Re: Winter riding...
 

+1

Re: Winter riding...
 

For over leathers if you're a poor, impoverished student (like me :smt045) then an oversized army surplus jacket is great, keeps the wind and rain off and can zip right up to keep the neck dry (necktube things are good, but not nice putting back on when soggy!)

As for gloves, I just put latex gloves over the inners of mine and grit my teeth a lot, must find a better way!

Boots, german army paraboots are great, quite crash resistant, warm and dry. Though the toe is chunky the ledge at the side (where leather meets the sole) is fine to change gear with.

On the 125 my anti-corrosion strategy (and anti-theft :p) was a tin of spray grease, cost all of £2 and kept giving it a good splattering. When it was time to sell up simply scraped all the crud off and was lovely underneath.

Chris

Re: Winter riding...
 

Lissa, are you sure about this winter riding malarkey. On that icy road, your bike appears to have gone sideways;)

Re: Winter riding...
 

:-D:-D:-D

Two hours we spent parked up on that verge waiting for the road to clear enough to carry on:rolleyes:

Re: Winter riding...
 

ACF 50 is the muts nuts. Use loads of it, leave it on all winter then use Muc Off degreaser in spring to clean it off.

2 cans for £20

Re: Winter riding...
 

Thin layers under your textile kit, works better than one or two thick jumpers.

Go into millets or somewhere and get some thermal base layers and a decent fleece, a buff is a good idea to, as are inner gloves and decent warm socks.

The best thing to do is to try and keep your body core warm, that way your extremeties, i.e. feet and hands wont get so cold.

Liz has got a gerbing ( I think ) heated inner jacket which she says keeps her toasty warm, not cheap though.

Re: Winter riding...
 

Good textile gear is pricless (well not really- but £500). I bought gore tex dainese gear and haven't looked back. That with a few thermal layers and you can brave 4 hour motorway stints in the peak of winter. Throw your leathers away!
and another +1 for the polar buff

Re: Winter riding...
 

I use a Buffalo cordura jacket, Buffalo winter gloves & my cheapo Lidl cordura trousers & thats about it.
I am going to invest in some heated grips & handlebar muffs this year for a bit of luxury.

Re: Winter riding...
 

I rode through most of last winter in boots, gloves, a "Rev-It" textile jacket, and Scott Leathers textile pants ... Only the trousers turned out to ACTUALLY BE waterproof, so I replaced the boots with Oxtar SS Performance 100% waterproof boots (which, as it turns out, aren't actually waterproof either :-( D'oh! Maybe it's just mine?!), replaced the gloves with a pair of Wolf Racing Winter gloves - lovely n warm (no heated grips here!), but STILL not waterproof and replaced the Rev-It jacket with an Ixxon jacket (which is/was fantastic - built in fleece neck protector which zips out). On chilly days I use a "Cold Killers" neck protector.

Ok so after an "off" a few months ago, I ripped my textile jacket so I know that rain will pi$$ through the rip, but I have a waterproof 2-pc suit that I intend to wear over leathers. I'll probably look at getting some decent waterproof gloves (are those Pathans 100% waterproof?).

But my main question is about boots.
Can anyone recommend a good pair of 100% waterproof boots?
I have been looking at the Alpinestars SMX4's ... any recommendations anyone?

Cheers,
Pete

p.s. as for the bike, I just stuck to my "normal" washing routine (once every couple of weeks) and didn't have a problem with corrosion at all last winter. Although after reading this thread, I may just invest in some of that ACF 50 stuff (sounds quite good) ;-)

Re: Winter riding...
 

8 years, any weather, any time. Wind, snow, ice, sun, rain, you name it, i'll ride it.

Crash helmet with chin lip
thick winter leather gloves.
textile waterproof trousers with inner lining in.
textile waterproof jacket with inner lining in.
Jumper underneath the jacket.
Thick winter boots (or summer boots with 2 pairs of socks).
Balaclava, as its easier to keep on than a neck sock.

Although this year, rather than spending out on yet another jacket, im going to keep this one and get a waterproof jacket type thing to go on over the top of my bike jacket. Keeps the rain out better and another wind deflection layer.

Also, the higher the speeds, the bluer the hands in the morning.

I hate it, i've already noticed the mornings are getting much colder (need a jumper for the way to work, but put it in the top box and have my jacket vents open on the way home.... strange :lol: )

Only thing I hate is thick gloves gives you less feel on the bike, and you feel like a michellin man waddling to your bike all wrapped up :lol: Kinda restricts your "lifesaver" glance as well as its much harder to turn your neck/head.