Modern Vespa

Hi Folks

I live in New York, so the winter riding months are pretty much here. Although I do not ride when it's below freezing due to the chances of there being black ice I pretty much ride every day that is above 35+. My leather jacket and leather riding gloves have not been cutting it lately in the mornings. My commute to work is 40 miles and yesterday morning i took my car and regretted it immediately so I thought I would ask what y'all wear to keep warm in the cold months. go!

It's only hands that are a problem in Winter as it's easy to put on layers and a big warm coat/jacket.

So it's heated grips or heated gloves. Personally I'd go with heated gloves as they can be transferred from one bike/scooter to another.

If you can't get heated grips or gloves, glove liners help a lot. Search for "Seirus Heatwave glove liners".

Heated jacket, gloves, seat, socks, grips. All overlayered with a down jacket, insulated pants, and a winter motorcycle jacket and pants. It's good down as low temp as I am willing to ride. I use both 12V and battery powered electrics.

I commuted regularly and happily into the NYC metro area (26 miles each way) during the winters of '21 and '22 all the way down to 17°F. I did NOT ride any time there was snow in the forecast, or for however long after a snowfall it took for all ice and snowmelt to clear from the roadways. This time ranged from two days to two weeks.

Cold weather gear, from warmest to coolest:
* riding boots, always
* the heavier of my two riding jackets, starting at 60°
* heated grips, amazing, starting at 55° (keep waiting for my $30 AliExpress grips to be unsatisfactory...now going on third year)
* sweatshirt/fleece/quarter zip somewhere in this temperature range
* neck warmer tube (fleece) starting at about 50°
* scooter skirt, starting at 45° or rain
* handlebar muffs, starting at 45°
* heated seatpad, starting at 45° (another $30 AliExpress doodad that is still going strong)
* electric vest, starting at 45°. Mine is battery powered USB.
* wool socks under riding boots, starting between 35-40°, although these are typically comfortable any time below 55°
* thick wool sweater over electric vest, starting at 35°
* heavier gloves, starting at 30° - maybe. The muff/heated grip combo is still pretty comfortable with regular riding gloves, and heavy gloves under the muffs start to interfere with the controls

I'm not riding in NYC much any more because (1) traffic has picked up to an unpleasant level during commuting hours and I don't ride recklessly enough to compensate, (2) the number of impaired drivers on the road that my nose detects is distressing, and (3) the level of law enforcement being applied to drivers of all vehicles is inadequate.

Heated grips under handlebar muffs are my favorite winter riding accessory. A Thermoscud on aGTS captures the radiator heat. I've have OEM heated seat and grips coming for my 2023.

Fleece neck gator and fleece layers under my jacket. Same microfiber base layer under quilted riding pants.

I'm partial to my glove liners, from REI and a wool scarf. I've heard the heated grips are wonderful, I currently use hand warmers in my gloves and, if it's really cold, in my boots. Wool or "smartwool" socks are also helpful.

Cheers,

Bob

I am also not riding below freezing temperature.

As for clothing, as explained here already, it is a matter of layers. And above I wear a windjack. It is a simple winter jacket that is wind tight. I think any jacket will do as long as it is wind tight.

My hands are the first to become too cold. Below 15°C (60°F) I switch from my summer gloves to heated gloves. Mine are battery powered. Very practical, no need for any wiring, and you can use them on any motorcycle. I understand people also use them at ski-ing.
I can set the gloves on low, mid or high. Mid is OK for temperatures between freezing and 15°C.
On that setting the batteries last for some 2hrs which should be enough for 40 miles commuter trips.

You could also consider to mount a larger wind screen. There are versions that extend to the grips, keeping your hands from the wind. I have no experience with such screens, I have the standard wind screen on my BV, but I would expect they are very effective.

Few shots of jagermeister before you leave

Hi OP! We are neighbors, essentially.

I use Venture Heating products, and Gerbing pants. The pants plus the gloves and the motorcycle liner from Venture Heating keep me very toasty. This year, in addition to all that, I also got a Thermoscud blanket for the bike. The Gerbing pants run CRAZY small. I have a 31 inch waist and the mediums are barely able to be snapped up top. I rec the gloves and something for your legs. It's not my legs that are cold, per se, but my kneecaps feel almost locked up without something over them. Pants or blanket. I do an either or. Good luck!

Nissan Kicks with seat heaters.

40 miles would test most 'casual' winter riding gear for work commuters.

"Let's go across Alaska today!" guys will bundle up so much more than a work commuter.

But your extended time in that wind and those temps - while work commuting - will put you pretty close to their requirements!

If you need to wear your work clothes under your riding gear - and cannot do a full strip down - then you might try what I used to do in Mass.

I wore 100% windproof over-pants and over-jacket, Then wool or corduroy trousers beneath. Warm sox, boots, layers of sweater-like stuff. A balaclava which also covers the upper chest. Battery heated leather gauntlets.
And - always - an armored jacket in those layers somewhere! (w/ D30 pads in elbow, shoulder and back)

The main thing is to keep the wind out~! Neck, chest, wrists.
Wrap yourself in a plastic shower curtain....that kind of wind-proofing!

