Presentation of electric heating aids for winter drivers

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Presentation of electric heating aids for winter drivers
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Presentation of electric heating aids for winter drivers

Presentation of electric heating aids for winter drivers
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Despite the impending or already started climate change, the winters in this country are still quite shady. Anyone who rides a motorcycle during this time does not need to freeze, because the accessories industry is tough.

Stefan luck

11/09/2007

There are many reasons why you should stay with two-wheelers in winter: traffic jams, lack of parking spaces, simply the absence of a car. Or simply the joy of driving, because as long as there is neither snow nor ice covering the streets, cycling in winter has its charms . Which you can enjoy the more the less you freeze. Warm hands are the be-all and end-all, as cold fingers cannot be used to gently brake or accelerate. Which is why resourceful minds invented the heated grip some time ago.

All electric heaters work according to the same principle: Current flows through a wire with a defined resistance, it heats up and gives off this heat to its surroundings. The power consumption is in the range of around ten to 50 watts. If you compare these figures with the alternator output of your motorcycle, which is usually between 200 watts for small machines and 500 watts for big bikes, it quickly becomes clear that not all of the products presented here can be operated at the same time.

After all, the lighting, ignition, injection and, if available, the ABS must first be supplied and the battery charged. As a rule of thumb, an additional load of ten percent of the alternator output is not a problem as long as the energy is not constantly being used. And the distance traveled should go further than the next gas station, otherwise the battery will not be fully charged. And then soon nothing works anymore. The following pages provide an overview of the various methods of getting through the winter warm on the bike.

Mobile »underfloor heating ?? – Flash for Fantasy

Imagine the following scenario: handles, kidney belt, gloves, boots, vest, visor, bench, there is a cable hanging out everywhere. And when you turn everything on, the lights go dark, the cart stops, and it’s still cold. Stupid what? But rescue is near, at least for owners of water-cooled vehicles. In the form of a kind of mobile underfloor heating. Sounds stupid, but that’s how it is. And it is almost as difficult to grow.
Function: A heat exchanger is installed on the vehicle, which uses its hot coolant to heat a liquid that flows through really long lines through the overall or sweater. In the case presented, the heat exchanger is in a kind of tank bag. Once installed, it can be connected and disconnected using the quick-release fastener. The clothing is also connected to the heat exchanger using a quick-release fastener, and the desired temperature can be set using a display.
The advantage of this system: The on-board network is not additionally loaded, and the temperature is distributed evenly over the whole body and not just selectively. Disadvantages: The system is not cheap (around 1100 euros, but including the complex installation). In addition, there can be problems with new vehicles in the event of a guarantee, as the cooling circuit is interfered with.
The overall is very comfortable on the skin, is not bulky despite the heated hoses and can therefore be worn comfortably under normal motorcycle clothing. The cut of the overalls is designed for the sitting posture on the motorcycle, nothing pinches or pinches. While conventional electrical heating equipment scratches at the 100 watt mark at best, which also makes sense with regard to the alternator power, the Thermoflash (www.thermoflash.de) powers up to 3800 watts according to the manufacturer. That should even be enough to heat up a log cabin in winter Alsaka.

Insoles and the like – heater

Feet, especially the toes, are extremely vulnerable to frost when riding a motorcycle in winter. But of course there is also a remedy: If you have an alternator and if you still have space for a socket, you can use the heating mats from www.heizteufel.de. With 13 watts each, the mats (pair price 57.95 euros) are so powerful that you can immediately retrofit a controller. The installation in the boots requires some manual skill. Laying the cables in the shoe also requires careful consideration, after all you don’t want to tear them off every time you put them on and take off, or walk around on them while walking. Ultimately, the power supply must be designed in such a way that the cable does not get stuck somewhere every time you put your foot down. All in all, it makes more sense to use battery power for the feet.
With this variant, there are two very similar products from www.mematec.de or www.hotronic.de. In both cases, a heating element is built into an insole at a defined point in the toe area, which is particularly at risk from the cold. The sole can be easily adapted to the intended shoe using scissors. The energy supply is provided by one battery per sole. The advantage of this method: independence from the power grid. At least for the three to five hours that the battery delivers depending on the level set (Hotronic four, mematec three). The achievable temperatures vary between 30 and 43 degrees. Thanks to the integrated clips, the batteries can be easily attached to the boot. The two products are not only very similar in terms of technology, with prices of 144 euros (mematec) and 149 euros (Hotronic) there is no reason to prefer one model to the other.
Mematec has another arrow in its quiver: a neoprene cover with integrated battery pouches is available there for 39 euros. Originally intended for cyclists, the overcoat is also available in a particularly large version that fits over motorcycle boots.

