Winter Weather Riding Tips?

[burkbuilds]

I'm starting this thread because I accidentally "high jacked" Tim's thread and so I apologize to Tim and I'm moving the topic over here.

Well, Winter weather riding seems pretty far away when it's hitting mid 90's around here almost every day but Water Warrior asked me what type of heated gear I had purchased and it made me think that he and some other riders have a LOT more Winter riding experience than I do, so here's my question.
"What Winter Weather riding advice do you have to share?"

I got really cold last Winter riding to school when the temp hit 18 degrees F. Most of me was warm enough but my fingertips were very painful after 15-20 minutes of riding. I recently bought some heated riding gear from "Venture" and wired the harness in to my Vulcan 500 in preparation for the upcoming Winter. I got a heated liner for my jacket and heated gloves that plug into the outlet on the liner sleeves. There's a thermostat that controls the heat settings and the outlet is now just below my seat and easily accessible to plug into.
I'm really hoping this works because this year I've transferred to a school out of town and I'm going to have no other options than the bike for transportation all week. So what have you guys learned that you can pass along about cold weather riding?

[dhgeyer]

Well, so far I have kept at least one motorcycle active during three New Hampshire Winters, and done some pretty long rides in sub-freezing temps. What have I learned, sometimes the hard way?

1. Heated gear is good. It sounds like you have pretty much what I have, and I have ridden down to 20 degrees without discomfort. In addition to what you listed, you will want: a good windshield and a set of lowers for the Vulcan 500 if you don't already have them, good warm boots and heavy wool socks, a good set of riding pants with removable insulated liner, a full face helmet, and a balaclava.

2. Don't ever ride if the roads are not clear of ice, slush, and snow. Not too much of a problem in Georgia I guess.

3. Learn to appreciate the blessings of the electric hand dryers in the men's room. Not a big problem on a 15 or 20 minute ride.

4. Be ever vigilant for unexpected patches of ice if it's below freezing. If water gets on the road for an reason, and the temp drops, you have ice. Sometimes, if the ice is thin,it can be what we call "Black Ice", and can be hard to see. So you need to really watch that road surface. If you need to cross ice, squeeze the clutch, get the bike upright, and coast across the ice with the least possible steering or braking/acceleration inputs. You have very limited traction. If you can see the ice coming and set yourself up to coast across it, you will be fine. This can get tricky on hills and curves, so be especially wary in those situations.

5. Be even more aware of other motorists not seeing you. They don't expect you to be there.

6. If you feel yourself getting really cold, stop and warm up. Hypothermia is dangerous, as it impairs motor skills and judgment.

7. Stay hydrated - cold saps moisture from the body almost as quickly as heat does.

8. The heated jacket liner is particularly important. If you keep "the core" warm, blood will carry the heat to the brain and, to a lesser extent, to the extremities. Don't be afraid to crank the jacket liner up to the point where it feels quite warm.

9. Despite the risks and inconvenience, I find that there's a great satisfaction to riding year round. It's a trip to be the only one with the balls to be out there. You don't see any other bikes, and the riders stuck in their cages envy you, even though they think you must be nuts.

[Sarris]

Floriduh riders wont ride below 55 degrees. Too damn cold.

:lol: :whistle:

[Easy Rider]

I'm really hoping this works because this year I've transferred to a school out of town and I'm going to have no other options than the bike for transportation all week. So what have you guys learned that you can pass along about cold weather riding?

Appologies in advance if we have touched on this before but here's what I think:

Having a bike as your ONLY transportation is not a prudent thing to do, IMHO.

Riding in inclement weather is at least 10X more dangerous than when it is clear and dry and warm......even somewhat more if it is clear and dry and COLD.

Resisting the temptation to "preach" like some of the ATGATT folks do, I'll just leave it at that.

[dhgeyer]

Riding in inclement weather is at least 10X more dangerous than when it is clear and dry and warm......even somewhat more if it is clear and dry and COLD.

Statistics don't support this claim. To date, the best and most comprehensive study of motorcycle accidents/safety is "The Hurt Report" (AKA "Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures"). The report itself is fairly long, but what is easily digestible is the summary of 55 findings. I think everyone who rides ought to be familiar with these. It's published all over the Internet, and googleing "Hurt Report" will get you all the copies you want. There is one located at http://www.clarity.net/~adam/hurt-report.html.

Finding number 11 states: "Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents."

