What riding gear do I need to bike 6 hrs at 80 mph in 40 degree weather?

Question

I have a 79 yamaha XS with a great windshield, but no other farings.

Answer 1

Six hours is a long time to be in that kind of weather.

If you don' t have electric suit you are at risk of hypothermia. It creeps up on you slowly so that you are unaware that you are losing control.

I read an article in a magazine about a guy who learned the hard way. He had been riding for a couple hours in cold weather and didn' t realize how cold he was getting until he pulled up to a stop sign and couldn't put his leg out. It was too stiff! The bike tipped over and bruised his leg real bad. Luckily it had engine guards or his leg might have been crushed. He laid there about 15 minutes before someone came along to help him up. His hands were so stiff he had trouble moving them once he was up. But just sitting there on the bike he couldn't tell he was in trouble.

You will need mulitiple layers of clothing to hold in the heat and some outerwear that is absolutely wind proof to keep out the chill.

If you can find some merino wool shirts and long johns that would be best. YOU need at least three layers and you should dress in a cool room so you do not perspire into the clothing. Wet clothing will suck the heat out of you fast.

Socks and glove liners should also be wool as they hold heat much better than cotton.

Carrying some heat packets you can tear open would be a very good idea. There are some that have adhesive on the back so you can stick them anywhere you need the heat.

A full face helmet to keep off the wind.

I recommend a leather neck wrap to cover the throat and neck.

Plan on stopping within the first hour to assess how well you are staying warm. If your legs or arms are stiff when you get off you are NOT staying warm enough! Get inside and have some hot soup or you could lose it and just run off the road. Once the brain gets too cold it will shut down like a calculator with a dead battery.
Think about it, people ride snowmobiles in cold weather, but they dress for it. You have to do the same if you hope to survive.

Answer 2

My personal experience has been that it would compare to standing still nude at near freezing temperatures especial the hands. The windchill effect would most likely be well below freezing. Stop by a pharmacy and get a couple of those small heat packs to put on the back of the hand inside the gloves. Thermal socks are a plus inside of good leather boots. Of course a good heavy leather jacket with liner and chaps or leather pants and you should do fine. Another plus is the hood worn over the head inside of a full face helmet.

PS Maybe layer a T-Shirt and a good heavy flannel shirt.

Answer 3

You're talking about a wind chill of around 25 degrees fahrenheit, here.

I'd strongly recommend an electric vest, at a minimum, as a starting point. Two of the leading companies are Widder and Gerbing's; you can find their websites by searching on those names. Harley and BMW sell rebranded versions of their gear. They also sell full suits, electric chaps, electric gloves, and electric socks. I have a set of electric gloves, and they work like a charm.

If you're going to attempt this without electric gear, you'll need some really good layering. Any exposed skin (think neck especially here, as well as any face exposure) will be at risk for frostbite. Go with multiple thin layers as opposed to a lesser number of thick layers. Rainsuits, of the cheap, plastic variety, can be very helpful in keeping heat in.

Be familiar with the symptoms for the onset of hypothermia. If you start to get tired or disoriented, STOP and warm up!

In timing your stops, you may need to get away from only paying attention to your fuel range. Keep an eye on your physical condition, and let that be your limiting factor.

Answer 4

As long as there's no snow on the ground, I would definitely ride your bike. Although the extra speed might make you feel a little colder at first, a bike will bring you to your destination so much faster! By riding a bike, you would spend much less time out in the cold. Plus, you will warm up once your blood starts pumping. Bicycle riding is one of the most beneficial physical activities you can engage in! I would just recommend that you wear gloves and a hat; they make all the difference!

Answer 5

You definately need to layer heavily and electric leathers are helpful. I rode for 3 hours at 80mph at 50 degrees in a leather jacket, full face helmet, Icon Timax gloves and textile overpants and I was freezeing 2 hours into the ride.
Long underwear or other cold weather base layers are a must - a good set of gloves liners are helpful. Don't forget to cover your neck. Heated handgrips are good too.

Answer 6

A car. I road an XS11 for 24 years. Great bike, but 40 is too cold for 6 hours.

Answer 7

Full Face Helmet,pick one.
Vanson Leather jacket w/liner.
Kevlar heated gloves.
Gortex boots
Heated Corbin Seat is also good to have, heated grips also.

You can buy more stuff from J&P cycles online.

Answer 8

This is THE vital accessory for riding in cold weather:

http://www.gerbing.com/heat/jl.html

I ride year round, This works really really well. The only problem I had after getting it was kicking myself for not doing it sooner.

You'll also need one of their controllers. It gets too hot otherwise. A key feature is that it heats your neck, which warms the blood going to your head. Heated vests don't do that, nor do they warm your arms; they're inferior.

Most people don't have a "place to plug it in", as the above poster says is necessary. You make one.

Answer 9

Check out cold weather gear made by First Gear.

Answer 10

You'll need a good thick set of leathers to wear. There are also "electric suits" , similar to an electric blanket, that plug into your bike and keep you warm.