KymcoForum.com
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Emil on October 31, 2011, 11:55:38 PM
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Hi,
There are some winter clothing threads here already but in my experience most of the cold can be come by rather easy with layers, thick socks and rain pants. But when it comes to gloves there is not much that can be done unless the gloves are really good.
So my question is, are there any all year commuters here that found good gloves, the kind that are still ok for a one hour commute at 15F (-10C)? I have found the Held Freezer gloves that seem to be pretty good but at $170 I am turning slightly pale...
Is anyone here using more affordable gloves on the coldest days?
Emil
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Search for electric glove liners. About half the price you stated. low wattage and runs on the bike electrical system.
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i simply use woolen gloves but over use thinsulate brand mittens that are actually ski mittens....work fine and no problem re controls...
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For that amount of time, you are going to need electric heat.
Blocking the wind goes a long way, but I have not seen many scooters with guards and electric grips.
Heated grips alone won't do it either.
Heated gloves I have not tried.
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I use a double layer snowmoble gloves that go almost up to my elbow they help block the wind from going up in to your coat sleave. coast me about 60.00. If I Go for long rides in the cold a good pair of hunting hand wormers are good.
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I just use cheap $14 gloves for snow I guess that I got from kohls. They work pretty well and aren't too bulky
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I picked up $40 gloves yesterday for my scoot. They have a lil metal nub in the index finger and thumb so you can use your touch screen device in a pinch thru cunduction of body heat at the finge tips. Luvin it. REFERENCE "Dick's Sporting Goods"
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Adventurous stuff here - keep them coming!
Some comments from my side:
- Mittens are great for warmth but totally freak me out when riding. Tried it once and never again.
- Snow/skiing gloves don't do it. Tried that a while ago. Hitting their limit at a 20 minutes ride @ 40F.
- Those snowmobile gloves, are they really waterproof?
- Hand warmers sounds great for emergencies. I once rode home at -5F, it was only a 20minutes ride, I think I was wearing those damn ski gloves, but put plastic bags on top. It was such a hand nightmare - my fingers I think almost fell off and I had a numb-tickling feeling in them for another 2 weeks!
- I would love to hear how those $40 gloves from Dick's are doing at 20F
My latest decision was going with the Tour Master Elite gloves that are on sale for $80 and then considering electric liners once ice crystals are forming on my knuckles... but dammit, my size is all of a sudden sold out.
Is anybody here using electric gear? I was wondering how to do the wiring. Maybe drill some holes to access the battery and with a cable outlet in front of the seat. Or on the side?
Wish all that stuff was cheaper...
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I've used mittens in the winter for years. When it gets really cold I wear them with an extra fleece liner.
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Have you tried grip mittens? They look funny but they probably work well.
I am thinking of getting some myself.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/4/22/263/25861/ITEM/Moose-Racing-Paws-Gauntlets.aspx (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/4/22/263/25861/ITEM/Moose-Racing-Paws-Gauntlets.aspx)
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Hey Steve, that's an excellent idea! Never thought about that.
And I kind of care less how it looks once it gets cold enough.
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Look, they also have them specifically for scooters and it looks like they can be attached/removed anytime, so they can stay under the seat when it's not so cold.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5/18/173/21047/ITEM/Kwik-Tek-ScootR-Logic-Hand-Mitts.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5/18/173/21047/ITEM/Kwik-Tek-ScootR-Logic-Hand-Mitts.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch)
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Look, they also have them specifically for scooters and it looks like they can be attached/removed anytime, so they can stay under the seat when it's not so cold.
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5/18/173/21047/ITEM/Kwik-Tek-ScootR-Logic-Hand-Mitts.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5/18/173/21047/ITEM/Kwik-Tek-ScootR-Logic-Hand-Mitts.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch)
Throw a chem hand warmer in those.... nice
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I have a pair of the scooter mittens, though I need to practice with them more. Having my hands confined inside them feels weird, especially since I like to open my visor at stops to let air in and to stop from
fogging up. With the Mittens you're kind of locked in, kind of like you're handcuffed to the handlebar.