I would tend to agree that relying totally on a motorcycle is not the most desirable state of affairs, but if that's all you can afford, you have to make the best of it. When I had just graduated from college, the only vehicle I had was a Ducati 250. Now that I think of it, that was also the case the Spring of my Senior year. I've known several people who went through various periods of their lives with only a motorcycle or a scooter. As far as I know, they are all still with us.

I would counsel strongly against riding if the roads are not clear. Other than that, if you're prepared with the proper gear, a lot of caution, and some experience, it's not that bad.

[Easy Rider]

Riding in inclement weather is at least 10X more dangerous than when it is clear and dry and warm......even somewhat more if it is clear and dry and COLD.

Statistics don't support this claim.

Finding number 11 states: "Weather is not a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents."

I would tend to agree that relying totally on a motorcycle is not the most desirable state of affairs, but if that's all you can afford, you have to make the best of it.

I would counsel strongly against riding if the roads are not clear.

OK, so I exagerated the numbers a bit... :whistle: ....poetic license.

How old is the Hurt Report ??
Finding 11 then would also mean that weather WAS a factor in 2% of REPORTED accidents. The fact that a reportable accident did not happen in a given circumstance does NOT also mean that the riding was not inherently more dangerous. :)

My wild speculation is that at least half of those who claim that they can't afford a cage type of transportation are either just outright fudging the facts or are just not being realistic about the relative costs. A LOT of cars can be had for the price of a $4K bike and, say, $500 worth of extra riding gear.

[dhgeyer]

Well, I think maybe we can draw a line under this, as I'm not sure we're all that far apart. I agree, and have said (actually in this thread) that there is increased risk to riding in rain, excess heat, cold, etc. I've also said that, if you are properly equipped and have some experience, the added risk is not huge, and I think that the best information we have bears that out. To put it in perspective, look at the Hurt Report findings and see all the other factors that increase risk by a lot more than 2%, and a lot of people here accept those increased risks because they feel it is worth the increased enjoyment, comfort, thrills, etc.

In the end, it comes down to how much risk you are willing to accept in order to do something you enjoy doing in the way you enjoy doing it.

In answer to your question, the Hurt Report is fairly ancient. The data came from several thousand accidents that occurred in the Los Angeles area in the late 70's. I would never claim that the Hurt Report (named for its lead researcher, Harry Hurt) is perfect by any means. It is flawed, not only by being pretty out of date, but also by the fact that most (although not all) of the data came from an urban area. Some of the accidents did happen in the outlying communities, so it wasn't 100% urban. Still, I suspect the low percentage of animal strikes, for example, would not reflect rural New Hampshire.

Still, the Hurt Report remains the largest, most comprehensive, and most thorough piece of research done on the subject in this country to date, and most authorities rely on it primarily. There is another study under way right now which, when completed will no doubt supplant The Hurt Report. The new study is funded from several sources, only one of which is the government. It is years from completion, and it will be very interesting to see what conclusions are different, and what remains the same.

[music man]

A LOT of cars can be had for the price of a $4K bike and, say, $500 worth of extra riding gear.


But how nice of a car can you have in comparision to a 4k bike. Almost exclusively, if you buy a car for 4K and under, you are looking at a car with at least 100K miles on it, and as you probably already know your average car isn't going too far past 100k without having costly issues. While on the other hand, I could go on Craigslist right now and find probably 20 bikes within a 30 mile radius of my house for sale, that are 4K or less, that will be rock solid dependable for years with little or no costly issues whatsoever AND get 50+ miles to the gallon to boot, and one more very important one, cheaper insurance than your average car.


And if you are poor enough that you can't afford to drive a car, you are probably not going to spend 500 bucks on gear either, I know I don't have 500 dollars worth of gear.

[Water Warrior 2]

BB, found your new thread so will ask the same question here. Do you know the power draw in watts for the heated gear and how much excess the bike will put out to power the heated gear ?

Riding is Squamish is almost a year round treat for some of the hardy riders. It is generally wet but normally does not freeze up for more than a few days each winter. Quite a change from the Canadian Prairies where I spent my first 60 years of life. I did ride one winter there in temps well below "O" F but it was a warm prairie winter and I did it out of desperation rather than pleasure. This was on main streets with ice all the way. Not a great deal of snow after the plows had been out. Most intersections with traffic lights had been sanded for better traction.

Just for added interest. Way back when on the prairies in Edmonton Alberta one winter I regularly saw a real diehard on a British twin at -40 (40 below F). He must have parked it in a heated garage just so it would start.

