As I mentioned before, I'm searching for heated gear.
But I wonder if a windshield ought to be my first "warmth" investment instead?
Riding a VF750C sitting upright, wind blast full in the chest.
I remember riding the Wing was tolerable at least 10 degrees cooler than the Magna. I attribute this to the fairing.
(It was intolerable for other reasons...)
You've been told, but I'll go too. Get the windshield first. All the heat in the world can't help if it just blows away, right? A couple years ago when all I had was the Magna, I bought a National Cycle Plexstar2 or something like that. That in itself was good for another 15 degrees cooler. But then
ReplyDeleteadded clothing went lower still. I rode in teens and twenty degrees.
I had heated grips on the FJR before cold ever set in, but I went a year or two without heated jacket. The windshield and fairing is the difference. It's probably cheapest too.
Get a windshield first.
Because of the windshield on my '83
ReplyDeleteVF750C, my upper torso is the least of my cold weather problems. Also, the full-face modular helmet keeps my face and head completely comfortable. My biggest problems are hands, wrists, and legs.
FWIW:
ReplyDeleteI bought a windshield for my Magna. First screen I ever owned. It is a NationalCycle "Street Shield."
Although it's profile is small
enough to avoid "barn-door"
effects, it tapers far too much to
offer much in the way of
significant protection. It also
creates a nasty buffeting zone.
While it's a fair blocker of
rain, I'd not recommend it.
My KLR came with a tall and wide-to-the-top freeway screen that is
quite nice. Between that and
the hand grip shields that are
stock to the bike, it's a much
more cold weather friendly bike
than the Magna.
I'd think:
1- windshield
2- electric vest or sweater
3- electric gloves
The handgrip guards serve other
purposes on a DP ride and would likely look tacky on a Magna,
though they are effective at
keeping those fingers warm.
I'll weigh in again. I would say
ReplyDeletea windshield should be first, but
remember that it will get warm
again, and if you're one of the
riders that want the (dehydrating)
wind, you'll want it to be easily
removable.
Windshields, heated gear, forget
ReplyDeleteall that stuff. That guy that Pete
sent us the link to that moved to
the Arctic to live with the
Eskimos had that staying warm
thing all figured out.
Eat raw seal blubber until you
can't cram in another bite. Your
metabolism has to work so hard to
digest it that you'll be
positively sweating, windshield or no.
Also, don't forget to constantly
smear snot all over any exposed
flesh for that extra protective
layer.
Yup, a small windshield makes all
ReplyDeletethe difference in the world. Also
try going to a gun and knife show
and get the military fleece and
slick fabric long underwear. I
gave about 50 bucks for a shirt,
pants and a ski mask looking kind
of thing in the same fabric. With
only that on I look like a pot
bellied ninja. After looking at
the tags, I see that this stuff is
100% polypropylene. Maybe that's
why you have to take it off if it
is over 60 degrees at a stop light.