In general most of my riding is summer based, it's a hobby for me just now so I like to enjoy it. A got caught out in some chilly weather last summer, it was alright in London but when I got onto the open roads to come home it was pretty cold, my summer gloves couldn't cut the mustard and my hands were freezing. I swapped to my winter gloves and all was toasty.

 

Roll on to last Thursday, my uncle belled me up, there was some bike launch at a trendy lifestyle bike cafe in the east end and he asked if I wanted to go. It seemed like such a good idea, after being up at 3 am for work to then ride down to London. The sun was out though and it felt quite nice, almost 'warm'. Got the bike out, took my winter gloves and headed off. It was lovely until about half way, once the sun went in the temperatures dropped VERY quickly. Made it to my uncles, needed to be defrosted when I arrived. Quickly decided to not bother with the cafe and just ate all his food before coming home. 

 

Left London, pretty chilly but I thought I'd be alright, extra layers on for the trip home. Once I was on the M1 that was it, frozen, my hands were frozen, even in the 'winter' gloves they were just unbearably cold. Once I got off the motorway I become very conscious of how much grip there was, become very stiff and upright everywhere, I wasnt hooning it to start with so no doubt could have carried on riding as I was and not ended up on my arse. 

 

All in all, not fun! At least I know I need some decent winter gloves for colder riding. 

Decent winter gloves or heated grips....

Although I suppose heated grips won't help as much with the outside of your hands as the inside whilst holding the grips.

Heated grips and hand guards help. It was pretty nippy on Friday but my hands survived.

As above. Heated grips are great.. But the wind still hits the back of your hand and freezes that.

Hand guards and heated grips are a perfect combination.

But hand guards dont tend to look too nice on bikes like ours, with sportier styling

Removed my heated grips. Never got on with them due to the back of my hands being cold and the grip is usually harder too which riding a V-twin makes the vibrations felt more. Hand guards as already mentioned but look silly on most bikes so bar mitts are an other option which are warmer and usually cheaper too. My brother as a year round rider has heated jacket and gloves they are very good but need to connect yourself to the bike. 

Instructor told us a story when I was learning. He did a long ride in cold weather. Getting into town he pulled up at a red light only to find he could no longer move his legs. So he tipped over slowly in a comedy style and had to lie on the ground until his legs woke up again.

 

I did my test with snow and ice on the ground. Got one mark on my test card which was for not stopping quickly enough on the emergency stop. No kidding, 3C on an icy road and I didn't pull a stoppy.

Edited 17 February, 201610 yr by Aspman

You load of girls, you should ne riding a certain 3 cylinder bike made in the UK.....sorry couldn't resist !

Good kit is the only way. I ride every day and start of tho week was -4 with ice everywhere. 40min ride to work and I was quite comfortable.

I wear rukka gear, its outstanding, coupled with heated grips (bmw) and an oxford heated waistcoat.

The jacket has a fantastic neck storm collar that tucks into my helmet so no drafts on that. Keeping the core nice n toasty really makes a difference to keeping the extremities warm.

Cold Killas inner gloves... fantastic piece of kit, just leave them in your under seat storage then you'll always have them 'just in case'

 

Oh.....and heated grips, I'll never have another bike without them ever again.

Cold Killas inner gloves... fantastic piece of kit, just leave them in your under seat storage then you'll always have them 'just in case'

 

Oh.....and heated grips, I'll never have another bike without them ever again.

underseat storage? whats that?  

I remember posting on here about takin the big Zed on the autobahn one day in winter and only bad bit having to stop a fair few times as hands were painfully cold. Got all the way home and only when I was tucking the bike in decided to look at the heated grips switch and go "AHHHHH FFS". No idea why I forgot all about it, total CHIMP! 

 

Not like it was hidden:

I think I need a new set of winter gloves tbh, I like the idea of heated grips but I think a good set of gloves are a must. Thankfully, I dont do much riding in the cold so there's no rush.  

I think I need a new set of winter gloves tbh, I like the idea of heated grips but I think a good set of gloves are a must. Thankfully, I dont do much riding in the cold so there's no rush.

Get both

As he said !!

Never really considered heated grips, if it's that cold I usually don't bother or I wear my winter gloves.

Plus I think they look ugly! Don't shoot me down!

Never really considered heated grips, if it's that cold I usually don't bother or I wear my winter gloves.

Plus I think they look ugly! Don't shoot me down!

Theyre okay. Wish id never bothered with em tbh. Theyre a little flawed without handguards i find

I still have my Oxford Sport hot grips in the box from 2012 when I never fitted them to the Z1000SX before I chinned it off and the 636 I got as a 'I must buy a bike today' moment of madness and never intended to keep it this long, but the damn thing is perfect for my needs still.... Really should just fit them though, the existing grips are grey and look crap! 

That's one thing bmw do brilliantly. You cannot tell mine has heated grips fitted. Totally integrated and on the high setting get too hot. That combined with a heated vest means totally confortable riding all year.

That's one thing bmw do brilliantly. You cannot tell mine has heated grips fitted. Totally integrated and on the high setting get too hot. That combined with a heated vest means totally confortable riding all year.

Yeah my dads GSA is the same. You cant tell theyre their tbh. Sayin that, it was about £15-16k i think. So it should Be thought out really . Everything else is thought out too though. ESA, etc etc

Another not so clever thing about the new vfr.

£10,500 n its 10bhp down on power compared to the older model, its cheaply made (and showing it after 1 winter in some cases) and you get things like this...

http://www.c-pro.se/div/IMG_1084.JPG

They all retro fit them on the CB forum, looks much neater than a box (IMO of course)

They all retro fit them on the CB forum, looks much neater than a box (IMO of course)

Retrofit them off the VFR?

Yeah it does look better, but still s bodge in compared to what they could do considering the design power they have. I dont mind my Oxford ones on the VFR. Many buttons like everything on there. They do work well though. But no, i wouldnt have them again. ill man up again eventually, like i did when i rode all year.

Edited 23 February, 201610 yr by fabiamk2SE

Retrofit them off the VFR?

 

Yeah from what I can understand. I like that they look subtle. 

More subtle, but still a tacky add on compared to what could be done.

Bmw have it nailed

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/photogallerys/08_bmw_k1200gt_detail07.jpg

Just blends in.

Edited 23 February, 201610 yr by fabiamk2SE

Ok yeah, that looks much better in fairness.