Hi
Looking for some heated clothing, can anyone make any recommendtions?

Cheers

AL

I can say that although expensive to buy, the Gerbing gear is excellent,and with a life time warranty on the electrics, you can't go wrong.

They have been keeping me like toast in Alaska and soon I am sure they will keep me warm in the Andes of Peru

Cheers
TS

__________________
www.travellingstrom.com

Hi Travellingstrom,

I`m planning on doing the Pan Am starting next June in Alaska and was wondering about the need for something heated (particularly my hands) - In your experience would you recommend it or is it just a "nice thing to have"

Well, being a Queenslander from the tropics, I had everything I could that was going to keep me warm.

For instance, I have heated grips, but the backs of the hands get very cold, this isi where the Gerbing heated gloves comes in handy, they just heat the back of the hands.

I also bought heated socks, because the boots I am using are designed for summer weather and are not waterproof. Having the elkectric pants and jacket and socks and gloves was a real treat, it enabled me to ride all day from Coldfoot to Deadhorse and return, without being uncomfortable.

I also had on thermal underwear and all the clothing I could fit on.

Coming from the cold of England, you may not need to go to that exteme.

So, to answer the question, I personally would not be able to ride without heated grips, but many others can.

Cheers
TS

__________________
www.travellingstrom.com

+1 on Gerbings.

The fit is important. It has to fit snug. Nothing but a long sleeve tshirt is worn under it. The Gerbings also makes for a good light weight jacket when off the bike.

A temperature controller is a plus.

daryl

I swear by heated grips, mainly because they mean I can wear thin summer weight gloves from March to Nov in the UK - I've got them on 3 bikes, which I use all year round, and have found the Oxford ones to be the most robust. Agree that they don't heat the back of your hands, but I have big bark busters on my XT which keep the breeze off, and a reasonable fairing on the Daytona, so ok there too. I have tried Gerbing gloves - great product with a lifetime warranty on the wiring, but I can't be doing with having more wires from me to the bike. One tip with any electrical devices: although it is tempting to quickly wire them to the battery, don't!! You WILL forget and flatten the battery, so make the extra effort to wire through the ignition. Even the new Oxford 'smart' switch doesn't seem to cut out soon enough to save the battery enough for starting - voice of experience!
I've also had a Gialli vest, but to be honest found it too hot, and the heat adjuster didn't really alter the heat. I lent it to a mate, who said he nearly cooked himself, so it's not just me! Might be good in Alaska, though...

I can recommend Warm n Safe heated gear.

I was up in the Yukon in June and July and didn't have heated gear .
When the sun shines it's beautiful ,but it gets cold damn quick as well .
As soon as I got back I ordered a jacket liner and gloves .
Best thing yet !

I haven't tried heated grips ,but the gloves alone seem great .

The great thing about them is that you don't have to dress up like the Michelin man to stay warm ., just turn it on and you are warm instantly.
They pack small when you don't need them .

You will get a discount for being a HU member at Warm n Safe and they have "seconds" at an extremely good price .I bought 2 liners and couldn't find a thing wrong with them .

I haven't needed heated trousers or boots .
Just make sure your boots are waterproof if you are going north !

PS. I went to the WnS website ,they now have a remote heat controller ,so that's few less wires to fiddle with
I decided it would make a good Xmas present [for me] .I'll let you know how it works out .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

Another vote for Gerbings.

I did lot of homework before buying ours. Although they aren't cheap like many alternatives now available but their real advantage that they really are super-durable by design. Hard to wear out. Gerbings has really long experience on perfecting the design (now making over 20 years of heated clothing?).

I know guys having over 20 years old Gerbings that are completely worn out but still work!

For RTW or extra long trips use I'd recommend the full cover jacket, not the vest tho. The one that also heats your neck and arms. Keeps your arms flexible on those extra cold riding days and saves your neck from that cold biting wind that wants to get inside from your neck area under the helmet.



We used ours in most of the South-American countries (although mis-conception says S-Am is warm - WRONG! Most of the time you ride high up in the Andes mountains, we froze in riding Ecuador on the very equator line!), let alone northern North-America, even riding in Australia we needed it a lot!

We combine it with Gerbing's heat adjuster (if possible, don't buy any other than Gerbings regulator - although they all work in the beginning, most others will give up in a relatively short time and start giving problems - heard from many people reporting too many problems with not-so-known heat regulation relays). You can adjust your own comfort temperature - makes you really smile on those cold days when you hate to do long distances on a bike!

Good thing our GS has a proper 700W generator, we're two up RTW, so the vests take around 150W together, add heated grips and powerful lights and most of the bikes (with around 250-400W generators) start to have problems with keeping battery recharged and bike running - so check your generator spec if doing 2-up with heated clothing.

I'm with Dodger... +1 for Warm and safe.
I have my controllers dash mounted. Great gear, and great service.

John

__________________
Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Gerbings,just make sure you wear a very thin shirt underneath.
9 english winters so far.

I have an Exo heated waistcoat. Warm as toast. Regular use for over 3 years.
Very good customer service, I loaned it to my partner and therefore needed another wiring harness to attach to her bike, I phoned Exo and they put one in the post free of charge.
StormRider Heated Vest - EXO² Heated Clothing and Heated Motorcycle Clothing UK

Real cheapskates should look here.

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

I am a real cheapskate,that is very similar to what I have

I use an EXO2 heated vest and gloves in Siberia.

__________________

I can't recommend Gerbings too highly! I went up to Prudhoe back in Sep 06 (everyone told me too late). So I bought the whole kaboosh - trousers, socks, sleeved jacket and gloves. Only ever used (and kept) the last two! And the jacket's a very nice one to wear out in the evening as well....

I explain it to the unconverted (bikers and non-bikers) that the difference is like having or not having a heater in a 4-wheeler in winter. And really nice to put your heated jacket on if you become a bit damp (= REALLY cold).

One point though, is I have had a controller fail. And was advised that the Warm-n-Safe controller's a lot better quality - so that's what I now have.

BTW I have another spare brand-new set of Gerbings heated gloves if anyone is interested? They were about £140 when I bought them.

__________________
Adventures on Two Wheels
Photos on Flickr
Video on Vimeo
Facebook