Modern Vespa

Hi all - it's been a while since I've posted, but I hope everyone is doing well.

I'm getting ready for my first car-less winter in Colorado so I really need your help! I'm sorry if this has been posted before, but I'm interested in your opinions about winter jackets, gloves, neck protection, whatever you think would apply!

I found these outer zip pants and am tempted. Anyone using them or something similar?

Even though it's almost 80 degrees today, I imagine it might get a little nippy before all is said and done.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Links to other threads that have already covered this would also work - thanks!

also check out Aerostich as an option - going into my 1st MN winter and riding I was referred to them - I have a Darien Light, and have been toasty warm so far riding at night in 30-40 degree temps...

Great gloves...w/gauntlets...I use tourmaster ones that have a pull out over-glove for rain protection, with added ski glove liners. I use a retro leather jacket w/o the liner. My layers work better.... A polar fleece jacket or blazer with a vest. Full face helmet with a neck gaiter. $35 ski pants that are big enough to take off over your boots...200 to 400 gram boots....ALL behind a close to full size windshield! I ride a 40 mile round trip commute in as low as 5 below so far...on a Stella and soon a GT200. At least with a vespa, you can reach down to the radiator vents for a quick warm up! TubaJim

Dude. I'm really enjoying my new Termoscud. It makes a huge difference.

I second the termoscud. I just put it on and rode around town in the cold rain we're having now. It's fantastic. The best part is when you ride at speed and warm air starts flowing over your legs from the radiator. Brilliant.

I've also installed a Faco Mid and Oxford heated grips. The Faco mid is a compromise and gets the job done. I am 6'2". The wind hits me in the eyes with my half helmet and doesn't bother me with my full-face flip front Nolan helmet. The Oxford grips perform better than any other heated grip I've had, but the controller is clunky. I've put the controller in the glove box because it's so big and now with the Termoscud on it makes it hard to access. Oh well, can't have everything I guess.

Thanks for the answers, folks.

What kind of termoscud, thinair? And where did you get it?

The search function is a font of information. Try it! You'll like it!

Termoscud, for example:
http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7358&highlight=termoscud

Now try "winter" and see what you get!

Cheers

--Deborah

Spock!
Look chaps with an ass!

Thanks for the help, pdxvespa. I did search for winter and came up with 1200 unrelated responses. Guess I didn't do it right, huh?

Last edited by Mr. Met on Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

I use the Duluth-Trading.com "Force nine" Jacket and pants. I also have Bagster handle bar muffs and lap blanket. I rode 620 miles one February in below freezing weather and survived. The high temp that day was 18 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are no stupid questions! Try again, with 'winter AND gear' (no quotes). It looks like there are plenty of useful threads to peruse using those search parameters.

And feel free to weigh in with more particulars. (Want warm hands? Check Gerbing gloves)

--Deborah

Excellent - thanks Deborah and Stan!

It looks like R 154 is the model for the GTS - can anyone confirm that for me before I ring it up?

(And yes, Stan, I'm afraid this means taking a pass on the chaps with the ass!)

I have an R154 for my GTS that I am considering selling. I just bought it as part of a group order but I only used it for two or three days before taking it off again. It just hasn't been cold enough in Portland to justify it.

I'm thinking $135, shipped within the lower 48. Anyone in Portland can pick it up in person for $125. If anyone is interested, send me a PM.

Edit: I just looked up the price from the place I got mine (http://www.wheelup.it/) and, with shipping the price is 115.78 EUR. As of now, that equates to $165.589 US dollars.

I think there are about 12 people here that can vouch for me because I'm the guy that placed the order and shipped everyone else their blankets.

It *will* be cold enough soon enough, I promise!

It's so nice to be tucked in and warm when it's cold and blustery on those wet winter days in Portland ---

Suit yourself--

--Deborah

I have those First Gear "chaps with ass". I wear them every time I will be riding at highway speeds (abrasion resistance), which is my daily commute.

They are excellent in cold temperatures as they cut the wind completely. I bought them big enough that I can put a couple of layers under them.

I hesitated about getting the lap apron because of my parking arrangements. I don't have covered parking at work or at home so the lap apron would end up getting pretty beat up - or I'd be taking it on and off too much. Plus, I would still want protective pants...the $$ would add up.

I can vouch for Goofy the Termoscud rocks and the transaction smooth as silk! I got mine from him and the thing is great (it's a tad cooler here in MN, the look is questionable as it attaches to the scoot and not the body but the lap apron wasn't my thing)

Anyways; 3 big things for me so far and you may have seen on another post in your search;
1 Shoei Multitec helmet
2 Aerostich Darien Light Jacket
3 Termoscud scooter blanket (keeps you warm and dry)
have really good dainese gloves so didn't include them in the list...

I follow the layers theory for cold weather riding down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

At the lowest temperatures here is what I wear:

Polypropolene long underwear top and bottom.
Heavy wool or Thermax socks
Blue jeans
Wool-cotton mix long sleeve shirt
Mountain Hardware Windstopper jacket
First Gear Kilimanjaro IV insulated riding jacket
polypropolene ski mask
full helment
Tourmaster Overpants
Wolverine Leather Boots
Black Diamond Expedition mittens
Polypropolene glove liners.

It's a lot of stuff but since I am going non-electrical I need insulation to keep my heat in and the cold air out. And since I ride a long ways sometimes in really cold weather I was concerned about the relatively light electrical gear giving out a long way from home.

I pretty much wear all that gear as soon as the temperature hits 35 degrees F. The only variable is what gloves or mittens I put on. It might seem like I would be stuffed and looking like the Michelin man but it's not really any problem. Wouldn't want to hike for miles but riding is fine. The attached picture made by my friend Paul shows how it all looks.
And I like the notion of no electrics.

I will say that I hate being cold, and I am cold to begin with often wearing a jacket when my wife is stripping off clothes because she's hot. Anyways, I ride in the cold but do not want to be cold.

The weak link in my winter riding are my hands. No matter what they get cold fast. Having had frostbite once doesn't help. When the temperature drops below 20 degrees F I need to stop about every 20 minutes to warm my hands a bit---on the headlight, muffler, or indoors.

So I have been thinking about getting electric gloves this year but have some narrow philosophical resistance to overcome first. Was at the dealer yesterday looking at a pair of Gerbing gloves installed---$250.

We'll see.

Photo by Paul Ruby near McLevey's Fort, Pennsylvania

+1 Termoscud.

Unless you want something with armor in it, if you use a termoscud you will not have to buy anything extra to keep your legs warm or dry. This thing works great. I used overpants last year and I got tired of taking them on and off in the parking lot. I was also worried about attaching something to the scooter, but now that I have one, I'm not worried. It doesn't move or flap around at all. I did put some extra protective material beneath it just to be sure the paint didn't get scuffed, but I'm overly cautious.
For communting, I strongly recommend the termoscud. I also bought mine through goofy and you can definitely trust him.

Yeah, I know it will be colder and yes, I know the Termoscud to be toasty and warm. Thing is, I've already commuted through 2 winters here in Portland without one. 2 years before that, I scooted through a winter in Logan Utah (Northern college town up in the mountains) where common morning temperatures hovered right around -8 F.

I want to wear some armor on my legs anyway though so it's really not much different to wear thicker armored pants. I'll admit, bulky pants are not as warm as the Termoscud, but I've been warm enough here in Portland. But if I had to do another winter in the Rocky Mountains above 4000 feet in elevation, I would ABSOLUTELY keep the termoscud.

Edit: Sold. Thanks to all who have contacted me but I no longer have ANY Termoscuds. NONE. ZIP. ZEEE-RO!!!

Thanks for your persistance though.

Last edited by goofy_foot on Tue Oct 30, 2007 4:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

My brother spent a year at USU in Logan. Yes, you *do* know a real winter!

This was true for me too. I got a pair of Joe Rocket waterproof gloves wired by Gerbing for about $80, wire harness included. I added a temperature controller (rheostat) from a Harley dealer. Totally worth it!

--D

I LOVE my heated grips. I start using them in the fall during my morning rides in to work. They keep my hands toasty and let me extend my riding season into the winter.

When I did 2 winters the 2 things that really made a big difference were the neck warmer (turtle fur), and the nose mask similar to this one.

http://www.1tail.com/sa/p/Respro_Foggy_Mask_-_Anti_Fog_Helmet_Mask.htm

Those a good pair of winter over pants, my Olympia Jacket, and good gloves. My commute was only 3 miles one way so not bad, Beale.

