I wonder if Warm & Safe are also providing electric jackets for Tourmaster as well as First Gear? They look similar.

Anyone know?


Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Either that or others have ripped of his designs again... like they did the Heat Troller.

Who said Gerbing?!

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

I had the Gerbing jacket (not the liner) back in 2006...I returned it in a month--QC issues with buttons popping off.

I bought an Aerostich Darien with the Kanetsu Windbloc heated liner. Great piece of kit and the warmest I've owned. Very bulky. Sold that...

Ended up with the Warm-n-Safe liner-much thinner, the elements get plenty warm. It's the perfect fit. Price was reasonable, about 200. I put a fleece over it, perfect all winter in New Jersey, ridden in temps in the single digits. I'm sure the Darien as the outer layer contributes...but the W-n-S liner is the ticket to keeping your core temp up...IMO.

Best of luck with the purchase.

I use an EX02 Heatwave. As the blood all flows through the kidneys, I figured it was an efficient way to keep the major organs warm. It only draws 0.6 Amps. Around £50 GBP


HEATWAVE Heated Back Support

For using with portable battery pack select EXO² Power Pack and Charger below. If seeking to ease lower back muscle strains, whether at home, on the motorcycle or when you want to chase the chills on an outdoor walk, this is an unbeatable combination product. Heated Lower Back Support/Kidney Belt with elasticated nylon sections, hook & loop (Velcro) closure, battery pocket with DC plug connector, heated panel at the lower back and pull-forward support handles for a tighter fit.
Power Packs must be ordered separately if required - see below
Power Requirement - Back Support draws approx. 0.6Amps

Mike

Yes I've got an exo2 vest and the quality and finish plus the performance are all very impressive. The company are a pleasure to deal with too. Linzi.

I got a Chilli heated waistcoat (made by Calamander UK) as a prezzie. I think the brand name must be ironic, but the product is god. Keeps me warm even when not switched on.

Otherwise plugs in with a variety of lead lengths that you can order. I got the curly one: long enough to reach any of the power points dotted about the Ural without being a deathtrap once off the bike.

It comes with a variable heat dial, so you can reheat last nights dinner all the way to nuke them potatoes. Max draw about 38W. Waistcoat seems well made with nice tough connectors on the waistcoat where it will get the most abuse. Only slightly more expensive than Klan heated clothing that lacks the thermostat, although this has served my Dad very well too.

Either way, definitely a recommended item of clothing: makes some journeys perfectly comfotable when they would have been hellish without...

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

We spent a year touring round South America. I had the WarmNSafe jacket while my husband had the Gerbin. We used them a lot down south.

WarmnSafe wins hands up because of the fitted cut. There is no lower elastic that shaft the jacket up like for Gerbin. So it covers the kidneys and as it is very fitted it is close to the skin everywhere. So WnS has a better cut.

My husband is now thinking to sell the Gerbin and buy Warmnsafe.

Heat troller did last only a year. I just bought Gerbin dual one and it looks must more tough....
cheers,

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

My home made jacket is only 60W, but as a second layer I've burnt myself (red horizontal wire burn marks on lower back/sides are hard to explain to my wife after a trip that passed Amsterdam and Hamburg BTW ).

I'm on the verge of dumping the electric kit for long prepared rides after playing with layers long enough to get it right. I'm using wool and silk as well as pile type synthetics and it really does such a good job the electrics become unecessary, but you've got to layer it up and seal the gaps. A low power controlable heated jacket under layers of thin wool would IMHO work down to minus 30 or less and certainly gives a nice boost to less than perfect bike clothing.

That battery pack type reminded me of another solution, there are jackets out there that have pockets for chemical heat packs. Easier to store when not used and can be recharged in a pan of hot water.

Andy

Hmmm ... separate power packs? I'd much rather use something being powered off the bike that does not run on batteries ..... that need charging,
need replacing and go dead at the worst time. IMO, 0.6 amps ain't gonna cut it. The Gerbing pulls about 6 amps. Over 15 times more heat.

I've not used this product but trust me ... you need heat in more places than just your lower back. The Gerbing when worn with thin, close fitting jersey over it, keeps the Gerbing close fitting to your body, so you get maximum heat transfer. And not just for your back but your Chest and Arms as well. You just can't imagine how much difference having warm arms make. Keeps your hands working in the cold ... really makes a difference. The Gerbing and Warm & Safe have heat wires on your Chest, Arms, and all of your back and shoulders.

