Jackets Best Winter Weather Jacket?

JohnConner

JohnConner

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Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
754
Location
Lawrenceburg, KY
Bike
18 Goldwing Tour DCT
As fall aproaches and the weather turns cool (in PA anyway), I'm thinking about a good fall / winter jacket. I have a Tourmaster mesh with dual liners that did okay last year, but I lost some weight and need a smaller jacket. I have a summer jacket for the warm weather but when it is in the 40's and 50's, or even the 30's, I need something warmer. Don't want to go to the touble and expense of electrics, just looking for a good, warm, wind-breaking jacket.

What would you suggest?

JohnConner
:rd13:
 
I really like my Belstaff Merlin.. (older jacket), and would expect the newer
British motorcycle Gear.. Discovery.. to be as comfortable and warm.
Havent tried my Motorport Kelvar mesh with all the liners in yet though I dont think the collar is made for colder weather..
 
The Tourmaster Transition is really good, as is the First Gear Kilimanjaro. The Transition is useable, without the liner and with all the vents open, up to about 75. I haven't used the Kilimanjaro in warmer weather.
 
The Motoport Kevlar Mesh w/ both liners was great for me down to 20's for me on the Wing when I first moved to CO from TX.

Nothing will be better than a good Non-mesh waterproof/windproof jacket with electrics ;) I was pretty anti electric till I moved to CO, now I can ride sub 20* for hours ;)

You can go cheap... find a good winter jacket... good Gortex liner for it, and throw a rain jacket over it to block the cold wind while keeping the body heat in ;)
 
John, with whatever you decide to get add a Gerbing jacket liner, electric gloves, and electric insoles with a dual controller. I've ridden across PA, the long ways, many times in sub-30 degree weather. The electrics make me feel like I'm sitting on a sunny beach in Burmuda. Gerbing has a factory outlet store that sells their stuff at deep discounts.

If you get the discounted jacket liner for $125 make sure they custom wire it for a dual controller so you can run you gloves off a different circuit than the liner. My gloves are most of the time maxed out while my jacket liner is at about 50 percent.

If I remember correctly, at the discount outlet I paid $125 for the jacket liner, $25 to custom wire the liner, $130 electric gloves, $60 insoles, and $100 for a dual controller. So about $440 for everything.
 
Hello John,

When the weather goes cooler (colder), I transition to my Rukka Apr3. It has served me well with an inflatable air bladder, gortex liner, "breathable" CE armour and cordura. Waterproof and warm!
 
I'll put in another vote for the Tourmaster Transition. If you do extended riding in the cold go with an electric liner as has already been suggested. I use a Warm 'n Safe. I'm sure the other name brands are good too. Been down into the teens with that combo and was comfy.

:06biker: :06biker: :06biker:​
 
I also tend to like Tour Master stuff. I went for the one jacket for all temps idea and like the TM Flex. I had to replace my older Flex this summer and now have the new style Flex. I like both. Mesh for the hotter days in summer and as it cools I add on the layers. When the temp goes south of freezing I add an additional thermal layer under what comes with the jacket (already has one thermal layer in the jacket). With that and my Gerbing heated gloves and the TM Flex pants (with all the layers in) I'm good down to -5 F (minus 5 F) here in central Iowa. Been that cold on many days from end of Dec. thru Feb. Oh, don't forget a balaclava for the neck too.
 
roginoz said:
The Tourmaster Transition is really good, as is the First Gear Kilimanjaro. The Transition is useable, without the liner and with all the vents open, up to about 75. I haven't used the Kilimanjaro in warmer weather.
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Phartz said:
I'll put in another vote for the Tourmaster Transition. If you do extended riding in the cold go with an electric liner as has already been suggested. I use a Warm 'n Safe. I'm sure the other name brands are good too. Been down into the teens with that combo and was comfy.

:06biker: :06biker: :06biker:​
Click to expand...

rjs987 said:
I also tend to like Tour Master stuff. I went for the one jacket for all temps idea and like the TM Flex. I had to replace my older Flex this summer and now have the new style Flex. I like both. Mesh for the hotter days in summer and as it cools I add on the layers. When the temp goes south of freezing I add an additional thermal layer under what comes with the jacket (already has one thermal layer in the jacket). With that and my Gerbing heated gloves and the TM Flex pants (with all the layers in) I'm good down to -5 F (minus 5 F) here in central Iowa. Been that cold on many days from end of Dec. thru Feb. Oh, don't forget a balaclava for the neck too.
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Another Tour Master user here! My Transition has held up well for 3+ years and with a Warm-n-Safe liner and gloves, I'm good to under 20?. It gets rather warm above 75?, but I have a mesh jacket for those times.

I bought mine at Iron Pony for about $115 when I got it. I believe it was on sale.

I also have a pair of First Gear HT2 Overpants, with a liner, that I wear when its cool/cold. These too have held up well.
 
Whatever you choose, and there are lots of good choices, remember than bulk is the enemy of comfort and control when riding. Heavy sleeves with thick insulation make it hard to maneuver carefully. Bulky insulation around the chest can make getting your arms in the proper position more difficult, and put constant pressure on your body.

