Modern Vespa

Hey Guys
We are working on some new products, and wanted the opinions of you guys and gals out there on some of the options.

We will be introducing a line of our jackets that are heated for winter time. Technology both in electro-conductive fabric, and battery technology has progressed far enough that we can put heated panels on the chest, the back and the upper arms without it affecting the feel of the jacket. We can power it with a removable unit that allows adjustable heat, is the size of a pack of smokes (little bigger), and will give you two hours of high heat or four hours of low heat.

The other option is a fully heated separate liner that would snap in place.

Having ridden with both, personally I am in to having the jacket be ready to get warm at any time, even chilly mornings in the summertime rather than carry a liner around.

Oh, and yes, for all you lap apron fans, we will be doing a heated lap apron.

Feel free to write me directly with any needs/ideas you might have, or feel strongly about a liner Vs. heated panels.

Thanks for your continuing support of our company, we really appreciate it, always feel to call us or write directly with any questions, ideas or issues. Without your input we would not be where we are today.

Cheers
Bradford
President
Corazzo

Hope your considering a 5.0 or Shop looking heated jacket option - I wear like 100 layers now for riding and am tired of looking like the Pillsbury Doughboy and I'm a skinny little bloke.

Right now we are going to heat the 5.0's and the Speedways and Lap Aprons.
We'll see how it goes, and go from there.
The technology is so cool, we'll have prototypes in two weeks on our test riders.

Cheers
B

How can I get in on the test rider thingy? I'm a great tester. I doing regular software user acceptance testing at the bank I work for

PRO!

I want to be a tester too - could do some real good testing with our MN winters.

Cool, keep us posted on the heated gear.

Yes keep us posted on your progress. I would be more than happy to test out your gear for you. Here in Toronto, you probably already know that we get really cold days in the winter.

Oh no! Not another poll!

Yeah, I'd wear heated gear if I lived where it was necessary. In SF, it gets below freezing only a couple of days a year.

I don't think I would personally use heated riding gear but I would love a waterproof Corazzo jacket. My 5.0 only lasts a few miles in the rain before I start getting wet. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

I'd rather go plug in. Batteries are one more thing to try to keep charged or replace and have extras on hand in case they run low.

Having said that; I seem to do fine down to the high 20's with layers and don't plan on purchasing powered clothing.

I would probably consider a heated lap apron. Most of the time I seem to be ok if I layer up well on top, but my legs will freeze no matter what I do.

Would there ever be a possible option of an add-on heat kit for those of us who already have a Corazzo jacket? I just got my 5.0, and was kind of hoping it would become my 3-season jacket (except for the heat of summer).

amazingly, i manage to stay relatively warm without heated gear in the winter - but it involves a lot of layering plus a lap apron and handlebar muffs.

my reservations about heated gear are all linked to the possibility of it breaking down - i'd hate to leave the house with only a t-shirt on under my jacket and have it die on me halfway through the ride.

I'd probably vote for a snap-in liner.

I like having options.

That being said I echo others comments about generally not being a powered clothing kinda guy, however...

a water-proof shop jacket with a snap in heated liner... now I'd be all over that in a second.

(and yeah, if you need a tester in NYC... )

I'd be tempted to go for a heated liner.

How about a pair of really simple trousers to pull on over shorts in the summer?

And most of all, how about tall sizes - please, not just an add on cuff, but true tall sizes.

All you testers lining up is awesome. As we grow, I will keep you in the files as we need more. As you might imagine, there is little turnover in that job.

Waterproof jackets, yes, we have some prototypes, working through the gut wrenching ordeal of figuring out manufacturing for these....The lead times are insane. Thank for the feedback we are working on them.

As for the electronics, the battery is Class A meaning that can go through 600 cycles or so before getting used up and recycled. So about every 2 years for a daily user.

The heating panels will be under warranty for the life of the jacket. Failure is rare, thus the lifetime warranty. They are VERY well made.

We are working on a retrofit strategy for existing jackets.

Thanks again for the feedback.
B

i really think you need UK testers to verify that the system works when used by drivers on the opposite side of the road

It's much easier to stay warm in the cold than cool in the heat. I'd rather you worked on better warm-wx gear.

I would also be interested in a liner for my 5.0.

