Winters coming... :(
Anyone tried these? :-\
Let me know your thoughts pro/cons... My hands can never be too warm in the winter, and I'd like to avoid a hard wired option if possible... so please don't jack this thread with hard wired options, thanks.
FYI, if dry I like to ride in sub 30 temps in the winter for commuting, hence why these intrigue me... :-\
Oh, and yes I already have heated grips and wind gaurds for the hands, but anything sub mid 30's tends to still make hands get cold after awhile...
http://coreheat.net/Products/Heated%20S2%20Gloves.html (http://coreheat.net/Products/Heated%20S2%20Gloves.html)
| Approximate battery capacity per charge | ||
| 100% | 2 hours | |
| 75% | 3 hours | |
| 50% | 5 hours | |
| 25% | 10 hours |
Thanks Brian, that's good info, I do appreciate it.
From the Gerbings site it list's the battery life as:
Approximate battery capacity per charge 100% 2 hours 75% 3 hours 50% 5 hours 25% 10 hours
During the winter in the sub 30 temps I'm referring to it's pretty much just being able to commute back and forth the work on dry days (which we do get some in the PNW, very nice but cold), approx 30 minutes ride to work each way, so that's why I thought these might do the trick for me.
Plus I could use them on other bikes as well, without having to hard wire setup all my bikes... :-\
I've heard nothing but good things about Gerbings the brand, so I'd have to think that the gloves (even these rechargable ones) would be of quality though right? :-\
Any thoughts given this info about what/how/when I'd be using them?
A better option would be the 12 volt hybrid gloves shown here: http://gerbing.com/products/Gloves/hybridGlove.php (http://gerbing.com/products/Gloves/hybridGlove.php) These gloves both produce more heat (given the information on that page, a 1.1 Amp-hour battery lasts one hour at full power, therefore the gloves use 12.1 watts of power) on battery power and at least you will have the option to power them from the bike if (when) the battery is dead.
One last thought Jay, have you considered looking in the children's dept. for less expensive Gerbing gloves? <ROFLMFO>
Ok guys, thanks for getting me to now entertain the idea of a wired option, much appreciated, you guys have some very valid points that I was totally overlooking... Thanks! :hail: :thumbs: :chugbeer:
I looked at those hibrid ones and I agree those look like a better option for me, and the cost is the same, so I'm now honing in on those...
Questions:
So if I want to use just the gloves without a jacket liner how does that work, do you just plug them in to a routed wire someplace up by the bars? If so, wouldn't that wire somewhat be in the way if dangling cause I'm assuming you would need the wire to be long enough to still move your hand all the way up to your helmet for using Scala or opening shield etc??
So is the plug litteraly just a battery tender type plug wired to the battery? If so, I already have that, could I just use that plug?
Do the Gerbings gloves fit pretty true to size? ie if I wear a large in Alpinestars gloves would it be same for Gerbings or do their sizes run bigger/smaller than most?
:rotflmao: :battle: :chugbeer:
I back Gerbings %100, but they don't make the battery, which is the issue. After one season or half a season, how will the batteries work? How often would you ride the Gixxer in the '30s? Me thinks not often. Do you have a battery tender lead on any of the bikes? It's that easy with the correct end. Hardwire the 14, use the BT lead on the Gixxer, and be warm all ride long. It only takes seconds to plug in (once you are in the habit of not forgetting) and will provide superior long term performance.
Just bear in mind that even the hybrid gloves are only 12 watts while the 'real' gloves are 27. Wiring them directly to the bike will eliminate the battery and associated hobby but cannot increase the power output of the gloves. In other words, if you decide those gloves are not warm enough, plugging them directly into the bike will not alter that situation.
Now for wired gloves, the 'official' solution of wiring is lousy IMO. Gerbing supplies a long 'Y' harness with the gloves and their intention is that you put one leg of each short wire down each sleeve, with the longer line coming out from the bottom of your jacket. What a PITA. As I said, wearing a heated liner or heated jacket fixes that because the clothing is pre- wired with outputs at each wrist and a common wiring block in the bottom / left of the jacket. But if using the gloves alone, I think I would run a pair of outputs on the bike up to the handlebars and leave the ends dangling there. Of course you cannot move your hands very far away from the bars if using this method. I guess both wiring methods leave something to be desired. Well, you could put the Y harness into your jacket ahead of time and stitch / Velcro the ends near the wrists and the input at the bottom of the jacket. Not elegant but it should work.
The power plug connection for Gerbing, and all the other heated clothes companies other than Tourmaster as far as I know, is a round barrel DC power plug, called a coaxial power connector. I believe it is an 'N' connector and pretty common. A battery tender usually uses an SAE connector. I do not like SAE connectors because they are hard to use but they do have an advantage in that any end will plug into any other SAE connector; the round power plugs come in male and female. Yes you could use an SAE connection on the bike to power heated clothes with an SAE to coaxial plug adapter; available from Gerbing as well as other heated clothes companies. I prefer to use the coaxial plugs and have two 'whips' (short, hanging cables used to supply power) on the bike for our heated clothing but I use them for everything that needs temporary 12 bike power like an air compressor. My whips just hand of the left side of the bike, about 8" long, and when not in use they just hang there along with the helmet audio connectors, the MP3 connector and the USB charger plug. If you paint them black they should blend right in on your bike but you can also use a power plug jack mounted somewhere on the left hand side of the bike- these are neater and do not dangle when not in use.
