Modern Vespa

So today I rode my scoot to work and I froze!

Wow it was cold it was 44 degrees F outside this morning at 6a.m. I got new gloves so that really helped but let me tell you my helmet has to go! I need a scarf or something for my neck. I was beginning to feel my lips harden it was crazy!

I had a sweatshirt on under my Firstgear Mesh Tech jacket and that was mostly okay. I have another jacket on order which should be what I need.

What do you guys do to keep your head warm? Right now all I have is a 3/4 helmet with a face shield and plan at the motorcycle show to pick up a FF helmet or know what fits my XXXL head and purchase a helmet shortly after. I am assuming that will help some but I am sure people do additional things to keep their head and neck warm. What are they?

Sorry if this has been posted in the past. (I was tempted to post in the gloves thread but didn't want to hijack it.)

Get yourself a balaclava, keeps your head and neck warm.

+1 and a FF

FF keeps fogging up below 50 mph...
Balaclava / neck warmer keep warm but fog up super fast.
Scarf around the neck keeps all the cold air out..
Can't find gloves to keep hands warm though.
Had frostbite years ago and fingers very sensitive..

haha when you said that I was thinking pastry.

I didn't know that was the official term for ski mask.

To help fogging ( although it is not infallible) is to make sure the vents on your helmet are open, failing that open the visor slightly to allow air in, yes it will be cold but at least you can see where you're going. I open mine when stopped than close it once I start moving and it seems to keep clear.

As for gloves if anyone has ever come across a pair that will keep your hands warm over a prolonged ride they will be sitting on a goldmine, as yet every pair I have bought or worn fail to keep the wind out for long and that is the killer!

I just got some alpine stars ST-1 rain proof gloves with fleece lining and they seem to work for me on my 12 mile commute to work. I could see though on a long ride they would probably not cut it.

A person I talked to at a MC shop said the best gloves for winter have gore-tex in them and I must say when I tried them on they were really warm.

I've tried a balaclava, but didn't like it because It makes it harder to rotate your head and check blind spots. Instead, I use a Turtle Fur neck warmer. REI carries them. Works great at keeping your neck warm and you can snug it up over your mouth and nose if its really cold.

A windshield really helps. I just installed a mid-size one for my GT and it has made the cold rides bareable. I've been riding in 30 - 40 degree weather for the past week.
Layering the clothing helps too; polartec vest, polartec jacket, then windbreaker (has extended collar that allows me to tuck in my chin). I have full face shield on my open faced helmet. Lined gloves with extended cuffs.

Good idea! I might go by and check there is one around 5 blocks from my work.

My problem is I am really tall 6'4" and am not sure if they make a windshield tall enough for my BV500.

Check ScooterTrap. They carry the tall Givi windscreen for the BV500. I just ordered one for my BV250. I am 6' and the screen sits about 26" high. I will report back once I get it installed.

http://www.scootertrap.com/BV500.htm

Just purchased a new pair " Alpine" gloves. Gortex shell, fleece lining, guantlet...
I think with an Outer Armor gloveliner and disposable latex gloves to keep out wind I might have a chance..
I almost can't wait to try out the visor wiper on the thumb..

Wow I could have really used that last week. I got stuck in the rain for 3 hours when my wife's car broke down and there wasn't enough room in the tow truck for me. That is a whole other story.

I have seen that windshield before but not the top how interesting. What purpose does the top serve? I am sure my shoulders are wider than it is.

I haven't seen such a thing for the BV500 though and I doubt I could tolerate the looks of it.

I use the Tour Master Winter Elite gloves. Nice gloves, but the visor wiper only works okay.

+1.

I love mine, great gloves. And the nifty rain covering that pops out of the gauntlet pocket is genius.

I also second the idea of a balaclava. There are different thicknesses so you can find one that fits comfortably with your head/helmet (mine is super thin similar to what NFL players wear under their helmets in the winter - a guy in my club has a much thicker fleece one, don't know how he wedges it into his helmet...)

As for the fogging issue, I've done the shaving cream trick (and I hear it works with toothpaste and dishsoap as well).
Basically put in on the shield and buff it until it's gone. No water or anything just buff it away with a soft cloth. I do it to my bathroom mirror too, works well.

big windshield is what you need. Looks geeky, but hey, you're already riding a scooter!

Once you put it on you will never take it off.

My husband has gloves that plug into his harley and keep his fingers toasty, you can also buy jackets and pants that plug in as well!! Do vespas have a place like that to plug in gloves and jackets?

This is the easiest way to set up something like that:
http://www.scooterwest.com/item_detail/GTS-POWER-PLUG/2786/

....this will help http://corazzo.net/?q=node/215

Until you get the full-face,
I think you need one of these:

(From: http://www.bikerempire.com/catalog/ )

So far this week I've had a scarf, balaclava, and neck "collar" on to see what works the best. I think the neck collar has my vote so far.

