The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: rob650 on December 14, 2008, 06:00:14 PM
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Curious what other experienced riders use to keep their legs warm on the road...excluding electric wear.
Winter here in South SF is about low 40's +, but my jeans and thermals don't do the job very well on the road.
Thanks everybody.
Rob
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I don't use it now (obviously!), but when riding in Norway, it was as follows:
1st layer: Cellular Underwear
2nd layer: Silk tracksuit
3rd layer: Leathers
4th layer: Rain suit
That kept me on the road until the temperature got to 3 degrees celsius - Then I would take a bus!
I looked like a Nigerian Michelin Man!
I remember from my military days we were told to use the acronym C O L D
C - Your gear must be CLEAN
O - Avoid OVERHEATING
L - Use lots of LAYERS
D - Keep DRY
Later, I will post a pic of Christmas riding gear in Bali
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Years ago riding in Maine in March [still chilly] I used a pair of inexpensive [good will] pull over bib ski pants. They worked rather well and were easy to get on and off.
rich
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Being that I ride an RT in the winter I don't worry much about the waist down! ;) When temps fall under about 45 degrees I pull out the Joe Rocket Ballistic 4 coat, full-face helmet, and my Marsee gloves. I can stay comfortable until it gets down below 35 degrees and then after about 20 miles I'm ready to crawl in somewhere warm...
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Curious what other experienced riders use to keep their legs warm on the road...excluding electric wear.
Winter here in South SF is about low 40's +, but my jeans and thermals don't do the job very well on the road.
Thanks everybody.
Rob
With those temps, leather pants over your jeans should be fine. Unless it's raining. My Olympia one piece suit is fine for those temps without the liner. I put the liner in last week, but now there's so much snow and ice I doubt I'll ride this week. 13 degrees (predicted for tonight) would be a real test of the suit though.
Not to mention my sanity.
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Try UnderArmour, or something like it.
http://www.underarmour.com/
Not cheap, especially the cold-weather gear, but good stuff without the bulk.
I just saw on the local bike show last night that someone has come out with a line (from the U.K.) specifically for bikes, but it looked exactly like the UA stuff I have. I went to the show's website, thinking they might post the products they demonstrate, but no, we will have to wait 7 days for the show to get old enough that they will post it... >:(
http://www.myndytv.com/subindex/steel_horse
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It might be hard to find skiing or snowmobile gear in Florida but years ago a pair of skiing overpants with the jeans and thermal undies worked for me. This year I'm trying out the Alpinestar Drystar pants with the liner in. I'll see how that works.
You might try a pair of leather chaps over the jeans and thermal undies - that has also worked for me.
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Thanks for everybody's input. I was looking for something that wouldn't involve removing boots to get them on and off.
Sounds like thermals or an UnderArmor product under the jeans, and chaps over might do the job?
I'm going to the motorcycle show in San Mateo this week, i'd expect to see a few riding gear vendors there. I'll see what they've got to offer.
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I have a set of 1997 vintage Firstgear overpants. They have Thinsolate inside and are water proof (or they were when new). Then I usually wear a pair of Draggin' jeans and some thermal underwear. Wool socks go on the feet. No heat for down under. This keeps me warm down to about 25'f. I have found that you need to be careful about making things too tight. Especially in the boots - wool socks yes but not so much sock that you can hardly get your foot in the boot. A snug but not tight fit will help keep the circulation going and helps you stay warm.
TTFN,
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On my list of things to get, maybe next winter, is an insulated coverall made by Carhartt. It has long sleeves and ankle to waist side zippers which allows EZ on and off over pretty much anything you want to wear. Its outer layer is a cotton duck material which may not be the greatest in the wet, but should stand up well against the hot mufflers of our r65's. (I have had three different pairs of nylon fabric pants melted at the ankle from close encounters with the mufflers.) Although I haven't owned a pair, my retired neighbor worked with a motorcyclist who rode a bike all year and when winter came, he would break out the insulated coveralls and just zip them off when he arrived, work the day in his normal clothes, zip them back on, helmet and glove up and be on his way.