Plus I think you ought to give that test to me instead of Geo' since I live an hour north of him and not in a heat island (kidding)

Seriously, I live outside St Cloud MN and I could invite Geo (you're hereby invited) up to my place on a designated day so he can test your heated gear to see how it stands up to an hour odd riding. A pretty good baseline if you ask me. Heck I could even write his evaluation on my blog if he and you were interested.

Did you say there would be more than one heat setting? And where will the heat be concentrated? Mostly to the back or...?

This intrigues me.

I also wanted to say that for the longest time I was looking for what I call a European collar in a motorcycle jacket. Had my eye on a certain Hein Gericke that disappeared when I went back to buy it. After many years I persued something similar. The 5.0 turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.

Harv

I can't wait for a heated 5.0!

Get 'em on the market fast while I can still sell all my shares of stock for enough money to buy one jacket.

I've seen the heated gloves in a store in Reno, NV.
I may purchase a pair for the winter

Oh yeah, I'd wear it. If my upper body is warm I ride in sub freezing weather. I wear snowboard pants and mittens and a nice heated jacket would be awesome.

yay, i totally accept the challenge (if that's what ya cal it )

i've been happy with my Gerbing's gloves and am all about the rechargeable batteries - the slippery leaves aren't fun right now but I got pulled over on the the PX today with a ticket for operating an unsafe vehicle - I couldn't fit the feet on my floor board leaving Byerly's (a local grocery story), fuckers, whatever - funny thing is they let me drive home safely after I strapped one of my 3 of 4 bags on my rear rack - they can kiss my...

Would be my vote, I like to be able to alter my layers, and also I like to add patches to my jacket with a special glue. I would worry about using that glue(which seeps a bit)and also about trying to clean the jacket if I couldn't remove the liner.
How about making an independent jacket liner that fits a variety of coats? And make it possible to hook the gloves directly to said liner somehow so that cold air doesn't shoot up a gap in the outer jacket sleeve.
And you didn't ask, but I would love to test the gear:)
I live in Central Ohio and try to ride every month if not too nasty(icy, slushy) out. Sally

Bradford, you know I've already volunteered for local duty! 8) Seconding Sarah's motion, on behalf of all of us riding in the drizzly Pacific NW, a true waterproof Corazzo line would be divine. Heated too? absolutely miraculous.

--Deborah

I'd wear heated clothing, But only if I had the option to plug it in.
I have a utility outlet under the seat on my Scarabeo 200 that I'd like to put to use.

I'm fairly happy wearing a (Joe Rocket) liner in my mesh Speedway for wet weather. A couple of loops in the current designs would allow for the lining to be attached to the jackets.

Regards
Harvey

I've got an all-season JR jacket with their waterproof liner [the Alter Ego: zips out to mesh]. Versatile and inexpensive. However, the liner doesn't breath, and is kind of clammy to wear.

I'd love to have a well-made scooter jacket as functional in wet weather as my Gortex ski jackets: waterproof *and* breathable. . .

The batteries wouldn't be lithium-polymer (Li-Po) would they? Like used in the model plane RC field? If lithium ion , they are more stable but they still cause fires if shorted. I'd feel safer with lithium ion.

Li-Po might be bad as those things catch fire sometimes when the RC plane crashes. Would be bad in a MC suit. Also would want the connector plugs/ wires to have no sharp or largish block edges, so that in a slide they wouldn't catch or short.

Based on the above: A battery suit? Depends on safety.

I might be a good tester for you. I've been riding the Corrazzo 5.0 jacket with Knox armor for three years now. I'm going to replace it in November for a Rev'it Cayenne Pro jacket/pants, which are top of the line unheated but one of the warmest motorcycle jackets out there.

I also know my batteries, having used lithium-ion cameras and Li-Po RC helicopters which crash a LOT. I was trained as a mechanical engineer, but I haven't done R&D for years, and I wasn't good at it then.

I lost 35 pounds, will be 40 pounds in November, so the Corrazo is getting too loose now, reason for the switch to the Rev'it. Btw, did you ever add a waist cinch strap with velcro to the 5.0? I seriously need one. A zippered vent further up the arm, just above elbow would be nice too, this would allow higher temps if this area were opened up I believe.

I ride all year but not below 35 degrees (but willing to try!). I don't live in a town, but in the Colorado foothills so 45mph+ roads are mandatory for me every trip.

The thing about Colorado is the temps can change really fast in just a few hours, you have to be smart with layering/heating tricks. I found that a base layer of silk works really well.

