Doing without a car? - Page 2 - SV650.org

12-09-14, 01:09 PM

Hi all.

Yes well deduced, money is tight... I have a pair of bar muffs I can fit. Tried heated grips before but one died shortly after fitting. They went in the bin!

12-09-14, 03:06 PM

If you did without a car, would you then be "pet monster"?

JamesMio · 12-09-14, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyrdness

If you did without a car, would you then be "pet monster"?

Nutsinatin · 12-09-14, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpet monster

Hi all.

Yes well deduced, money is tight... I have a pair of bar muffs I can fit. Tried heated grips before but one died shortly after fitting. They went in the bin!

Give the muffs a go, I tried them on my (pointy) SV and they were the best value for money increase in hand warmth, I could still wear summer gloves well into winter; however they pressed on my brake and clutch lever over 40/50mph so I took them off, work just fine on a CBF125 though!

jambo · 13-09-14, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutsinatin

Give the muffs a go, I tried them on my (pointy) SV and they were the best value for money increase in hand warmth, I could still wear summer gloves well into winter; however they pressed on my brake and clutch lever over 40/50mph so I took them off, work just fine on a CBF125 though!

I had bar muffs and ran into a similar problem. I put a hole in the side of each and used some washers either side of the muff and the bar end weight bolts to secure them. Never had a problem again.

Put the hole lower than the exact middle though as you need to fit your hands above the bars and nothing below. I didn't think that through in the first effort.

Jambo

Sent without a real keyboard

13-09-14, 09:44 PM

Pinlock a must have. Silk liner gloves (£6 off ebay) also make a big difference.

I also invested £30 in a waterproof onepiece, one of my best bits of kit. Typically only bought it early this year after 4 winters but have used it multiple times already on some very chilly mornings on a 30 mile commute, takes most of the wind chill off and seals up any draughts. I'm not doing a 5th winter on the bike though, I have gone to the dark side and booked a car test

Red ones · 13-09-14, 09:53 PM

I ride year round. Have done for 15 years. Missyburd is spot on.
One piece overalls are great, but a faff to put on and take off and they're so huge it's often difficult to find some where to hang them at work.
I find wearing a fleece under my jacket a great help, and wind proof fleeces are brilliant.

Lobster claw gloves and liners are almost a must. As are poly bags on your feet inside the boots.

13-09-14, 10:00 PM

Ooops yes, forgot to mention the immense faff of getting them on and off, but you can be sure you'll be warm and toasty by the time you eventually get on the bike - you'll probably have a right lather on

NOt worth it for short journeys but for 40 miles like you're on about, they're a must.

_Stretchie_ · 15-09-14, 09:41 AM

I've been thinking about some over trousers but I want some salopette/dungaree style ones.

I've got my waterproof textile jacket which is good enough but found that the trousers that only zip to the jacket at the back let water in at the front at the top of the trousers, so my plan is to carry on wearing my bike jeans/trousers but if I can find some over salopettes they will prevent the water 'climbing up' the trousers far enough to get in.

Does anyone know of some? Just the same as over water proof over trousers not big thermal padded ski pants, I already have some of them that I gor from Aldi for walking the dogs and they are great but I think they'd be tooo hot and 'the tackle' may over heat.

Definitely looking at some bar muffs though

15-09-14, 11:56 AM

I ride all year and agree with everyone on here.

Muffs which attached to the bar end weights are a fix. Mine attach to each other so when you pull them tight, they don't move so not had to attach them.

To get round the problem of water getting in at the top of your trousers, I use a thin waterproof jacket underneath tucked into my trousers. Works well. Hindsight says buy salopette/dungaree style ones next time.

I have only been riding 2 years but in all that time, I have only had 2 weeks where I couldn't ride due to living in the countryside and we had ice/snow. if you are able to catch a bus or get a lift for work, I think its quite easily do'able.

One word of warning though, when its your only mode of transport, I don't know if you will enjoy it as much as it stops being novel. It will make you a 10 times better rider though!

12-09-14, 01:09 PM	#11
carpet monster Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Doing without a car? Hi all. Yes well deduced, money is tight... I have a pair of bar muffs I can fit. Tried heated grips before but one died shortly after fitting. They went in the bin!

12-09-14, 03:06 PM	#12
wyrdness Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Doing without a car? If you did without a car, would you then be "pet monster"?

13-09-14, 09:44 PM	#16
missyburd Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Doing without a car? Pinlock a must have. Silk liner gloves (£6 off ebay) also make a big difference. I also invested £30 in a waterproof onepiece, one of my best bits of kit. Typically only bought it early this year after 4 winters but have used it multiple times already on some very chilly mornings on a 30 mile commute, takes most of the wind chill off and seals up any draughts. I'm not doing a 5th winter on the bike though, I have gone to the dark side and booked a car test

13-09-14, 09:53 PM	#17
Red ones Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 1,422	Doing without a car? I ride year round. Have done for 15 years. Missyburd is spot on. One piece overalls are great, but a faff to put on and take off and they're so huge it's often difficult to find some where to hang them at work. I find wearing a fleece under my jacket a great help, and wind proof fleeces are brilliant. Lobster claw gloves and liners are almost a must. As are poly bags on your feet inside the boots.

13-09-14, 10:00 PM	#18
missyburd Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Doing without a car? Ooops yes, forgot to mention the immense faff of getting them on and off, but you can be sure you'll be warm and toasty by the time you eventually get on the bike - you'll probably have a right lather on NOt worth it for short journeys but for 40 miles like you're on about, they're a must.

15-09-14, 09:41 AM	#19
_Stretchie_ Large Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minsterworth, Gloucester Posts: 2,353	Re: Doing without a car? I've been thinking about some over trousers but I want some salopette/dungaree style ones. I've got my waterproof textile jacket which is good enough but found that the trousers that only zip to the jacket at the back let water in at the front at the top of the trousers, so my plan is to carry on wearing my bike jeans/trousers but if I can find some over salopettes they will prevent the water 'climbing up' the trousers far enough to get in. Does anyone know of some? Just the same as over water proof over trousers not big thermal padded ski pants, I already have some of them that I gor from Aldi for walking the dogs and they are great but I think they'd be tooo hot and 'the tackle' may over heat. Definitely looking at some bar muffs though __________________ How to amuze an idiot: Look right-> <-Look Left

15-09-14, 11:56 AM	#20
Hysteria_UK Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Doing without a car? I ride all year and agree with everyone on here. Muffs which attached to the bar end weights are a fix. Mine attach to each other so when you pull them tight, they don't move so not had to attach them. To get round the problem of water getting in at the top of your trousers, I use a thin waterproof jacket underneath tucked into my trousers. Works well. Hindsight says buy salopette/dungaree style ones next time. I have only been riding 2 years but in all that time, I have only had 2 weeks where I couldn't ride due to living in the countryside and we had ice/snow. if you are able to catch a bus or get a lift for work, I think its quite easily do'able. One word of warning though, when its your only mode of transport, I don't know if you will enjoy it as much as it stops being novel. It will make you a 10 times better rider though!