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Well I find the best riding gear to use when cold, is ......the car ;)
But seriously, I'm fortunate - it doesn't really get all that cold here - if it hits 6 or 7 degrees C and it's not raining cats and dogs (if it is - I really will be in the car) then I'll usually wear a pair of jeans and waxed cotton overpants together with my leather jacket and a waxed cotton jacket as well. Of course I'll always wear my Buff (had to throw that in guys!) and lined gloves which have covers that can go over them. I can remember when I used to live 400kms to the north of Adelaide. I rode up and it started raining quite heavily after about 100kms. Well I was OK until I hit a place called Pt Augusta still about 100kms to go, but the rain started to seep down my back. It was utter misery for the next 100kms. When I finally got home, my next door neighbour opened up my door - turned on the shower and left. I literally spent the next hour or so just thawing out.....
Just as a matter of interest people - I have the chance to purchase a pair of leather pants by Spyke with armour in the knees (and sliders - though I'd remove them if I purchased) for A$300 (reduced from A$615) or a pair of Draggin' Jeans for A$209. Because it's supposed to be summer here I'm thinking that maybe the leathers are going to be a bit hot......what's the general consensus out there as to which is the better buy?
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Leather is hot, especially if you're in traffic. Out of town it's not too bad. But I'm a gear junky: I have a leather jacket and pants, I have my Olympia 1-piece, and I have armoured mesh jacket and pants for hot weather.
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I like my Draggin' Jeans and a set of Chaps on a Lady is one of the sexiest things going. But when it gets really hot (38'c+), I wear Marsee Mesh pants that have armor in the knees and the seat with shorts on underneath and the boots. Always wear the boots winter or summer the same Tourmaster Rain boot. 8-)
If its not too hot I wear the Draggin' jeans under the Marsee Mesh gear. Can't have enough gear.
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Always wear the boots winter or summer the same Tourmaster Rain boot. 8-)
Is this the boot you are talking about? (I need a new pair)
http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Tour_Master_Mens_Solution_WP_Road_Boots--601878.html
I have been SO happy with my BMW boots - TOTALLY dry, even when the stitching started to fall apart on the outer layer! But they messed up the design with their current offering, so I am looking elsewhere.
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I'm finally catching up on reading the posts here, now that I finished making my Christmas gifts. (whew)
Anyway, I love my First Gear overpants for cold weather riding. I just wear them over my jeans. The zippers go all the way up the outside of both legs; in fact they are 2-way zippers so they can be zipped down from the top to get into the pockets of your jeans if you need to. They are too warm to wear when it's hot though.
Rob650 - did you get to the motorcycle show in San Mateo? It's just a bit too far away now to make a day out of it for me. Plus being the weekend before Christmas made it impossible for me to get there. One of these years I'm going to get there. How was it? Did you find anything good? Give us the story. I'd love to hear about it.
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I found this on Rukka: http://www.adventuremotogear.com/rukka-riding-clothing-c-22.html
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Melena,
I made it to the show and go every year, it's ALWAYS good! Every motorcycle manufacturer (available in USA) was represented (at least that I know of). Of course, Yama/Kawa/Suzu/Honda had the most floor space for their bikes / waveriders / mules, plus separate exhibits just for their respective lines of cruiser bikes. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a japanese product in that place.
A couple of new electric scooter brands appeared this year. A ton of vendors. Normally there are riding Demos out in the parking lot, but it was raining this year.
I hope you got your gifts finished and had an excellent Christmas. Happy New Year.
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Oh man! I will really have to make it next year.
But wait! Isn't there's one near John in SC in February? Aren't we all meeting there for that one? ::) (sigh) :-/ I guess I'm just going to have to start next years Christmas gifts in January next year (Yikes, that's just in a few days!). Then I'll have time to take that weekend off.
