10-29-2007, 05:14 PM
There are times I wouldn't mind having a heated seat. One of my co-workers rides a K1200RS that came with a heated seat, and he says it's the best thing since heated bread. Personally, I don't draw lines with heated gear. If you want to use it, go for it. With heated grips and a fairing that protects my hands, I don't feel a need for heated gloves. They make heated socks, but I don't have a pair of boots they would fit in (you'd need a size or two larger, at least). pants? I usually only wear jeans, but in the winter I'll add long underwear. I may pick up some warmer riding pants this year, but I'm not going to heat them yet.
For the neck, besides a turtleneck or a scarf, if you go to REI there are usually some fleece things that work. I think I remember seeing some motorcycle-specific neck coverings in the apparel dept. at some point, but I don't recall. I've been using a dickie for several years....it's just the neck out of a turtleneck with a bib that covers the tops of your shoulders, back and chest. It works ok. I always lose it in the spring though, and don't generally find it until mid-late November. Actually, that is the case with a lot of the little things that form part of my winter attire....I just found my glove liners, I still haven't found my helmet nosepeice, I haven't found my balaclava....
To see if your charging system will support the stuff, you'd need to know the maximum draw of the gear and your charging system's maximum output BEFORE the r/r. the r/r will pull voltage down to a pre-determined level, so if you're stator is pushing 15v at idle, and 22v at 6k, your battery will always see 13.4, or 13.8, or 14.1, or whatever. at the same time, if your stator kicks out 11v at idle, and 20v at 6k, at idle you will get 11v, which will climb until the regulator caps it.
Most bikes have charging idiot lights, which is usually a picture of a battery or something. turn key on, light is on. start motor, light goes out, because with the motor running it's charging. easiest way to test whether or not your bike can support gear is to start the bike, plug in ALL accessories you will be using, and turn them all up as high as they will go. If your light stays off, you're ok. If your charge light turns on, you will be draining the battery. You can also do it with a voltmeter across the battery terminals. measure the current at idle, then measure the current at idle with all your shit plugged in.
For the neck, besides a turtleneck or a scarf, if you go to REI there are usually some fleece things that work. I think I remember seeing some motorcycle-specific neck coverings in the apparel dept. at some point, but I don't recall. I've been using a dickie for several years....it's just the neck out of a turtleneck with a bib that covers the tops of your shoulders, back and chest. It works ok. I always lose it in the spring though, and don't generally find it until mid-late November. Actually, that is the case with a lot of the little things that form part of my winter attire....I just found my glove liners, I still haven't found my helmet nosepeice, I haven't found my balaclava....
To see if your charging system will support the stuff, you'd need to know the maximum draw of the gear and your charging system's maximum output BEFORE the r/r. the r/r will pull voltage down to a pre-determined level, so if you're stator is pushing 15v at idle, and 22v at 6k, your battery will always see 13.4, or 13.8, or 14.1, or whatever. at the same time, if your stator kicks out 11v at idle, and 20v at 6k, at idle you will get 11v, which will climb until the regulator caps it.
Most bikes have charging idiot lights, which is usually a picture of a battery or something. turn key on, light is on. start motor, light goes out, because with the motor running it's charging. easiest way to test whether or not your bike can support gear is to start the bike, plug in ALL accessories you will be using, and turn them all up as high as they will go. If your light stays off, you're ok. If your charge light turns on, you will be draining the battery. You can also do it with a voltmeter across the battery terminals. measure the current at idle, then measure the current at idle with all your shit plugged in.
horizontally opposed>*