I have a nice pair of winter gloves that I use for my 30 minute commute, but once it starts to get below freezing, I won't ride that day -- ice on the ground is a good deterrent for me, especially on some of the
twisty-turns I take. Another factor is I need to have a glove that will allow my fingers to operate a zipper. I have to pay one toll when I head into Philly. My scooter jacket and leather jacket have chest pockets
where I keep my toll money. Getting and opening a wallet with gloves is too hard, but I have a pretty good system worked out with my chest pockets that I can operate with my current gloves. Anything heavier
(glove-wise) would require me to remove my gloves, get my money, and place my gloves back on -- at which point everyone behind me at the toll plaza would scream for my head (by way of their horns). Last
thing I want is early morning road rage commuters tailgating me at over 50 mph.
-Wolf
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Getting and opening a wallet with gloves is too hard, but I have a pretty good system worked out with my chest pockets that I can operate with my current gloves. Anything heavier
-Wolf [/quote]
Wolf, you need to get EasyPass. I don't go without it.
I installed handguards yesterday and will try them out this AM. 36º right now, I'll leave in about a half hour.
Richard L.
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I despise DRPA (and mistrust them) with my every breath. Opening an account with them would be the last thing I'd do -- though you are right -- it's a better idea. I guess I'm willing to take the bad weather than give them access to my credit card. If the weather is getting worse due to global warning I may have to swallow my pride one of these days.
-Wolf
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They have my credit card for several years now. Never had a problem. I believe you can mail them a check when your bank runs low but I'm not sure about that. I never have to wait in line.
I have the hand guards installed now. They do help some. My summer (Leather from Barbs) gloves can now be worn for about 15 minutes, but not much longer. Most of my rides are less than 5 mi. so they are good for me. I really don't like wearing the heavy ski gloves.
Richard L.
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I know what you mean, I feel frustrated with thicker, heavier gloves, especially when I need to adjust the straps of my computer bag I wear like a backpack. I'm glad to hear that you've never had any problems with DRPA. A few months back a went through the tolls with the Cash light above it. There was no attendant in the booth. It was an EZ-pass both that they forgot to change the signs for. With cars backing up behind me I had to continue on. A few weeks later I received a ticket in the mail for $35.00.
I know one could say that I made a mistake and went into an EZ-pass lane, but I'm careful about which one I pull up to. I made no mistake, it was on them, but there was no way to prove it, so I had to pay it. I'm also not happy with the recent toll hike to 5 dollars, and worse to take PACTO would cost $5.20. Seems odd that public transportation is more expensive than commuting by road. Last, given all the mismanagement that DRPA has done in the past I'd prefer to have as little to do with them as possible. On principle I'm happy not to sign up as one of their customers.
-Wolf
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My problem with them is that they use toll money for non-highway projects. I don't like that my toll money helps big business with loans. I never hear that the loans are paid off either. Wait till the occupy people get wind of that.
Richard L.
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My problem with them is that they use toll money for non-highway projects. I don't like that my toll money helps big business with loans. I never hear that the loans are paid off either. Wait till the occupy people get wind of that.
But that has nothing to do with ez-pass and even less with cold weather gloves ;)
Nevertheless I am not opposed to bitching about tolls and toll stations, so why not start another topic?
ScooterWolf: What mitts are you using? If you say your hands feel confined in them - although I can imagine that will always be kind of the case - maybe it's still worth researching if there are bigger ones around. If there are no bigger ones it would still be interesting to know which ones you have. I suspect not all of them do fit on a scooter.
I have made up my mind and ordered Tourmaster Winter Elite gloves for now and if that turns out not to be enough I will add mitts or heated glove liners or both.
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ScooterWolf: What mitts are you using? If you say your hands feel confined in them - although I can imagine that will always be kind of the case - maybe it's still worth researching if there are bigger ones around. If there are no bigger ones it would still be interesting to know which ones you have. I suspect not all of them do fit on a scooter.
I have made up my mind and ordered Tourmaster Winter Elite gloves for now and if that turns out not to be enough I will add mitts or heated glove liners or both.
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Emil, those Tourmaster's look like they are heavy (thick), so I doubt that it would be very easy to reach into your pockets for tolls. I still think EasyPass is needed.
