OP
@paralla avatar
UTC

Hooked
Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 391
Location: London
 
Hooked
@paralla avatar
Vespa GTS 250ie
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Posts: 391
Location: London
UTC quote
I've been commuting in London for years on a GTS and have just taken the car when its been too cold for the scoot in the past.

I'm working in a contractors office at the moment which is 26 miles from home and the time difference between the scoot and the car is much larger than it's been before.

Scoot = 35-40 minutes
Car = 1 hour 20 minutes minimum

This weekends project is to rig the scoot for cold weather so I can continue to commute on it over winter.

I plan on installing these hand covers
http://www.tucanourbano.com/gb/neoprene-hand-grip-covers-9510.html

A leg cover looks like it will be toasty warm with the heat coming from the radiators, does anyone know if it's likely to be stolen if I leave it on the scoot parked on the street in central London?
http://www.tucanourbano.com/gb/scooter-leg-cover-termoscudr-r154.html

Thermal Underwear, balaclava and a fleece under my leather jacket should see me through. Maybe a heated vest later on if I still get cold.
UTC

Hooked
Kawasaki Z1000, Yamaha R1, Honda SH300i
Joined: UTC
Posts: 124
Location: London, UK
 
Hooked
Kawasaki Z1000, Yamaha R1, Honda SH300i
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Posts: 124
Location: London, UK
UTC quote
I've had a £10 bike cover pinched before in London, this is London & sadly they will steal anything not welded to the ground
@huskyteer avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
Honda NC700D Integra
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Posts: 5026
Location: London, UK
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@huskyteer avatar
Honda NC700D Integra
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5026
Location: London, UK
UTC quote
I had a set of the TU muffs and those got pinched too
OP
@paralla avatar
UTC

Hooked
Vespa GTS 250ie
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Location: London
 
Hooked
@paralla avatar
Vespa GTS 250ie
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Location: London
UTC quote
This is why we can't have nice things!

I gave up on covers years ago after they kept getting stolen. So, no muffs and no leg warmer. I'm glad I asked.

Looks like I'm just going to deal with the cold with things that are not left attached to the bike. 12V heated vest and some thermal underwear it is then.
@judy avatar
UTC

World Traveler
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
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World Traveler
@judy avatar
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
Joined: UTC
Posts: 29303
UTC quote
I love British English. Laughing emoticon I'll send you some heat. We've broken all kinds of records with out heat and humidity this summer. It's almost 90 in my bedroom during the day. Houses aren't insulated here and some are open to the elements. It was 80 this morning when i woke up at 5am in my bedroom. Crying or Very sad emoticon
UTC

Ossessionato
GT200 & GTS250 & NC750X & Royal Enfield Pegasus
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Ossessionato
GT200 & GTS250 & NC750X & Royal Enfield Pegasus
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Posts: 2143
Location: London
UTC quote
I've been riding with a therma(whatever it'c called) leg warmer for quite a few years now. I haven't had anyone try to take mine and I think it's a pretty good product. You could always look around for a 2nd hand one or buy new and then paint or stitch something unique on it.
@trotter avatar
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Banned
Roughhouse Sport. Buddy 150(sold)
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Location: The OBX.
 
Banned
@trotter avatar
Roughhouse Sport. Buddy 150(sold)
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Posts: 1615
Location: The OBX.
UTC quote
robinm wrote:
I've been riding with a therma(whatever it'c called) leg warmer for quite a few years now. I haven't had anyone try to take mine and I think it's a pretty good product. You could always look around for a 2nd hand one or buy new and then paint or stitch something unique on it.
Actually a fantastic idea. Make it unique so a pawn shop won't touch it.

I may use that same technique in the future. Two big thumbs up.
@vespasfw3 avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2006 Vespa GTS250ie, 2004 Vespa ET4, 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan, 2001 Kawasaki W650, 2023 Honda Trail 125.
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Location: Central Pennsylvania
 
Ossessionato
@vespasfw3 avatar
2006 Vespa GTS250ie, 2004 Vespa ET4, 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan, 2001 Kawasaki W650, 2023 Honda Trail 125.
Joined: UTC
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Location: Central Pennsylvania
UTC quote
I have the neoprene hand covers you are considering -- they are fantastic and easy to install. After many winters of riding with Gerbing electric gloves and cold hands (sub 20F temps) I installed heated grips and the covers. Now I can ride down to 20F with the same light leather gloves I use in the summer. And winter gloves down to -15F with just slightly cold hands. Keeping the wind off the gloves is magic.

As far as the skirts -- I've never considered them because my riding gear is more than adequate to keep the rest of me warm. When it's really cold I wear polypropylene underwear, jeans, and Tourmaster overpants. Never cold.

But I know riders who swear by the skirts because things get toasty and warm in there.
OP
@paralla avatar
UTC

Hooked
Vespa GTS 250ie
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Location: London
 
Hooked
@paralla avatar
Vespa GTS 250ie
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Posts: 391
Location: London
UTC quote
Update.

My heated vest is the best thing ever. Walking the 50m from my front door to the motorcycle parking bay I look forward to getting plugged in and turning the heating on.

Very easy to install the wiring on the bike, only tool required was a Phillips screwdriver and half a dozen zip ties.

