Cold weather riding.

[momto3]

Hello! I am a new poster to this forum and would like to get advice on riding in cold weather. I should preface this by saying that I live in central NC, so cold means down into the 30s generally at the worst.

I ride a BMW x-country. It is my "beginner" bike and I am hoping to move up to something a little more powerful soon. I am a fairly new rider, but have been commuting to work regularly and hate to give it up due to cold.

My main problem is with my hands. As soon as the temp reaches into the mid 40s, my fingers become frost bitten. I bought a pair of "cold weather" gloves and liners from Firstgear, but they still are not warm enough. What are my options, other than using heated gear?

Any ideas are appreciated!

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. I made my own riding vest.

http://www.klr650.marknet.us/diy-Electric_Vest.pdf

A roll of teflon coated nichrome wire is much less expensive than buying a heated vest.

I used slightly too much wire (too long) therefore the resistance is comparatively high therefore the heating output is small. One of these days, I'll bypass part of it to yield more heat.

[momto3]

3. Thanks.

I am really hoping to avoid the cost of heated gear, but I may not have a choice if I want to keep riding. I am not sure that I am capable of making my own gear. With my luck, I would electrocute myself the first time it rained.

[Gold Metal Flake]

2. Windguards will help. Slows or stops the wind.

Here is an example, I'm sure you can find cheaper:
http://www.adventuremotorcycleparts.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=amp&Product_Code=TTLBB-BHG13-ATT&Category_Code=motorcycle-handguards

Then heated gloves or grips.

[momto3]

4. I am going to look into wind guards. My bike does not have them now.

I don't want to invest in heated grips - I am hoping to get a new bike this spring that has them included.

Thanks.

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. If it's temporary just look for something universal and large.

Keeping wind off of your gloves makes a huge difference.

[rfranklin]

6. Gerbings electric gloves...

http://gerbing.com/Products/Gloves/G3.php



I have also found the handguards combined with really good goretex insulated mittens help a lot.
Of course it is more difficult to work the controls but you can't do it all with frozen fingers.

[momto3]

7. I may have to break down and get heated gloves.

I do have big insulated mittens that I have tried. I was extremely uncomfortable wearing them due to an inability to work the front break properly, so my only solution may be going to heated gear.

Thanks for the advice.

Tracy

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. I've heard it argued that you don't need heated pants and gloves if your core body temp is maintain

I think I prefer a vest.

[rfranklin]

9. I have a vest and I can tell you it may not be enough...

if you ride in freezing temps. You won't care how warm your core is if you can't feel your hands.

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. In practice? Bullshit, LOL.

People can argue all they want. When it dips into the 30s and I have my insulated pants on and my thick coat on with my layered clothing and my thick socks my core temp is pretty comfy. And my hands, in my Street & Steel insulated gloves and without windguards, are cold and it sucks. Cold hands are stiff hands. No good. Fortunately my comute is only 45 minutes.

So, yeah, bundle up. But having a toasty-warm core ain't gonna help your hands out there away from your body in the cold air. No substitute for a warm hand solution employing several schemes into an effective whole.

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. I avoid discomfort, so what do I know?

[edgineered]

12. When selecting gloves

try them on, then hold the top of a finger to your lips and try to exhale through the glove. If you can feel your breath on your finger, those gloves won't work.

At a store that sells rock-climbing gear was a pair of gloves I liked, but didn't have the money at the time. The bottoms of the fingers and the palms were fairly thin, indicating a good feel of the controls, and the tops were thicker and wind-proof (breath-proof).

The guards mentioned by others here are probably your best initial move. Good luck.

[edgineered]

13. Hand guards for less money.

you will find Tucker-Rocky has hand guards - follow this link. Some are less than $20.

http://www.motosport.com/dirtbike/Hand-Guards