Aerostitch comes to mind, but I ain't made of money. I'm looking at used jackets and pants. I'd like leather, but not absolute.
I think I'm a 48 jacket and 32/32 pants.
Anyone have any favorites?
If you're feel particularly generous, see anything on Chicago or Milwaukee's Craigslist?
I appreciate the help.
How cold? I got a gerbings heated jacket off advrider flea market and, man, its a game changer. I'm wearing it any time the temps go below freezing. Even low teens were fine with just that, heated grips, and bar mitts.
I won't go out in anything colder than 35ish. The humidity in Northern Illinois tends to leave frost on the backroads. Gotten greasy on me too many times.
Can't do heated. I'm running a 6 volt bike.
Would a XXL be too big? I've got a couple Cortech jackets I'm trying to sell. One mesh, one not mesh, both similar style. I'm in Milwaukee.
This is the mesh. It's a three-way jacket, with a rain liner and quilted liner. Pretty good for 40-90 degrees.
Get a good balaclava, a turtle neck sweater, good gloves, and something to keep the wind from getting to your legs, I use waterproof fishing overalls. My textile jacket is a good wind break. Add some thermal base layers and you're good to go.
I have also had good results from using my skiing kit.
The only difference between that and what I wear on the slopes is I wear my armored Klim jacket over it (which is also wind/waterproof) and swap boots. It worked perfectly fine - maybe even overkill for the temps you are talking about since I was pretty comfortable down to low 20s with that setup.
However - the bar mitts and heated grips are a HUGE part of that comfort level. When my hands get very cold - I stiffen up my arms and have all kinds problems with clutch/throttle control. So... cold hands equals either a coffee break or the end of the ride.
In reply to Huckleberry:
I find that I stiffen up, and hunch my shoulders and get incredibly sore, when I'm cold riding.
I have three great FirstGear jackets I was able to pick up from the closeouts and last chance section @ motorcycle gear.com. I was able to get each of them for $85 or less, and they're all brand new, with great armor. I ride(Upstate N.Y.) year 'round, so that means riding in the cold. I use an inexpensive painters hood/bacalava under my full face helmet.It's thin, light, and keeps my head warm. I use a pair of thinsulated work gloves from home Depot($10)that probably wouldn't be great abrasion resistence, but are toasty warm. I also fashioned a set of air deflectors out of some lexan that bolt onto the brake and clutch levers that work really well at keeping the wind off my hands. A pair of Cortech kevlar reinforced riding pants keep my legs warm.Possibly a hoodie underneath your jacket -layered clothing helps- will also help keep your neck warm. You may not like it, but a windshield or fairing will do wonders pushing the air around you. If you've got crash bars on your bike, bolting a piece of plexiglas to them is an amazingly cheap and effective way to help the legs stay warm, and is easily taken off when the weather warms up. The more wind you can avoid, the warmer you'll stay.
To add, how long are you going to be out riding in the cold? I found my absolute limit was about an hour without stopping in temps near freezing without supplemental heat (hand warmers, heated gear, etc).
A 1pc aerostich is great for an outer shell, with fleece pants and a light down or heavy fleece jacket and long johns underneath. Add a rain suit over it for really cold weather. Consider battery powered heated vests and gloves for longer rides.
Whatever you do, protect your neck from wind. It's amazing how much heat you'll lose there.
Carharts make for decent warmth as well. But, check the gear section of ADVrider. Always killer deals to be found there.
Advrider for used gear!
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