Have a Hot Ride

December 29 2009 by Jason Fogelson

motorcycle-gear-wr.jpgI'm a year-round rider. I don't put my bike to sleep for the winter; I keep riding. I'm lucky. I live in Southern California, where temperatures rarely drop below freezing. But that doesn't mean it doesn't get cold on my Sportster. It gets very cold, and besides being mighty uncomfortable, it can actually be dangerous. Cold temperatures can raise your reaction time, reduce your ability to control your bike, and generally make you a worse rider. The wind chill factor amplifies the effect of cold air on your body, and riding at 60 mph on a cold night will feel like standing in a 60 mph windstorm. In a word, cold!

In mild weather, layering is the smart way to go. Start with a wicking fabric next to your skin. Cotton is good, but a high-tech microfiber layer is even better. Add thin layers of clothing on top -- clothing designed for skiers and snowboarders is great for this. Each layer will add insulation, and will also trap a layer of air, which is fantastic insulation as well. Finish off with a breathable windproof layer, like a Gore-Tex jacket, underneath your regular riding gear. Make sure not to overdo it, and layer just enough to keep warm, but not so much that you lose mobility.

Bundling up can help, but there's a limit. Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue.

Electrically heated clothing has been around for a few years, but many riders have avoided it. The big hurdle has been power. A full heated outfit can draw some serious amperage, which can tax the charging system on some bikes. Not only that, the suit has to get connected to the bike somehow, which means some dedicated wiring must be installed. Then, every time you get on the bike, you have to hook up the power, and then you have to remember to disconnect before you dismount.

Recently, manufacturers have refined the way that clothing is heated. They've developed Nanowire™ technology, which uses silvered fibers impregnated in waterproof fabric for more even, efficient heating, like in the Harley-Davidson Heated Jacket Liner. Because of the great efficiency, the garment draws less current, and can even be powered by a small rechargeable battery that obviates the need to connect to the bike. The same technology can be integrated into gloves, pants and headgear.

So, just because it's cold outside, that doesn't mean that you have to park your bike for the season. As long as the roads are dry, I'll be riding, and thanks to heated clothing, I won't have to look like the Michelin Man doing it.

No more than usual, anyway.

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