Does heated motorcycle gear improve your winter riding experience?
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
- #keisinspiringriders
If you ride all year round and in all conditions, there is plenty of suitable motorcycle clothing to choose from. So does supplementing it with heated gear make the extra expense worth it?
Over the last couple of years, I've found that there are more upsides to downsides to using heated clothing, and if you choose carefully you can build a decent capsule riding wardrobe that works all year round. In this video, I offer some insight into my experiences whilst looking at I what I think are a few key pieces of clothing to consider investing in.
**Disclaimer - the Keis lifetime warranty refers to the heating element of the garment, not all elements of the garment.
To find out more about the Keis and range and check prices click here keisapparel.com?sca_ref=498443.8saIklJGl7
Intro - 00:00
G301 Lobster gloves - 02:27
Comfort & Feel - 03:15
How easy are they to use? - 04:41
J501RP Jacket & Socks - 05:20
G701S Shorty Glove - 06:38
How hot do they get? - 08:36
A big benefit of heated gear - 09:28
Why Keis? - 10:50
The importance of staying warm on a motorcycle - 12:32
Conclusion - 13:32 - Авто та транспорт
Just bought the gloves you received, they are awesome and a game changer. Also just ordered the same jacket . I commute all year round. Great insight into their gear.
Tony
Yet another concise and honest review covering the main aspects of the subject matter,thanks once again
:0)
Cheers John
Thanks for the video Tony, post-pandemic I could find myself commuting 120 again in the next couple of weeks so this has given me plenty of food for thought👍
Glad it was a help
Another great video Tony, today I received my man cave keyring and stickers much appreciated thank you 😊
Cheers Justin, and no problem!
Good to see you out & about Tony. I treated myself to the Keis socks & large battery for crimbo. Lifesaver! Lasted from 9-4 on 75% which was more than enough. Toasty brilliant kit 😀
Cheers Dave, I've never worn them before, but i'm so glad I gave them a try. Hope you're keeping well
This winter is my first go with heated clothing at 55 and many years of riding, bought the keis 501 Jacket and the short gloves, absolutely agree with all your comments, just a note for anyone considering these items the gloves are bang on size but the jacket you must go down a size or two as the guide states, I’m normally a medium on jackets but bought the Keis jacket in xs but fits spot on!
Great Vid Tony Thanks deffo gonna some Keis heated gear now
No problem 👍
Just bought the G701S gloves and they are a game changer. As you say, start them on high and reduce to low and they are perfect. Great review, thanks.
Cheers, Glad you're pleased with them, I find them very comfy
Had my Keis X25 jacket for 6 years now , genuinely love mine . Complete game changer for winter riding .
Not cheap but worth every penny imo Tony .
I'm a couple of years in with Keis gear and agree its a game changer. It's being able to dress lighter that really makes the difference for me.
Good one always interesting to see stuff in action I don't go out out like I used to in all weathers but with this sort of gear maybe I would find it more pleasant cheers : )
Thanks 👍
Good review
I also use Keis..and have done for many years
Keeping your body warm not only makes for a comfortable ride,but also allows to to concentrate on the ride.. enjoy the scenery...and to be safer in doing so
Keep the videos coming
Cheers Andrew, heated gear is a game changer, no more bundling up in tons of layers!
Love my Keis heated gloves. So warm, even without the heated bit turned on.
Yes, they actually make for a good all round glove
Keis gear has been a revelation to me - it's been cold the last week but beautiful weather.
Enjoyed lovely moorland rides I wouldn't have even considered prior to finding out about this stuff.
Happy with the vest, socks and short gloves - also bought the full jacket and legs - but don't really need these unless it's below freezing and when it's that cold its likely to be snowy and icy so don't ride then anyway. I just wear Merino Icebreaker base layer and my unlined Klim jacket over the top..so no bulk either.
By the way just get a small Keis mini controller for the socks - otherwise they are so hot they can burn your feet👍
Thanks Tim, good to hear. Yes i've discovered that with the socks, I've got one on order.