[Easy Rider]

But how nice of a car can you have in comparision to a 4k bike.

that will be rock solid dependable for years with little or no costly issues whatsoever

And if you are poor enough that you can't afford to drive a car, you are probably not going to spend 500 bucks on gear either, I know I don't have 500 dollars worth of gear.

If it is 18F and spitting freezing rain, ANY car is better than a bike......or raining buckets and a 40 mph wind. That WAS my point.

As for going years with little maintenance cost, that probably means you will be putting on a lot of miles and tires alone for a bike (2) often cost as much as a set for a car (4) and only get half the mileage (typically).

Price of gear: Maybe my figure was a little high but we are kind of talking about heated riding gear and that stuff ain't cheap.

So..........my contribution to the original question: SLOW DOWN. Rain, wind and cold are worse the faster you go.

[music man]

If it is 18F and spitting freezing rain, ANY car is better than a bike......or raining buckets and a 40 mph wind. That WAS my point.

As for going years with little maintenance cost, that probably means you will be putting on a lot of miles and tires alone for a bike (2) often cost as much as a set for a car (4) and only get half the mileage (typically).


Maintenance cost and costly repairs are at two totally different ends of the spectrum. because now you are talking about maintenance(tires, oil changes, air filters etc...) PLUS new alternators, valve jobs, transmission issues etc... Compared to the bike that you put tires, and maybe a chain and sprocket set on in that same span of time. PLUS, your statement that ANY car is better than a bike in that kind of weather is way off the mark, because if you can't afford to keep it running, then you are walking in that 18F cold and rain, and i will take riding my bike in that weather any day over walking miles and miles in it.

And Heated riding gear is a Luxury, NOT a Need, at least not in the southern states, I have made it through two winters riding my GZ almost every single day, sometimes with temps in the high teens (without factoring in the wind chill), with no heated riding gear (and for that matter, no Motorcycle specific cold weather gear whatsoever), and the first winter I even wore a Beanie style helmet, so my face was exposed too. So it is all up to what you can and/or MUST withstand, Last winter I literally didnt have a choice, the skyrocketed gas prices from last summer had left me Cageless, so it was ride in the cold or nothing, granted I don't live in Chicago or Wisconsin, or god forbid, Canada in the winter, but it is still a Battle against the elements trying to ride in the winter here too.

On a closing note, I FULLY AGREE with Easy Rider (theres a shock for ya!) that your chances of having an accident raise Exponientally when it is brutally cold outside and you are on your bike, no matter what a study shows. Even if you discount the ice/snow and wet, you are still left with the fact that your mind is almost fully pre-occupied with the fact that you are freezing your ass off, which doesn't leave much room in your mind for concentrating on the road ahead of you. So if you are going to ride in the cold, take advice from someone who has some experience doing it, be twice as careful riding as you would be if it were warm outside.

[Easy Rider]

[quote="Easy Rider":77wx5v1s]
If it is 18F and spitting freezing rain, ANY car is better than a bike......or raining buckets and a 40 mph wind. That WAS my point.


Maintenance cost and costly repairs are at two totally different ends of the spectrum. because now you are talking about maintenance(tires, oil changes, air filters etc...) PLUS new alternators, valve jobs, transmission issues etc... [/quote:77wx5v1s]

I quit already. Geeezzzz.
Every situation is different as to the specifics; continuing this "discussion", which now sounds more like an arguement, is pointless.

[Dupo]

You guys totally over think things lol.

Heres a tip, if you're cold, put more shit on. If its slippery, wet, icy, snowing - stay the hell home.

---------------

I rode all winter last season down to 18 degree weather. I had no trouble and it only took going out twice to figure out what i had to put on or buy to put on. No heated accessories here ... i think you should be fine.

[dhgeyer]

Funny how luxury/necessity changes depending on one's means. I don't want to criticize anyone for hard times, but music man, you kind of make my point for me. It's true, if you ride in extreme heat/cold/rain without the proper gear, your chances of a mishap go way up, for exactly the reason you say they do. You can't concentrate on the task at hand if your brain is compromised, and heat/cold/wet can do that. So, if I'm going to ride in those conditions, I consider the proper gear to be a necessity for safety reasons. With the proper gear, your comfort, and your mind, are not compromised. You, evidently, have only tried it without the proper gear. I have tried it both ways, and let me assure you it makes all the difference in the world.

I must say, though, that I admire your chutzpah! High teens in a beanie helmet - my God! You are braver than I am.