O.S.

Full face
Fleece lined neck tube
Underarmor type thermal layer (bottom and top)
Wool socks
Cold-oriented alpinestars riding jacket
Heated riding gloves

If it's really bad I've got some snowpants / snowmobile gear.

Out on the Wet Coast of BC dressing for wet and rain is the most important. Once the temperatures drop to about 5-8 celcius scootie goes to storage for 3 - 3.5 months. To beat the rain this is what I wear.

Gore-Tex boots
Gore-Tex pants
Hoodie
Leather riding jacket with lining
helmet with full face shield
scarf
buff or touque
Gore-Tex or leather gloves

Wulfsport Alpina Enduro suit.

Handle bar muffs, ugly but sooooo effective.

I live in Florida.

It does get relatively cool in the winters.

I usually add a fleece hoodie under my jacket.

Bill

I wear a sweatshirt inside a '06 Toyota 4Runner (Sport)... Great heat...

Great info all!!!! Thanks!!

😵

For me, last Saturday was the day to get the Vespa ready for the cold weather. It was 80F/26C and then starting on Sunday it started to drop down 50F/10C and on Wednesday it went down into the 40'sF/5/7C
So in the colder months the Vespa gets a full screen windshield, Tucano Urbano muffs and Termoscud, heated grips.
If I am riding and the temps are in 40s or below, I am wearing merino wool base layers, jeans/shirts/hoodies a down jacket and a rain/wind breaker on top. My regular boots are just ordinary boots with merino wool socks.
I dont wear gloves as the heated grips serve me well and the muffs keep the wind out.If the temps are below freezing I wear wool glove liners but rely primarily on the heated grips to keep my fingertips warm and the muffs do the rest. Full face helmet keeps the head pretty warm.

My tip is to wear leather mittens instead of gloves. Then the fingers can keep each other warm.

I use alpinestars drystar jacket nice and warm.

Skirts out!

Tucano Urbano knee cover.
Heated grips and summer gloves.
TU thermal grip covers.
System helmet and balaclava .
Motorcycle jacket with thermal layer.
Warm boots.
Largest available screen.

If you are riding near salt on the road, rust proof your chassis.

When it's cold out I like Aerostich suits and heated vests.

I rode rain or shine for many years. In the distant past while thoroughly exposed on a R100GS without the tiny windscreen directing noisy turbulent air at the helmet the following worked well:

Byford wool dress socks as liners with wool hiking socks and Malcom Smith leather boots, Totes over boots for wet or extreme cold weather. Silk long johns under my chinos. A T-shirt, pinpoint Oxford dress shirt, thin wool pull over sweater, and a free Tyvek windbreaker from Dupont on top. The last two sentences under one of Andy's first Aerostitch suits along with a silk balaclava, silk glove liners under early Gortex gloves with a slip on rubber finger squeegee. Most memorable was cracking the ice of my gloves after 30 miles on the day after Thanksgiving and my hands being warm thanks to the heated grips.

In the modern world Aerostitch suits are still the standard with oodles of protection in the case of an off. A little extra insulation (thin sweater) and a windbreaker really help. I currently use a ligthweight cycling windbreaker. Sedi Adventure boots are a good investment, waterproof and protective in the event of an off. I have used handle bar muffs with satisfaction on the SR4OO, recommend gloves underneath in case of an off. You may notice that "off" is mentioned three times, it's more likely on slick winter roads.

I'll find how the GTS with heated grips and a winter only windscreen work soon. Have a power port installed for my heated vest however with the wind protection from the leg shields and the windscreen I wonder if it will be necessary.

Hope this helps, think layering with an extra wind barrier and protection from an off.

Edit: Forgot the Aerostitch Gortex Wind Triangle, essential.

I wear my normal leather riding boots with my snow ski socks, cold weather riding gloves from tourmaster are pretty good, but I might try some glove liners with them.

I have Tourmaster Overpants that are wind and water resistant, and some LL Bean Flannel lined jeans underneath. I'll install the windproof quilted/insulated liner for my jacket, under that will be a mid weight fleece. If I really want to stay warm, I'll don my rain gear over all of that to keep any wind out and minimize heat loss.

For me, about 38-40 F is my threshold now. And colder and I just don't enjoy it enough.

I have a zippo electric hand heater that I put in a chest pocket. This works surprising well for keeping me warm. Then, as needed, I also used long underwear, heated or plain gloves, thick socks under some waterproof boots. On top of all this, I wear my Langlitz, and then I put on rain gear. I used this outfit for years on my bike (just a small fairing) going Interstate speeds through all kinds of winter weather. I also had an insulated Carhartt jumpsuit that I would sometimes wear in place of my Langlitz which was probably very stupid on my part. I expect to use the same when I get my 530 MP3 later this week.