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I just wanted to say that I bought my very first electric vest today, and after riding in the rain, in 6-8 Celsius temperatures, I felt like a million bucks. I've been riding since 1981, and in all that time I considered electric vests to be for wimps. Well, I've gotten older and perhaps a little wiser....?

Am I in the minority or majority, when it comes to electric clothing?

All I know is, I won't leave home without it!

Mike

I love mine!

I don't have one just because of $$$$
I'll get one as soon as i can.

Years ago I had the Widder vest and chaps. I lived in VT then and it gave me a couple of extra months riding. Too bad they did not have electric roads for the ice and snow! lol They are better now and even in FL the vest might make riding a little more pleasant.

paul

Motoring in 30-degree weather would be impossible without a Gerbing's heated jacket liner and heated gloves.

Got my electric vest about 2 years ago and it changed everything for me. Hard to believe I went so long without one.

I've got both a BMW vest and a Gerbings liner. The liner for below 40, and everything else, the vest. I made up a wiring harness that allows me to use the Gerbing heat troller thermostat on the vest, instead of the on/off switch. Works really well.

I have been using a Widder vest, gloves, and chaps for 15 years. Only problem is that Widder products last forever and nobody ever needed to buy a replacement. So the Widder company died.

Dang, when I saw electric vest, I was thinking of one with AC in it. If anyone comes out with an ACed motorcycle jacket/vest, I would get one in a heart beat

I have the Kanetsu vest and I don't leave home without it considering if you're going 60 mph and the temp is 50 degrees F the wind chill factor would be 39 degrees and the vest makes that feel so much better.

cestes wrote:I have the Kanetsu vest and I don't leave home without it considering if you're going 60 mph and the temp is 50 degrees F the wind chill factor would be 39 degrees and the vest makes that feel so much better.

Ditto for the Gerbing. I throw it on if it's below 65F - my Roadcrafter isn't terribly wind resistant (you can feel air move through it) even with all the vents closed, and 65F at 65MPH is actually pretty chilling. Once it goes over 70F - I toss it in the sidecase. Wore it to work this AM - was 59F when I left, about 70F when I got to work. Never turned it on, but the extra layer kept me comfortable while it warmed up. It's one of those "don't leave home without it.." sort of thing (it works wonderfully in heavy rain at keeping the chill off..)

I forgot to mention that my new vest is a Venture. I'd never heard of them before, but I was able to get a good deal at a Victory dealer, of all places. What I really like is the fact that it has a neck warmer and 4 heat settings.

BTW, I've simply wired the harness to the battery and am using it that way, rather than using the accessory socket on my RR.

Mike

Good to know Mike! I intend to get the Gerbing via the UK as it is much cheaper over there. May I ask how much you paid for yours?
Thanks
Stef.

Good to know Mike! I intend to get the Gerbing via the UK as it is much cheaper over there. May I ask how much you paid for yours?
Thanks


Stef:

I paid $135 CAN and consider it money well spent!

Mike

Thanks for the info Mike.
Stef.

While my Gerbings has basically saved my life, and has mostly kept me comfy, it has also had failures about once a year for years, is not efficient plus is heavy and bulky.
An arm or neck or some panel will stop working, I send it to Gerbings, they send me a replacement.
Great customer service, but the whole design for all of the commonly used heated liners seems very dated considering....


Once this company comes out with a full heated jacket I'll buy one:


http://www.exo2.co.uk/coretech.html

ChiTown wrote:While my Gerbings has basically saved my life, and has mostly kept me comfy, it has also had failures about once a year for years, is not efficient plus is heavy and bulky.
An arm or neck or some panel will stop working, I send it to Gerbings, they send me a replacement.
Great customer service, but the whole design for all of the commonly used heated liners seems very dated considering....


Once this company comes out with a full heated jacket I'll buy one:


http://www.exo2.co.uk/coretech.html

Do you have the 'new' version Joe? (microwire). I'm pretty impressed with the lack of bulk, but I never owned the 'old' version so can't compare. It gets REAL HOT! Nice on those 30º commutes... can't imagine not having a heated option now. The gloves are next.

Peter

I just went to a shop here in Vancouver and had a look at the Gerbing jackets (not vests). They look really bulky to me and I wonder how I possible could put them on under my protection gear which is under my outer jacket...It must feel like a Michelin man I also looked at the jacket from "Black Vest" which is much more basic but than also much thinner. It has no neck warmer and it has only one string of electrical wire in the jacket. So if that fails the whole thing is going cold.
Guess my question is: do you guys put other jackets on top of the Gerbing?
Stef.

Stef. wrote:I just went to a shop here in Vancouver and had a look at the Gerbing jackets (not vests). They look really bulky to me and I wonder how I possible could put them on under my protection gear which is under my outer jacket...It must feel like a Michelin man I also looked at the jacket from "Black Vest" which is much more basic but than also much thinner. It has no neck warmer and it has only one string of electrical wire in the jacket. So if that fails the whole thing is going cold.
Guess my question is: do you guys put other jackets on top of the Gerbing?
Stef.

Yes I do. It works well for me, as I bought the Garmin jacket to be quite snug (heating elements work best close to your body, obviously), and even though my armoured coat is not big on me, it all fits fine. The Gerbing will compress a bit, it's not really that bulky. For me. YMMV. I think the key is to get it sized right from the beginning - it shouldn't be loose.

It would likely be a pain to wear it under separate armour, I think, but on cold rides I'd probably ignore the inconvenience.

Peter

Stef. wrote:I just went to a shop here in Vancouver and had a look at the Gerbing jackets (not vests). They look really bulky to me and I wonder how I possible could put them on under my protection gear which is under my outer jacket...It must feel like a Michelin man I also looked at the jacket from "Black Vest" which is much more basic but than also much thinner. It has no neck warmer and it has only one string of electrical wire in the jacket. So if that fails the whole thing is going cold.
Guess my question is: do you guys put other jackets on top of the Gerbing?
Stef.

Gerbing makes both Jackets and Jacket liners, and the liners are far more popular. Were you looking at Gerbing jackets or jacket liners? The Gerbing Jacket Liner fits nicely under an outer jacket or suit.