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CVO Technical => Riding Gear => Topic started by: JCZ on January 01, 2004, 04:38:42 PM

Title: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 01, 2004, 04:38:42 PM
I'm about to order heated jacket liner, pants liner, sox and gloves from Gerbing's.  Does anybody else have any experience in this area?  Pros or cons, different brand etc. I'd like to hear it.

For those who may be interested, here is the site:  http://www.gerbing.com/pages/motorcycle.html
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: Cabo on January 01, 2004, 09:09:43 PM
If it sooo cold that you need that stuff...take the cage!

Also What happens if it rains or snows on that stuff..I was told to keep the electric heater away from the bathtub..... [smiley=1syellow1.gif] ;D [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif] (just kidding..I bet on long cold rides it would be great)
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mr_magoo on January 02, 2004, 08:34:44 AM
To cold take the cage [smiley=confused5.gif] I can't believe my ears.  Have had good luck with gerbing stuff about half the price of HD stuff.  Make sure and get the 04 plug it is different than the 03 and earlier.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 02, 2004, 09:13:52 AM
Thanks for the heads up on the plug Magoo.  Sounds like Cabo (being from Texas) has never been caught in the snow or the very cold.

Cabo, when you're 2,000 miles from home and it's down around freezing and you need to put down 600-800 miles that day........there is no cage available.  It seems to happen from time to time and I'm a year round rider....that's how you get an average of 25,000 a year on your bike.  I would have thought you were one of those.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: Cabo on January 02, 2004, 12:09:55 PM
Is said I was kidding..... :o

Just trying to spark a flame ..and it worked... [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 02, 2004, 01:27:46 PM
Quote
Is said I was kidding..... :o

Just trying to spark a flame ..and it worked... [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]



Cabo be nice......I know it's hard, but try! lol
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: naitram on January 02, 2004, 09:11:36 PM
i have the h-d jacket liner and gerbing gloves. i also have the h-d Portable Thermostat. h-d was cheaper for the thermostat gerbing was cheaper on the gloves and would have been on the jacket liner, but i got it 50% off on a big sale at a local dealer. one word of warning the accessory plug on the thermostat may look exactley like the plug for a battery tender, but the fuse is different 1.5amp for the tender and 30amp for the heated gear. i made that mistake and had to pull the seat off to change the fuse. i love the gear though i was still riding to work until the end of november
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 03, 2004, 01:11:05 AM
I made the first plunge today. Went and ordered the wife's pants liner, jacket liner, heated gloves and heated sox (imagine that!) $640 bucks! Ooouch!!
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mr_magoo on January 03, 2004, 07:30:08 AM
My understanding is yes HD uses gell batteries.  Who's heated stuff Gerbing or HD.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 03, 2004, 12:08:16 PM
Gerbing.  All the web sites I visited and magazine articles that I could dig up, they seem to be the premier heated clothing guru.  Plus, I could go to the BMW dealership right here in town and see the stuff first hand.

The "gel battery" question.......the salesman explained to me that Battery Tender is designed for regular motorcycle batterys that charge at a 1 amp an hour rate.  He went on to say that jel batteries have to be charged at a much slower rate to be totally efficient and complete charge....more like 1/2 amp per hour.  So they (Battery Tender) makes a new charger special for gel batteries.  It's not in the same type of package thow.....it's black and gold packaging and did not have "Battery Tender" name prominent like the regular green and yellow package.

He did say that the original battery tender will help your battery to last longer than a battery without one, but not as long as the new battery tender will help your battery to last.

Just another expense to either be comfortable or save money. lol
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: psycho on January 06, 2004, 10:57:41 PM
Quote
I'm about to order heated jacket liner, pants liner, sox and gloves from Gerbing's.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: naitram on January 07, 2004, 08:27:38 AM
i went from shirt+sweatshirt+leather jacket+denim vest to shirt+heated liner+sweatshirt+denim vest and i dont feel like the "michelin man" anymore and i'm much warmer on a rare ocasion i added an extra sweatshirt
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 07, 2004, 09:08:28 AM
Psycho I've been riding that way all my life.....
I'm thinkin at my age I'm deserving something a little nicer, a little more comfortable.