Heating mats for all purposes – Hot chair

As very warm hands and feet are conducive to well-being, the wiring of the corresponding clothing is often annoying and annoying. Especially in short-haul operations, you will hardly want to plug yourself in and out every time. That doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. The less energy the body has to expend to warm the trunk, the more it can put into the outskirts. Which is why heated seats are not a bad solution, and a comfortable one on top of that. No cables, no plugs, no nothing. Just turn it on. It goes without saying that the ubiquitous www.heizteufel.de has various sizes of mats in its range, as do the colleagues from www.heatpro.de. The Jungbluth company (www.motorrad-sitzbaenke.de) only offers complete benches, for summer drivers also without heating, but in any case with upholstery and design according to customer requirements. The guys from wwww.baehr.net can do that too. By sending in the bench and transferring 250 euros, the heating elements shown above on the right can be installed within a few working days. And depending on your desire and budget, there are no limits to your personal imagination. As always, the limiting factor is the resilience of the motorcycle’s electrical system.

Heated gloves – warm handshake

The extremities are the parts of the body most affected by hypothermia. Warm fingers are even more important than warm feet, because controlled acceleration and particularly sensitive braking are almost impossible with icicles on the hand. But this is particularly important in the conditions that offer little grip. To make matters worse, the handles are now usually made of aluminum, a material that not only conducts electricity but also heat particularly well.
The model shown on the left by baehr (www.baehr.net) for 275 euros belongs to the upper class of heated gloves. Infinitely variable, up to 25 watts each ensure comfortably warm fingers. A waterproof membrane is included to ensure that they stay dry. And to prevent the cold water from running from the jacket sleeve into the glove, they have Baehr double cuffs to pull under and over the sleeve. The workmanship is first class, the cables even have gold-plated connections. However, this does not change the fact that the cables have to be plugged in, a fact that is particularly annoying in short-haul operation. Not to mention the risk of tangling or snagging in the event of a fall. Baehr also offers a slimmed-down version without gold and regulation for 199 euros.
The heated gloves from www.heizteufel.de are not quite as classy. The middle pair is only partially suitable for motorcycling due to the lack of protective reinforcements, at 79.95 euros and 13 watts each at the lower end of the price and performance spectrum. The model on the right is a classic functional glove. It is offered in two versions. With an unregulated 13 watt, it costs 134.95 euros. The controller is available as an accessory if required. For freaks, it is also available with a full 40 watts and stepless control for 169.95 euros. This should make cold fingers a thing of the past, even at the Arctic Circle. Provided that the vehicle battery does not run out.

What else is there – warm doublet

Even if you don’t plan to attend the elephant meeting in the Bavarian Forest at the end of February, you can feel cold. A vest is available from www.baehr.net for 199 euros which, thanks to battery operation, can also be used without a motorcycle. The desired temperature can be regulated in five stages and is set after a short time. As a gag, the battery is equipped with a diode that acts as a flashlight.
For those who like it more classic, www.heizteufel.de has a twelve-volt leather vest for 169.95 euros in its range. However, you should still invest in a controller here, because plugged in directly, you feel a little like in the oven. A smart and inexpensive idea at 49 euros comes from www.heatpro.de. Instead of the back protector, a heating pad is inserted into the jacket and connected to the hopefully existing on-board socket. Finished. Within a short time, the temperature is almost 40 degrees Celsius and warms your back.
An electrically heated visor from www.ixs.de could provide a clear view for 95 euros. Originally developed for snowmobilers, it also fits on some Ixs helmets without any problems. Unfortunately, there is one crucial catch: the visor is not ECE-compliant and, strictly speaking, should not be driven on the road.