Very well done video! I am interested in doing some moto vloging but have some stuff to figure out.. how me did you attach the GoPro to your helmet and how are you recording your voice? The sounds quality is wonderful
Nice review Tony. I’m not interested in riding in the cold but just checked out the website and may buy one of the heated jackets fit my job where I often need to stand in the find fit hours.
Defo keep your body warm and hands 🙌🏼 and you’ll be fine , MOST important thing is run any heated clothing from the 12 v bike , not batteries 🔋 honestly don’t worry about having cables everywhere it’s worth the faff trust me !
I've been wearing Gerbing heated gear for 20 years. It is definitely worth the money. Keeps me riding year round.
Hi T. Can't go out now without my keis waist coat on it really has been a game changer for me. Like you i thought it would be to much hassle plugging it in. But really it's no problem. Soon as you try heated gear you'll never ride in the cold without it. By the way
Got myself a Arai Tour. X 4. Really pleased with it. Thanks mate.
Nice one Gary, yep i've heard of very few people who have regretted buying heated clothing. Glad you like the Tour X4, I hope you have many happy miles together
Really good information! Very helpful. I always wondered if heated bikewear really kept you warm on a cold ride. Your video has been extremely helpful , and I believe will broaden my bike riding horizons considerably. This might just add a whole new perspective - as well as enjoyment to my lifestyle.
Thanks!
Thanks Jim, I was a little sceptical at first, but it really is a game changer.
Heated gloves are better than non heated but when it’s really cold 🥶 the cold will eventually win I’ve got the Furygan gloves heated with batteries 🔋 my only tip would be get the 12v cable to run them through the 12v bike battery cos when they run out your fingers will be freezing 🥶 trust me!!
I agree heated gear is a game changer. Love my Keis gillet!
👍
Defo a game changer
I just wear my Rab microlight down jacket under my goretex motorbike jacket and I've never felt the cold even riding well below freezing in the Pyrenees.
I bought the socks a few weeks back to help with the circulation in my feet, but mostly intended to use them at home and in the truck at work. The plan wasn’t to get anything else due to the faff on the bike, but on Friday I went to buy the heated gloves (G701) due problems with the batteries of my current pair, and ended up getting the J501 jacket too. The jacket is not only warm as expected but also adds a much neater solution to connect socks and gloves to the bike battery. The socks can be controlled separately from the jacket but you do need the low power controller. I have not tried the three garment setup on the accessory socket yet, but I did find that the socks would get much hotter when run directly from the battery.
Thanks for the feedback Martyn
Thank Tony, great review as always 👍🏽 question, how do you like that Revit jacket?
Cheers Carl, I really like it, its just what ive been after for a while. A basic laminate shell that can be used in different ways. Works well with the heated jacket underneath and its also good with a Knox urbane urban vest on warmer days
Great honest review as always Tony I’m thinking about it but as a lard arse not too sure about the fit doe’s it need to be tight or loose fitting to work best bud ?? Tia 🏍🎉👍
The jackets and vest work better when they fit close. I would recommend going one size down from your usual size at least
Love your channel and content. I've got the Heated inner gloves haven't had much chance to try them yet. Love Keis gear. Bit of a random question, in your cutaway about the socks, what socks were you wearing underneath the heated ones? I've been looking for some decent socks to use when riding and they look spot on. Ride and stay safe.
Thanks Matthew thats good to hear. Ha! the socks are my old faithful Petr Cech era Chelsea football socks!
thank you
You're welcome
I have an electric vest. Massive comfort improvement.
Keis Warranty is superb and no quibble, I just used it. Just a small correction in that the electronic items, e.g. controller, have a two year warranty and the garments heating elements have the lifetime warranty.
Thanks Terry, yes I shouldvhave clarified that more in the video.
Yes.
Interesting review of the stuff that i don't need. I have not been out on a bike in winter since the days when it was my only form of transport, so never needed to get the heated gear. It's not the cold that bothers me as much as slippery conditions, and even now i don't entirely trust that ABS and traction control will come to my rescue.
