Heated Motorcycle Jackets Extend Your Riding Season
There’s nothing like a HEATED MOTORCYCLE JACKET
Wiring For Heated Motorcycle Jackets
Heating elements typically cover the front and back of your body, and some include the sleeves and collar.
Most motorcycle heated jackets are powered by your bike’s 12 volt battery. Which means a wire will need to be connected to your bike’s battery.
Depending upon the jacket’s wiring and/or your specific bike, the wire from your battery may be connected to a plug (such a cigarette lighter plug) that would need to be installed on your bike (although some bikes have such accessory plugs built in). Conversely, the wire from the battery may be directed and tied down at a convenient spot whereby you (and/or your passenger) can readily connect up and be on your way, getting toasty as the jacket warms up. The latter style is the connector I use and is very easy to attach and detach: the connector at the end of the wire from the battery is loosely hung under my seat and I plug my heated gear into it before I ride.
Some heated apparel uses flashlight batteries, so they do not need to be connected to your bike’s battery. That might be workable for some folks, although I would rather not hassle with replacing and/or recharging batteries: I’m quite content with using my bike’s power source.
Optional Heat Controller for Electric Motorcycle Jackets
A “heat controller” is an optional accessory for some electric jackets: one that I recommend. Believe it or not, you can get too warm at times and without a heat controller (sort of like the thermostat in your home), you are forced to turn the jacket on and off, while you are riding, to modulate temperature, which can be inconvenient and distracting.
Having said that, most of the time when it’s cold enough that I REALLY need the heated comfort, I just keep it in on full.
Heated Motorcycle Jackets as Liners
Heated motorcycle jackets are worn “under” your outer, protective, motorcycle jacket. They are also worn “over” a shirt or t-shirt.
In fact, to get the greatest advantage from a heated jacket, you want to ensure you are wearing something light as your first layer of apparel, otherwise, heavier clothes will act as an insulator from your heating elements (and you won’t be as warm).
How Cold Can You Comfortably Ride with a Heated Motorcycle Jacket?
There’s no simple answer for this. There are too many variables. If you have a fairing or windshield, you will be able to handle cooler weather, with, or without a heated jacket.
How long are you going to be riding is another factor. You can certainly ride longer in colder weather, but I’ve been in temperatures cold enough that I still got quite chilled, even with heated apparel.
In fact, I’ve ridden a number of times where it was cool enough that even with the heat controller on full, I couldn’t feel the heat at all. (Which indicates to me I would have been freezing had I not been wearing it).
Also, any individual rider’s tolerance for cold is going to vary from person to person. A hardy rider in Chicago will happily ride with his/her heated jacket at much cooler temperatures than a Southern California biker.
Rider Tolerance of Cold
In fact, one disadvantage of riding with heated gear is that it will reduce your tolerance for cooler temperatures when not wearing heated gear. At least that’s what has happened for myself. Over the past few years I have found that I reach for my heated gear at temperatures that are warmer than when I first started using heated gear.
In fact, after my first purchase of heated gear, I never would have guessed that I’d use it in the summer: but I have been very glad of it, particularly when I’ve been riding cross-country, for many hours, through a damp, cool night - or as well, for an all-day rain ride.
Once you’re used to heated gear, it’s hard to do without it as the temperature starts to go down.
Additional Heated Motorcycle Gear
Want some toasty hands? Or would you prefer a more compact heated vest rather than a jacket? Check out my articles on Heated Vests and Heated Gloves.
Compare Heated Motorcycle Jackets
Take a look at the following heated jackets, made available via Amazon.com. The selection and variety of heated motorcycle gear has certainly increased over the years.
