Cold Weather Jacket and Pants

[lynn]

Waist size is a little tight, but they are ajustable. I do wear mine over my jeans no problem taking them off with the liner out. The lower part of the legs unzip makes them very easy to slide over boots.

[Roadie1951]

I agree with Lynn. I ordered them up one waist size from my normal and they fit over jeans or other pants perfectly. I'm kind of warm blooded, so I don't remember ever using the liner.

[theopowers]

Originally Posted by kws9999

I would appreciate advice on jackets and pants for temps from 40-50. I currently wear a First Gear Mesh jacket and pants and will need something different for late Sep and Oct.
I'm looking for:

1) Easy to wear over your street clothes
2) No air flow through and waterproof
3) Seals around the neck, wrists and waist
4) Easy to get on and off

My winter setup is built up from what I already owned. Commuted all winter last year, and my hands were the only thing that ever seemed to be getting noticably cold. Definitely thinking about electric gloves this winter.

1. Leather jacket with zip-in liner. Extra layers in really cold temps.
2. Snowboarding bibs. Waterproof. Flannel lined. Super long zips designed to go over bulky clothes and boarding boots.
3. Windproof neck gaiter most of the time. Windproof baclava in really cold temps.


I'm a big fan of the bibs. Keeps the wind from leaking in around the waistline. They would probably look better with a textile jacket rather than my leather jacket, but hey, I'm workin' with what I've got.

[versysred]

I have been using Olympia riding gear I have went down and the gear saved me. Great gear for a good price.

[theopowers]

Unless you are buying a complete jacket with zip-in pants, I would definitely recommend getting bibs instead of pants.


HJC Standard Edition Bib from RideGear.com - Pants and Bibs and more parts and gear

HJC Type R Bib from RideGear.com - Men's and more parts and gear

Scott Stratum Bib

[c_law23]

Originally Posted by kws9999

I would appreciate advice on jackets and pants for temps from 40-50. I currently wear a First Gear Mesh jacket and pants and will need something different for late Sep and Oct.
I'm looking for:

1) Easy to wear over your street clothes
2) No air flow through and waterproof
3) Seals around the neck, wrists and waist
4) Easy to get on and off

I'm looking closely at the First Gear Killimanjaro jacket as it's longer and seems to meet most of my requirements. Some inconsistency in quality has been reported with the First Gear products so I'm looking for alternatives as well.
Thanks

Ever decide on anything? I'm in the market myself though cheap would be a nice selling point for me as well

[ZeroDown!]

If you really want to ride when it's cold, go to a snowmobile dealer and check out a leather suit. Arctic Cat's color is GREEN, by the way....

Seriously, I used to be a very avid, rabid snowmobiler - running for 8 hours on a 200 mile ride in -20 and under weather (upstate New Hampshire in the White Mountains gets C-C-C-O-OLLLLLLDDD-D-D-D....) and come home feeling like you want to go another hundred miles is all dependent on your gear.

I have a full leather bib and jacket Arctic Cat suit that I've had since the early 1980's - and it still works great after all these years. It's the old saw of "you get what you pay for"; I did spend some coin on it, but it's saved my life once and I'll have it on starting soon when the temps hit the 40's at night here in PA.

Snowmobile gloves also help quite a bit - you can get the 'racer' gloves that have the index finger split off from the other fingers (think two sections to a mitten) that helps keep the middle, ring and pinky nice and warm since they are together in the mitt section instead of being separated like with a regular glove.

Good luck in the hunt!

[kws9999]

Originally Posted by c_law23

Ever decide on anything? I'm in the market myself though cheap would be a nice selling point for me as well

No I haven't made any decisions yet other than I'm becoming convinced that layering is the way to go. Also, based on this mornings commute, I'm going to need one of those things that you wear around the neck to stop the air that gets under the helmet and over the collar but I've forgotten what they are called.

[kws9999]

Originally Posted by ZeroDown!

If you really want to ride when it's cold, go to a snowmobile dealer and check out a leather suit. Arctic Cat's color is GREEN, by the way....

Seriously, I used to be a very avid, rabid snowmobiler - running for 8 hours on a 200 mile ride in -20 and under weather (upstate New Hampshire in the White Mountains gets C-C-C-O-OLLLLLLDDD-D-D-D....) and come home feeling like you want to go another hundred miles is all dependent on your gear.

I have a full leather bib and jacket Arctic Cat suit that I've had since the early 1980's - and it still works great after all these years. It's the old saw of "you get what you pay for"; I did spend some coin on it, but it's saved my life once and I'll have it on starting soon when the temps hit the 40's at night here in PA.

Snowmobile gloves also help quite a bit - you can get the 'racer' gloves that have the index finger split off from the other fingers (think two sections to a mitten) that helps keep the middle, ring and pinky nice and warm since they are together in the mitt section instead of being separated like with a regular glove.

Good luck in the hunt!

Thanks for the info. Does the suit go on over your street clothes and if so, how much of a hassle is it to get on and off?

[c_law23]

Originally Posted by kws9999

No I haven't made any decisions yet other than I'm becoming convinced that layering is the way to go. Also, based on this mornings commute, I'm going to need one of those things that you wear around the neck to stop the air that gets under the helmet and over the collar but I've forgotten what they are called.

neck gaitor? i think thats it...

[theopowers]

Originally Posted by c_law23

neck gaitor? i think thats it...

Make sure to buy a windproof one.

[DHPatrick]

I'm sold on leather for more reason than one. If it isn't too cold, I've found the Army Goretech jacket and pants are warm and especially water proof. They wear without falling apart as well.

