What do you guys wear under your leathers?

[tomo99]

hey guys need some help here what is a good cheap way to keep warm when wearing leathers in the winter??

[Madness]

hey guys need some help here what is a good cheap way to keep warm when wearing leathers in the winter??

The Dutch alpine thermal pants from the army disposal store (http://www.kiwidisposals.co.nz/thermals?redirected=1) on K road are good bang for your dollar.

[nallac]

Good link there Madness:niceone:

[Akzle]

synthetic> leather.

else. any thermal clothes. polypro, micro-fleece etc.

generally a "base layer" as stocked by kathmandu, hunting&fishing etc, if you're a real blouse, then a mid-layer too.

[Subike]

interestingly, I use the Swiss army thermal long johns, $10 Ex chch army surplus shop ( now munted )
Thermal socks with dress socks inside them,
Sheep shin inner soles in my boots,
Heavy denim jeans under my leather riding pants
Swiss army fishnet long singlet.$15 Ex chch army surplus shop
Long sleeve turtle neck skivvy,
Flannelette work shirt
Wool Jersey
Light inner leather jacket
Ex Navey issue great coat, pure wool WW2 erra $50 Ex chch army surplus shop. (like wearing two thicK wool blankets)

I use a polypropylene balaclava under my helmet, T M $5.

The Great coat gets very heavy if it ever gets wet, but even soaked, it still keep you warm

[Peeteey]

I usually use trackies under my leather trou, keeps me brilliantly warm but I don't ride in the snow on the road bike ...

[iYRe]

we went out in 0 deg this morning... 1 pair postie plus thermal pants, 1 postie plus thermal shirt, katmandu merino glove inserts, long sleeve shirt, jersey, nerve pants/jacket, oxford neck scarf thing, and merino beanie (from hatworx - $15).
No worries at all.. hands got a little reddish but otherwise fine. Total cost, less than $400.

Note: I also use the same thermals, glove inserts and beanie when I bicycle to work and I am usually almost too warm.

[DJSin]

lots of ice breaker gear

[Bassmatt]

interestingly, I use the Swiss army thermal long johns, $10 Ex chch army surplus shop ( now munted )
Thermal socks with dress socks inside them,
Sheep shin inner soles in my boots,
Heavy denim jeans under my leather riding pants
Swiss army fishnet long singlet.$15 Ex chch army surplus shop
Long sleeve turtle neck skivvy,
Flannelette work shirt
Wool Jersey
Light inner leather jacket
Ex Navey issue great coat, pure wool WW2 erra $50 Ex chch army surplus shop. (like wearing two thicK wool blankets)

I use a polypropylene balaclava under my helmet, T M $5.

The Great coat gets very heavy if it ever gets wet, but even soaked, it still keep you warm

What, all at the same time? How do you move your arms?

[Subike]

What, all at the same time? How do you move your arms?

Buying the right sizes, stating with small mens singlet, and working up to XXL for the greatcoat
arm movement not a worry, wearing the great coat with just a shirt under it is like wearing a tent

[caspernz]

A merino set of long johns and long sleeved top. On really cold days I put the Oxford ChillOut set on over the top of this, but generally that gets too warm for all day wear. Then again, I find the Icebreaker set with my Revit fabric pants and jacket are a better bet overall. I'm a fair weather leather kinda fella, with the fabric stuff for all but summer as a rule...

[sil3nt]

Compression leggings (similar to skins...just cheaper)
^Thermal Leggings over the top.

Two long sleeve thermal tops and a t-shirt if really cold. Sometimes one layer works fine.


The most important piece for me is the neck warmer. No point in wearing warm clothing if cold air just rushes down your neck under your clothing.

I use the Oxford chillout neck tube http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/products/551-neck_and_face_warmers/4329-oxford_chill_out_balaclava_and.aspx

Should have got the balaclava as the neck tube can be a pain to keep in place when putting the helmet on.

[caspernz]

I use the Oxford chillout neck tube http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/products/551-neck_and_face_warmers/4329-oxford_chill_out_balaclava_and.aspx

Should have got the balaclava as the neck tube can be a pain to keep in place when putting the helmet on.

Yeah, I used to go with the neckwarmer, but found it a bit of a nuisance. Recently got a Revit balaclava, same principle as the ChillOut balaclava. Nowhere near as restrictive as a neckwarmer.:niceone:

[Jantar]

It all depends on just how cold you expect it to be and how long you'll be out in it.

For commuting to and from work; 10 km each way, I wear just my normal work clobber under my leathers..

Below -6C the bike stays in the shed.

For longer trips, below 0 and down to -6c, I wear Icebreaker long johns, under my jeans, and a 260 icebreaker singlet under a flannelette shirt and a woolen Jersy.

If most of the trip is going to above 0C but below 8C I'll leave off the Icebreaker long johns.

If most of the trip is above 8C, I'll also leave off the Icebreaker singlet.

[ducatilover]

Usually I wear a normal T-shirt or singlet. No pants under the leather, gotta let the mighty man breathe.
If it's cold I'll wear a thermal skivvy thing under my jacket and nice socks.

I'm properly tough though. :msn-wink:

[Mom]

Think of yourself as a pass the parcel present and layer up :yes:

Lots of really good suggestions in here...

[cc rider]

Leggins or compressions (from Aldi), long sleeve top & sloppy if I can fit one on. Don't like wearing leather in winter/cold weather, am always cold. I'm a sooky-la-la though.

Actually I wear the same pants in summer. :rolleyes:

[nathanwhite]

Wait, you guys wear stuff under your leathers?


I think i've been doing this wrong.