Gerbing gloves seem to run pretty true in my experience. Gerbing will exchange gloves with you to find the proper size; they are very good about this provided the gloves are not used of course.
One last thought- Gerbing makes a pair of heated glove liners. I bought a set this year for long distance riding to be used under a set of glove rain covers. I like them a lot and they might work for you- they are far less expensive at $80 but provide a lot of heat (still 27 watts I think). They are thin, short and will not stand much use if used without something over them but they might be a decent option for occasional use.
By the way, if you do buy a pair of heated gloves of any type / brand note that power from the bike you will also have to buy a heated clothing controller, which is usually a surprise to most people. They cost $70 and so are not insignificant when figuring out price. The controller really is needed to because you will not be able to use the gloves at full power unless extremely cold, and plugging them in / unplugging them to manage the temperature is just not practical. Some people try to use a straight switch but again my experience is that that is not practical either.
This whole thing is more complicated than it may appear at first glace. Just like almost everything else in the world…. ;) :)
Brian
Thanks Brian, I appreciate your help. I'm now back on the fence again though... :-\
I didn't plan to get a vest, between my winter drystar gear and heated seat the rest of me has been fine in the sub 30's temps, only the hands it what I'm wanting just a little more warmth...
Sounds like the wired options does have some downsides, at least for me, since I'd only be using it for short commutes to work... I'm rethinking the chargeable option again... I totally hear ya on them not getting as hot, but I'm looking for short commute improvements, so am wondering if they might do the trick for me and then I don't have to deal with the Y attachment etc as it sounds like kind of a pain... :-\
Ugh... decisions, decisions... :banghead:
Another thing to consider is short time in use.... maybe just a heavier pair of gloves or mittens for winter commuting would do the trick?
I really wish I had gone the powered heated way to begin with. I could have bought more farkles. I run the jacket liner and gloves 99% of the time (Gerbings)
Hard to believe, I know....but we like ski bunnies.
I've tried all kinds of things and spent all kinds of money to stay warm on a bike. I really wish I had gone the powered heated way to begin with. I could have bought more farkles. I run the jacket liner and gloves 99% of the time (Gerbings). I have the pants and the socks as well but they're for subzero weather. The battery stuff is for ski bunnies. Power is the way to go.
I've tried all kinds of things and spent all kinds of money to stay warm on a bike. I really wish I had gone the powered heated way to begin with. I could have bought more farkles. I run the jacket liner and gloves 99% of the time (Gerbings). I have the pants and the socks as well but they're for subzero weather. The battery stuff is for ski bunnies. Power is the way to go.
...but we like ski bunnies.
Not if they look like Jay.
You will actually be riding that bike........seriously? :stirpot:
Which gloves and jacket liner are you using Sparky?
Hard to believe, I know.
I've tried all kinds of things and spent all kinds of money to stay warm on a bike. I really wish I had gone the powered heated way to begin with. I could have bought more farkles. I run the jacket liner and gloves 99% of the time (Gerbings). I have the pants and the socks as well but they're for subzero weather. The battery stuff is for ski bunnies. Power is the way to go.
Question for you guys:
If I went with these Hybrid ones:
http://gerbing.com/Products/Gloves/hybridGlove.php (http://gerbing.com/Products/Gloves/hybridGlove.php)#
or these: http://gerbing.com/Products/Gloves/T5.php (http://gerbing.com/Products/Gloves/T5.php)
Question for you guys:
If I went with these Hybrid ones:
http://gerbing.com/Products/Gloves/hybridGlove.php (http://gerbing.com/Products/Gloves/hybridGlove.php)#
Could I power them with this powerlet connection without needing a temp controller? What would the downsides be? Or would I still need to buy a controller??
http://www.powerlet.com/product/powerlet-low-profile-to-coax-female/520 (http://www.powerlet.com/product/powerlet-low-profile-to-coax-female/520)
If temp controller still needed, could I use the simple $17 on/off one listed on this link (what would the downsides be?) or would I have to go with the $70 one listed??
http://gerbing.com/Products/tempcontrols.php (http://gerbing.com/Products/tempcontrols.php)
Ya, I was looking at those too Sparky, the cost is a little less than the hybrid ones which I guess would help offset some of the cost of the then needed controller... :-\
So more questions for you guys...
At what point would I need to worry about power consumption etc?
