I ordered a Gerbing jacket from A&S cuz they had them in stock. Talked to Kimberly on the phone first, then input my order on their website. It asked for arm length and chest measurements. They sent me a jacket that matched those measurements. However, it was waaaay too small, and the card on the sleeve confirmed that for a 46" measured chest, a size 50 jacket is what you need. Why didn't A&S know this? Also, I asked if it came with a BMW plug and she said "yes". I didn't. I called A&S and they fairly quickly (not as quickly as the first time) fulfilled my order with a size 50 jacket which I got today. And the appropriate adapter with a BMW plug for an additional $19. I tried it on tonight and it warmed gently...not as fast as my Widder vest, but nice down the arms. Did not roadtest it. I will tomorrow. It seems to fit okay, but it's tight in the neck. I'll either just deal with it, or I'll leave it unzipped at the neck and use my aerostich fleece neckthing (tm). Now for a question: With a Darien, where do you put the portable heatroller? I was thinking of velcroing to my left thigh, which would serve as a reminder to not o-shen my bike.
One of the folks up here who mostly sells leathers, but also carries some heated vests, stated that one of the problems she had with Gerbing was that while it heated very well, sizing was always a problem. Often had to return items due to situations similiar to yours. I am interested in obtaining a Gerbing Jacket but will wait until I can try one on. Randall
They did used to go to the Cycle World shows... Hmm...don't know where to put the box as you'll be wanting to get to it while riding right? You're leg, or some part of the bike are probably your best bets.
HECK NO!! I used to be cold when I had no choice. Now I have a choice, and the choice is to stay inside. In one respect this is lucky. Some of you poor folks have to decide whether or not to venture out into the cold and ride. The white stuff pretty much makes my decisions for me. I will admit that sometimes going down the main highways, which appear to be pretty clean and free from ice (but really are not!), I do really get itching to get the bike out. But then reality hits and I quickly put such foolish thoughts out of my mind. There are one or two guys around here who ride trikes and they sometimes venture out. All I think about is how dedicated to riding they must be. And then I also think about how cold they are and I do not care what they are wearing! Then I wonder if they are guests of our local mental hospital!! I will stick to the warm inside and wait for Spring. With luck, the snow will melt off enough by the end of March to get the bike out. Main roads are usually in pretty good shape but the side roads are hell. Can't get the bike down them to get to non slick roads. Randall
Well Randall, it's a damn good thing you found advrider when you did, otherwise you'd be going nerts right about now, huh? Seeing as how you live in Alaska, I can't blame you for not wanting to freeze your ass off. Sometimes I find it an ordeal just to get out of bed in the morning :huh
This just in from the "Do Not Try This at Home" department.... I have the older & bigger HeatTroller. I put a wide rubber band across it to keep it from being slippery, then slip it into the outside left pocket of my Darien. I gently loop any excess wire length and tuck it under the rubber band. Then I zip the pocket most of the way shut. I can still tweak the adjustment up or down through the outer jacket. I think the HeatTroller people specifically tell you not to do this, supposedly due to the fire risk.
I have my (stitch) controller velcroed to tank on left side of tankbag! Easy to adjust & enough cord to get off bike & refuel
As I have stated before, I am a minimalist and love simple, clean, uncluttered, purposeful form and function. So to this end I have done the following with my controller. I have the controller up under the seat on the left side. It points down so you can not see it, no wires exposed but it is an easy reach with my left hand to adjust it. The connection to my gear then comes up between the tank and the seat. When not in use it slips between the front of the seat and the tank. Can't see it at all. Don't need to remove the seat to get to it. Used zip ties to hold everything in place....Of course those can't be seen either. I did have it on my tank bag but that meant two wires running to the controller on the bag and I could not ride without the bag. The way it is set up now is super clean. It can't be seen at all. When I am off my bike no mass of wires flopping around on my body or on the bike, only the one wire that tucks in the liner.
Uh..uh This is embarrassing. I run a department, I teach MSF on the weekends but I dont know how to ...........gulp, put a fucking photo on this site. Sorry, from a man clearly missing an essential survival skill of the current millennium
Simple? Ya want simple? No heat-troller. I was thinking about that on the ride in this morning. Lots of stuff I own that's adjustable but open loop drives me nutz. Never the right setting, and you know the perfect spot must be on that knob somewhere. So I futz with it endlessly. Having only two options makes it easy. Either I want to be warmer than I am now, or colder. Here's an idea...Gerbring's..someone. Make it thermostatically controlled. The ass-warmers in my Audi have closed loop control why not my heated jacket? A EE here claims he could do it using the current passing through the wire as the feedback (the resistance of the wire changes every so slightly as it changes temp). I'd just prefer a temp sensor in it somewhere. Oh yeah, and the simple answer for your sizing issues is to get the Darien electric liner. Duh....I've got a Large Darien, what size liner do I need? Large.
I just hang my troller off the belt or stick it in my pocket. The troller lit said never put in pocket, the Gerbings lit said put in pocket. Gerbings lit also said I need to inspect myself from time to time to see if my skin is burned. I guess this is a problem for someone, but I tend to react when burned. I was going to write a full reveiw and may someday on the entire Gerbings adventure for me which wasn't/isn't all that terrific. My overall conclusion is that this wear isn't specific to bike riding. We are we but an afterthought. My guess is they design this stuff for construction workers who don't move around or ice fishermen. -paul
I didn't exactly have a wonderful experience with my Gerbing stuff either. Not enough heat on the front of the arms and it ain't windproof (neither is the Darien, which makes for some cold arms). Got a couple of hotspots too.
Whaddabout the BMW Brand electric vest?? Local dealer has them for about $139, and the Service Manager-a prince of a guy and quite reliable-endorses them. Thinkin' about one for me and one for the misses....
I'd say I'm never cold with the Darien liner, just that I'm warmer when stopped. Th Only spot I've noticed is around the plug. If the plug gets pulled on it twists, which pushes part of the fabric into my beer storage. This makes a small hot spot. I forget what I did with the cord, but somethin' stupid fixed this.