What gear should i get to ride my motorcycle in cold/rainy weather?

This last winter here in Iowa was bad enough to convince me to sell my Fwd %26#039;07 Cobalt to my brother, and hopefully purchase either an Awd Subaru or 4x4 pickup next fall, but in the mean time, rely on driving my %26#039;02 Sportster 1200 from now until next fall, with only my 11mpg 2wd dodge pickup to back me up on really nasty days.





I don%26#039;t have a windshield on my bike, and usually wear a 3/4 helmet with sunglasses, along with riding boots and a thick leather jacket (i mean beef jerky consistency), but below about 70 degrees it gets pretty cold at 70 mph. I don%26#039;t like the look of a windshield on sportsters, but this bike is perfect for me, completes me, so i%26#039;m not trading it for a dresser.





What all items would i need to comfortably ride in 40 degree weather, including random rainstorms? When driving to work for a 12 hour shift, the weather has plenty of time to become unpredictable, i%26#039;ve found.





I%26#039;m 5%26#039;11%26quot;, 185lbs, by the way. I%26#039;ve had my harley for 3 years now, and paid it off!

What gear should i get to ride my motorcycle in cold/rainy weather?
I%26#039;d get rain/wind pants along with a good jacket and gloves. Me I ride with a full face helmit, a joe rocket jacket with a zip in lining and ski gloves in the spring and fall lighter gloves in the summer. I saw in a bike shop a ski mask made for wearing under a helmit for snowmobiliers. I was going to get one but I can%26#039;t remember the store where I saw it in my town.
Reply:The windscreen is going to do more for your comfort in bad weather than anything else. They do make screens that come off quickly so you can put it on at home when you expect cold weather and take it off when you don%26#039;t.





A full face helmet will help in colder weather, get a wind triangle for your neck and ditch the leathers in cold weather (wear a good textile motorcycle jacket with a liner). Leather doesn%26#039;t insulate well once it%26#039;s off the cow. Electric riding gear and heated grips help too.





A good rainsuit will also help insulate in cold weather as well as when it rains.





I know I%26#039;m not helping you maintain that Harley image, but if you want to be comfortable, you might have to make some compromises.
Reply:patagonia has water wicking undergarments to keep you warm while taking away the sweat to the surface...overdress when you ride then peel off layers as it warms up.
Reply:What I have been using since 2002 is equipment from Gerbing. Their electrically heated riding gear has extended my riding season by several months. I wear the liner jacket, the Union Ridge pants, and the Classic gloves. Best money I have spent toward being comfortable when I ride the bike. The liner jacket will fit under all of my riding jackets including my mesh Joe Rocket Phoenix jacket.


As to your current bike, I do not know if your charging system can handle the extra current draw from the Gerbing gear. I too will work 12 hour shifts and I always keep the liner and gloves in my saddle bag along with rain gear.


Full face helmet is a must. A balaclava under the helmet to provide more insulation and to keep the wind off the neck.


It feels good to be able to ride in the cold weather and be warm and comfortable. The Gerbings have been worth every penny.


Good Luck and Safe Riding


PS, I am two inches taller and I wear rain gear from First Gear. Also First Gear sells electrically heated riding gear. See links below.
Reply:here in canaduh a few weeks back,i was riding my 95 sporty 1200 in -35 degree weather,dressed much like yourself,if the weather bothers you that much,try a ski-doo suit,(not joking either)if they keep you warm and dry on a ski-doo,why not on a bike ?
Reply:ya got the jacket so chaps and winter gloves and a full face or a mask or a snow suit
Reply:Heres what I usually wear when I ride my windowless bike. For safety I always wear long pants and Long sleeves and gloves. When the weather is warm, say 75-80 %26amp; up, I wear jeans, T-shirt, Denim Jacket, Summer-weight gloves, and my Half helmet w/googles.


As the weather starts to cool down, I add a bandanna for my face or switch to my Full-Face helmet, depending on how cool. I add my leather jacket and chaps as it cools, also, I switch to my winter weather leather riding gloves. The cooler it gets I may add sweat pants and shirt under my other gear. two pair of socks under my boots, if needed. I also have FroggTogg raingear that I sometimes carry in a bag, when the weather calls for it. The weather change isn%26#039;t usually too drastic when I go to and from work.
Reply:For cold weather and rain I wear my Spidi element jacket with pants. I bought them on Ebay and they have 3 liners in the jacket which is worth gold and I wer it whenever the weather goes below 40 degrees. It is plain black with some silver fluorescent striping so the cars can see me in shitt* weathers. They are not sport looking and would compliment your Harley, just google %26quot;Spidi%26quot; I would suggest a full face helmet and Harley has one that is either carbon fiber or carbon fiber look.


You can add a %26quot;mouth/nose%26quot; guard that keeps in the heat.





Good Luck
Reply:I%26#039;m another canuck here, and I ride my sporty any time there aren%26#039;t snowbanks or ice to contend with, temperature worries are for wussies... (though at -25C or colder, the bike usually won%26#039;t start)


I do have a windshield though, always said i wouldn%26#039;t have one, that they were ugly, but my last bike (Kawasaki) had one, and now i wouldn%26#039;t be without. Maybe a quick detach will suit you.


I have a modular full face helmet with vents, you have to have vents to prevent fogging in cold weather, i wear a toque under it, and tie a bandanna around my neck over my mouth, but not my nose - tucked into my coat to cut the wind from my skin.


Good leathers cut wind and dress in layers under them. My coat is a longer coat so that i don%26#039;t have a gap between my coat and chaps. Gauntlet style gloves make a big difference too so you don%26#039;t get wind up your sleeves..


If you have an engine guard, there are also some leathers you can put on them that keep cold air off your feet and deflect engine heat towards them.


Happy riding, and not that there should be much more cold to contend with anyways, i%26#039;m down to my beanie now
Reply:I agree that a windshield is going to be the most helpful item, but i can understand why you don%26#039;t like the look of them. A cruiser without a windscreen looks a lot meaner (more badass) IMO.





There is plenty of gear though, that is made for rain. A full face helmet or a face shield for your 3/4 face is a MUST. Also a neck gator (basically a fleece tube that goes around your neck) will help keep the wind from getting up into your helmet or going down the neck of your jacket. You can get them at academy and most sporting good stores. You may still be able to get a free one from the Buell website.


To keep your body warm, a waterproof/windproof jacket and pants will keep the water out and keep the windchill factor down. If your leather isn%26#039;t perforated, then you probably won%26#039;t need the waterproof jacket. Long underwear (top and bottom) will keep you pretty warm, but i doubt you%26#039;d want to wear it all day, so a quilted, isilated vest under your leather jacket will be just as good. Fleece works well too.





Now for the most important thing; your hands and feet. If your hands or feet are cold, all of you will feel cold. Waterproof, insilated gloves are a MUST. They can be a little pricey, but they are worth it if you ride a lot. insilated socks are great to wear along with regular socks. That will keep your feet nice and warm but still give you a some circulation.





I rode about 75miles in 40 degree weather a few months back and i had fleece under jacket that has a windproof liner, full face helmet, thermal socks, and fleece lined gloves and i was pretty much okay. If i%26#039;d have had a neck gator, better gloves and windproof pants i would have been perfect. So, i%26#039;d say 100 bucks or so from now, you should be good.
Reply:ride ur bike safe and by this i mean u know when ur going 2 fast and may end up out of control so pick a comfort gear and watch ur rpm%26#039;s,they will tell u if ur over reving or not...speed is ur choich..adios



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