One of the greatest benefits of Electric jackets is the idea that you no longer have to dress up like the Michelin Man .... Mr. Bib! On a long trip this means less crap you have to pack, fewer bulky things to constantly peel on and off. The Gerbing is worth at least two fleece sweaters and you can ride freer with less bulk restricting movement. Nice.

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

I've had a Gerbing jacket for about 20 yrs and it really is a godsend on long winter rides. It heats just about everywhere - front, back, neck and arms, pulling around 7 amps / 85W.
Being a jacket though it goes over jumpers / sweaters so the heat has to get through them before it gets to me and I've often thought that something worn closer to the skin would need to put out less heat for the same effect. Also, as it's a couple of layers out it suffers from "rucking up" - moving away from your skin as you settle into the bike and you find yourself squirming around trying to get the hot bit back into contact.

Leaving sweaters and stuff off so the jacket is the first layer out leads to severe local overheating in some bits and draughts in others at the same time. I've not actually burnt myself but it has been very uncomfortable verging on painful once or twice. Being a primeval, early 80's model it has a binary heat controler - it's either on or off when you plug it in / unplug it.
If I ever get round to buying another one something that can be worn closer in with an easily adjustable controller would be what I'd want but not having looked at the market in years I've no idea what's available.

I can't pitch into this thread without asking how many of you recognise the name Maurice Seddon. If you don't and can't be bothered to google him I'd just say that if you're into electrically heated clothing this is a guy who really walks the walk.
He's been making / selling bespoke electric clothing since the 50's, running an old BSA with an auxillary car alternator strapped on not only to power the usual jackets, gloves, trousers, boots, extra lights etc but also a 12v oven on the rear of the bike which would cook his dinner as he rode along.

He even went as far as wiring his house with a second 12v ring main (powered by a windmill on the roof and in place of cental heating) so he could plug in his wired everyday clothing as he went from room to room. That really is belief in your product. In the 70's he was just about the only game in town if you were looking for electric bike clothing. I met him a few times at rallies and once at his home but could never afford any of his (very high quality) stuff as it was 3 -4 times the price of Gerbing. British craftsmanship versus American mass production I suppose.

Great comments!
The way to solve your problem is to get the jacket closer to you .... this will about double it's effectiveness. To do this:
First layer:
Thin, stretchy, high quality synthetic (or silk) like a Motocross jersey. Turtle neck is good, not required.
2nd Layer:
Gerbing jacket
3rd Layer:
This is optional but I like a thin Wind Stop liner. Should be thin but effective.
This will serve to hold the Gerbing close to your skin but with the 1st base layer jersey on, it won't burn you but will let Max heat through.
4th Layer:
Riding jacket.

Four layers seems like a lot but if the right fabrics are used, this is not a bulky set up at all and is good down to below freezing ... and then some.

Unfortunately this system really needs the heat controller to work effectively. I constantly adjust mine for conditions. In town, I turn it way down to "simmer". On slow roads it's set at 30%. Motor way in cold it goes about 50% to 75%. Mountains, early morning, late night, Full Up 100%.

My current bike (Suzuki DR650) only puts out a total of about 200 watts, so very little in reserve. In daylight I run with headlight off to give max power to Gerbing and heated grips and still maintain battery. All good in 20,000 miles. In the dark I've got about 5 hours of use if both Gerbing and grips are full up. About 10 hours if set lower. Battery recovers overnight sitting or in twenty minutes riding with accessories off.

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

The only consistent problems with the Gerbing that I've heard about was the failed Chinese Heat Trollers copies they used for a while. Gerbing stole the Warm & Safe guy's Heat Troller design, copied his design but didn't get it right ... so lots of failures as a consequence ... I had one go bad!

I had not heard of many problems with the Electric jackets themselves. Lots of friends have them. Gerbing now use another design heat controller .... seems to be OK.

As you say, the Aerostich vest is far too bulky .... and apparently not that warm compared to a Gerbing or Warm & Safe. A vest will NEVER match
a full jacket in warmth.


Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!