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fshfindr, i don't mind if they're thick. also i don't have to pass a toll station and i have an ez-pass. the only reason i don't like it is because i feel that they are tracking me down. if i really had to pass a station without ez-pass i would either let everybody wait or carry the money in my mouth - definitely I wouldn't sacrifice my fingers for other people.
anyway, i hope the new gloves will be better than my crappy olympia gloves. just too bad i have to wait so long form them. stupid thanksgiving... oh, just reminds me - i have to finish the fight with my wife about finally not eating this over sized chicken this year.
-emil
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Emil, you sound like a really nice guy.
See Ya
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My wife uses these little heat packs that you remove the plastic packaging and need or shake the pack and it produces heat. She puts one in each mitten and in her boots and has never complained of the cold again. You can find them in sporting goods stores and are used for hunting and ice fishing.
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well ,,,i don't experience the super cold you are talking about here in the ne...but it can get to the 20ies in the day.....and occasionally colder...
i have heard of the heat packs (they seem to work but can get kind of expensive if you ride every day....electric gloves seem to work for many (also can get electric liner for jacket/coat)....the problem with this is you need to be sure that your battery/electrical system is up to the challenge as the gloves will draw about 27 watts i understand and the jacket liner much more....
i personally use thin woolen gloves...you need the good ones...and over these i use ......ski mittens....water repellant ....these work fine for me....and i can grab the brakes and operate the throttle fine....my only problem is if i decide to stop for a coffee and a smoke i have to take them off.....
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Riding in the Pacific NW I have to contend with our "just above freezing and drizzle" weather most of the time from Nov-April. When it does dip below freezing and there is a possibility of ice I don't ride and take the cage. I've got a system down that I can stay plenty warm and dry in almost all conditions except for my hands. My main concern is that I am wearing a proper pair of motorcycle gloves so that if I go down that my hands stand a chance. My current gloves are Olympia Motosport's "Cold Throttle" gloves (probably wouldn't by them again, not for quality just function). They are acceptable to 50* then the colder it gets the short amount of time I can wear them. I tried some what I thought were thin glove liners under them and it became too tight which constricted blood flow and made my fingers even cooler. I tried a pair gauntlet overmit shells over my riding gloves and these worked well for keeping my hands warmer but wasn't totally comfortable with the lack of feeling for the controls. Luckily I'm an outdoor gear geek so I often draw upon that heavily when dealing with the elements. I decided to check REI to see what they had as far as liner options. Alas this is what I found http://www.rei.com/product/661608/seirus-therma-lux-heat-pocket-liner-gloves (http://www.rei.com/product/661608/seirus-therma-lux-heat-pocket-liner-gloves) You look like Micheal Jackson but the best part of these is the Chem warmer pocket. What a difference. They are thin, and with the warmer my hands stayed reasonably warm and comfortable. Yes those warmer can be a bit expensive but Costco has them cheep for a big box. This is just my system that works for me for temps in the upper 20's and above.
As time goes on I may invest in some electric glove liners but for now and at least this year this might have to work.
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UPDATE:
I've just added a pair of heated hand grips by Oxford called Heaterz http://www.adventuremotorcycleparts.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=amp&Product_Code=TTLOXF-26-0696&Category_Code=motorcycle-gripsheated (http://www.adventuremotorcycleparts.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=amp&Product_Code=TTLOXF-26-0696&Category_Code=motorcycle-gripsheated). I bought these from my local dealer and not this website. Installation was pretty straight forward and took less then an hour. I spent more time figuring out how and where to run the wires. If anyone is interested I can try to leave a detail description and some pics for an Xciting 250.
Performance: WOW! Nice toasty hands. I actually have to turn them down a notch because they get so warm on my hands. I have used them in 28* weather and that is when I turned them down a notch. I wear my lightly insulated riding gloves and have no issues. It has made a BIG difference in my overall comfort in riding, no more cold hands.
A couple of notes is that I commute 5 days a week and have 20 mile each way ride with speeds up to 55mph, so I know I have ample time to keep the battery topped off and charged.
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Is anybody here using electric gear? I was wondering how to do the wiring. Maybe drill some holes to access the battery and with a cable outlet in front of the seat. Or on the side?
Wish all that stuff was cheaper...
I am using Harley Davidson heated gloves. I run a wire from my pigtail that I use my Battery Tender on. It works real well.