[Water Warrior 2]

I have also found that age has a lot to do with the weather. A somewhat younger friend of mine will ride bare handed while I have gauntlets and heated grips keeping my hands comfy. Your tolerance for temps is not as great as you get older. Add in a little Arthritis or nerve damage in the wrists and you can be in a world of pain if you aren't dressed well.

[music man]

I quit already. Geeezzzz.
Every situation is different as to the specifics; continuing this "discussion", which now sounds more like an arguement, is pointless.

Easy, I thought me and you were to the point where we could have some debate between each other without having to really "argue", I was just simply trying to say that there are situations out there where a motorcycle (especially a small one) makes more financial sense, and in some cases is a complete necessity, And agreeing with you that it is more dangerous to ride in the cold, so :neener: .

[mrlmd1]

I got some leather overpants last year and they really do block 100% of the wind and keep your lower body much warmer, especially if you have something warm like thicker fleece underneath. Don't forget the taller socks to keep the wind out.
Most importantly, don't forget the windshield, especially one that extends out over the grips. Eliminating wind and reducing wind-chill factor is one of the best ways to stay warm, and may eliminate the need for electrical warmers which are not practical on the GZ as it has limited alternator output. You really don't want any other major stress on the battery and electrical system on this bike if it's that cold.

[Water Warrior 2]

I got some leather overpants last year and they really do block 100% of the wind and keep your lower body much warmer, especially if you have something warm like thicker fleece underneath. Don't forget the taller socks to keep the wind out.
Most importantly, don't forget the windshield, especially one that extends out over the grips. Eliminating wind and reducing wind-chill factor is one of the best ways to stay warm, and may eliminate the need for electrical warmers which are not practical on the GZ as it has limited alternator output. You really don't want any other major stress on the battery and electrical system on this bike if it's that cold.


The GZ will easily support Symtec grip heaters with no problem and are very good overall. A windshield that extends wide enough across to protect the hands from wind is a very good idea. Having just ridden Lynda's "M-50" with a wide windshield was quite a treat. I found the bike to be very calm behind the shield and only had a slight breeze across my eyes with the face shield open on my FF helmet. The same conditions may very well occur with a GZ.

Oh yah, for your feet get some Merino Wool socks. They are great and do not itch.

[burkbuilds]

Great feedback guys thanks! Water Warrior, I'll have to check out the specs on my heated gloves and vest when I go back home next weekend, I don't have that information with me right now.
I had heated grips on the GZ last Winter and had no problems with the battery/alternator handling it and now I'm on the Vulcan 500 and it has a much larger alternator and comes with at least 4 accessory plug in's in the harness so I feel fairly good about it's ability to handle the added gloves and liner.
I did buy a windshield that extends out over my grips in hopes that it will help reduce the wind chill effect some.
I don't plan to go out if it's Icy, but that's usually not a problem in the Atlanta area because if they get any ice down here the schools will shut down anyway and I won't have to go out till it's cleared up.
I guess I do technically have the option to drive my truck, but the truck has well over 100K on it and it has some mechanical issues that could get expensive if I started driving it 25K per year plus the fuel cost at 18 mpg would eat me alive and I'm trying to stay on a budget to get through college. So I've made the decision to drive the Vulcan down each week and back and forth to school each day during the week and then head back home for the weekends with my wife and youngest daughter. I'm probably looking at around 75k miles over the next 3 years and I feel fairly good about being able to put that on the bike without any major problems, but there's no way my truck would even make it more than a few months at that rate. I'm sure we could all debate that issue to death, but that's not the point of this thread.

Thanks for all the great input guys! I think I can do all right based on your advice and input, I really appreciate everybody chipping in from their experience!

[bonehead]

Instead of buying all this high dollar riding gear, I take the truck that I have invested thousands of dollars in. Simple, if it is cold and rainy=I take the truck to work. No sense in being uncomfortable.

[burkbuilds]

Instead of buying all this high dollar riding gear, I take the truck that I have invested thousands of dollars in. Simple, if it is cold and rainy=I take the truck to work. No sense in being uncomfortable.

No sense being uncomfortable, but the truck will be over 100 miles away from me, so it's kinda tough to get to it to drive it instead of the bike. Otherwise, I pretty much agree, when the weather was really bad last winter I did drive the truck, but it was in my driveway and available then. The truck will still be in my driveway, I just won't be anywhere near my house to get to it.

