Cold Weather Gear

[lenwindham]

Still riding as the temps dip into high 20's. Didn't spring for the heated gear yet. Looking for your favorite "poor man's" cold weather gear tips. My commute is about 25 minutes, so I'm fine with a few layers up top and a windsuit, Olympia gloves and the heated grips. Double socks and thermal underwear. I was forced to ride about 1 hour yesterday and realized that wont cut it again. I had to stop about 15 minutes to warm up and finish my trip.

[timl]

My commute is about 25 minutes and 13 miles. I wear long underwear; I too have Olympia gloves and the heated grips. With an Olympia jacket and a scarf I am toasty - except for my fingertips. My feet seem to stay warm due to the engine heat. My upper body is fine without any additional layers. Sometimes my neck gets cold. If I could just keep my fingers warm I think I'd be good down to maybe 20 degrees.

We haven't had any snow yet in northern VA so I've been able to ride a lot.

[jfslater98]

So two things on the bike gets me down to about 25: hand guards and a small windscreen. I have not worn winter gloves since going with the handguards (and of course have the heated grips on high). The small screen takes a lot of wind off my core. Unfortunately, it gets shot right up into my chin.

What goes on me:
Silk balaclava
Round dew-rag thingy around my neck (sometimes, if I'm not in a rush to get to work)
Respro Foggy Mask
Nike Dri-fit mock turtlneck
Some type of fleece sweater
BMW jacket with liner
BMW nylon pants
BMW Comfortemp pants (best cold weather gear I have)
Smartwool socks
TCX Matrix boots (socks and boots are worn all year long)

My commute is about 40 minutes, mostly highway. By the end of that trip, I am just starting to get cold. Age is catching up with me, and this may be my last winter without heated gear. I fear, however, that if I start with the liner, then I will focus on my legs and socks. But I guess it beats caging it once the temps drop below 30.

[lenwindham]

I forgot to add that I have a pair of those ATV handlebar covers when the temps go below freezing. Hippo Hands is one brand, but I have an off brand that I bought for $25 last summer. I'm sure a size expressly made for the Rockster would work great. I have to be extra careful when I install them because if its not done exactly right at speeds abve 60 and the twist of the grip I can inadvertently engage the brake lever.
Properly installed I can ride with a pair of cotton gloves and the heat on the low setting.

[sweatmark]

Heated vest or jacket liner is the way to go. Maintaining body core temperature makes ALL the difference, and you can forego some of the extra "bundling up" to avoid chill.

One big plus of our bikes is alternator power output... take full advantage of all those Watts and hook yourself up with heated vest/liner. You'll wonder why in the world you didn't do so earlier.

[riceburner]

Heated vest or jacket liner is the way to go. Maintaining body core temperature makes ALL the difference, and you can forego some of the extra "bundling up" to avoid chill.

One big plus of our bikes is alternator power output... take full advantage of all those Watts and hook yourself up with heated vest/liner. You'll wonder why in the world you didn't do so earlier.

Agreed.