They do have an attachment if you're also using a battery tender (which I will be).  But the electric clothes are so expensive, they're cutting into my mod money (and I'm not done with my truck yet, either).
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mr_magoo on January 08, 2004, 09:11:44 AM
Thats the good part about getting older we can afford the good stuff,  or is that we are smarter.[smiley=nixweiss.gif]
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 20, 2004, 08:06:07 PM
Asked some questions reagarding electrical clothing.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: psycho on January 20, 2004, 08:54:08 PM
Hey JC, I might be mistaken,
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 20, 2004, 10:20:26 PM
I was afraid that might confuse somebody.  When I first wrote to him and listed all the amps, I said "x two" meaning times two people (me and my wife).  Somewhere from my email to HD Hdqrtrs, to the electrical guys and back up to the office, then back to me, it lost translation.

In other words, it was supposed to take into account two complete outfits.  

I think when my wife is with me on the long hauls, that we'll be o.k.  These clothes are on thermostat so they don't run at full draw all the time.  Plus, I'll have my thermostat set lower than my wifes or, I can always turn the seat heater off, once we're under way and warmed up.  I'll watch it.

As for your situation......one person.....you shouldn't have anything to worry about.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: psycho on January 20, 2004, 10:29:16 PM
Leave it to psycho to get confused!  [smiley=confused5.gif]
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 20, 2004, 11:01:01 PM
Quote
Leave it to psycho to get confused!
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on March 14, 2004, 09:11:49 PM
Ordered my wifes set (sox, pants liner, jacket liner and gloves) awhile back and just got mine.  Gerbing has the full outfit (even sox!) with thermostate for each of us and dual controls (control the pants and sox seperate from the jacket and gloves).  

It was expensive.....for both of us and all the controls, thermostats, jacks, plugs etc. was about $1700.  But we will not have to feeze our patuty off anymore, when we're riding and it's below freezing.  By the way, Gerbing is guaranteed for life.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: psycho on March 14, 2004, 11:36:49 PM
I've received socks, gloves, and jacket liner thus far--still waiting on pants. The dealer I ordered stuff from forgot about temp control. So I gotta call tomorrow and order up the
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 22, 2005, 01:40:28 AM
I had a recepticle custom made for my bike.  I can plug two suits in.  It mounts under my seat on the frame and is powder coated......very clean.

Tonight is the first time I ever used heated clothing.  I have jacket liner, pants liner, sox and gloves but tonight I only tried the jacket liner and gloves.  It's right about 40 degrees so I set the thermostat about in the middle and plugged it in and rode off down the road.  Before I got seven miles I was burning up and had to stop and unplug the gloves and turn the t-stat down some.  I was very surprised that it works that well.  Wish I had gotten this years ago.

I ended up riding around for a couple hours tonight and was very comfortable.  The guy riding his Ultra Classic with me was freezing his patuuty off.  Money well spent......increadable!

I'll get some pictures this weekend of the custom bracket/recepticle and post.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: Twolanerider on January 22, 2005, 02:39:16 AM
Quote
Ordered my wifes set (sox, pants liner, jacket liner and gloves) awhile back and just got mine.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mfgreen on January 22, 2005, 09:08:20 AM
Quote

JC, you'd written previously that with the decision to keep the bike your wife had opted not to ride anymore.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: VANAMAL on January 22, 2005, 10:40:28 AM
i use my widder vest on occasion. keeping your body core warm will keep the blood flowing to hands,feet etc. ive never ridin in really cold snowy weather being from so calif. we very seldom see frost here. i was in el paso texas last march and i had the vest but i hadnt wired the harness yet. i stopped by the side of the road but my hands were to frozen to hook it up BRRR what a bummer being that cold.i saw a sign that said tucson ariz 280 miles so i figured at 80-90 mph id be there in no time. i learned a lesson that being prepared will make things more comfortable. i also got caught on sonora pass in the ca sierras in late july in the rain with no gear. it was 90 in the valley. live and learn
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: DavidB on January 22, 2005, 10:43:59 AM
Quote
I had a recepticle custom made for my bike.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 22, 2005, 08:12:19 PM
Quote

JC, you'd written previously that with the decision to keep the bike your wife had opted not to ride anymore.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on January 22, 2005, 08:13:05 PM
I have to tell you that I actually look forward to getting on my bike in this 40 degree weather, now!  Here's one a little closer.............
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: naitram on January 23, 2005, 10:04:47 AM
looks good JC
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: kazumdgc on February 01, 2005, 07:25:21 PM
Oh yea. I am in love with mine. I just have the vest but as you all say keep the body core warm and you are OK. Now I just can't wait to ride at any temp as long as the roads are Ok. Got the HD vest and it works like a charm.
KAZ [smiley=beerchug.gif]
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mr_magoo on February 02, 2005, 08:34:48 AM
Boy remember the old days when we just road, but bit is so much better with heat must be getting smarter with age.  
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mfgreen on February 02, 2005, 08:37:11 AM
Quote
Boy remember the old days when we just road, but bit is so much better with heat must be getting smarter with age.  