Battery-heated underwear – Strombuxe

The two-parter from the manufacturer WarmX (www.warmx.de) from Apolda, Thuringia, is somewhat reminiscent of the uniforms of Tamara Jagellovsk, security officer and guardian of Commander McLane, the stubborn commander of the Orion spaceship.
Although the iconic TV series is now over 40 years old, the divide still looks very futuristic. It is, because silver-plated polyamide threads are woven into the light-colored areas of the underwear. Depending on the density of these conductive threads, the electrical resistance increases and the temperature rises. In this way, specific regions can be heated in a very targeted manner. In the case of trousers, these are the feet, knees and parts of the legs. With the top, the focus of the heat-emitting areas is on the kidney area, as this is where the sensation of cold is particularly great.
Both parts are available in all common sizes for women and men, as it is important for a convincing warmth effect that the underwear fits snugly on the body. The energy required comes from a lithium-ion battery with an integrated electronic control. The batteries are put in the pockets provided and connected to clothing with snaps. There are three levels of heat output between two and seven watts to choose from. What bothers a bit when wearing are the diodes in the batteries, which flash at different frequencies depending on the heating level.
In practice, you don’t necessarily feel the warmth directly, but on the other hand you register that you don’t get cold. So you can save one or the other fleece under the jacket when riding a motorcycle, which benefits mobility.
The placement of the battery in the trousers has proven to be not the last word in wisdom, as it sits exactly where it is most annoying when sitting. In this case there is an extension cable. A battery charge lasts between two and five hours, depending on the heating level, before it has to be connected to the charger for three. The clothes can be machine washed at 30 degrees without any problems.
The bottom line is that the heated laundry could definitely convince if it weren’t for the hurdle of the very steep purchase price. The price for the shirt is 348 euros and the trousers 398 euros. After all, complete with battery, electronics and charger. Still, Tamara would have to swallow too.

Kidney belt for twelve-volt on-board voltage – back cover

For many motorcyclists, wearing a kidney belt is as natural as wearing a helmet. Not without reason, the kidneys are exactly where the turbulence of the airstream is particularly violent. In combination with jackets that are not cut long enough, it can get quite fresh on the back. In addition, many find the constant shaking on the motorcycle uncomfortable, a kidney belt holds the innards in place a little. And who knows how painful hypothermic kidneys can be, likes to keep a low profile at this point. The neoprene belt sold by Softline (www.softline-online.de; or www.heizteufel.de) with a large Velcro fastener and fleece insert (79.95 euros) ensures that the blood purifiers are kept at a comfortable temperature. Traditionalists who don’t know what to do with the »newfangled plastic stuff« can get the belt in a rustic leather version (99.95 euros). Both belts are optionally available as a battery version. In the neoprene version, a permanently sewn-in heating element with a power consumption of 27 watts ensures pleasant temperatures after just a few minutes. There is nothing to regulate or switch, as soon as the chinch plug has contact with the specially installed power supply, it starts. For polar drivers or snowmobilers there is a model with a whopping 40 watt heating output, which can be continuously regulated to avoid hot flashes. Basically, the strap is neatly made, what is missing is a pocket or something similar to stow the plug when not in use. In the current version he hangs around a little unmotivated.

The classic: heated grips – hot fingers

It is not as big as the offer appears at first glance. The market is made by the manufacturer Daytona which all accessories wholesalers (Gericke, Gotz, Louis, Polo et cetera) have on offer. Cost: around 60 euros. Saito is another manufacturer looking to fight against Daytona dominance. In addition, Chinese non-name products of undefined quality are occasionally thrown onto the market.
With two levels, a starting position and a permanent position, the regulation at the market leader Daytona is not particularly differentiated, but it is practical. Depending on the model, there are between 48 and 57 watts in the starting level in the data sheet, which are also required to warm thick, possibly even wet winter gloves. In order not to grill your fingers in less adverse conditions, you switch to the second level, which usually has an output of 15 watts. Said cheap offers are usually content with a maximum of 30 watts of heating power. That’s enough for cool autumn evenings, but not when it’s really cold. Stay away (!) From sets that only have an on / off switch! The temperature never fits, it’s either too warm or too cold.
When buying the heated grips, you should make sure that the cables, especially that of the right grip, have a solid kink protection. Due to the constant movement of the throttle grip, the transition from cable to grip is the most critical point in the system. A little note about assembly: do not connect the handle set directly to the battery. On the one hand, it is then not protected, and on the other hand, the battery is drained very quickly if you forget to switch it off. The connection to the horn is the ideal connection point to the on-board electrics. It is switched via the ignition, often with extra protection and rarely in use, so that overloading the line is hardly possible.

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