Product Review: ComforTemp Jacket
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Burns is clearly a philistine
Yeesh John. First you go spoutin' off at the mouth, actin' all holier than thou. Then you turn up with a Beemer jacket drinking a martini. We know your secret, though. You're just one of us dirty hillbillies at heart. Looks like you are drinking a martini loaded down with olive juice. I bet you it's even made with vodka, huh?
When are you going to do the cold weather comparo? Oh, wait, you are in SoCal. Cold for you is 68. Not that I am bitter...
I would be interested in hearing about the weather handling characteristics of various shells and insulators. Or, even just an informal survey of what the popular jackets, pants, and gloves are. Pull the clothing thread for us big guy.
Yeesh John. First you go spoutin' off at the mouth, actin' all holier than thou. Then you turn up with a Beemer jacket drinking a martini. We know your secret, though. You're just one of us dirty hillbillies at heart. Looks like you are drinking a martini loaded down with olive juice. I bet you it's even made with vodka, huh?
When are you going to do the cold weather comparo? Oh, wait, you are in SoCal. Cold for you is 68. Not that I am bitter...
I would be interested in hearing about the weather handling characteristics of various shells and insulators. Or, even just an informal survey of what the popular jackets, pants, and gloves are. Pull the clothing thread for us big guy.
I have been using this jacket for over a year now under my outer riding jacket. And it works.
I don't know if it is "change of phase" related, but I can ride comfortably at 10 ºC (50 ºF), park the bike, get into a pub at 25 ºC (77º F) and I don't feel the need to remove ANY jacket.
All I can say is that the end result is as advertised.
I don't know if it is "change of phase" related, but I can ride comfortably at 10 ºC (50 ºF), park the bike, get into a pub at 25 ºC (77º F) and I don't feel the need to remove ANY jacket.
All I can say is that the end result is as advertised.
I wouldn't mind seeing a comparo: ComforTemp vs an ordinary lightweight wool sweater under your riding suit. Think there'd be any difference?
If not, it would put the BMW adcopy wordsmiths out of a job.
And what about when it rains? Wet wool sure beats wet cotton or nylon for keeping you warm. But then again, it gets heavy when it's wet -- detriment to ET in the 1/4 mile runs......
If not, it would put the BMW adcopy wordsmiths out of a job.
And what about when it rains? Wet wool sure beats wet cotton or nylon for keeping you warm. But then again, it gets heavy when it's wet -- detriment to ET in the 1/4 mile runs......
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32 Posts
This is all well and good for you fols trying to get in a lttle more riding before the snow. But what about us poor soals in the deep southeast. How do we get cool enough to ride protected in the Florida summer. While you guys up north are getting ready to put the bike away, we in the south are just getting ready for the good riding weather.
ComforTemp Gloves
Disclaimer: I am currently employed at a BMW motorcycle dealership in Denver. I started working there in April 2002. However, I make no commission on the sale of BMW apparel.
Back in May I had to leave after work in Denver and ride up to Fort Collins and back, about 150 miles total. It was a cool but dry day when I rode to work in my midweight gloves, but the weather turned uglier as the day went by and around quitting time it was 38 degrees outside and raining sideways. All of me was waterproof except my hands, but even with heated grips, plain leather wasn't going to be much good. So I took advantage of my newly vested employee discount and bought a pair of BMW ComforTemp gloves.
When I got to Ft. Collins, my body was alternating between freezing and merely suffering, but my hands were just...fine. Neither warm nor cold, just...fine.
The store I went to Ft. Collins for was closed, of course, so I pulled in to a gas station to top off and head home. When I pulled up to the pump, the first thing I noticed is that my grips were off-and had been for the entire trip. I stripped off the gloves to gas up, and that's when I found out what a good job the gloves had been doing. By the time I finished fueling, my hands were so stiff from cold that I could barely drag the gloves back over my hands.
By the time I got back home, my hands were once again just...fine.
I know it's anticlimactic to say my hands were fine, but that's my only perception: My body was freezing or sweating depending on whether traffic was moving or stopped, but while my body was putting up with all that, my hands felt like they were back home in the living room: so comfortable you don't even know they're there.
