Basic Heated clothing question

[daveyator]

I'm thinking of the tourmaster synergy line. The question is should I go vest, vest with collar, or full jacket liner? The vest will allow me to use the existing acc outlet as it draws 4.5 amps and tourmaster makes a BMW plug. But if I go that route do I want the bulking yet probably effective neck or not. If I get the full jacket liner I obviously will need to wire to the battery. In any event in most of the searches I've done no one has said I got a vest for this reason or I got a full jacket for this reason. Thanks in advance for any comments.

[gezerbike]

I've got both, a BMW vest and a Gerbings jacket. Like em both. Weather into the 40's, the vest works OK, into the 30's and below, the Gerbings does the trick. I'd get the neck thing for sure on the vest. If it is cold enough for a vest, you'll want the warmth and wind protection that it will give.

[xprof]

I've got an old Widder (now out of business) heated vest, and the high, heated collar is the best thing about it. Get the collar!

[ka5ysy]

I have the Warm N Safe full jacket liner for when it goes into the 30's.

My riding gear is the Motoport Air Mesh II with the two zip-in liners. The doubled liners are pretty good into the 40's but the air pushing through the mesh makes for a cold-soak situation after about an hour of riding. Generally I will put my rain coat and pants over the Motoport stuff as an air barrier that solves that. The Warm-n-Safe stuff goes inside the jacket in place of the thermal liner and is great into anything I care to ride in temperature wise. The warm collar is great, and is not obtrusive.

Site:

http://www.warmnsafe.com/

[websterize]

In any event in most of the searches I've done no one has said I got a vest for this reason or I got a full jacket for this reason. Thanks in advance for any comments.

I commute in all sorts of weather and bought a Gerbing's jacket liner for the versatility. In frigid temps you're covered; in moderate weather, I unplug. The liner fits well under a Rev-It Infinity suit. Helmet range of motion is fine with the collar up.

[crewzzn88]

I like my Tourmaster vest with the collar. I been riding everyday in November in low 50's and now in December in mid 40's. Granted my commute from home to work is only 6 miles. Only thing I don't like about my Tourmaster vest is, the heat controller that comes out at the left side started to pull out from the vest. I had tape the controller attachment to the vest so it won't pull out anymore. Also I never used high, seldom used medium and low setting is just right for me.

[hoflix]

Get the full jacket liner.

I bought the Tourmaster Synergy liner just before Thanksgiving, and so far I am really impressed with it (on the other hand, it's my first electrical gear). This thing gets really HOT. The heat feels really uniform throughout the jacket, not just sections.

Pay attention to sizing though. I would say it runs large. I normaly wear size Small, but I ordered the XSmall, because I read it's supposed to fit snugly. But even XSmall was too big for me, ended up re-ordering an XXSmall, which fits me nicely and it's snug.

Overall, I'm very happy with it, and can't forgive myself for not buying one years ago

[hjsbmw]

How cold do you get, and how cold does it get where you live?

Full liner or vest depends on your needs and likes. Do you ever get cold around your neck? If not, forget about it, otherwise I'd recommend the collar but make sure to try it with my helmet to see about range of motion.

I did have a Gerbing full liner but sold it. It worked but I didn't get the benefit I thought I would. It felt good below 30F but we don't have that many of those days here. Above that I felt toasty even with the liner off, but also too bulky for my taste. The tightly sealing collar was a real plus though. My commute those days was 45 miles one way.

Getting into all my gear is already a ritual, and with the wires and all added I got somewhat unnerved. A good fleece layer works for me, yet costs less and has no dangling wires. If I went on tour in really cold temps or had less of a tolerance to cold I would not like to be without a heated liner though.

[ShinySideUp]

Another alternative that I like because it's light weight, no wires, and flexible for the amount of heat I generate when not just sitting on the bike is the BMW phase change material (PCM) clothing.

Here's a jacket I use a lot in temps down to about 45 deg F.

http://tinyurl.com/yaktfnx

I also really like their PCM lower underwear for my legs. Really works behind something windproof. I find I rarely wear the PCM uppers because I'm in and out of warm buildings all day and overheat in it while inside. Easier just to take the jacket off.

