Heated gear?

[HogMike]

Got back from a club ride today and I swear half the riders had heated gear!!!
WTF???
I'm the old fart in the group and thought turning my grips up to "2" was being a sissy!
I DID zip my jacket up all the way and wore a long sleeved shirt under.
What happened to all the hard core riders here??

[koko3052]

I thot that way for years... then bought some for theses old bones... will never be without again!

[Ohio HD]

If I'm planning on all day riding, or most of it in cold ass weather, I put my electric vest on.

[Jeffd]

Got back from a club ride today and I swear half the riders had heated gear!!!
WTF???
I'm the old fart in the group and thought turning my grips up to "2" was being a sissy!
I DID zip my jacket up all the way and wore a long sleeved shirt under.
What happened to all the hard core riders here??

we got smarter and safer.  Much safer being warm in my opinion.  I will never give up my electric gloves and jacket no way no how.

[SklyWag]

     50 years  750k miles ++
I use my heated gear all the time, I earned it!

It took me 2 years to get my wife to wear a heated jacket liner.  Now you know what she says?
  Her words "It was the best thing I ever bought"  She now takes all the credit for it.

[Boe Cole]

Started with heated gloves and moved to a heated jacket liner.  Have often considered the heated pants but it just seems like too much.  Love my heated gear - makes the ride enjoyable versus being all hunched up trying to stay warm.

Like another poster posted - we earned it.  I'm 65 and don't like getting cold any more.

[NETacomaFatboy]

Once you plug in, you will never go back....

[ramcr913]

Don't have any heated gear but been thinking about it. Mostly its my hands that get cold. Not trying to hijack, but there seems to be some experience already here.... any recommendations on gloves? Batteries or hook to module on bike?
Thanks

[Bigs]

For me it started with my hands getting cold riding my Sportster. Then the chaps didn't keep my legs warm and my feet got colder than blazes. Soooo... Gerbings gloves, pants and socks and now I just stay toasty and warm. With the FXRG leather jacket, t-shirt and LLBean flannel shirt I'm ready for the teens.
   Bigs

[ThumperDeuce]

http://gerbing.com

Great stuff.  You will want to use a fused dual temperature controller wired into the battery either permanent or removable.
.

[akjeff]

With the crazy weather swings we have, there are heated gloves, and a vest or jacket in my bags, through the entire riding season....it's the "Potty mouth"! I'd much rather be comfortable than tough!

Jeff

[PoorUB]

My wife and I were the first to get heated gear and everyone gave us crap about. Now few years later pretty much everyone in our group has bought heated gear. I would not be without it!

[koko3052]

Don't have any heated gear but been thinking about it. Mostly its my hands that get cold. Not trying to hijack, but there seems to be some experience already here.... any recommendations on gloves? Batteries or hook to module on bike?
Thanks

Batteries are to be used when you're hunting/fishing. Hook up right to bike & do get the dual controller... you will be buying more than the gloves!

[jayjaywideglide]

Took my first long trip back in 1968 and I sure wish I had the type of equipment back then that I have now; heated grips, heated jacket liner, warm clothes.  Sure would have made the cross country and Alaska trips a lot more enjoyable back then.  Back then, 300 mile day was a long day on the shovel.  Now days, 500+ days the norm.

[Sonny S.]

<What happened to all the hard core riders here??>

Definition please.... 

[HogMike]

<What happened to all the hard core riders here??>

Definition please....

I guess that would mean: too cheap? too poor? can't figure out how to hook the pigtail up to the battery? live in a warm climate? Has a warm BSR?
I'm sure there are more definitions, but, you get the drift!

[Superheat9]

What is the amp load limit on the stator?  I have held off on heated gear because I worried about overloading the charging system.  Do you guys measure the amps to be sure you are with in the limits of the charging system?

2 up rider

[Boe Cole]

In response to the question about which gear to buy, I've always been one to skip the heated grips as I've heard a lot of comments as them being problematic and prone to failure.  My biggest reason not to go with the heated grips though is that they stay with the bike when you sell or trade it.

