Heated jacket liner

Tenman

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I am looking for a new heated jacket liner. I've had 2 tourmaster jacket liners. They were good until they ragged out and left me freezing a few times. Tourmaster did send me a couple of free contollers. Evidently they are a problem for others too. Had the first and second generation Looking for some reviews on other liners.
 

bimota

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I have a POWERLET JACKET bought in the UK cost about £190 had now 3 years what a jacket fits under my klim badlands jacket the carbon heating element works all over perfectly back,chest, arms and the neck section.
would by another in a instance
 

Dirt_Dad

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Tourmaster definitely had problems with their early controllers. I went through several of them. They finally got it worked out (years ago) and I've been using both the vest, and my wife her jacket liner for years now with no further problem.

I do tend to replace the bike attached connector cable every couple of years because water tends to corrode them.

If any of my vests or liner does eventually die I'd probably replace it with another TM Synergy one. It's done a good job for us.
 

EricV

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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.
 

Cycledude

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Back in about 1997 I bought a Gerbing liner mainly because of the lifetime warranty, over 20 years later it still works and has never given me one bit of trouble.
Gordon Gerbing turned the business over to his son who in a little while moved the manufacturing to China and laid off most of the USA employees, it didn’t take long and he got the company in serious financial trouble and was forced to sellout , the next outfit that owned Gerbing pretty quickly got rid of the lifetime warranty.
When Gordon was in his 80’s he started a new company making heated clothing and brought back the lifetime warranty and most of the the old employees . I actually got to talk to Gordon at a couple different motorcycle shows, If I was buying new heated gear today it would most likely be Gordon’s because of the lifetime warranty and the fact that they are made in the USA .
https://www.gordonsheated.com/
 
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Tenman

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Will these wired jacket share the same plugs and controller as my ragged out Tourmaster? I still have my TM gloves, pants and boot liners. Not wanting to start over.$$$$$ If I have to start over/ I'm getting another TM. From what I gathered TM went from carbon to stainless heating elements for durability.
 

Defekticon

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I have the newer 2.0 tourmaster vest with neck liner and chaps Aside from the wires it's been great. Very comfortable and stable temps. Rode down the blue ridge in March with below freezing temps and snow, toasty and warm. Was considering upgrading to the full pants and boot liners, but I moved to FL! I like the wireless concept however, the tourmaster gear has been rocksolid, even when abused and folded up in my saddlebags.
 

EricV

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Will these wired jacket share the same plugs and controller as my ragged out Tourmaster? I still have my TM gloves, pants and boot liners. Not wanting to start over.$$$$$ If I have to start over/ I'm getting another TM. From what I gathered TM went from carbon to stainless heating elements for durability.
Depends on what generation Tourmaster you have. Older ones used a proprietary controller. I think newer ones have a standard co-ax connector with the controller inline between the power from the bike and the jacket liner. Most of the current controllers will have either a co-ax or SAE connector for power from the bike, then a Co-ax round connector from the controller to the jacket liner.

The gloves, again, if they have one co-ax connector to plug to the jacket, will likely work fine with new gear. Ditto on the boot liners.
 

HeliMark

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I have the original Gerbing with a dual controller I bought around 2006 or so. Still going strong. I also bought the Gerbing heated gloves, and although they work, I do not like them, very bulky, and not really motorcycle friendly.
 

regder

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I use a Powerlet heated liner, which I think was made by Warm N Safe. Previously used a Warm N Safe Gen 3 (a bit too large for me, hence the Powerlet). Both have been fantastic

My absolute favourite bit of heated gear is the Warm N Safe wireless troller. I used the Gerbing two circuit troller for one ride, realizing that it wasn't practical to use while riding. The Warm N Safe troller is infinitely better. One power wire when to connect when getting on the bike. Turn it on from the troller mounted somewhere accessible (mine is on the front brake master), adjust the temperature as needed from the troller. Get off the bike, disconnect the one power wire.

Currently have the following:
Powerlet jacket liner
FirstGear heated pants
Gerbing T5 gloves (not great)
First gear heated socks
Warm N Safe dual circuit wireless troller
 

Don in Lodi

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I use the dual heat troller hard wired to the fuse block. I have no trouble with a wired hookup. I use the W&S liner with the two circuits separated. It's nice to be able to run the liner and the Tourmaster gloves at different levels. Been comfy down into the upper 30s, maxed out, but comfy. The Tourmasters plug right in and have a thinner palm for better feel and they work great with heated grips.
 

regder

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Side note. (Hot Wired) The controllers seem to be water proof. With the gloves built in controller postage stamp size button, Less wiring. The only time you need two controllers is when you run pants. A rare occasion for me. They can be run off one controller but you have less control. With wired controller, less headache. I had a friends wireless controller battery go on a trip. He was cold as hell. Kiss KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPED has always worked well for me. If It can go wrong, it will at a really pain in the ass time!
The Warm N Safe wireless troller uses two AAA batteries, and gives a pretty long heads up if the batteries are running low.
 
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