Anyone have pros and cons of a heated vest v. a heated jacket.  I'm leaning toward a vest cuz my leather jacket is so tight I don't want to try to squeeze heated jacket sleeves in there too. The purpose for the heated gear is for winter pleasure riding, not commuting.  And I don't commute or ride in 20 degree whether.  When it's super cold (which means 40 degree here), my commute is in-town.  But it'll often be 40-50 during winter riding and at 80mph w/o a fairing, I get cold.

Any FHE?

I use a Gerbing jacket liner with sleeves since warm arms are nice.  They cut the sleeves on the short side so you don't have all those layers bunching up around your wrists and, since you will not be wearing all those layers, you should have sufficient space.  The jacket should also be on the small side.  Buy locally and bring your jacket with you to be sure.

This one is nice, no dangling wires:
http://www.gerbing.com/Products/Liners/gordonLiner.html

Jammen got the vest.



Two days later he went and got the coat.



EIther way, get the temperature controller, or else it's on or off, which sucks.

Quote from: somebastid on November 15, 2008, 09:09:45 PM
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EIther way, get the temperature controller, or else it's on or off, which sucks.

Absolutely.  I can't imagine not having heat control.  40-50⁰ weather, you will be using a very low setting

Yeah, I burned the back of my neck once with it turned too high.

I have the Gerbing's jacket liner. It is pretty thin.It does have a knitted high collar , sleeves, and hem. Just thick  enough to allow heating elements in the arms in the back ,neck  and chest. You want the outer jacket to fit tight so the heat is against your body. It is suggested and I suggest that you wear some form of long sleeve undershirt betweeen the liner and your body.

The best setup is a thin longsleeve undershirt , then the jacket liner and then your leather jacket. Be sure to get the Dual Temp control unit so you can vary the heat to your legs and to your torso.   Dolph

Yesterday, I wore: jeans, socks, short-sleeve t-shirt, heated liner, heated gloves, two-piece zip-together leathers, boots, balaclava, helmet on a 30 mile, 28°F ride at high-way speeds and I was nice and warm.  Liner=yes.

Well, my experience has been a little bit different.

I've got a Gerbings vest with the temp controller.
It's adequate for down into the low 30's, but I've usually got it on max all the time.

The snug fit is important.

If you're going to wear it under your leather jacket...go with the vest. I have the Gerbing jacket (it is great) and it sucks under my Vanson because the sleeves get too tight...especially with the armor in (which it always is).

If you're gonna wear it under your 'Stitch, get the jacket. There's plenty of room, and more heat is always nice if needed.

Either way, get one with a collar (if they make a collared vest). The collar friggin' rules for staying warm!  Also, for sure get the adjustable controller. On/off would suck as on would be way too hot 99.9% of the time.

Considering you live in the Bay Area, I would think a vest would be adequate most of the time.

I have the jacket liner, which I wear under a Vanson jacket. I usually have it set on high anytime it is 45F or below. I'm not a big guy. so m=no worries with my sleeves.

I did discover that my '03 R6 doesn't put out enough juice to run it on high all the time though.  It kills the battery and I have to bump start the bike  ;-(

Sleeves DO heat the arms though, which helps keep my hands warm...

Quote from: Triple J on November 21, 2008, 12:41:13 PM
If you're going to wear it under your leather jacket...go with the vest. I have the Gerbing jacket (it is great) and it sucks under my Vanson because the sleeves get too tight...especially with the armor in (which it always is).

If you're gonna wear it under your 'Stitch, get the jacket. There's plenty of room, and more heat is always nice if needed.

Either way, get one with a collar (if they make a collared vest). The collar friggin' rules for staying warm!  Also, for sure get the adjustable controller. On/off would suck as on would be way too hot 99.9% of the time.

Considering you live in the Bay Area, I would think a vest would be adequate most of the time.

Perfect.  It's always nice to have a gear doppelganger with first-hand knowledge of Bay Area climate.