Keis long sleeve plug in under jacket and gloves for those cold days and a set of RST battery gloves when I just need warm hands and can't be arsed with plugging in. I much prefer heated gloves to heated grips
sometimes for luxury i'll use heated grip and heated gloves! ;)
Back to biking after 20 years, and didn’t know heated cloths existed. Cheers Tony.
I had a set of heated gloves 40 years ago - nowhere near as sophisticated as today, they were basically a glove liner with a thin cable loop running down the back of each finger, but better than nothing!
Cheers Mick, definitely worth checking out
The older gloves like my G501 require an adaptor to work with the current generation jacket as the connections on gloves and jacket are both female. Not a great expense but worth knowing.
This is true I forgot that they changed the connectors, but as you say a cheap and easy fix
100% I bought heated jacket and grips and it's changed my commute and life. Don't hesitate, pull the trigger.
It really does
Heated gear makes sense in cold countries. I remember riding up to North Yorkshire from London in January. I stopped for some petrol in Bradford and despite the weather hovering around 3 degrees Celsius, it was only when I took my helmet off I felt the cold. I was wearing a BMW heated waistcoat.
These gloves look good, but I'd want armour. I used to favour wearing normal bike gloves with a pair of waterproof overmitts over them and my heated grips on full.
I did the opposite just 2 weeks ago. I rode from South Yorkshire to Reading (so London-ish). I stopped at services and had to put on 6 pairs of plastic gloves on each finger from the bins at the fuel station. Then I was able to continue riding. I have heated grips and the most expensive Rukka gore-tex winter gloves but they weren't a match for the weather. During my 2 minute stop at the (Donnington) services fuel station my Kriega backpack completely frosted up within the two minutes that I was stationery. Met office app says the "feels like" temperature was 2 degrees celcius and wind speed 18mph. On the other hand my upper body and core where very warm and hot I didn't have a heated vest/jacket. My gear was 2 thermal tshirts +1 cotton t-shirt on top, 1 short sleeve fleece, alpinestars drystar under jacket (for 1st base layer of windproofing), followed by my REV'IT Trench Gore-tex jacket (laminated but I didn't wear the thermal liner), followed by a Musto fleece lined gore text jacket for a third of windproofing, followed by a Keis glow in the dark waterproof jacket for a fourth layer of windproofing. I didn't look too like the Michelin man!!! I figured out that wind protection is the key to keeping warm and if you can wear multiple layers of thin, highly breathable waterproof jackets you'll definitely not get wet nomatter what, you won't sweat and you'll be warm. I also learned that its a must to wear a waterproof jacket or even just a high viz vest on your £500+ gore-tex jacket when riding in the wain/winder sludge/saltly/gritty roads so that muc flicked up by other vehicles won't make your expensive jacket filthy and reduce the effectiveness of its waterproofing due to saturation with dirt.
@@1teem Sounded like fun.
Just some additional information from a Keis user is to be aware of how much amperage each of the garments draw, as not all bikes can cope. I purchased the premium jacket but was surprised when my bike (Triumph street twin) was not able to heat it. It was wired directly to the battery on the bike and the correct fuse was being used but the jacket didn’t really get warm. I had to return the product and go for the vest which works a treat as it draws much less amperage. They are great products but do your math.
must have been a fault in the controller or jacket.
Yes !!!
Hi,Great review as per usual.I have the jacket and thinking of the gloves as a pressie to myself.With the shorties how good are they at heating finger tips? as i suffer from poor circulation in cold weather,I look forward to your reply.
Thanks Dave, yes they are good, the heating element is exactly the same as the full G701 glove, its just the cuff thats a little shorter and obviously lower profile.
Hi, thanks for the video, do you know if the wireless controller would work with a Gerbing dual controller? (Controlling from a phone app seems pointless.)
Also can the heat on the jacket and pants be controlled separately?
I don’t know to be honest, but I doubt they are compatible? Yes you can
Hi, question on an old video... I think I saw somewhere you also use Knox armour. Have you tried your Keis jacket over the knox armour shirt? How does that work out for you?
