Hey Bert,
This guy is as poor as a Church Mouse. He's whinging about paying 100ukp
for a elec. jacket!! How's he gonna come up with 350 ukp for a Rukka??
BTW, Rukka's are very well made, lots of good features but the jackets are just a bit stiff IMO and very cold weather oriented. A friend wore his BRAND New $650 Rukka on a desert ride. He hit the ground...jacket destroyed by gravel and he still hurt his elbow. My opinion? Over priced, over rated...not good in any temps over 70f. Too thick, too heavy, poor venting. Great in Norway? or Finland?, where it used to be made. (or still is?)
BTW, you mentioned Gerbing draws power......brilliant!
![RoFL](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
Yes they do!....as do all electric jackets. But at 70 watts this won't burden most bikes. Even my DR650 which only puts out 200 watts total, can handle it. If I want to run both my Gerbing and heated grips I have to turn off my headlight (I installed a switch).
If you run both jacket and grips with headlight on you find the jacket and grips don't get that hot but they DO work (and help). In five hours you'll have a dead batt.
With headlight off (daytime) it runs both jacket and grips at nearly full temps....but you MUST use the Heat Troller for the jacket which is a Reostat which continually cycles the current on/off. This is more effecient and does not draw down the Batt or strain the charging system nearly as much, yet keeps the jacket very warm, good down to below freezing. (this according to designer Mike Coan) Email him and ask him for more details about his products.
One of the main advantages of the electric jacket is Lack Of Bulk. You no longer need multiple layers. If I'm going out in Zero C conditions this is what I wear up top.
Very Thin, synthetic ($Capoline$) long sleeve thermal top
Gerbing jacket (always best close to you...slightly snug fit)
Synthetic high quality dirt bike jersey or thin Merino wool sweater
(Yes! worn over the elec. jacket!!)
Riding jacket (my liner is OUT...never use it) vents closed.
That's it!
If it gets colder I can add a layer but at this point its normally hands and feet that suffer. Synthetic or Silk Glove liners help. In rain, rubber utility glove over your riding gloves really work. Nylon waterproof booties help with cold feet. keep feet dry on long rides! Thin sock then thick sock, Gore-Tex boots. (My hands and feet still hurt in cold due to multilple frost bite in earlier life)
ymmv, IMHO, yada yada yada
Patrick