I've talked to some fairly serious LD riders who wear ComforTemp under their gear, and to a man they're pleased. One fellow rode across Arizona wearing the jacket, and he had it on from about 35F up to 85F in a single day before stripping it off. The secret seems to be that instead of simply insulating, this stuff regulates temperature, evening out temperature variations so that you body is in working in a more stable environment-which it adapts to a lot better.
BMW isn't the only company that makes phase change clothing, and it probably isn't the cheapest, either. But if the ComforTemp undersuit works as well as the ComforTemp gloves, I'll be wearing it this winter instead of all the bulky fleece.
Here's a question: should the electric vest go on over the ComforTemp, or under it?
Disclaimer: I am currently employed at a BMW motorcycle dealership in Denver. I started working there in April 2002. However, I make no commission on the sale of BMW apparel.
Back in May I had to leave after work in Denver and ride up to Fort Collins and back, about 150 miles total. It was a cool but dry day when I rode to work in my midweight gloves, but the weather turned uglier as the day went by and around quitting time it was 38 degrees outside and raining sideways. All of me was waterproof except my hands, but even with heated grips, plain leather wasn't going to be much good. So I took advantage of my newly vested employee discount and bought a pair of BMW ComforTemp gloves.
When I got to Ft. Collins, my body was alternating between freezing and merely suffering, but my hands were just...fine. Neither warm nor cold, just...fine.
The store I went to Ft. Collins for was closed, of course, so I pulled in to a gas station to top off and head home. When I pulled up to the pump, the first thing I noticed is that my grips were off-and had been for the entire trip. I stripped off the gloves to gas up, and that's when I found out what a good job the gloves had been doing. By the time I finished fueling, my hands were so stiff from cold that I could barely drag the gloves back over my hands.
By the time I got back home, my hands were once again just...fine.
I know it's anticlimactic to say my hands were fine, but that's my only perception: My body was freezing or sweating depending on whether traffic was moving or stopped, but while my body was putting up with all that, my hands felt like they were back home in the living room: so comfortable you don't even know they're there.
I've talked to some fairly serious LD riders who wear ComforTemp under their gear, and to a man they're pleased. One fellow rode across Arizona wearing the jacket, and he had it on from about 35F up to 85F in a single day before stripping it off. The secret seems to be that instead of simply insulating, this stuff regulates temperature, evening out temperature variations so that you body is in working in a more stable environment-which it adapts to a lot better.
BMW isn't the only company that makes phase change clothing, and it probably isn't the cheapest, either. But if the ComforTemp undersuit works as well as the ComforTemp gloves, I'll be wearing it this winter instead of all the bulky fleece.
Here's a question: should the electric vest go on over the ComforTemp, or under it?
Joe Rocket makes some decent mesh gear, about as comfortable as shorts and a tee. Carry a rain suit with you so when it gets cooler out you put that on over the Joe Rocket to keep the wind out.
I've had the chance to test drive a Vanson perf jacket and a BMW Airflow jacket, and both are nearly teeshirt comfortable if there's the slightest are movement.
Disclaimer: I work at a BMW motorcycle dealership but receive no commission from the sale of apparel.
I've had the chance to test drive a Vanson perf jacket and a BMW Airflow jacket, and both are nearly teeshirt comfortable if there's the slightest are movement.
Disclaimer: I work at a BMW motorcycle dealership but receive no commission from the sale of apparel.
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3,415 Posts
sounds goodbut $175 is rich for my blood, guess I'll stick to my thermies and poler-tec pull-over, I had a BMW system helmet for years and it was really nice with the flip front and good reflecter sticker graphics, I don't know if they still import those or not but it was as good as the shoei rf800 I have now.
I have a Vanson perforated leather jacket. It works very well in hot weather. On one trip, the thermometer was getting close to 40°C (104°F), too hot even for the jacket, so I pulled over by the side of a creek, soaked my t-shirt with water, put everything back on and kept on riding. It was like riding with an air conditioner.
Re: ComforTemp Gloves
Here, here! I do not work for BMW, I just own one.
I've used the ComforTemp gloves in the past and they are great. While my body was freezing under thermals, fleece, and leathers, my hands were "just right." Freekin' Goldilocks over here ... Anyway, I haven't tried the jacket out yet, but I'd be more than willing to try it out in crummy New Jersey weather and review it if MO subsidizes my, ahem, "research" -- clock's a tickin' guys.