[Maha]

I ditched the leather gear and got real stuff...now no need for such an apparel quandary any longer.

[nzspokes]

Wait, you guys wear stuff under your leathers?


I think i've been doing this wrong.

They mean when riding your motorcycle, not spending time with special friends.....

[Tigadee]

lots of ice breaker gear

:shit: And snow plough on the front of the bike too?

[p.dath]

hey guys need some help here what is a good cheap way to keep warm when wearing leathers in the winter??

When it is cold, I wear my pajama pants.

[jim.cox]

Depends on the temperature.

If its cold poly-propelene longjohns - or maybe thin fleece tights.

I might wear a long sleeved shirt over a merino tee-shirt or singlet

[slofox]

Three layers of merino thermals...

[ducatilover]

Wait, you guys wear stuff under your leathers?


I think i've been doing this wrong.

I'm thinking it's something to do with us being young and they're all floppy wristed codgers.

[nathanwhite]

I'm thinking it's something to do with us being young and they're all floppy wristed codgers.

Ridings all about freedom innit? Feeling like a jaunt up/down SH16 with nothing but helmet now

[ducatilover]

Ridings all about freedom innit? Feeling like a jaunt up/down SH16 with nothing but helmet now

I never do it that extreme, I always take my nail polish with me

[Newbi]

Lacey bra and panties, lol

[steve_t]

Can't afford Icebreaker stuff so I get Kathmandu merino when it goes on sale (which is fairly regularly). Merino is awesome. My polyprop thermals get real stinky. I guess I smell

[sil3nt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z29YHKzbuuc

[Gremlin]

Stopped wearing leathers as they were so impractical, especially on longer rides as the weather could vary so much (or you could find the same front multiple times :lol:)

As a general rule, don't just look at motorcycle solutions, they are generally over-priced. Camping, Tramping and Hiking are very cross-applicable here, with the emphasis on packing small, being thin, but very good insulation. Remembering of course, they often won't be out in 100kph winds, whereas effectively we are the whole time.

Layers are the key. If the ride will be cold for the whole duration, I'll put thermals under the pants, possibly thermal liners in the pants (depending on weather). Remember it's rather hard to quickly remove that layer. On the top, depends on ride. Longer stuff has skinz compression top and bottom as the core layer, other stuff will either be an icebreaker t-shirt or just a t-shirt. A thermal top is quite usual (unless warm) as it's easier to remove that a jacket thermal liner, but perhaps both are in. For really cold stuff (like a 600km ride to Whakatane yesterday) I chucked the heated vest on, close to my core, under the armour. Jacket has to be for stuff sustained below about 5 degrees though (coz I can turn off as well, if required).

Depending on the bike gear, if it's my Rukka, I need nothing over the top, as it's completely waterproof and warm, so for cold winters only. My Revit is not waterproof on the outer layer, so when it gets cold or wet I throw a basic waterproof jacket on top... they're very good for blocking wind or rain, but don't breathe so well... perhaps the next one might be goretex...

[ducatilover]

Lacey bra and panties, lol

That much? I'm shocked.

Pics.

[Macontour]

Wow, you guys have it sussed!! Isn't modern materials technology great. And my Icebreaker top gets worn almost every day during winter. Years ago in my youth, I rode my Suzuki GT250X7 from Auckland to Napier and back in a weekend. longest trip prior to that had probably been to end of motorway. I had a couple of Tshirts, a pair of old wool long johns, a sweat shirt, wool jersey, ex MOT overtrou, a bright green Kawasaki paddock Jacket and a plastic raincoat wit ex MOT Gauntlets on my hands.

I got to Taupiri and stopped at a gas station and asked how far to Napier and the guy laughed. It rained from Taupo to Napier and all the way home. Everything I was wearing was soaking wet by the time I got to Auckland. To warm my hands I would pull over and hold my hands against the mighty 2 stroke engine. I didn't even stop at the cafe at the summit of the Napier-Taupo rd as I figured I would not go out into the weather again.

Aaaaaaah memories.

[G4L4XY]

Wow, you guys have it sussed!! Isn't modern materials technology great. And my Icebreaker top gets worn almost every day during winter. Years ago in my youth, I rode my Suzuki GT250X7 from Auckland to Napier and back in a weekend. longest trip prior to that had probably been to end of motorway. I had a couple of Tshirts, a pair of old wool long johns, a sweat shirt, wool jersey, ex MOT overtrou, a bright green Kawasaki paddock Jacket and a plastic raincoat wit ex MOT Gauntlets on my hands.

I got to Taupiri and stopped at a gas station and asked how far to Napier and the guy laughed. It rained from Taupo to Napier and all the way home. Everything I was wearing was soaking wet by the time I got to Auckland. To warm my hands I would pull over and hold my hands against the mighty 2 stroke engine. I didn't even stop at the cafe at the summit of the Napier-Taupo rd as I figured I would not go out into the weather again.

Aaaaaaah memories.


Ahhh bro i've done Whangamata and also Auckland to palmerston north on the 250cc, completely not comfortable at all, especially cause i was wearing a bag full up too which sucked. I remember coming back through the desert road it was windy and raining as fuck I was soaked ay. Not fun but then I go out in all conditions all the time

[Subike]

The coldest ride I have done was from TeAnau to Milford Sound, end of July 2005, on my XS1100
10meter high snow drifts each side of the road, water flowing aling the sides of the road, with ice floating in it,
A southerly breeze, the high for the day was 2 cel.
The Homer tunnel was fucking cold, like riding into a freezer.
The entrance to the tunnel was amazing.
Lots and lots of layers that day, bread bags over socks in boots, latex gloves inside riding gloves.
But worth the effort