[mrlmd1]

Look at this post - I found it accidentally on a Harley forum (geez, I know) but it's pretty comprehensive on cold weather riding.
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/show ... hp?t=44225 (http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=44225)

[Water Warrior 2]

Look at this post - I found it accidentally on a Harley forum (geez, I know) but it's pretty comprehensive on cold weather riding.
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/show ... hp?t=44225 (http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=44225)

Excellant find. Already owning guantlets with Thinsulate I can say they work well. As for the feet I wear Merino wool socks in actual tall riding boots. Having a wicking insulated liner and being waterproof the boots are all I wear even at high temps. Too cold to think straight ????? Been there done that. Last year I allowed myself to get too cold to remember that I had a rain suit on board that would have cut the biting wind and warmed me up. When I finally did stop to warm up I just dropped the bike for no apparent reason. I certainly was not operating at 100% efficiency that day. You really have to have the right gear or risk the elements doing you in.

[burkbuilds]

Hey Water Warrior, I went on line to where I bought the heated liner and gloves and checked out their electrical requirements. The gloves draw 15 watts each and the liner tops out at 83 watts for a total of 113 watts. That's just under 10 amps at 12 volts. The 4 accessory jacks that come on my vulcan are rated to deliver 10 amps each, so I think I am safe with that load applied. The only other accessory load I have is the heated grips which draw about 5amps.

[Easy Rider]

The 4 accessory jacks that come on my vulcan are rated to deliver 10 amps each, so I think I am safe with that load applied.

I think a little clarification is needed. Just because you have 4 jacks and they each have a 10 amp fuse does NOT necessarily mean that the system will support an additional 40 amps of load; far from it, I suspect. I'd think the limit is 20 or less on a bike that size.

Do you have any other information that indicates what the recommended max. additional load IS ??

[burkbuilds]

"Do you have any other information that indicates what the recommended max. additional load IS ??"

No, I've looked in the manual's and on the Vulcan Forum and although several guys have posted things like "I've heard that the maximum output is..." nobody seems to have anything verifiable from Kawasaki or a repair manual so far.
My bet is that you are probably right about only having about 20 amps of additional capacity but that still leaves me in the okay range with what I've added to the bike. I guess I might find out the hard way this Winter or maybe my dealer will have that information and be willing to share it with me.
At least it will roll start on a dead battery if I drain it. (Ask me how I know.)

[Water Warrior 2]

Sounds like your heated gear will be maxing out the available power. Of course that is if the gear is on max settings. The max on the vest will likely cook you in a short time.

[burkbuilds]

That's a good point WW. I doubt that I'll be running this stuff at the maximum output here in Georgia. Probably a lot more likely in your territory I'd guess. I'm hoping that the windshield will knock some of the air off my hands for one thing. Any amount of heat going to my fingertips would be a big plus compared to none and the rest of me was fine even at 18 degrees without any heated equipment. I've also got the option of using some controllers that I bought but haven't installed that use a "pulse" wave of on and off multiple times per second which in theory cuts the electrical consumption in half without actually reducing the heat output of the equipment. We studied a little about this in class last year and it's still beyond my complete understanding but the theory is sound. I guess if I have a problem with overloading the alternator then I'll have to use them. I just couldn't come up with a clean looking way to mount the controllers before I had to head off to school and since the vest has a 4 stage adjustment I just decided to go with that for now. Maybe I need to give the controllers a little more thought though with the points everyone has made about the load on the system.

[burkbuilds]

I decided to try "justanswers.com" and see if one of their motorcycle experts could answer the question about how many available accessory watts there were for the Vulcan 500. The answer, 10 amps for a total of 120 watts available for accessories on the Vulcan.

[alanmcorcoran]

When I was 18 I had some financial and legal difficulties involving auto transportation and essentially lost my ability to own, operate or insure a car. At the time, a drivers license was not required to operate a 49cc moped. (These will do 45 on a flat road, a little more if you tweak them a bit.) I drove a Peugeot (and an American made replacement after it the Peugeot was stolen) for almost three years through some very harsh winters (Ithaca New York, sub zero temps, late seventies.) Having very little money, I rode with no special gear, crappy (sometimes no) gloves, work clothes (crappy cheap suits) and a crappy thrift store Army jacket. I can't say I enjoyed freezing my ass off (those years are probably why I will be a California resident until I croak) but I don't remember any serious accidents. You get a little wind protection on a moped - they're like a scooter in that you stick your feet and knees behind a fairing and you can crouch down a bit to reduce wind chill. It was a bit hairy going up and down hills on snow, but northern cities are pretty aggressive about plowing, sanding and salting so there usually isn't ice except in the middle of a freezing rain storm.