Winter gear is on sale here since we are heading into one long hot SUMMER!!!!!!!

Hi y'all,
The Termoscud sounds really nice for the climate where I live (it's been raining almost every day now for 2 months and now it's about 40 F)

But since I haven't seen the Termoscud in action I have a few questions:

1. Is it easy to put on and take off?
2. Do you leave it on while parked in the street?
3. When off how much room does it take? Does it fit in the under-seat storage or in a top-case (For GTS/GTV)?

Cheers,

Absolutely on the thermoscud. I can also attest to the fact that Goofy Foot is the go to guy! I bought two of them from him.

1. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get it on correctly, plus a screwdriver to remove and replace two screws. So...

2. It is something you leave on when you park. I put it on a couple of weeks ago and I plan on keeping it there until spring. It attaches securely and does not flap around.

3. It folds up to about the size of large lap top computer. It would not fit under the seat. Not sure about a top case but my guess would be yes. Again though, it's not something you put on/take off everytime you ride.

Thanks ElGato...
I think this is a must-have in Iceland...

My chin hates winter!

My winter riding set up is essentially what I wear the other three seasons, with a wind shell on top, and winter gloves. My daily commute is fairly short - about 20 minutes, so I can tolerate the cooler air even when it drops below freezing.

However, I am struggling with keeping my chin warm. The cold air whistles up and essentially freezes the underneath of my chin. Is there such a condition as "scooter chin" to describe frost bite in that region?

I wear a balaclava when I am out for a fun ride and that helps. Unfortunately, it messes my hair up so much that I am reluctant to use it on my ride into work. I have tried neck warmers (the tube types) and these don't cover the bottom of my helmet. I may have to look into the "turtle fur" that Beale describes below, but I have not yet found a suitable solution for the cold chin.

Okay, I feel stupid. I was talking to a friend at work who rides, just after posting my original response, and he gave me the solution. Instead of letting the neck guard simply hang around the neck (like a scarf), I was supposed to pull it up over the lower part of my face.

I tried this:


when I should have done this:

It is not my fault! The turtle neck warmer didn't come with instructions!

dont know what helmet you use but with some you can get a 'chin curtain', its a piece of rubber type material that fits into the bottom of your chin bar to stop cold air getting up onto your chin. My caberg trip came with one but it fell off about a week after i got it and it was lost forever but you can can get replacements.

so now i just wear a silk scarf like a highway man

You better watch out because if you pull it over your chin, your hair tuns from dark to blond

just found this link
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/2/69/10585/ITEM/Icon-Chin-Curtain-for-Domain-Helmets.aspx

its specific to a certain type of helmet but you may find one for your own make if your lucky

I'm very interested in both, have been for a while, just quite a lot of cash though, £100 for the grips (installed) and another £100 for the thermoscud.

Definitely going for the Thermoscud though next PayDay, have orderd a zebra print one woohooo Shirley will like that.

I like your idea of keeping the dial thingy from the heated grips in the glove compartment, but mine is jammed and it's a bastard to get it open. If I have the Thermoscud then it'll get pretty annoying.

Re: NECK TUBE thingies, I have a fleece one of those from Kathmandu and it's brill. I almost cover my eyes with it then put my open face helmet on, which leaves it pretty tight then I just lower the hems by the nostrils to allow me to breath without leaving the fabric moist and it's been great.
To get you real snug you might want to put it on BEFORE the jacket, so the collar closes and tucks the bottom part in, locking all wind away

Re: GLOVES
I also found that (I wear normal girlie leather gloves with cashmere lining from Marks & Spencers) as my gloves don't go over my cuffs, the wind would go into my wrists all the way into my soul, COLD COLD COLD...
I solved this through getting some £4 River Island wooly "wrist warmers" (hands version of a 80's leg warmer) over the whole thing. Locked the gloves tight around my wrists and blocked any wind from going up my sleeve

x
Dessa

I bought a pair of First Gear HT II Overpants, they are great!

This site has some nice winter gear for the head, face, and neck.

http://www.lockitt.com/AccessoriesRiderWear.htm


I wore the turtle fur on the neck/lower chin with the neoprene full face mask on the link. That plus the HJC version of the foggy/chin guard. It really helps, Beale.

How'd it do as far as your shield fogging up?