Heated vests & ST hook up

[Highrider]

I am starting to do my research into heated liners and gloves for the fall and winter seasons. Accounting for the cost of fuel, I will be on the ST a lot more than usual till the snow falls.
I have looked at 4 of the most popular makes - Widders, Aerostitch, Gerbings and Eclipse. That is also the order I am considering product features. There is a difference in construction and how you approach the fit of each version. I plan to wear these items under my 2 piece Aerostitch Roadcrafter.
Is anyone using these products? What do you find good or bad about the power connection between the components? What works best as far as location and type of connection to the bike? I am probably going to end up wtih a vest, pants and gloves. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Ride Hard !! Ride Safe !!!
:biker:

[umsneeze]

Yikes, I hate to think about cooler weather! I've got the Aerostich Kanetsu vest. It fits well and is warm. I have the standard connecting cable that is a bit hard at first to attach/detach. A nice bonus is the collar is heated too, making it very comfortable.

[Mellow]

I'd say hook up some heated grips - the cheap ones, like the dual-star heated grips ( http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=952 ) and then you'll only need your normal winter gloves. They may not be the equivalent to heated gloves but they are great and at the price (around $30) you could always add the gloves later.

I had the widder vest and it was great, added the arm chaps later and didn't care for them much so I got the Gerbings Jacket Liner and gloves... Haven't used the gloves yet due to the grips, and have ridden the ST in mid 30s many times. The Jacket Liner is also great, never had a problem with legs getting cold.

I was so impressed by the grips I got some similar ones for the Wing.

We're pretty lucky in TX, might get into the 10's or 20's and we might have 1 or 2 ice days but it usually doesn't last long.

[Kennedy]

http://www.powerletproducts.com/products/honda_st1300_dualrear.php
Got this on my bike and love it.

[Mellow]

Oh yeah, forgot about the power part of the question.

I also had a couple powerlets, one on each side of the faring just below the pockets so I could hook up the gerbings to the left side and the battery tender to the right side.

[Bones]

I like the Gerbings jacket liner because it has heated arms. Your arms are out in the windstream, keep 'em toasty. Also there's a stocking dealer in my neck of the woods...not the case with the others. I used my heated liner this morning (in the 40's when I left home). It's always in a stuff sack in a saddlebag.

I put a Powerlet under the right fairing pocket. Convenient and you don't forget it's there. Wired a Heatroller in line to dial in the toastiness factor, and mounted the dial on the little triangular piece that juts left from the right fairing pocket.

Go for the coaxial connection on the jacket liner -- much easier to deal with than the old-style SAE connectors.

I have Hondaline heated grips which work great, although they are a bit spendy. Four setting are nice, but for less $ you can install one of the "universal" heater kits (e.g., Kimpex) and wire in a Heatroller to dial in whatever setting you like.

Also I have an SAE harness running right off the battery. It pulls up from under the passenger seat for easy hookup to my Battery Tender in my garage, and also provides a hookup for my old Aerostich heated grip wraps which fit nicely around the bike's pillion hand grips so my passenger can have warm hands.

Toasty is good.

[Rob Hephner]

I do not understand the Gerbing versus Widder arguement. Seems to me that the Widder has less of a power need than Gerbing?

What am I missing?

[John Anthony]

I've been running with Gerbings for a few years now. I like its light weight and the fact that it does a good job of keeping my neck, arms, and upper body nice and warm. Visited their shop down in Union, Wa. Nice people.

A Powerlet below the left fairing pocket works well for me. Kimpex heated grips hooked up to a Heatroller keeps the hands toasty. And a Russell seat with a butt warmer takes care of the other end!!

John

[dannyk]

I have the Aerostich Darien Jacket and heated 200wt. wind blocker polar fleece reversible jacket liner. It can be worn by itself or in combination with the Darien outer shell. It is a bit bulky when worn together, due to the elbow and shoulder pads, but it works for me. I just use the S A E plug in to connect it to the bike, simple, durable, and easy to replace if you ever have to, mine is wired direct to the battery and exits right under the left front of the drivers seat, also use it for the battery tender when not riding, a small plug keeps it all secure when not in use. No matter which way you go heat is a wonderful thing when the tempurature drops and you want to ride. :biker:

[nm6r]

I disagree with Charlie's interpretation of how the Widder is used. The Widder is suppose to be worn over your shirt. Other layers if desired, should be worn over the vest.

We opted for the Widder vest and arm chaps for efficiency. The arm chaps are definitely an acquired taste. The first few times they are a royal PITA. After the first few times they become second nature. The idea of the vest and chaps is they fit snugger, therefore yielding better efficiency over a heated jacket. Is the effiency difference important? I would say not on an ST1300. On many other bikes it could be. The arm chaps are used most of the time, however it's nice at the beginning and end of the season to go without them as the vest alone does the trick.

Widder and Gerbing have been around a long time and you can't go wrong with either one. Shop for the features you like best and go for it.

We have the two Powerlets located by the preload adjust. That has been working well without having cords rubbing on painted surfaces.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[crazykz]

I use the Gerbing jacket and the Honda heated grips. I use the Gerbing thermostat control that clips to my jacket. I use the battery hookup from Gerbing and run it from the battery under the seat and then up the left side of the tank where I can grab it and plug it into my liner while I'm moving. Then I can also adjust the thermostat if needed which it usually is.

Curt

[mlkdvm]

I have the dual Powerlet jacks installed near the rear preload adjuster. I just received my full Gerbing's suit with the dual portable Heat-Troller controller, and a BMW to coax adapter. I have the dual Powerlet output wired so one of the outputs is relay switched and the other is powered directly from the battery.

I think that there are two schools of thought on how to connect everything up. Either connect the Heat-Troller input to the Powerlet output, or connect the Powerlet input to the Heat-Troller output. The way I was planning on doing it, which would mean not having to alter the Heat-Troller wiring harness, is to hook the Heat-Troller input into one of the Powerlet outputs. I think that that is the Rocket Cowboy method. Are there any advantages/disadvantages to either method ? What is the best location to mount the Heat-Troller, which I plan on mounting permanently ?

[Bones]

What is the best location to mount the Heat-Troller, which I plan on mounting permanently ?

I have the Heat-Troller between the battery and the Powerlet. That lets me plug in and dial in the toastiness factor (zero to roast). I have the pemanent controller mounted underneath the little three-sided piece that juts out from the right fairing pocket. Perfect fit. The LED and the dial fit nicely on the top side and are an easy reach for my left hand while underway.

If I use the Powerlet for something that needs straight current, I just crank it to full. A BMW buddy has a 12 volt camp light that he plugs into an outlet...sometimes he dials down the Heat-Troller to create flashing lights for the disco fever effect at camp. Well, maybe not disco fever but it is sort of festive. :rolleyes: