Biker's Cafe Chatroom

tom_e · 13 Nov 2017 at 07:57

MowyTone said:
Was about 0 this morning but roads were fine. Only problem was the people on the roads

Same here could feel it was cold but nothing slippery around just half asleep people weaving down the motorway

TripleT · 13 Nov 2017 at 08:21

Yer minus 2 but nice and dry so no ice. Put a hoody under my jacket for the first time, need it!

Indigo · 13 Nov 2017 at 17:43

I skipped riding the bike today as need some better Gloves to make it more tolerable.

Anyone recommend a good pair of winter Gloves? Or how much are these heated gloves you all mention?

Captain · 13 Nov 2017 at 17:51

A good pair of winter gloves can range from £30-£200 depending on how much you’re willing to spend.

Heated gloves are ok but big and clunky, you lose feeling through the grips when they are too thick.

IC3 · 13 Nov 2017 at 17:52

I swear best setup is heated grips+muffs and summer gloves.

TripleT · 13 Nov 2017 at 19:53

Clov!s said:
A good pair of winter gloves can range from £30-£200 depending on how much you’re willing to spend.

Heated gloves are ok but big and clunky, you lose feeling through the grips when they are too thick.

I don't find heated gloves any thicker than winter gloves, surely by definition they don't have to be as they have heating elements so not as much insulation is required?

Don't get me wrong I prefer my summer gloves which I'm fine with down to about 4degrees but I doubt any winter glove that's not clunky can keep my fingers warm after an hour's ride! (Heated excluded obviously

)

Indigo · 13 Nov 2017 at 20:46

Clov!s said:
A good pair of winter gloves can range from £30-£200 depending on how much you’re willing to spend.

Heated gloves are ok but big and clunky, you lose feeling through the grips when they are too thick.

Not really looking to spend anymore than £50 if I can find something decent for that much. Certainly not looking at much more than £60

TallPaul_S · 13 Nov 2017 at 21:35

IndigoGorilla said:
I skipped riding the bike today as need some better Gloves to make it more tolerable.

Anyone recommend a good pair of winter Gloves? Or how much are these heated gloves you all mention?

If you want to ride in cold (i.e. sub 5 degrees) there's only really 2 options.

Heated grips - but you'll still get cold thumbs and fingertips, which is why you need a pair of muffs to keep the windchill off and the heat in. If/when you change bikes you'll need to re-fit/buy new heated grips, oh and I'd reccomend wiring in a relay to prevent a flat battery when you leave them on overnight...

Option 2 - heated gloves. More expensive initally (the best are Gerbing at £170 for the top of the range ones) but they will be the warmest, easiest to use, just with a bit less feel than summer gloves and heated grips.

If you want warm hands when commuting through winter there is no cheap option, certainly not for £50. Maybe a used set of heated gloves? or, if your normal gloves have enough wiggle room, a set of heated glove liners? £80 new but I'm sure you could find them a little cheaper https://gerbing.co.uk/heated-glove-liners.html

Captain · 13 Nov 2017 at 22:01

TripleT said:
I don't find heated gloves any thicker than winter gloves, surely by definition they don't have to be as they have heating elements so not as much insulation is required?

Don't get me wrong I prefer my summer gloves which I'm fine with down to about 4degrees but I doubt any winter glove that's not clunky can keep my fingers warm after an hour's ride! (Heated excluded obviously )

The Gerbing gloves I had were really thick, to the point they take away almost all feeling.

IC3 · 14 Nov 2017 at 03:43

HEL Performance braided lines 20% discount code: MONKYLONDON

MowyTone · 14 Nov 2017 at 07:23

Get yourself on some of the local biker groups on facebook. there are always people selling gear for all sorts of reasons. I picked up my Richa winter gloves for £20 as they were too big for the guy that bought them

misterjingo · 14 Nov 2017 at 19:24

tom_e said:
What glove size do you wear? I've got some spare A* jobs you can have if you're desperate, they're full on summer gloves though.

Thanks for the offer - but I still have my winter gloves

. I prefer the summer ones though, much thinner and better "feel."

I'm still trying to get a read tyre fitted. What sort of markup do places normally put on tyres? Googling, I can find the one I want for 100ish, but so far quotes have been £140+ for the same tyre (30 fitting on the bike.) This seems a bit excessive to me....

IC3 · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:29

They're having a laugh with charges of bike tyre changes, at the garage all our cars are serviced they charge 40 quid for 4 tyres. On bike, I use to pay 20 per wheel on the bike.

BTW Oponeo is good if you're looking at tyres.

Diddums · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:40

So is Black Circles iirc.

Also, bike tyres are considerably more involved to replace than car tyres.

misterjingo · 14 Nov 2017 at 22:03

I can live with £30 labour because they'll do the alignment correctly (I hate doing it) - but to sell a £100 tyre for £140+ for no reason I can fathom... It smells of profiteering.

TallPaul_S · 14 Nov 2017 at 23:44

Oponeo + removing rear wheel myself + 1 hour on a saturday morning = new tyre for £Oponeo+£15. Job jobbed.

In fact I need a new rear tyre very soon, will be on about 6k on the M7RR on my VFR, I'm surprised how little it's squared off - was temped to go for something a little less sporty for winter but as I'll easily get double the miles out the front another M7RR will be fitted in the next few weeks.

Domo · 16 Nov 2017 at 12:29

Got a couple of questions.
1. I allowed my Panigale to get dirty!!!! Those lovely dry roads were always going to end at some point, and other than lock it away for the entire winter some dirt is inevitable. Which cleaning products do you guys use?

2. Any ideas what this plug thing is? Has been on the bike since I picked it up from the dealer. Assuming I can connect a battery to a charger during long idle periods in the garage? If so, which product would be best?

Domo · 16 Nov 2017 at 12:33

Double post.

tom_e · 16 Nov 2017 at 12:39

Yep looks like an optimate battery charger lead but obviously you're best off taking a quick look at the battery just to confirm before you go hooking a charger up

unKle · 16 Nov 2017 at 16:38

SDOC100 is probably the best cleaner you can get for bikes, I've tried plenty over the years, Swissvax is the best I've used but very expensive, worth it if you have an expensive bike.

There are plenty of products out there, SDOC100 always seems to be the recommended product.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_cat/1317