I am very seriously considering buying a pair of those awfully naff-looking handlebar muffs such as what you often see the motorcycle couriers using on their bikes. I did have a set a long time ago and it near ruined my front disks because the wind pressure on the right hand muff pressed the brake lever so that the brakes were on all the way in to work. I only noticed because they looked a bit dark and were extremely hot to the touch! Another friend of mine actually made his disks go blue and had to replace them (they're dead when that happens, very dangerous, the steel can shatter!).
So what ideas do you all have? What do you do to keep your mitts warm in these rather inclement times? :)
Any links and prices would be appreciated - if I go for the muffs I'm looking for something rather compact instead of those huge batwings that some seem to wear!
Here in Norway keeping the hands warm can be a challenge. It is a good idea to use gloves where some of the fingers are combined.
In Colorado. I use Gerbing elec on my Goldwing trike. It has a harness connected to the battery.
But for the electric scooter, I don't want to add anything to the DC-DC converter load. Possible
put a SLA battery in the basket on the back, or I could buy a portable battery pack from Gerbing.
I chose to buy their Battery Electric Gloves.
http://www.gerbing.com/
http://www.gerbing.com/Products/Gloves/snow.html
Robert Dudley
E-Scoot Tech
If your commute isn't more than 15 or 20 miles, a good pair of thinsulate snowmobiling gloves will help a lot, but those "hippo-hands" or "Pogies", whatever you wish to call them, are a lot better working than they are looking! :-)
A small windshield for each hand would probably work best.
This information may be used entirely at your own risk.
There is always a way if there is no other way!
Vectrix Uk are now offering 'Tucano Waterproof Handle-bar Muffs', part number A00008. They are a proper piece of kit and have been designed specifically for the bike. Uk price £56.57. For sure, they'd be much better than my cheapie ebay muffs...
Hoep that helps?
Drew
Drew
Keep your body warmer so that it doesn't shut down the flow blood to the extremities to conserve core temperature.
I have started to wear a very big warm parka over my riding gear. The difference it made to the warmth of my hands was quite surprising.
All my other bikes both past and present have had heated grips, so this is my first winter without supplementary heating. If your body gets cold it attempts to conserves core heat, hands and feet then suffer.
With the same pair of gloves, my hands were in pain at 3c to 4c, now with this big parka on and a neck warmer, I am good to -1c so far without pain at all in my fingers.
Simon
Id try out some cheap gloves before buying the more expensive ones, these cost $25 and use 4 AA bateries in each glove. I once had some electic leather gloves that I found are nessesary in realy cold weather riding but they fit too tightly and shrink when they get wet.
http://www.hammacher.com/publish/73123.asp?promo=ap_outerwear
@Anderson - now that is a superb idea of yours, thanks very much. I've taken the plunge, did a quick Google and found this pair here in the UK for £16.95 http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/warmawear-deluxe-heated-glove-p-5241.html?cPath=37 which is dirt cheap!
The only problem is that this kind of clothing is not ruggedised for Motorcycling use, but if it only lasts one winter that'll be good enough for me!!
Now to sort myself out 8 NiMH AA rechargables :)
As a long time snow skier, I know that if your feet and hands are getting cold, put on another coat. Cheezy gloves won't do it no matter how many coats though, so start out with some good ones. Real ski or snowboard gloves are much better than the ones in the wallmart or whatever. Ski gloves are cut to be comfy on ski pole handles and will be the same on handlebars. Cheezy gloves think your hands should stay straight like frankenstien.
Be the pack leader.
36 volt sla schwinn beach cruiser
36 volt lifepo4 mongoose mtb
24 volt sla + nicad EV Global
Do not ride without motorbike protective gloves (and all the other gear)!
It sounds as if some of you are riding with gloves that are not fit for the purpose.....
The asphalt will grind down to your joints and bones in no time if you come off the scooter, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Hand injuries can be very nasty.
That goes for all seasons. If you cannot afford good winter bike gloves, then wear something over the top of the bike gloves which you can afford.
This information may be used entirely at your own risk.
There is always a way if there is no other way!
During winter I have handlebar muffs on all my motorbikes. It's so warm, I am using my summergloves all year! My gloves stay dry, no cold wet wind against the gloves. Because of the summer gloves, I can still use my hands to feel things, like the switches on the handlebar.
I got mine from
http://www.booster-motor.nl/
unfortunately their website is only in dutch.
Well, of course, Mik is absolutely right in this respect. The risks of riding with inappropriate gear are high should you be involved in a road accident.
However, there is also a balance to be struck. It is essential that the rider is comfortable and in tune with what they are doing on the bike at all times. 100% concentration and capability are essential. Anything that detracts from that can be dangerous - tiredness, emotional, illness and extreme discomfort can all be contributing factors (among others).
In the end it is all about what suits you best. I have tried those handlebar muffs in the past with no great success. The Vectrix is not well equipped to power heated bar grips or even heated motorcycle gloves, although there may be suitable alternatives these are not immediately apparent, hence my opening this thread (it was a serious question :) ).
And so in the end it is all about making your own personal risk assessment (gawd, you've got me talking like 'elf n safety now :D), although this is not to diminish Mik's advice above.
Pictures show vectrix muffs, scud and winter screen. The muffs and scud have the added advantage of being high vis at night. Both work very well. I bought the winter screen to reduce wind noise, which there was a small improvement, then ended up buying a full face helmet which helped a lot. The screen does reduce the cold air hitting the rider though, so again, in my view well worth it. I just need to get the heater working now......
Where are people finding these Vectrix accessories? The 2009 PDF brochure on the Vectrix UK site seems to have a few pages missing. All you get to see is a lowered seat option, different wind shields and a centre stand.
I'm thinking of getting these...
http://www.acerbis.it/moto/index.php?module=catalog&type=detail&id=1432&image=2521&cat=16
Price? about £60 in UK
Very true about protective abilites of real motorcycle gloves. I wasn't even thinking about that, just that gloves good enough for most activites are not as warm as they look.
Be the pack leader.
36 volt sla schwinn beach cruiser
36 volt lifepo4 mongoose mtb
24 volt sla + nicad EV Global
Hey,
Where did you get the scud?
I tried to find some Tucano Urbano model that will fit, but no any luck.
In your pictures, the scud wears the 'electric' word, so it should be specifically designed for Vectrix.
Where can I buy it?
Thanks in advance,
Claudio
I use my GEBRING electrically heated, thermostatically controlled leather riding gloves. I purchased them years ago, to use on my Honda Goldwing, and they work wonderfully on the Vectrix as well. I power them from my added "Auxillary Electrical System" which has a 20 ampere-hour LiFePO4 13.2 volt battery, and also operates my stereo, ham 2 way radio, and auxillary lights, + horn and siren! (Police model Vectrix)-Bob
Robert M. Curry
Hi Guys,
Thanks a lot for the answers, but I'm specially interested in the scud (the black 'skirt' that cover the legs).
Does anybody know what model fits the vectrix?
From the pictures, it seems to be a model of TUCANO URBANO, specially designed for vectrix since the word 'electric' is attached to it.
The TU square logo can also be seen in the above pictures.
I've just came back from Italy but that model does not appear in the catalog.
Any help?
Thanks!
Claudio
Hi Antwilkinson, could you please take a look to the scud's label and see if there a code of the scud model?
Thanks