Firstgear 65 or 90 watt heated jacket?

taehapdo

taehapdo

Joined
Nov 15, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Midwest City, OK
Bike
2008 ST1300
I am looking to get into heated gear. Firstgear seems to have everything I'm looking for at a fair price. I'm not sure about the difference in watts. Is one better than the other on the ST? Anyone have any advice?

Do any of you use Firstgear? If you do, can you give your experience with this gear? Durability, fit, etc.?

Thx
 
I went with the 65W liner because my ST1100 has a 28A alternator. The 65W works well at any temperature I care to ride at.
20 degree weather is about as low as I can go, the jacket liner is good I'm sure for temps considerably below that.
I'm a snowmobiler too but haven't used the liner for that yet. I have heated glove liners and heated socks too. My Jacket and pants are
the Kiliminjaro ones. I use their wireless controller. I don't have heated pant liners because I get enogh engine heat to keep my legs warm.

As they say your mileage may vary but my experience with their stuff is good.
 
I have the firstgear 90 watt jacket, heated grips, heated corbin saddle and an led voltage monitor. With everything running I notice the alternator doesn't keep up at idle so I turn something off while in stop n go traffic but once moving there's no problem. I ride in the snow and rain. The highest I have had the controler is just past half way. If I turn it up all the way I think I'm going to get burned. As mentioned above I ride with a shirt under the heated gear and my lined riding jacket over the top of it. I have no complaints about the firstgear jacket or controler. I went with the firstgear because of somewhat lower cost and fair reviews.
 
My wife wear the Confortech kind. It's only 36w butt no controller . She is good with that, no complain even in early morning departure at 8 celcius ou 45 F
 
With the heat controller you can regulate the amount of heat. The 90 will be warmer, and you may be like me, that wants that extra warmth once in a while. Like how often do you use full throttle, once in a while, but it is nice to have it when needed. Get a size that is snug, not tight, but snug. If the jacket is loose, it warming effects are reduced. I could use a size smaller. I use the Firstgear wireless dual controller and like it.

Kevin
 
I would go with the 90 watt. FG is made by Warm 'n Safe. Just make sure you get a dual controller so you can regulate gloves and jacket separately.
 
I'd go with the 90 watt liner. A controller will dial it back as required.
65 watt sounds about typically for a vest.
.02 you'll appreciate heat in the arms and collar.

Wear it under any insulating layers and a snug fit helps with heat transfer.
 
The alternator is pretty stout on the 1300. I'd go with the 90W. Better to dial it back a bit than to wish you had more heat. I'm running a full set of Gerbings (jacket, pants, gloves, insoles); no problem. No experience with FirstGear heated gear, but all of their other stuff is first rate.
 
roginoz said:
The alternator is pretty stout on the 1300. I'd go with the 90W. Better to dial it back a bit than to wish you had more heat. I'm running a full set of Gerbings (jacket, pants, gloves, insoles); no problem. No experience with FirstGear heated gear, but all of their other stuff is first rate.
Click to expand...

First Gear, same accoutrements as above, +1 on the 90W.
 
Probably a dumb question but, will the dual troller control the gloves and jacket separately? It looks like the gloves plug into the jacket not through a separate connection.
 
taehapdo said:
Probably a dumb question but, will the dual troller control the gloves and jacket separately? It looks like the gloves plug into the jacket not through a separate connection.
Click to expand...

At least with mine you can run the gloves either way. There's a connector buried in the jacket to select glove power from the liner power feed (single control) or a separate feed (dual control)

You'll probably find you run the gloves cranked and the liner backed off a little.
 
I haven't used the First Gear liner, but all my leather and mesh is their stuff and I like it, but when I built my heated liner last year I aimed for the 90w goal when I was calculating wiring.

Riding last winter I found that I would usually run the gloves twice the heat setting that I run the jacket. Never cranked the jacket to max, but some mornings I think I did have the gloves on full, never the jacket liner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom