Heated jacket liner

[Tenman]

Got my hotwire jacket liner. Plenty of heat on the torso. None on the arms.WTH

 

[Tenman]

Warm n Safe is excellent gear and they have the best Heat controller, (Heat-troller) regardless of who's other gear you are using. I've been using their heat-trollers exclusively for over a decade.

Their jacket liners come in different versions. The wife has one of the Gen 3 women's heated jacket liners. It is thin and keeps her warm. What it doesn't do is give her a warm jacket off the bike. The WnS jackets are not insulated, so keep that in mind. The Gen 4 stuff is waterproof, but still no insulation, as I understand their web site. Great quality of gear too.

The wife's previous heated gear was Tourmaster. It worked ok, but had hot spots and the controller would die every couple of years. This was an older generation than now. Probably around 2009-13 stuff that she used. Perhaps they are better now?

I am still wearing a Gerbing jacket liner from 2004. It's insulated and I wear it as a jacket when off the bike when we are moto traveling. Bulkier than the WnS stuff. Back then it was a different company than today. Gerbing sold to someone else and Gordon Gerbing has his own heated gear company now too. FWIW, First Gear heated gear is made by Warm n Safe. Some of the HD stuff was, but I'm not sure about currently.

Gordon Gerbing died this year. I have no idea what impact that may have or has had on his clothing company. His gear is insulated and essentially a nicely updated version of what I wear from 2004 with better heating elements. I'd consider that worth checking out.

Technology has progressed greatly from my circa 2004 jacket liner. Most companies are using carbon soft elements to heat and have flexible panels to keep the gear snug to your body. This helps warm you better, uses less power and provides a more uniform heat w/o hot spots.

There is a lot more out there, but this is what I know from personal use and have actually seen/handled or used. If I was looking now, I'd also look at the Powerlet stuff.

The guy at Revzilla said Powerlet is not compatible with my Tourmaster stuff. The other stuff they have is.

 

[Tenman]

My socks are first gear. They have the best reviews. Been great. Had them since 2008. Used them 6 or times.

I got a Evo Hotwire jacket liner yesterday. I rode 50 miles in it today. My body was nice and warm but the arms didn't have any heat. Is this the liner you have? Came from Revzilla. The guy there said he would take it back. But he said electronics are not usually returnable if they have been opened. He asked if I had just checked it or ridden with it. Told him I just checked it. I hadn't ridden with at that time. So it wasn't a lie. If the sleeves had heat. It would be a keeper. If you buy one of these and it doesn't work. How in the hell are you suppose to know until you open it????

 

[Cycledude]

I got a Evo Hotwire jacket liner yesterday. I rode 50 miles in it today. My body was nice and warm but the arms didn't have any heat. Is this the liner you have? Came from Revzilla. The guy there said he would take it back. But he said electronics are not usually returnable if they have been opened. He asked if I had just checked it or ridden with it. Told him I just checked it. I hadn't ridden with at that time. So it wasn't a lie. If the sleeves had heat. It would be a keeper. If you buy one of these and it doesn't work. How in the hell are you suppose to know until you open it????

That right there pretty much explains why I would choose https://www.gordonsheated.com/ it might help explain things a little better if you read post #8 in this thread. There ain’t a lot of difference in prices between the brands but in my opinion there is a big difference in service if you ever happen to need it.

 

[rfulcher]

WarmNSafe stuff is good. I have used their stuff for over 10 years and never had a failure.

 

[Tenman]

Has anybody tried a Tour Master dual controler on Gerbing jacket. If I cant use my TM controller, pants and gloves with a Gerbing jacket. I'm gonna have to go TM again. Santa is hammering my wallet.

 

[Don in Lodi]

I did the W&S trade up recently. Great folks. Sent me the new liner before I sent the old one back. Their 90 watt liner is more than warm enough down into the 30s.

 

[Tenman]

I got a W&S ordered. I emailed several different places to ask if my Tourmaster controller and pants would work with W&S. The answers varied from YES to NO. They said when they get my trade in. They'll ship it.

 

[jjc1957]

I ride down to around 30 but now days I like 40 better. I own two pairs of Gerbing gloves, one pair of glove liners and the hot wire jacket from Cycle Gear. The jacket is three years old, my last jacket failed on the left glove supply and Cycle Gear just gave me another jacket. Great service. I wired my open tractor up and they work great when plowing snow. Sometimes I even put on my Nolen helmet on when plowing snow. I do get some strange looks but who cares.

 

[Tenman]

I just got my W&S jacket. It works fine with my tourmaster controller, pants and gloves. No complaints so far. The sizing chart was spot on for me.

 

[craigincali]

Are you putting the controller in a pocket or ??? I really don't want it mounted in my bike.

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

 

[Edbo1960]

I use a wireless controller and velcro it to the top of the brake reservoir so removable (in summer) and I can use on my other bike, great set up.

 

[Buelligan]

I use first gear heated liner, and gloves, they are about 8 years old now, still working great.
I use a wireless dual controller that I can move from bike to bike.

 

[EricV]

Are you putting the controller in a pocket or ??? I really don't want it mounted in my bike.

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

No question is stupid.

Typically you want the controller where you can see it, or at least feel it and operate it. You would not want to put it in a pocket. You need to adjust it as you are riding and you don't want that to be too distracting of a task. You are, after all, riding a motorcycle in the cold.

I have had mounted controllers in the past, and will again in the future. It makes it so simple to just plug into the cord, (or panel mount), on the bike when you want to use the heated gear, and you're done. The controller is always there.

When I'm not using a mounted controller, (And I always have a back up portable anyway), I clip it to my tank bag so I can see the LED indicator and adjust the knob as needed. My wife and others will clip the controller to their jacket belt and adjust by feel. These methods do require the optional pouch with belt clip for Heat-Trollers. Most brands either have a built in clip or offer something similar.

W&S also offers wireless controllers like Edbo uses that are battery operated and can be velcro stuck anywhere, or just tucked into the map area of a tank bag. You could put it in your pocket too, but that eliminates the ability to adjust on the move, and you will want to do that as conditions change.

 

[craigincali]

I am trying to stay budget friendly so haven't considered wireless ahhhhh

I haven't thought about clipping it to the tank bag. I have enough crap mounted to my bike, I don't want anymore stuff mounted.

 

[regder]

Are you putting the controller in a pocket or ??? I really don't want it mounted in my bike.

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

I used the Gerbing wired troller in a pocket for exactly one ride before realizing that the setup sucked. I want the ability to adjust the setting easily and often during your ride. I have been using the Warm and Safe wireless two circuit troller for the past 4-5 years, and love it. Have it velcro'd to the brake master cylinder.

Using it is as simple as plugging in one wire to the jacket. Can adjust it on the fly throughout the ride. Using the Gerbing involved plugging the troller to the power cable, second wire to the jacket/gloves, third wire to the pants/socks. If I wanted to adjust it, have to blindly try to get it to the right sitting, or pull over

Having it on the bike in a line of sight is a massive advantage, don't know why you wouldn't want to do it. Don't think the Warm and Safe troller cost much more than the Gerbing wired troller.