Thanks
No problem, I don’t wear the knox Action Pro shirt all the time and i havent worn KEIS gear over it. The KEIS clothing is designed to be worn close to the body, so I don’t think wearing over an armoured shirt would work.
Great review 👍🏼 do you find that your legs stay warm enough with the jacket and socks or do you plan on getting the trousers as well?
Thanks, I have textile riding trousers with a thermal liner which i've found to be warm enough. If its really cold i'll just wear merino wool leggings underneath.
I've ordered 3 sizes of Keis VR501RP vest from SBS. How do I decide which size is correct? Do I wear it snugly over a base and Tee? Is too loose wasting thermal efficiency?
Yep it needs to be snug to get the best from it
I use Gerbing. Jacket great, battery operated gloves not so much - don't get warm enough. Presumably, you feel the Keis gloves are very warm?
I've got no complaints with them so far, I dont often have to put the on the highest setting.
Yes
That’s a short video
In the states you can encounter a soul sucking cold even in summer months at high elevations or very far north
Heated grips : a must
Heated seat : recommended
Heated vest: it will feel like a luxury until you experience a 50°F drop in temperature over a very period of time.
It’s happened to me when I thought I’d make a certain destination while the sun was up.
Right on!
Definitely always wear heated gear remove my lining much lighter more comfy and adjustable heat means good for cool and cold weather recently discovered ie bought trousers brilliant much safer as your brain works better
Thanks for the vid.👍 I hope to upgrade my kit having recently been given a ‘no frills’ heated waistcoat which does a good job and lasts long enough for my usual 70-100 mile winter runs. Decided I need to keep my arms warm as well though.
Have found heated grips only do half the job and stress out the charging systems of the old bikes I ride (2006 Daytona 955i and now a 2000 Falco)
Ditched the grips and bought some French heated gloves only to find they only do the other half of the job and don’t last long enough. (They are designed to take two separate batteries in each glove but spare batteries are permanently out of stock!
Please could you give some idea of the battery life of each item on hi? This is pretty crucial to me as I’m reluctant to install a system off the bike battery again. Many thanks.
Thanks, I made a comparison video a while back of battery powered gloves (ua-cam.com/video/QY9uiz4F66o/v-deo.html) For battery power I never got any more than 2.5 hours on full. One advantage of the Keis gloves is that you can use the batteries in the cuff, then when they run out switch to a 12v battery pack in your jacket or tank bag. With the 7.4v powered gloves, once the batteries are dead, thats it game over.
@@mancavemoto
Thanks mate if I hadn’t been youtubing when I shudda been working I would have realised you had that covered. Thanks for the reply will check out the detailed review.
Hi Tony, I bought the heated glove liners and I have to say I was disappointed as they stopped your hands from freezing but didn’t warm them up. Are the full gauntlets warmer than the heated liners?
Hi, yes personally I think the gloves are much better than the heated liners when it gets really cold
Great video, quick question though. I have a Klim Kodiak jacket and as you know the cuffs are rather snug. Do the gloves fit under them? I belive you have also done a review on the Kodiak before. I already have the Keis heated jacket and it's fab. Cheers
Thanks, the G701 shorty gloves will go under the guff with no problem.
@@mancavemoto cheers. My nearest stockists is about 2 hours away so good to know without a wasted trip 😀
I've had dozens of bikes, helmets, gizmos, gloves, boots, you name it... THEE BEST THING I'VE EVER, EVER BOUGHT.... kiess heated jacket. Period! Everyone, Buy!
Well theres a recommendation if ever i've heard one!
Agree with being warm, used to commute all year as a young man and the cold was not an issue, however now considerably older the cold can become all consuming, I like you have the jacket and shorty gloves, you were using the socks but no comment, are they as good as everything else and have you tried the heated pants, must say they look a bit bulky? Cheers and ride safe.
Hi Derek, yes I wanted to try and keep the video short, but the socks work just as well as the rest of the kit
Excellent review. I have been looking at the Keis 701 gloves that you can put the batteries in the cuff as I was thinking it would be better than be attached to the bike. Have you tried these? Just wondering what your opinion is. Are they supposed to go under or over the cuff? It has got me thinking maybe the short ones will be better.