Balaclava is the warmest but it's hard to get my riding glasses on. And I surely don't want to walk in the bank with it on.

Scarf works pretty well but it keeps falling down or off.

Neck collar can be pulled up or down. No riding glasses interference.

But if I was wearing my 3/4 helmet I wouldn't need the riding glasses and then the balaclava would work just fine. As it gets colder I'll probably start wearing the helmet.

Been in the 30's and high 20's here this week. 1 C yesterday.

These 2 balaclavas are awesome
http://www.snowshack.com/detail/SNW+SI-03476+LXL_Seirus+Innovation+Ultra+Clava

http://www.snowshack.com/detail/SNW+SI-03445_Seirus+Innovation+Neofleece+Headliner+Black

One is thinner but windproof. The other is fleece. I suppose it depends on fit, comfort, riding, etc.

I have the windproof one and it is genius. Keeps me pretty warm too.

I have a neck gaiter that I wear with a FF helmet. That works well but I wish I had looked at aerostich (sp?) first. They have one that closes with velcro so you do not have to pull it over your head and mess up your hair. (Of course the helmet does a number on your hair anyway)

I have already been riding this month in temps in the upper 30's. My strategy is multipart. First I put a windscreen on my Vespa. This blocks a good deal of the air from hitting me directly but when it is cold it is cold. So I added a pair of Olympia Windtex gloves. All of my jackets (Olympia and Teknic) are vented and have removable liners. My Olympia is in for a stitching repair so I took the liner, put it on under my Teknic jacket with it's vest liner in place, put my liner in my Olympia pants, and then ordered a fleece balaclava from Basspro (Outdoor World).

I felt a little like the Michelin man at first but once I got everything adjusted correctly it was no big deal. The temp was 36 and I was flying along at 50mph and could not feel any cold air. My helmet is a 3/4 Nolan with face shield and my chin, lips, and nose used to freeze but not now. I love cold weather, can't wait until it starts getting in the teens and 20's around here so I can really give my Michelin man suit up a test...

i use armoured snowboarding mitts in the depths of winter - they do the job really well. the trick is keeping your fingers all together in a bunch rather than in individual wrappers.

the best thing i've found for keeping the head and neck warm is a 'polar buff' - it's a strange looking thing like a fleece neck gaiter with a much longer tube of silky polyester material attached to it, which you can pull up over your head like a balaclava. it's fantastic - they come in about a million different colour combinations too.

https://www.buffwear.co.uk/catalog/index.php/cPath/51_59

Not a problem for me as I have my hair really short. (What hair is left that is)

Wow you are really into the cold. Thought about joining a polar bear club? Luckily it very seldom gets that cold here because I am not into it like you are. I do have a new jacket on order and with my sweatshirt it isn't too bad even under my mesh jacket with it's liner sewn in.

The scarf freaks me out. I'm so afraid it'll catch on the back wheel or something...unreasonable fear? Probably.

I want something that goes around just my neck. I'm going to have to find something for the 2 hour ride to my parents house coming up next weekend. It's gonna be cold in Northern Indiana.

I have RainX wipee things that I use on the inside and outside of my helmet and glasses. They don't fog. I also leave my helmet cracked a bit for airflow. I don't have the fogging issue as bad when I bring my helmet inside.

For face warmth, I have something like this, which works perfectly in cold weather (not that I need it here - bought it back in the States several years ago).



Easy to put on, compatible with FF, vented for breathing, no vision obstruction.

Al

+1 to Aviator47

Even before I started scooting, I used a Seirus Masque like that one. A few years ago I "traded up" to a Seirus Neofleece Combo Scarf which I have already worn a few times this year. The best thing about it is that it covers pretty much everything my helmet doesn't, including the occipital region and any other gaps between the base of the helmet and the top of my Aerostich Darien.

It does tend to make my glasses fog a little, but I can remedy that by cracking the visor and/or using my contact lenses instead. All in all, it's a fantastic product.

Easy fix..................MOVE TO WARMER CLIMATE

G 8)

Hey, I need warm head too!
Hell, I so desperate I'll settle for cadaver head.

I use an apple warmer, But it appears they have gone out of business,
You could also try a silk Balaclava with a tube scarf.

I like the balaclava's that can be pulled down under my chin periodically
and then be pulled back up over my nose without losing the elasticity.

I bought my tube scarf from Walmart for like $3.00,
Balaclava's can be found almost anywhere these days,
But be careful some are itchy or let your facial hair poke through them. (Ow)

good answer...LOL.....

Yes, polar buff is the business. Get one!

haha I live in Austin, TX that isn't warm enough? I guess I could move to Hawaii. It still gets cold pretty much anywhere in the mainland.

Well guys I went to REI today and they had a great selection of stuff you guys were talking about. I got a turtle neck thing that has windblock and is water proof on one side and fleece on the other. Hopefully it will help with my cold rides.