One would hope.....
Yeah the heat just seems to lengthen the usabilty of the bikes tremendously.  And that technology seems to be getting better.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mr_magoo on February 03, 2005, 08:28:55 AM
Had a lady friend go down last weekend while on a ride she was wearing heating clothing was suprised how it held up to the asphalt only 2 small ripes in it.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on February 03, 2005, 12:05:53 PM
Quote
Had a lady friend go down last weekend while on a ride she was wearing heating clothing was suprised how it held up to the asphalt only 2 small ripes in it.


Mine are "liners" so I wear my leathers over them.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mr_magoo on February 04, 2005, 09:46:32 AM
JCZ never heard you had to where something over them.  They do say to wear something under them so you don't get burned by the heat wires,  in fact several people wear just the liner as their outer and nothing else.  Will see Dotty Gerbing next week when I pick uo my ultimate jacket and pants and will make a point of asking her.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on February 04, 2005, 10:54:46 AM
Quote
JCZ never heard you had to where something over them.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: the O`Fender on February 10, 2005, 10:41:10 AM
JC like you, I have liners, I have some specific pairs of jeans (loose fit) that I wear over my pants liners, my winter coat has a zip out lining that I remove when using my jacket liner. I bought my gear at a BMW dealer who was adament in saying this was not "road gear" and should consider this as a replacement for my thermal undies with the exception of the leather gloves (I hate them any way too bulky can't hardly push buttons). [smiley=laugh.gif]
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JR on February 10, 2005, 08:12:40 PM
JC

I saw this on Gerbings website and may answer your question. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

How you wear your heated clothing with other clothes can either enhance or detract from your overall comfort. Follow the tips below to obtain the most warming heat.

Jacket liners, pant liners, and vests work best when worn under windproof clothing. Wind takes the heat away.
Our outerwear is windproof due to the urethane coating on the fabric.
Wear only one layer under Gerbing's clothing. A long-sleeved turtleneck under a coat or liner is ideal.
Pant liners don't work well under denim pants. If you wear denim its best to wear Gerbing's outerwear.
If its real cold outside, wearing raingear enhances the warming effect by sealing out more wind.

                                                                                          See Ya!    JR [smiley=laugh.gif]
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mr_magoo on February 11, 2005, 10:15:20 AM
JCZ mine won't be ready till next week so I won't see her till then, but will ask her when I see her.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: tony1968 on February 12, 2005, 01:39:55 AM
I have widder electric gloves and vest and have ridden in 22F no problem... Keeps you warm. On a another note you can buy a hot wheels battery charger for way less  that puts out 1.2 amps @ 12 volts. I bought one at like toys r us or something and have been using it for almost 10 years as my "battery tender"
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mfgreen on February 12, 2005, 08:02:30 AM
Quote
I have widder electric gloves and vest and have ridden in 22F no problem... Keeps you warm. On a another note you can buy a hot wheels battery charger for way less  that puts out 1.2 amps @ 12 volts. I bought one at like toys r us or something and have been using it for almost 10 years as my "battery tender"

I have seen widder clothing and gloves available through Whitehorse Press. Found some links to their cold weather gear.
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=4043?whpsid=fa76423811b0d6c1e00d1e68ef366a47
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=4784
http://www.whitehorsepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=4785
Glad to know somebody has tried and likes the Widder products.

The cat's out of the bag on the charger.  There is hope for better prices.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: mr_magoo on February 28, 2005, 08:34:42 AM
Ok JCZ here is your answer on wearing something over your heated liner.  She said that the material and especially the seams aren't made to take the stress of the wind and the seams and material will fail.  Plus without having something over it you lose all the heat.  Hope that explains it for you.
Title: Re: Heated Clothing???
Post by: JCZ on February 28, 2005, 02:21:39 PM
Quote
Ok JCZ here is your answer on wearing something over your heated liner.