[Aelwulf]

It tends to be in the upper 40s/lower 50s here in the early morning plus heavy fog oft-times and I've done alright with the Joe Rocket Ballistic 5.0 jacket (think it is) and Alter Ego pants, both with liners in. It's chilly without 'em but with 'em in they're decent for the 15-20 miles between home & work. I'm figurin' whenever I get my leathers those'll be better but for mesh my current ones aren't bad.

[RobotRider]

Belstaf made some good motorcycle specific gear back in the 1970s.
BMG British motorcycle gear produces Belstaf now.


British MotorCycle Gear - Jackets

[bretsk2500]

Originally Posted by theopowers

My winter setup is built up from what I already owned. Commuted all winter last year, and my hands were the only thing that ever seemed to be getting noticably cold. Definitely thinking about electric gloves this winter.

I do the same thing... I wear my mesh/leather w/ liner (it's bigger than my leather Kawi jacket, so I can fit more stuff under it.... ) with either a heavy hoodie, or a couple thin sweatshirts under it, my steel jeans w/ long johns under it (my leather pants are no where even close to warm enough) and my insulated boots w/ a pair of wool and cotton socks. I also wear a pair of ski gloves. Coldest I've ridden in was about 28F... it was tolerable. I also have a couple of "monkey suits" but they're just filthy from work (I work outside all winter). I put my bike away Dec 1 and get it out March 1. Riding is just not enjoyable for me those 3 months.

I do want to get a balaclava for my rides into work up until I put it up for the season, and am toying with heated grips.

[hlrembe]

I did not read all the posts here so I may be repeating a suggestion. I am a year round rider in N Ga and ride in any and all weather conditions and temps.
I absolutely swear by Frank Thomas gear. It is made in England with their experience for inclement weather VERY apparent. Fit and finish is among the best I've seen. Built in protection is top notch, and yes I did have a very unfortunate test session last thursday. Even though I fractured a shoulder blade at 60mph it should have been a great deal worse. My gear saved my a$$ and only needs to go to the dry cleaners personally I was as stunned as the EMS folks that everything went as well as it did. Have worn my gear down to 7-8 deg F. with nothing under it other than a pair of jeans and Under-Armours mock-t cold weather shirt and a wool sweater.
The only thing I will add this year is I am going back to heated grips on my old GS and XS since my ZX-7R may or may not be repaired from thursdays episode and niether one of those have any wind protection for the hands.
I also want to add that from personal experience the new textiles are much more everyday durable and far more weather resistant than leather I leave leather for the track and use textile on the street.

[ZeroDown!]

Originally Posted by kws9999

Thanks for the info. Does the suit go on over your street clothes and if so, how much of a hassle is it to get on and off?

Sorry for the late reply, been out of town!

No problem at all - it's sized to get over street clothes (and thermals if needed) and snowmobile boots - nice long zippers on the side of the pants.

Speaking of thermals, Cabela's has some very nice silk thermals for a decent price, and they work GREAT. I shoot outdoors in the winter, sometimes out all day long at a match - and haven't gotten chilled yet wearing them. They're extremely thin, soft, and WARM. Might look into those also if you're taking long rides when it's cold.

Keep an eye out on eBay for a set of snowmobile leathers - good place to get the older models that are "broken in" already. A trip to the cleaners for the jacket is in order, of course...

[kws9999]

Originally Posted by kws9999

I would appreciate advice on jackets and pants for temps from 40-50. I currently wear a First Gear Mesh jacket and pants and will need something different for late Sep and Oct.
I'm looking for:

1) Easy to wear over your street clothes
2) No air flow through and waterproof
3) Seals around the neck, wrists and waist
4) Easy to get on and off

I'm looking closely at the First Gear Killimanjaro jacket as it's longer and seems to meet most of my requirements. Some inconsistency in quality has been reported with the First Gear products so I'm looking for alternatives as well.
Thanks

Decided on the Olympia AST jacket and Ranger pants. They have not arrived yet but I'll post how they work out.

[kws9999]

Originally Posted by kws9999

Decided on the Olympia AST jacket and Ranger pants. They have not arrived yet but I'll post how they work out.

Jacket fits very well and is quite warm. First real test tomorrow morning as there may be frost in the early am. Ranger pants are another story. Waist fit is great but the inseam is about 6" too long. My wife says hemming them will be very expensive because the zipper on both the outer pants and inner liner will have to be moved. Looks like the pants are going back. Too bad the mfgrs don't provide both waist and inseam length selection.

[Uthor]

Originally Posted by Roadie1951

Look at OlympiaMotorSports.com. I have their AST Jacket and Ranger pants. I've ridden in 35-40 degrees for 700 miles with no discomfort. Also, Fieldsheer makes a good jacket/pants combination, the Adventure model.

Yes. I have that setup.

I found my leather jacket completely useless in the cold, though part of it was wind coming in through the removable panels. However, I still needed a lot of layers underneath to stay warm once I got the wind issue fixed. With the AST, I put the liner in and can ride for 3-4 hours in the mid 40's. I'd wear a long sleeve shirt or a thin sweater if I were going further. It's way thinner and lighter than the leather.

I've done many rides in the rain without problem.

EDIT:
That's what I get for not reading the entire thread. for the pants being too long, the zipper on mine stops 4 inches from the bottom of the pants, so it's not a big deal to cut that length off. However, I don't think a regular sewing machine will work for hemming the cuffs.

I wouldn't worry about hemming the liner as I've yet to go on a ride where the liner was needed in the pants. Just having jeans underneath is warm enough and I can always put long underwear on if needed.

Have you worn them on the bike with boots on? I thought mine were long, and still are a little bit walking around, but they fit perfect once I'm on the bike.