Thanks for the good review of the show Rob.
(And I did get the gifts finished and everyone loves them.)
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(And I did get the gifts finished and everyone loves them.)
Hmm - mine still must be in the post, huh? ::)
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But wait! Isn't there's one near John in SC in February? Aren't we all meeting there for that one? Roll Eyes (sigh)
Yeah, that's right! Glad you reminded us Melena. Now when was that going to be? Must search for that thread again... ;)
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Yup, everyone loves Melena's gifts which are love of friends, support when one is down, going that extra mile, a way with words...just a few of Melena's "gifts".
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For my new warm weather jacket I ordered a woman's Tourmaster Flex 2. This jacket has mesh which can be exposed when you zip off the outer textile solid covering. So it handles quite a span of temperature! Ya see I can get cold easily so this option seems good to me. Remember, I was the one with a Powerlet heated liner on on that fateful day in July. It got cut off me and destroyed! Don't worry I got another one already! :)
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(And I did get the gifts finished and everyone loves them.)
Hmm - mine still must be in the post, huh? ::)
Yes, Aussie, it must be. ;) What was it you wanted? Wine from some of the best vineyards in the world? Oh, that's right. You have them there in your back yard. I guess you'll have to go to one of the winerys and do some tasting and then pick out a nice wine and say it's from me. ;D
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Always wear the boots winter or summer the same Tourmaster Rain boot. 8-)
Is this the boot you are talking about? (I need a new pair)
http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Tour_Master_Mens_Solution_WP_Road_Boots--601878.html
I have been SO happy with my BMW boots - TOTALLY dry, even when the stitching started to fall apart on the outer layer! But they messed up the design with their current offering, so I am looking elsewhere.
Yep that is them. Feet have been dry for about a year or so....
Good value for the price!
TTFN,
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I use those too. I used to think they leaked, until I noticed that my old riding pants didn't fit down over them when I was actually in a riding position. :o
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So I take it nobody here is a chaps wearer/user?
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So I take it nobody here is a chaps wearer/user?
Not me. I don't think I really understood how they worked, esp. for a motorcycle.
Yes, they would provide protection from the elements, but not much in the event of a crash.
To my young eye when I began riding when I was 20, they were for the Harley crowd, and I knew I wasn't going to end up riding with them. For one thing, I was not mechanically inclined! ;)
I got rid of the Honda (http://www.pbase.com/tomfarr/image/69625469) after successfully deforming a few of the cross-headed screws holding the case covers on...
Oops, I am drifting...
I would enjoy learning to ride a horse before I get too old, though.
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Living in south Louisiana, I ride in similar weather as south Florida. In addition to jeans and thermals I wear my 2 piece BMW goretec rain suit. It cuts the wind, holds in heat.
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I bought my current jacket from leatherup.com. Boots and pants too. I have always prefered leather, but I got a great deal on a fieldsheer jacket last fall, fully vented and waterproof. Makes a great warm weather jacket.
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So I take it nobody here is a chaps wearer/user?
snip
I would enjoy learning to ride a horse before I get too old, though.
Here you go, Rob:
http://salem.craigslist.org/grd/982688513.html
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Good one Ed ;D
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<snip>Rob650 - did you get to the motorcycle show in San Mateo? It's just a bit too far away now to make a day out of it for me. Plus being the weekend before Christmas made it impossible for me to get there. One of these years I'm going to get there. How was it? Did you find anything good? Give us the story. I'd love to hear about it.
Speaking of motocycle shows, is anyone here planning on attending the New York City Motorcycle show the weekend of January 17, 2009? I am thinking on going to it on Saturday.
k_enn
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If anyone goes to a motorcycle show would they sit on the Moto Guzzi Classic V7 for me and report on height and weight..top heavy etc. wide seat?...really low??? I'm 5' 4.75" so if you have anyone along that is sorta short would help. Just your impressions would be fun to read about. Our shows in Toronto didn't have MG there.