Not endorsing my heated vest over other brands, just the concept in general. You can really feel it get quiet hot on your lower back, the theory being that it heats up your blood as it passes your kidneys.

Best cold weather £110 I've ever spent, wish I bought it earlier.

Jimc endorses muffs which would be the next line of defence for me, I'd be mighty peeved if they got nicked though. It's a jungle out there on the mean streets of London.
@vespasfw3 avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2006 Vespa GTS250ie, 2004 Vespa ET4, 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan, 2001 Kawasaki W650, 2023 Honda Trail 125.
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Location: Central Pennsylvania
 
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@vespasfw3 avatar
2006 Vespa GTS250ie, 2004 Vespa ET4, 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan, 2001 Kawasaki W650, 2023 Honda Trail 125.
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Location: Central Pennsylvania
UTC quote
What heated vest did you buy? How is it wired from your body to the scooter?
OP
@paralla avatar
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Vespa GTS 250ie
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Vespa GTS 250ie
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I bought this one because it was about half the price of most others on the market and I really couldn't see where the extra money went on the others.

http://www.keisapparel.co.uk/product/keis-x10-heated-bodywarmer/

One thing to note if you are considering one is to get one at least one size smaller than you think you need. I ordered a large and it was MASSIVE so sent it back and changed it for a medium which is still bigger than would be ideal.

It came with the necessary wiring harness with ring lugs and an inline plastic blade fuse holder in the + lead. I screwed the lugs directly to the battery, routed the cable up through the engine compartment and zip tied it to some random other cables in there to keep it away from the hot moving engine. It's long enough that about 4 inches of lead with the socket on the end hangs down at the front of the seat.

Despite what it says on the site it did come with the electronic High/medium/low controller. If it didn't have the controller it would be on high all the time. The controller replaces a short bridge cable in a pocket.

It's pre-wired with sockets to add Keis heated gloves so if you add them you still only need to connect to the bike at one point which I thought was neat.

I'll take pics tomorrow, I'm in the car today as its raining.
@huskyteer avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
Honda NC700D Integra
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5026
Location: London, UK
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@huskyteer avatar
Honda NC700D Integra
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5026
Location: London, UK
UTC quote
I have that one, and it's very good.

I do still get cold in winter, though. There's nothing wrong with my gear and I layer up; I have concluded that I am just a chillier person than most.
OP
@paralla avatar
UTC

Hooked
Vespa GTS 250ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 391
Location: London
 
Hooked
@paralla avatar
Vespa GTS 250ie
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Posts: 391
Location: London
UTC quote
He's a few photo's of me all wired up. It almost disappointing when its not cold now.
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
Forum member supplied image with no explanatory text
@cdwise avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
GTS 300, Buddy 125
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Posts: 8870
Location: Knoxville, TN
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@cdwise avatar
GTS 300, Buddy 125
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8870
Location: Knoxville, TN
UTC quote
judy wrote:
I love British English. Laughing emoticon I'll send you some heat. We've broken all kinds of records with out heat and humidity this summer. It's almost 90 in my bedroom during the day. Houses aren't insulated here and some are open to the elements. It was 80 this morning when i woke up at 5am in my bedroom. Crying or Very sad emoticon
I feel ya, our upstairs a/c unit started leaking last night as we discovered when water started coming through the ceiling downstairs. So we shut it off and called the company that installed it less than 2 years ago (warranty but that doesn't help with the resulting water damage). With the remains of a Pacific typhoon coming across Mexico towards us humidity is through the roof and still warm enough that a/c is welcome. Gave up at 5 am hit the shower. Feels much better downstairs as I wait for the plumber to get here and fix the leaking pipe.
@judy avatar
UTC

World Traveler
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
Joined: UTC
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World Traveler
@judy avatar
2007 LX150 Daring Plum Leonardo Da Vespa
Joined: UTC
Posts: 29303
UTC quote
CD that sucks. The typhoons/hurricanes have been plentiful this year. Were on O. Hope you get it fixed soon. Trades are back now. I didn't ride the Vespa for over 3 weeks in Sept. Rode the Vino to the store only. Spent most of my time laying under a fan laying still.
@dieseldog avatar
UTC

Enthusiast
300 gts super sport, et4 125 (retired)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 56
Location: Derbyshire
 
Enthusiast
@dieseldog avatar
300 gts super sport, et4 125 (retired)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 56
Location: Derbyshire
UTC quote
The thermoscud has a metal loop which you pass a lock/chain through and tether it to your scoot, a deterrent but if they want it.....they will get it,
@muttsnuttsracing avatar
UTC

Hooked
GTS 300 SSR
Joined: UTC
Posts: 287
Location: Norfolk, UK
 
Hooked
@muttsnuttsracing avatar
GTS 300 SSR
Joined: UTC
Posts: 287
Location: Norfolk, UK
UTC quote
Keis stuff is fantastic..... there i've said it.


http://www.keisapparel.co.uk/product/keis-heated-inner-gloves/
@mr_fish avatar
UTC

Addicted
bv 350/CB5ooX
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Posts: 895
Location: London..ish
 
Addicted
@mr_fish avatar
bv 350/CB5ooX
Joined: UTC
Posts: 895
Location: London..ish
UTC quote
I would say detachable heated gear is the way forward in London (don't leave anything on the bike) I'm looking to get some this year ....i use merino wool base layers which are fantastic
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