Any motorcyclists here?

[ContractorOnAMotorbike]

Buy another bike. I'm, sadly, serious - did a LOT of commuting on my Bandit and it was always a struggle to keep warm. Spent a lot of money on decent gloves, heated inners and it was just a nightmare. Either freezing cold, or just incredibly hard work and I found it difficult to ride in chunky heated gloves. Tried all sorts and while it was bearable it was never much fun over distance.

Did an entire tour to France on the VFR and it was a breeze. The difference was STAGGERING. Didn't even need heated grips most of the time, but it was luxury when I did rather than being required for survival.

haha... totally agree mate. I use my Honda Blackbird most of the time and I also own a Bandit as a winter hack. Only problem as you say is that the Bandit is absolutely awful in the winter or even spring for that matter. The Blackbird glides all the cold air over and around me while on the Bandit I feel like a sail of a boat catching all the freezing cold air if that makes sense.

[Scruff]

Kawasaki KDX220R for Trail / Enduro riding
BMW R100RT for General "Old Man" riding - Airhead fan

[BR14]

Kawasaki KDX220R for Trail / Enduro riding
BMW R100RT for General "Old Man" riding - Airhead fan

R100RT was the basis for my chop.

[Scruff]

R100RT was the basis for my chop.

What headlamp and "ears" did you use?

[BR14]

What headlamp and "ears" did you use?

Bates headlamp, can't remember indicators.
36mm Mikuni's, K&N filters, R100RS front end, peashooter zorsts.
i'd put up a pic, but you can't here

[Scruff]

Sounds good...post it in a link?

Mine is too low miles, and in exceptional nick to Bob it...

[Big Blue Plymouth]

Not hijacking the thread or anything ... does anyone else commute through the winter on an unfaired/naked bike? If so how do you keep your hands warm? I've heard people say bar muffs are the way to go but i haven't tried them yet.

I use a combination of hand guards, heated grips and decent winter gloves and it works sort of ok but at the end of my commute in the cold weather my hands are quite cold.

Yep. Decent gloves and silk liners. Never do more than 20 miles though so the pain is manageable.

[BR14]

Sounds good...post it in a link?

Mine is too low miles, and in exceptional nick to Bob it...

CBA faffing with clouds and links. - PM me an Email addy and i'll send pics

[vwdan]

haha... totally agree mate. I use my Honda Blackbird most of the time and I also own a Bandit as a winter hack. Only problem as you say is that the Bandit is absolutely awful in the winter or even spring for that matter. The Blackbird glides all the cold air over and around me while on the Bandit I feel like a sail of a boat catching all the freezing cold air if that makes sense.

Yup - my dad's a lifelong biker and was mocking my attempts at buying gear. "I don't know what your problem is - I've never suffered with cold hands on bikes" etc etc. Then he borrowed it for a week while his GSXR was in the garage - soon changed his ******* tune after!

[bluetoaster]

Not hijacking the thread or anything ... does anyone else commute through the winter on an unfaired/naked bike? If so how do you keep your hands warm? I've heard people say bar muffs are the way to go but i haven't tried them yet.

I use a combination of hand guards, heated grips and decent winter gloves and it works sort of ok but at the end of my commute in the cold weather my hands are quite cold.

Good gloves and heated grips works for me. My main bike is the unfaired K1300R and my winter hack is a half faired Z750S, that half fairing makes a massive difference to the warmth, keeping the wind off my torso. Along with heated grips I don't have a problem.