Thanks, yes I have and they have been the gloves i've been wearing before the Shortys. How they fit al depends on your cuffs, they will go under most, but with the batteries installed they are bulky. They fit much better over the cuff, but again only as long as your cuff isnt too thick/wide. You can see my review here ua-cam.com/video/QY9uiz4F66o/v-deo.html
@@mancavemoto Thank you. Much appreciated.
I'm always a bit torn between cable powered vs battery powered gloves. The cables are a pain w/gloves on, but there is no worry you'll not have heat. As you've worked with both Keis versions - what's your preference?
I was the same, but as long as your riding for more than a short journey, the wired kit is much better. No battery drain anxiety and the cables are not really and issue.
@@mancavemoto Thanks for the feedback.
I've tried most of the main heated glove manufacturers with varying levels of success. The main thing they seem to struggle with is that on gloves, it's pointless heating the palm and the back of the hand when it's the finger tips that need it the most. On bikes with heated grips it's not necessary to head what is already being heated but essential to focus on the fingertips. Heated gear is grossly over expensive as are battery packs, which are just a massive con. Best pair of heated gloves I have had so far are the Gerbing XRS-12, but the cabling is just awful. I liked the Keis gloves that had the built in controller on the back of the hand, but these tended to heat the front and back of the hand and not the fingers.
These don't heat the palms, only the back of the hands and down the fingers wrapping over the tip
The cabling is a bit of a faff but trust me I’ve got the Furygan heated gloves with batteries 2 🔋 I’ll be honest I’ve just ordered the 12v cable to run them from the bike on full power for the entire ride not 1-1/2 hours on batteries 🪫!
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Have you ever tried/used First Gear/Safe and Warm gear and if so how does it compare to Keis?
I have warm and safe also had getting pOWeRLet. The WIrES are lesss obstructive in the newer ones but more or less the same I like the base layer on warm and safe not bulky
The heat ratings and bluetooth controllers with proper knobs are particularly useful on the warm & safe gear.
Despite heated grips and hand protectors, the tips of my fingers get cold and go white and painful, so preventing that would be my only reason for getting heated gear - unclear from this review whether the Keis gloves would achieve that.
The elements run along the tops of the fingers onto the tips, and i can't say i've noticed any problems with cold tips
I have the same problem. Currently looking at the gerbing xtreme urban, but unsure.
Out of curiousity, how do you keep your feet warm? Do you also use heated socks or insoles?
I use the heated socks, and theres a very quick clip of them in the video. They seem less of faff than the insoles, but to be honest i've never really suffered from cold feet. I think my boots and football socks tend to be enough, unless its sub zero
He mentioned and showed some heated sock in the video.
Cold/numb toes are not funny... :|
@@mancavemoto It's an age thing. I too never suffered with my feet but in my late fifties I started noticing it on long >2h subzero rides.
I’m getting there 😂
@@mancavemoto Thanks for the info! My feet tend to get cold and looking for a solution. Will probably get some heated socks.
The best money I've spent in motorcycling is my KEIS jacket & trousers. Unbelievable.
Makes a real difference
My heated gear saved my life on more than one occasion.
Did you pay for the gear or is this an advertisement?
Well the answer to that question is in the video. I've bought Keis gear myself, but they also lent me a couple of pieces to try. None of my videos are advertisements, they are all independent non biased reviews. Thats what this channel does.
@@mancavemoto can you be unbiased and paid? Love the videos 😃
But I’m not paid? I get sent gear to test of course, but more often than not it goes back. But that makes no difference to the review anyway, im not an ‘influencer’, there’s no contract or agreement with the companies and im free to say what I want about the products.
It’s an point that gets made, but I could also argue that if you ‘buy’ the product with your own money, you’re going to have a biased opinion? As a review channel, this would have very little content if it only reviewed products that I’d bought!
No, I hate riding in winter & use my car.
Sad.