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Here you go, Rob:
http://salem.craigslist.org/grd/982688513.html
Do those come with Pearl Handled Cap Guns!!! ;)
YeeHaaw!
TTFN,
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I was hoping for "silver spurs that jingled to
a song that I had sang to only just a few"
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If anyone goes to a motorcycle show would they sit on the Moto Guzzi Classic V7 for me and report on height and weight..top heavy etc. wide seat?...really low??? I'm 5' 4.75" so if you have anyone along that is sorta short would help. Just your impressions would be fun to read about. Our shows in Toronto didn't have MG there.
The V7C was at the Seattle show and there is also one in the showroom at Moto International in Seattle.
I'm 5'5" with a 32" inseam. It fits perfect. My better half, Pete, is 5'4" and has a 27" inseam. He's on his tip toes, but that's not an issue for him.
The best way for me to explain the seating position is its a cross between the 750cc Breva and the Nevada. The seat isn't too wide, it felt 'right' to me, but if needed, you could make it skinnier. Having someone re-do the seat and make it shorter would be better. The seat height is just a touch taller than the Brevas.
The bike isn't top heavy at all. I have yet to take one for a ride, every time I go to Seattle the weather has been icky, and I don't want to ride when its raining out.
I chatted with one of the Moto Int'l mechanics who has ridden the bike, he had nothing but good things to say about it.
He's a link to the WildGuzzi thread about the bike:
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=22182.0
Check reply #16 about the mechanics ride impressions.
The white is nice, but these are even better:
http://www.guzzisti.de/uploaddetail.php?img=PA070086_Black.jpg&text=V7
http://www.maxmoto.co.uk/images/Moto%20Guzzi%20V7%20Cafe%20Classic.jpg
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Hey, welcome to the forum Dee! We've chatted a couple times over at WildGuzzi, and it's good to see you made it over here too. I forgot you'd mentioned having an R45.
Anyway, welcome again, and enjoy! Great group of folks here! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Steve
ps: You need to list your full stable of bikes here too, not just the BMWs...
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Well I hate to rub it in, but it was 41C today and the warm weather gear that I saw most people wearing on bikes were t-shirts and jeans - or t-shirts and shorts - kinda made me cringe... <shakes head sadly> - if only they thought about what could happen if they came off...
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Well I hate to rub it in, but it was 41C today ...
Who cares >:(
greetings from a grey north with 41F ~ 5C
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Criminey. It's going to be -4'C tomorrow morning in Atlanta and -10'c on Friday. I think I'm finally going to leave the bike at home for my next trip to work. <sigh>
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Good grief, Bill! So sorry to hear you are getting all that freezing weather down there.
Unbelievable as it may seem for this time of year, it got up to 80 F here (Sonoma Co., CA, for the ones who are new here) yesterday :o but only 70 F today. Darn high pressure is keeping the rain from getting in. We've had only 47% of normal rainfall so far this year. We did have freezing temps a few weeks ago however. Weird. ::) And it's well below freezing and blizzard conditions in the midwest and northern parts of the country.
Trolle, at least it's not freezing. 41 F is what it should be here.
Dee, it's interesting to hear what you have to say about the Guzzi. That's one that interests me too. However, it will probably just be a dream. I barely have room for my R65 and no money for another bike anyway. :(
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I wish we would get another drought. That just makes Western Oregon a halfway decent place to live. Oh well, I have waterproof gear, and the snow is gone. ;D
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Well I hate to rub it in, but it was 41C today and the warm weather gear that I saw most people wearing on bikes were t-shirts and jeans - or t-shirts and shorts - kinda made me cringe... <shakes head sadly> - if only they thought about what could happen if they came off...
Aussie. I know exactly what you mean, many time I've seen the lovely long legged girl riding pillion in very short shorts, singlet, and thongs. Good for the eyes but I'd hate to be picking her up off the road in an accident.
