The last couple of weeks have been COLD in Canberra. The week before last we had three days where it started around -7C.
Winter gloves are a real design problem for riders. Too much padding and you end up not being able to feel anything. Often the wind still gets through, sucking what little heat gets generated by your fingers. Less padding and they don’t keep you warm.
Heated handlebars are one solution, but on the VFR I was always concerned to add more load to the electrical system. You can now get heated gloves (and socks, and vests). I just wasn’t sure about that either, the problem of wind chill would still be there I thought. Instead there is this option, known as handlebar mitts.
They worked very well, cutting the wind which is a large part of really cold hands on a motorcycle. In these I comfortably rode all winter in summer gloves. Adding some heating (gloves or bars) would see you able to cope in quite extreme temperatures I think.
But now there is no VFR. These mitts don’t fit as well on the Daytona (sure they look silly, but that’s not what I’m talking about). The ergonomics of the bar position, fairing shape, sitting position all mean that they are problematic. I have done it once on a Sydney to Canberra commute along the Hume. I’m just glad I didn’t have to turn much.
So -7, time for my winter gloves then.
Er, where are they?
I hunted around in my Canberra place to no avail. I rode into work one day in the -7. The right hand especially must have been very close to frostbite (at 100kmh, -7 is something like -20 or -25C in light weight leather….). Was well into the morning before my hands felt right again (I have a niggling concern about my pinky on one hand still).
That weekend I hunted about the Sydney house to no avail.
Did I throw them out last winter after I got the Bagster? Strong chance of that as I was never happy with either pair I had.
So this weekend I picked up a new set.
Not cheap, but I do have a strong trust in the performance of Dainese gear now. Both on bike (keeping me warm and dry) and off the bike (along the road).
Of course this week it’s 8C and raining so I’m leaving the bike in the garage.
I’ve had a set of Hippo Hands that I can put on any bike with hook&loop closures. They work well, look ugly as hell though, and were inexpensive.
I like the look of the Goretex gloves. My winter gloves are about due for replacement, so I’ll add those to the list to check out. The last set were a set of Apline Stars that were a perfect balance of thin and insulated.
The Bagsters can be easily fitted to the Daytona, they just slide over the bar have an elastic strap. But actually riding with them on is problematic, due to angles and stuff.
http://www.hippohands.com/HIPPO%20HANDS.htm
These are the hippo hands. Never have to worry about angles. Just have to worry about how ugly they are. They work great on any bike though.