What I've found works best is a sturdy, windproof jacket, probably 3/4 length, with a zip in liner, combined with a heated jacket liner and variable controller. For all but the most severe temps, leave the zip in liner behind. A heated liner can keep you comfortable down into remarkably cold conditions. The best liner, bar none, is from warm'n'safe, or the Powerlet and FirstGear brands also made by warm'n'safe. They have elastic side panels that hold the liner snug against your body, which makes heat transfer much more effective than the looser fitting Gerbing liners. I have Gerbing gloves, but the warm'n'safe vest really is better.

The next step to true cold weather comfort is keeping your neck warm. On the STs, I've always had issues with the back draft chilling my neck. I found this:

http://roadgear.com/Accessories/More/Hi_Tec_Neckband/

to be quite effective, especially wrapped on the outside of the heated color of the jacket liner. A high collar might be something to look at when comparing jackets.
 
Smash said:
I found what I bought. First Gear "Jaunt" jacket. They have one right now on the "one of a kind" list. Blue/Black, CE armore, zip out liner, waterproof shell, brand new missing tags, size medium. Originally $199.99, now $63.99.
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I have the Jaunt and have been very happy with it. Wish I got it for $64 though :( I didn't have electrics last winter so I just added a few Polartec layers or maybe some Gore-Tex and I was good into the 30? range. But this year I hope to add electrics :D
 
Well I just received a Tourmaster Transitions 2 jacket. I'll let you know what I think over the next few weeks & months. BTW, I bought from Revzilla, an advertiser on this site. The prices and speed of delivery were very good on this and the Scala G4 I bought from them. However I am not to sure about their return policy. . .
 
This might be miniority opinion, but being an old Elk Hunter from Colorado all of my experience has to do with layering in cold weather.

About 20 or 25 years ago I heard about this guy in Grand Junction that was making what was alleged to be the best sleeping bag you could buy. He had developed a material that didn't absorb water like Goose Down and actually was very close to Goose Down for insulating properties. I checked him out...he has an outstanding web site www.wiggys.com that contains all sorts of cold weather gear and information.

Besides buying two of his sleeping bags, I bought, and have used extensively on the various bikes I've owned, what he calls a "sweater". It is actually a jacket made out of his Lamalite insulation material (the same material he uses in his sleeping bags). It works great in filling all the voids between your body and your outer jacket. I have used it with a Roadcrafter one piece, the two piece Roadcrafter jacket along with my current favorite, the Darian jacket. If you can stop the wind, this so called "sweater" will so the rest....I've ridden year round in New Mexico with this set up and been just fine.

So, if you hunt the high country you might want to check out his sleeping bags, and for great insulation on the bike or off, his Lamilite sweater has served me well.

Although I have been to Grand Junction a number of times, I don't know the owner and have no realtionship with Wiggy's other than being a very satisfied customer.

Long Distance Rider
 
LDR said:
This might be miniority opinion, but being an old Elk Hunter from Colorado all of my experience has to do with layering in cold weather.

About 20 or 25 years ago I heard about this guy in Grand Junction that was making what was alleged to be the best sleeping bag you could buy. He had developed a material that didn't absorb water like Goose Down and actually was very close to Goose Down for insulating properties. I checked him out...he has an outstanding web site www.wiggy's.com that contains all sorts of cold weather gear and information.

Besides buying two of his sleeping bags, I bought, and have used extensively on the various bikes I've owned, what he calls a "sweater". It is actually a jacket made out of his Lamalite insulation material (the same material he uses in his sleeping bags). It works great in filling all the voids between your body and your outer jacket. I have used it with a Roadcrafter one piece, the two piece Roadcrafter jacket along with my current favorite, the Darian jacket. If you can stop the wind, this so called "sweater" will so the rest....I've ridden year round in New Mexico with this set up and been just fine.

So, if you hunt the high country you might want to check out his sleeping bags, and for great insulation on the bike or off, his Lamilite sweater has served me well.

Although I have been to Grand Junction a number of times, I don't know the owner and have no realtionship with Wiggy's other than being a very satisfied customer.

Long Distance Rider
Click to expand...

Linky no worky ??
 
So the Tourmaster Transitions 2 was great on a ride to NC & TN, including rides on the BRP and 30 degrees weather. So far, I'm very happy with my decision. Now all I need is a good set of electric gloves. . .
 
I have to second the BMG Discovery. Mine is a Belstaff but it's the same jacket as far as I can tell.

I routinely ride all winter and this jacket is comfortable in the cold and wet. It is in the low teens many winter mornings for my commute home from work, the Discovery jacket has kept me quite comfortable.

I have had this jacket near 6 years now.
 
I'm a fan of Tourmaster too, I leave the liner at home and use a snug fitting Columbia Polar fleece inside, the collar flips up and keeps my neck warm. I haven't used it below 20 degrees but I know it works good to 20F.:04biker:
 
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