100km North of Pt Augusta?? Is there anything there??
Asks he having just driven from Pt Augusta to Darwin in the last 5 days. :)
John
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100km north of the Port? - nah not really. Did you drop into the Pernatty Lagoon? Got to be honest John - if it was me, I'd take a bit of a detour and go through Quorn, Hawker, Wilpena Pound and then head north out through Blinman. You can get to Parachilna from Blinman and then head out to Leigh Creek and have a look at the mine - you can get tours - or at least you used to be able to. If you have a Kayak / canoe there is a bit tailings dam there and you can have a good paddle - make sure you don't drop in though! After that I might head back to the Port. Are you going north or south? If your coming to Adelaide - drop in - seriously. If you can get a pass you may want to drop into Yalata - to the west of Ceduna - believe me it is a bit of an eye-opener!!
PS if you get to Hawker drop into the Mobil servo and say hey to the good folks there from Tim who used to live there ('bout 18 years ago). Name of the owner is John and Janet Teague and they have a bit of museum set up - quite interesting really.
Cheers
Tim
Oh - hang on - didn't quite pick up on that - are you back home now? If so - you may want to forget about all that....
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Aussie yes i am home, thanks for the invite though.
We came down in December and was going to take the Oodnatta track, but it was closed due to rain. Then we were going to come through Burra, but things didn't work that way and we went straight from Port Augusta to Murray Bend. We were heading to Geelong (My family). On the way back from Geelong we went via Echuca, Ouyen, Pinnaroo and then Adelaide and stayed a few nights at Brown hill Creek caravan park. Then we went to Kimba (Wife's family ) on the Eyre peninsula. Then we basically bee lined home with a two night stay in Alice so the Kids wouldn't kill each other being cooped up in a car so long.
And it looks like we managed to avoid all flooding. With the highway to Queensland flodded and possibly impassable for another fortnight. Tonight we heard the Stuart Highway was cut just North of Tennant Creek.
I have ventured through the area you mentioned before but that was when I was single and it was on a Yamaha Tenere. A very nice ride that was. 11 weeks by myself around Australia (Eastern half) avoiding all major roads.
But I feel we may have ventured slightly off topic here.
Next time I travel I'll have to announce it before I go anywhere.
And you're all welcome for a visit if anyone comes to Darwin.
John
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Pity you didn't post when you were in Adelaide - Brownhill Creek is literally five minutes from where I live.
And now ----> back to warm weather riding gear...
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Hey, welcome to the forum Dee! We've chatted a couple times over at WildGuzzi, and it's good to see you made it over here too. I forgot you'd mentioned having an R45.
Anyway, welcome again, and enjoy! Great group of folks here! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
Steve
ps: You need to list your full stable of bikes here too, not just the BMWs...
Steve, I THOUGHT I recognized your handle. :)
I'm too embarrassed to list the entire....herd. :-[
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Dee,
Don't worry about listing your entire herd. I for one would find it fascinating to see the list. [smiley=lurker.gif] I wish I had room to have more than one. Oh, yeah, I'd have to have time to have more than one also. :-/ Someday.
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Boy have I been outta touch..Thanks Dee and welcome!! Dee has supplied a sizing comment on the Moto Guzzi V7 in answer to my question!!! MG Sounds a good possibility. Dee is longer legged but then I do have my "Herman Munster" boots that give me almost 3 inches more leg at the heel! No kidding. It's mostly all in the Mickey Rooney heel lifts inside the boots plus the extra thick sole.
I usually buy a 31 inch inseam. But I'm gettin' older and maybe shrinking??? :o
Going after the seat with a knife has never bothered me so I would not hesitate to lower the seat and to make it narrower. The older I get the lighter and lower I like the bike seats! I don't think I am alone in this!!??
As stated...now back to warm weather gear! A non-issue for Trolle and I at the moment!