A Corazzo Heated Vest would be nice,
Especially if it had some accessories that could be bought with it.
Like a Heat Troller and Y adapters, Also a utility plug in adapter.

I'd love a Corazzo Vest, I'd jump on a vest at a reasonable price.

I have a Aerostich Darien with the windproof electric liner. It's very warm but bulky. My electric vest goes everywere and fits under all my jackets. I like that option. Plus a vest uses less juice because of the close fit. I would only want a plug in. Those with 50cc scoots with low charging rates might need the battery unit.

What I need are affordable, armored, heated, battery gloves.

I've grown kind of fond of my Michelin man look though...

Seriously, I am always looking for innovative ways to stay warm on a cold morning, day, or night while riding.

A jacket that goes from cold to hot? No bulky liner to carry around? I am happy to test that one for you. I might even go to a store and try one on if making one is possible.

I layer up so much for a 45-50 degree ride in the morning that I am stowing several layers for my 80 - 90 degree ride home. Would be nice if there was a way to simplify that. I have to put another layer under my mesh jacket's full liner. As it gets colder I have added a scarf around the neck.
I thought it would be nice if there was a way to snap open some cooling areas and snap them shut later. It seems possible with some lightweight windbreaker material.

Please make it just long enough in the back to cover jean gapiosis.

+1 on the retrofit for the 5.0. I just bought one yesterday!

Both my wife and I have your Corazzo jackets and a set of Firstgear Kilimanjaro 4.0 Jackets. I need something heated and I was considering the Jett Battery Heated Vest but in the end I think I think I am going to get something I can plug in.

It came down to the Tourmaster Synergy Heated Vest (Winner: webBikeWorld 2007 Motorcycle Product of the Year award for Winter Motorcycle Clothing!) or the Gerbing Heated Motorcycle Jacket Liner. I am really leaning towards the Tourmaster Senergy line due to the much lighter more modern carbon fiber heating elements. I also really like the fact that all of their gear has the built-in controller and the wiring harness already included in the cost. I think I am going to add a Powerlet plug in the plastic cover on the the left side since that is the side of the bike I always get off on. I have a portable tire pump that will also plug into the Powerlet plug if I need to use it to fill the air in a tire or fix a flat.

I just bought a TecMate Optimate 4 Battery Charger today for $61.95 and I will be able to plug this right into the Powerlet to keep the battery at full charge at all times when the bike is not in use. They also have a cool Optimate Compact Wall Bracket that I got that will mount next to the bike right on the wall so it will take less than 10 seconds to plug it in after a ride. I would like to monitor the amps/volts during the ride and I am kicking around a Datel Voltmeter but in the end I do not think I will pull the trigger. I run a Blue Sea ST Blade Fuse Box on my FJR and it makes plugging in additional items very easy.

I just realized how long this post is getting but I guess I had a lot on my mind. In the end, I think I am going to get plug in gear to keep me warm on those colder rides and some of the other safety issues I mentioned above. I do think the battery gear is going to be the best solution for most of the people on this board. Good luck and it really sounds like an exciting product.

Me! Me!...Pick ME!
As a Corazzo local...I'd make for a great tester.
I strongly second Deborah's comments...WATERPROOFING would be really great. Heated gloves would be great (although I am spoiled with heated handgrips on my BV).
Have any of you Corazzo folks used Scotchguard on a 5.0 jacket? Does it hurt anything?
How's the new digs on Davis working out?
A big fan, and a good customer,
-Arjen

I sure hope you're gonna use heating electricals (or whatever they call it) from Gerbing's. I've had my Gerbing's jacket liner for 5 years and it's never let me down. My brother finally decided to get heated gear last year (he lives in Minnetonka). He cheaped out and went with Tour Master Synergy, and the controller fried the first day. They fixed it and it fried again. He told them he wanted his money back, but they wouldn't. Neither would the dealer (they would only give him "credit") so he sold it on Ebay.

He went to a Gerbing dealer and got their jacket liner and controller (more expensive, but worth it IMHO). Spent last winter warm as toast.

I don't know what kind of heating electricals you're gonna use, but it should be good stuff or you could end up with lotsa warranty problems. Don't cheap out.

I really like the idea of a self-contained battery powered heating jacket. Having an option for a retrofit or just a seperate self-contained liner would be great so I could use it under my corazzo hoodie or any other jacket i choose. maybe throw in some heated rain pants too, eh?