremes.

Hey Nick,

The BMW-NASA vest sounds and looks great!
We (my neighbour and myself) are thinkig about buying one. But a question:

* on the website it says that there is a vest that is for -20 to 10°C and one for 5 to 15°C. Wich one did you get?

We found a BMW-dealer nearby that can sell us those space-vests. (The one that go from -20 to 10°C.) We would actually get a 10% discount if we bought more then 1. That would mean that I would only pay 5800BEF (133,86 EURO) or .... 82,1£!!! That's a lot cheaper then the 122 squids you mentioned.
Actually, overhere the BMW-NASA vest is cheaper then a quality fleece!
If what they write is through, and it really works this would mean a real revolution in outdoor clothing I think.
Anybody an idea what the downside could be that we are missing out on? Maybe the weight? (Nick?)

Yeah, UK prices for BMW clothing are always much higher than Belgium and Germany.

The brochures and web pages all seem to say different things about the temperature ranges - that's because it's hard to know whether they are using "-" as a minus sign or a hyphen. I'm 99% sure that it's never meant as a minus sign. Between +5 and +25 degrees is when Comfortemp works best. I haven't tried it in sub-zero temperatures.

The big difference between the garments is that the 2 piece suit is a close fitting undersuit, to be worn next to the skin. The functional jacket is a looser cut, to be worn as a mid layer over a shirt.

__________________
If a thing is worth doing, it\'s worth doing to extremes.

Forgot to mention the weight - don't worry, this stuff weighs almost nothing. There is no downside. If you look at Schoeller's website you can see that lots of outdoor clothing companies are taking up Comfortemp - i think we'll be seeing it everywhere in the future.

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If a thing is worth doing, it\'s worth doing to extremes.

I have A BMW R100R. It has a limited electrical system. My wife and I use BMW electric vests. 45 watts each. Our arms got cold so I sewed sleeves from some old jacket liners on the vests. That solved that problem.

OK, I went to the BMW dealer who can sell us those great vests with NASA technology. It looks great and is definitely lightweight!
But the main question is still unansewered:
* on the website is sais clearly: -20 to 10°C
* but in the Belgian printed catalog it sais +10 to +20°C

The BMW dealer believes it has to be -20 to 10°C.
He is going to contact BMW in Germany to clear this thing out.
I'll keep you posted.

I had a close look at these BMW undergarments when I was in Switzerland last month.

It appears that they insulate and protect the rider in two ways: 1) they are fairly thick in the forward-facing parts of the garment, perhaps 8mm thick, and; 2) the thick part absorbs heat from your body when you put it on (presumably this is done when you are in a warm environment) and then releases this heat to your skin later when you are out in the cold.

Sounds to me like they would be great for short urban rides in cold weather - half an hour or so - but no more or less effective than other insulated clothing on trips of an hour or more.

I own a full set of Widder electric clothing - vest, arm chaps, leg chaps, gloves, etc. Although the stuff is a bit of a nuisance to put on and take off, it is really effective - I have been able to ride for hundreds of miles in very cold weather without becoming cold myself. If the temperature is above +45º F (about +7ºC) I can ride all day. Below that, I can ride for about an hour to an hour and a half before getting uncomfortable and wanting to come inside.

A simple and cheap way of warming yourself is too get Pocket warmer made my a company called Hot and stisk it in a breast pocket this will keep you warm for at least 1hr i use it on my way to work and its great for a 45 min ride in temps down to 8 deg C the pocket warmers cost about €10 and the refills are €5 for a box of twelve they sticks last 8hrs each.

Just wanted to post about a heated vest I made with low cost off-the-shelf parts.
At a surplus equipmt store I came across a new electric pad. the kind used on a luxomobile. Instantly I thought I could wire it up on to the bike. [on the inside of a fleece vest].

It cost about $10cdn. for a 12x12 heated 12v pad and wiring. The kind used in heated car seats. Works great and I can ride in weather 10 degrees-c lower than without it.
Details posted here: http://members.rogers.com/torontoriders/
click on 'yield', the item is listed at the bottom.

I have a Gerbing electric vest that has me hooked on electrics.The old therory of keepin you trunk temp. wrm to assit your hands and feet in being comfortable is true. (This is the second vest I have had as the first one was wasted by the skilled hands of the scissor weilding EMT after an accident. Thinking of attempting a repair job but it will be a challenge.)
Really am considering getting some electric gloves before next winter ... don't know if we get soft with age or just wiser.
Lets say wiser.
claude

I have the Aero Unobtainum w/ the collar. It's a snug fit under my Motoport Canyon jacket. If i had a choice i probably would opt for no collar. But, i think it would be best if you could actually try on the vest under your coat to see if it's a nice fit.