Got the HD heated gloves (made by Gerbling) on sale at my local HD dealer.  Did not bother with the thermostat because when its cold enough to need them, they need to be on full blast....

Got the HD heated jacket (also made by Gerbling) on sale at the my local HD dealer.  Got the termostat this time for the jacket and am glad I did.  Wear it over a long sleeved T shirt and under my Tourmaster jacket.  In 30 degree rides, have never had to have it much higher than the lowest setting.  Nice warmth.  Made the mistake once of mixing up the glove connection with the jacket.  Was almost totally fried in 5 miles!!!!  Had to stop and switch the connections before I passed out from the heat.

Have also used the Tourmaster heated jacket and found that I never had to get it off the lowest setting also.

Both the Gerbling/HD and Tourmaster are top quality in my book.   Both have connections in the sleeves for the gloves which are handy.  They also say that the glove connections are not compatable with other brands of gloves.  That could be true - I did not try to do otherwise.

There might be other brands out there but I can vouch for the ones I used.

As to using batteries, I would not bother as they only last for a few hours.  Use the bike's power supply but make sure you do not overload the charging circuit.  A friend on a relatively small Yamaha was using her jacket and gloves and killed the battery in downtown Atlanta during the morning rush.  Fortunately a really nice guy in a three piece suit stopped his car and pusher her to the side of the highway.

[koko3052]

<What happened to all the hard core riders here??>

Definition please....

THEY GOT OLD!!    
With age comes wisdom....

[koko3052]

What is the amp load limit on the stator?  I have held off on heated gear because I worried about overloading the charging system.  Do you guys measure the amps to be sure you are with in the limits of the charging system?

2 up rider

Yes.. definately keep track of what you're drawing from the system. '05 Fatboy, changed the headlight to an led, & me & my lady can both ride comfy in "The Great White North". ('cause it's no use trying to be the richest guy in the cemetary!)

[PoorUB]

What is the amp load limit on the stator?  I have held off on heated gear because I worried about overloading the charging system.  Do you guys measure the amps to be sure you are with in the limits of the charging system?

2 up rider

Which bike do you ride?
I ride a 2010 Ultra with a 100 watt high beam, two 50 watt spots, Sometimes a trailer with more lights, and the wife and I both have Gerbings jackets. The volt meter may drop a bit at idle, but running down the road it charges just fine. I know couples that ride two up on SofTails that both run jackets and no issues. I thing you will have to try pretty hard to max out the charging system of a late model HD.

Keep in mind you will rarely run the jackets at full on, unless you are my tiny wife that freezes at 70F. It needs to be under 40F before I have mine cranked and that cold my wife will not ride.

[Superheat9]

What is the amp load limit on the stator?  I have held off on heated gear because I worried about overloading the charging system.  Do you guys measure the amps to be sure you are with in the limits of the charging system?

2 up rider

Which bike do you ride?
I ride a 2010 Ultra with a 100 watt high beam, two 50 watt spots, Sometimes a trailer with more lights, and the wife and I both have Gerbings jackets. The volt meter may drop a bit at idle, but running down the road it charges just fine. I know couples that ride two up on SofTails that both run jackets and no issues. I thing you will have to try pretty hard to max out the charging system of a late model HD.

Keep in mind you will rarely run the jackets at full on, unless you are my tiny wife that freezes at 70F. It needs to be under 40F before I have mine cranked and that cold my wife will not ride.

04 FLHR  I will have to check the sm  Maybe it will have the amps.

[Admiral Akbar]

<What happened to all the hard core riders here??>

Definition please....

THEY GOT OLD!!    
With age comes wisdom....

And if it don't, one typically doesn't make all it that far.. 
Max

[HarleyHiwayMan]

Two thumbs up for heated gear! I have battery gloves (Castle brand) but don suggest them. Get the direct plug Gerbing or HD and don't look back. I have the Gerbing jacket and gloves. My 62 year old bones enjoy ridding at 28* and 75 mph!

[klammer76]

Quick question, I have a textile FXRG jacket and have considered a heated full liner, is there one made for this jacket? Thought I saw some where there was but can't find it.

(Apologies to OP, no highjack intended)

Klammer