It used to be – in my younger days – that I would ride in all weathers. Mainly because I had to – my motorcycle being the only form of powered transport I had to get me to work.
Nowadays, I ride for fun and have become what they call a ‘Fair weather rider”.
As I say, I ride nowadays for the enjoyment of motorcycling, but I don’t get any enjoyment in riding in the rain or the cold. And so, the bike tends to sit in the garage during the less temperate months of the year.
But, sometimes in these Winter months, we will get a day that is bright and sunny and which looks like a perfect day for biking. And indeed, that is often confirmed by the number of bikes that are out on the roads.
But not me.
Because, as bright and as sunny as it might be, it’s still bloody cold.
Yes, you can wrap yourself up with layers and I’ve been known before now to go out on my bike, looking like the Michelin Man. But, once that cold works it’s way into all those layers – and it will – you will be flippin’ freezing.
And so – because I feel I am missing out on some good biking days – I have invested in some heated apparel.
The heated jacket in the photo above is powered from the bike’s battery. Using micro carbon fibre heating elements, it’s light and warm and can be worn under your main jacket. With three heat settings, it is pretty much guaranteed to keep you warm and toasty whilst riding. All the reviews I have read have been most positive.
I haven’t tried it out yet though, because I have to wire it into the bike first, which means working in the garage.
And it’s too cold in there.
You could wear it in the garage and run it from a spare PSU. I think you may have 1 or 2 of those.
I remember the cold wet days on a motorcycle and do not regret getting a car.
That’s a good idea!
Glad I thought of it.
I have seen more motorcyclists on the road then any of the winters before I have been. Or maybe I have been just more conscious.. looking forward to mcn day 🙂
Yeah, I’ve been amazed at the number or motorcyclists I am seeing on the motorway each morning, even in freezing conditions.
Braver (and tougher) than me.
I don’t have any of these newfangled wotchamacalits. And therefore the ZX10-R stays in the garage during inclement weather, as you’ve said for you and yours. I’m not sure how I feel about these gadgets. I had a courtesy car recently, during one of my ‘The Insignia Is Off The Road’ events. The courtesy car had a heated driver’s seat. After a few minutes of heating up, it felt like I’d peed myself. I’m not sure I could cope with that kind of feeling on a bike.
Heated seats are available for a lot of bikes too, y’know. Speaking to those that own them, they really are the bees knees in cold weather. Triumph do one for the Tiger, but not for mine, else I’d be tempted.
But, if you are going to go for the heated seat, heated grips, heated jacket, heated trousers, heated gloves and heated socks (yes, they do electrically heated socks), then you might as well just go in the car, I reckon.
Agree