Here, here! I do not work for BMW, I just own one.
I've used the ComforTemp gloves in the past and they are great. While my body was freezing under thermals, fleece, and leathers, my hands were "just right." Freekin' Goldilocks over here ... Anyway, I haven't tried the jacket out yet, but I'd be more than willing to try it out in crummy New Jersey weather and review it if MO subsidizes my, ahem, "research" -- clock's a tickin' guys.
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39 Posts
RE: Over or under the electric vest?
For "maximum warmth", my experience shows that the electric gear should be as close to your skin (without directly touching it) as you can get it. The more layers of clothing between your skin and the heat, the more layers of insulation preventing that heat from getting to your body.
For "maximum warmth", my experience shows that the electric gear should be as close to your skin (without directly touching it) as you can get it. The more layers of clothing between your skin and the heat, the more layers of insulation preventing that heat from getting to your body.
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41 Posts
50F????? who needs a fancy coat for 50F????
Come live in the Mid west and ride ...wuss!
Come live in the Mid west and ride ...wuss!
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446 Posts
Hey, kids, rock and roll...
Listen, I'm *really happy* MO is in Cali, riding in some of the worst traffic in the world. That way, they can tell me accurately about good commuting gear.
And I love the time difference, being in Hotlanna myself. I sent an email to Burnsie yesterday-or-so at, like, 2030, and I got a reply!! Not only did I get a reply, it came within two hours-ish. Actually being able to have the editorial gods deign to notice me is worth the subscription.
But, Man, the question is this: are you legally allowed to wear Big Mexican Woman-branded gear if you don't ride a Big Mexican Woman? Is that anything like wearing an Official H-D Black Leather jacket whilst riding a Hurricane?
On the other hand, I met a guy at the local pipe shoppe the other day who rides an airhead boxer (R80, I think) with H-D engineer boots, Darien pants, Belstaff jacket, and skid lid. Whatever creams your Twinkie, I 'spose.
And by way of letter to the editors: you know, Edmund's, the big, free, car info site, has a list of the "Editors' Most Wanted." It gives the staff's picks for best car in any given category, like "Under $12k" and "Econosports" and "Entry Luxury" and a paragraph or so blurb as to ytheir rationale. I wonder if we could get y'all to work on something like that? Hey, big feature, updated annually maybe, and you don't have to work very much to write it. Thanks again.
Listen, I'm *really happy* MO is in Cali, riding in some of the worst traffic in the world. That way, they can tell me accurately about good commuting gear.
And I love the time difference, being in Hotlanna myself. I sent an email to Burnsie yesterday-or-so at, like, 2030, and I got a reply!! Not only did I get a reply, it came within two hours-ish. Actually being able to have the editorial gods deign to notice me is worth the subscription.
But, Man, the question is this: are you legally allowed to wear Big Mexican Woman-branded gear if you don't ride a Big Mexican Woman? Is that anything like wearing an Official H-D Black Leather jacket whilst riding a Hurricane?
On the other hand, I met a guy at the local pipe shoppe the other day who rides an airhead boxer (R80, I think) with H-D engineer boots, Darien pants, Belstaff jacket, and skid lid. Whatever creams your Twinkie, I 'spose.
And by way of letter to the editors: you know, Edmund's, the big, free, car info site, has a list of the "Editors' Most Wanted." It gives the staff's picks for best car in any given category, like "Under $12k" and "Econosports" and "Entry Luxury" and a paragraph or so blurb as to ytheir rationale. I wonder if we could get y'all to work on something like that? Hey, big feature, updated annually maybe, and you don't have to work very much to write it. Thanks again.
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2 Posts
Ehh, what about a jacket/suit that is all of the above? Imagine, protective (ever read the the story of the beemer rider whose suit melted to him when he fell off?), flows air in summer, has rain protection for weather, has quilted linings for those that need cold protection?
Think it doesn't exist? It does.
Disclaimer: I work for the importer of said product. Maybe someday it'll get a review here.
Think it doesn't exist? It does.
Disclaimer: I work for the importer of said product. Maybe someday it'll get a review here.
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