I currently have heated Corbin front & rear, gps, radar detector, and heated grips. I don't have a fuzeblock or similar, by adding heated gear would I then need to add a fuzeblock or similar?? :-\
http://www.fuzeblocks.com/ (http://www.fuzeblocks.com/)
Great points and info Brian, thanks! :hail:
This is my first time down this road of heated gear, so I appreciate all you guys guiding me down the right path! :chugbeer:
I have no experience with those gloves so cannot guess whether or not they might need a controller.
The problem with a switch is having to constantly turn it on and off. The controller basically does that for you; it is called PWM (pulse width modulation) and simulates the gloves (or any clothing) is on some percentage of 100%. As a poor example, you could control the central heat in your house with a simple switch and just turn it on and off as needed but most of us find a thermostat far more convenient.
Brian
For those of us who ride in [not summer, not all beautiful days] conditions, heated gear is like wimminz- there ain't no goin' back. ;D
I think what most people misunderstand about heated clothing is that it does not make riding when it is cool or cold tolerable, it makes it pleasant. When we get to someplace after about October, especially if it is at night, lots of people ask 1) if we're cold 2) how we can stand to ride at XX temp. 3) point out that it will be even colder later in the evening, etc. If someone mentions this before I get out of my gear, I always try to grab that persons' hand and stick it inside my jacket liner before he / she even realizes what is going on and the reaction is always the same- 'my what a body', followed by 'say, it is really warm in there.' Heated clothing is expensive, a pain to put on / take off for riding, requires wiring of the bike, requires some fiddling with a controller, requires plugging in an unplugging each time getting on and off the bike, and is the single greatest thing I have ever found to enhance and extend motorcycle riding. One other thought- a lot of 'tough guys' can power through 20 minutes of riding in fairly cold weather, and even quite cold provided they prepare and dress for it. But spending hours at highway speeds will take heat away from a body no matter what clothing is worn; traveling at better than about 50 MPH at temps. lower than, say, 45 F or so will sap everyone and begin the process of hypothermia. The entire ride becomes one of how far you can go between stops to warm up. Heated clothing simply removes that entire situation from the process; you can ride as far / long as you want without regard to the temperature (speaking within reason here, 25F or 30F is about the low limit for unlimited riding IMO).
I try not to spend other people's money and I do not suggest anyone run out and buy anything because it is not my business. But heated gear is about as close as I normally get to overstepping my bounds; if one is inclined and thinks he / she needs or even seriously could use heated gear, it will probably be one of the best expenditures ever for anyone who would like to either ride more (longer in the year, longer rides) or ride more comfortably. By the way, I live in southern New England where we have 'real' summers and I always bring my heated jacket liner with me on anything longer than a 10 minute trip. There is not a month in the year that I have not used that liner, with heat, usually at night coming home from a fairly long trip that I might have been perspiring the entire way out. Wearing a mesh jacket and having the temp. drop to 62F, it is fantastic putting on the liner and just cracking the controller about 10%. Again, it makes a very tolerable ride into a more pleasant ride.
And no, I do not work for Gerbing or any company that makes heated clothing. ;D
The one downside to heated clothing is that once you are counting on it and it fails, you are really in a corner. I had a controller cord go bad (failed from being bent for years under my jacket) about 50 miles from home when it was in the 30's F. I simply could not have made it home, at least in one continuous ride, without the heated gear (jacket liner, gloves, pants and socks all fed from the same controller so all failed). I stopped in a local Radio Shack, bought a connector and tape, borrowed a knife from the clerk and stood at the counter and made a new harness to get me home.
Brian
Brian
If I don't need the jacket and want to use just the gloves, I carry a wire hookup for just the gloves.
If you wear just the gloves, the harness is best run through the sleeves.
FH,
When using just the heated gloves without the heated jacket do you run that wire up and through your standard jacket and out the sleeves to plug into the gloves or do you just have that wire dangle on the outside?
FH,
When using just the heated gloves without the heated jacket do you run that wire up and through your standard jacket and out the sleeves to plug into the gloves or do you just have that wire dangle on the outside?
Jay, when ya coming up so we can spend some money? You won't be dissapointed. Once ya have the heated jacket, you will always wonder why ya didn't do it sooner. That is a simple fact, not opinion. We can pick em up, come to my place, install the dual contoller, and send ya home a happy man. We can even take some pics down at the lake, make some cover ready shots ;DIf you wear just the gloves, the harness is best run through the sleeves.
Close Karate kid, you will want 2 ports, when the gloves are not being worn one plug is vacant. I will be getting the basic flush mounts, no need for the extra wire. I will be getting the glove liners, I saw Brians on his last trip and to me they are the cats meow, similar in size to my silk liners, which rock BTW, and will allow me to run a thinner glove. I'll keep the FGs for the long running nasty stuff. 3 years and they look like new, sure was happy to have em when I needed em, but the silkies work well enough with the grips.
http://heatedclothingoutlet.com/index.shtml (http://heatedclothingoutlet.com/index.shtml)
Just a though, I buy my gear here.
Using my gloves and jacket liner this morning...
I turned on my seat this morning. Probably won't need to break out the jacket liner until late October. 8)