Just mention this because there are often financial/legal reasons, bordering on economic survival, that lead otherwise sane people to ride year round in cold climates.

I've been riding year round in CA too, which sounds like a joke, but I can tell you there are far more bikes out in the summer here than in February.

[Water Warrior 2]

BB, the controllers are a good idea. Having a more controlled power drain will allow the battery to keep it's charge up to snuff when the temps drop a bit.

[music man]

I drove a Peugeot (and an American made replacement after it the Peugeot was stolen) for almost three years through some very harsh winters (Ithaca New York, sub zero temps, late seventies.) Having very little money, I rode with no special gear, crappy (sometimes no) gloves, work clothes (crappy cheap suits) and a crappy thrift store Army jacket. I can't say I enjoyed freezing my ass off (those years are probably why I will be a California resident until I croak) but I don't remember any serious accidents. You get a little wind protection on a moped - they're like a scooter in that you stick your feet and knees behind a fairing and you can crouch down a bit to reduce wind chill. It was a bit hairy going up and down hills on snow, but northern cities are pretty aggressive about plowing, sanding and salting so there usually isn't ice except in the middle of a freezing rain storm.

Just mention this because there are often financial/legal reasons, bordering on economic survival, that lead otherwise sane people to ride year round in cold climates.


:bow: :bow:. and I get looked at like I am crazy, when I ride around here all winter, Alan you are (or at one point in your life were) one tough S.O.B. . And I don't blame you, I think that would drive me to Florida/California/Hawaii too.

[Easy Rider]

The answer, 10 amps for a total of 120 watts available for accessories on the Vulcan.

I think that is a good figure to assume for most medium size bikes; 250's a little less, touring bikes somewhat more. You need that much "extra" capacity to recover from a flat battery.

[burkbuilds]

WW- I agree, I think I will definitely have to install the power controllers on my bike. That will give me separate control of the gloves and vest as well which is also a plus. I'll have several weekends to come up with a mounting solution that I like before cold weather arrives this Winter.

Alan, wow, you really went "barbarian" on us back in the day! I can't imagine riding under those conditions but I understand how desperation can motivate us to get through some tough spots in life, you have my respect! I don't even like the Winter around here I can't image New York winters. I am somewhat amazed by how few bikers will ride under ANY adverse conditions. Even around here I seldom see any other bikers riding in the dead of winter and they even drop off a good bit when it hits upper 90's in the Summer, and only a few venture out in the rain even when it's warm and I suspect most of those just got "caught" in it, not an intentional decision to go out in the rain. Of course I still see the occasional hard core "biker" who is riding in a vest with no sleeves, a beenie helmet with goggles, and no windshield (because that wouldn't be cool looking!) when it's 30 degrees outside but I think they have a different sort of motivation than the rest of us.
Me, well aside from the economic reasons, I just really like being on the bike better than riding in an enclosed vehicle until it becomes painful to do so. I've always worked outside,cold, rain, sleet, heat whatever and I just prefer that to "conditioned" enclosed spaces, although I really hate cold the most. (I'll take 100 over 50 any day!) (I'm actually hoping that the global warming theory is true, I do my part by spraying a can of aerosol into the air on a regular basis. O_o ) There is something about the wind hitting you and the smells you encounter and feeling the changes in temperature that make me feel "alive" and you just don't get that inside a vehicle with the windows rolled up and the air on!

Thanks again for everybody's input it has been very helpful!

[burkbuilds]

Hey, I found out that Denniskirk.com has a replacement Stator for my bike that is supposed to increase the power output significantly both at idle and at cruising speed, they also have a better Regulator/Rectifier that fits my bike. Anybody have any hard numbers on this, the Denniskirk site just lists this as a significant increase over OEM and better quality all around over the OEM, which does seem to have some maintenance issues from what I've read for the Stator and the Regulator. Together both items and shipping is gonna be in the $225 range. Even if it's just a 10% increase in total alternator output (OEM about 33-35 amps= about 400 watts) that would amount to about 40+Watts of available additional power which is significant to me, plus, it's a pretty easy swap to do.

[burkbuilds]

I sent e-mails to two companies that supply replacement Stator's for my Vulcan 500. RicksMotorsportElectrics.com said they make a stator for my bike but it is OEM spec, not additional output. Electrosport.com said they make a replacement for my Stator and it gives an overall increase of 20% compared to the OEM stator. That would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 80-90 watts (roughly 7 amps) of additional power output at 4000 rpms. That is pretty impressive and will help tremendously with my winter accessory loads.