My only complaint is that the upper underwear has PCM on the sleeves, but the jacket does not appear to. Weird design choice or clever marketing decision?

Where I really like my Gerbings jacket (besides temps below 45 degrees and long rides) is for the end of the day, when I'm hungry, and my metabolism is running on fumes. There's no insulated clothing that can produce the welcome result of ADDING heat into the body like a 77 watt jacket can. People think it's odd when I tell them I have to go out and get on my bike so I can warm up.

+1 on the heated collar. +1 on the heated sleeves. But then I really like hot tubs and saunas, and strongly dislike shivering, especially while operating a motorcycle.

[daveyator]

Thanks for all the great replies. Well its socal here so its only "cold" a few months a year and then it's only in the 40's or 50's except a few hours in morning when it might get to low 40's or high 30's. When commuting it's a 40mi ride for me. I had a BMW vest with my 1st motorcycle. The vest was great but it was almost too hot when worn with my jackets liner and felt slightly bulky. Take out the liner and yes my arms get cold in the 50's. I basically used to sit around thinking why couldn't the vest have removable non heated sleeves? Then comes the synergy line with the heated full liner. The only reason it caught my attention is that it's considerably cheaper than gerbings but I've heard both here and elsewhere that synergy is VERY hot. The synergy collarless vest is less bulky but of course if its really cold enough for a vest it will be cold on your neck. On top of all of that I keep thinking the whole reason to have a heated garment is to limit the amount of garments you have to pack which brings my back to the liner but oh yea the vests will run off the existing power port. Oh well I will reign my OCP and pick something prob leaning toward the full liner. Thanks again for all the great info.

[Dan-A]

I use my Gerbing jacket in lieu of the liner that my various jackets came with. It has dual variable temp so I can adjust it to the circumstances, as well as the Gerbing gloves that I wear with it. Or if it is too warm, I take it out altogether.

The jacket instead of the vest is nice in case your arms get cold too.

After a few years my Gerbing stopped heating on the right side. Also the inside material was getting worn. When I sent it in for repair, they replaced it. I got an entirely new Gerbing jacket liner for free.

[bhope]

I've been using the tourmaster synergy vest for two weeks now:

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/catalog ... 58_59.html

The specifications say it draws 4.5 amps, but when I first switch it on the BMW cuts the power to the socket, due to its present maximum draw of 5.0 amps. The only way to get it back on is to shut down the bike, restart, and then quickly "toggle" the power from High-Medium-Low. Now that I understand this, there is no problem.

I'll echo what others have said ... this really heats up and I don't know if you would ever need the high setting. Low almost always (even today at 2 deg C / 34 deg F) and once in a while medium. Also, it does fit large for its indicated size and ended up returning the medium for a small for a much better fit (it has elastic side panels anyway).

Wondering if anyone else has had experience with the power socket cutting out???

Blair

I'm thinking of the tourmaster synergy line. The question is should I go vest, vest with collar, or full jacket liner? The vest will allow me to use the existing acc outlet as it draws 4.5 amps and tourmaster makes a BMW plug. But if I go that route do I want the bulking yet probably effective neck or not. If I get the full jacket liner I obviously will need to wire to the battery. In any event in most of the searches I've done no one has said I got a vest for this reason or I got a full jacket for this reason. Thanks in advance for any comments.

[deilenberger]

Blair - you're better off wiring it directly to the battery or an auxiliary fuse box.. the accessory outlet really isn't adequate. I built in my Heattroller for my heated gear (and then a second one for the heated seat pad..)

[parkec]

hjsbmw is on my path of thinking..

"How cold do you get, and how cold does it get where you live?" and how naked is your bike.

I'm naked, and after this winter I have new rules.

If its <52 when I leave him home pre sun rise. My heated vest is a must.
If the daily high is projected to be <60, heated vest and insulated pants are a must.
If there is a chace of rain add 5 degress to each rule.


Next year If it gets much colder here in Fla i'll need to get an RT or a GT