Heated motorcycle clothing is available in two types: battery-powered and connected to the motorcycle’s battery. Battery-powered clothing allows for continued heat away from the bike, but batteries run out. Clothing connected to the bike’s battery doesn’t allow for heat away from the bike, but doesn’t require battery replacement. Care instructions must be followed to avoid burns or shock. Different brands may not be compatible.
When the human body senses colder temperatures, it restricts blood flow to the extremities to preserve as much heat as possible. This quirk of the human body is a wonderful thing for keeping us from getting deathly cold, but it’s a major drawback for motorcyclists everywhere, whose fingers and toes often bear the brunt of the cold on days with mild weather. less than desirable. Heated motorcycle clothing comes in a variety of styles to keep all parts of the body from getting cold.
There are two main types of heated motorcycle clothing. There are models that run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and other models that can be connected directly to the motorcycle’s battery. Heated clothing that uses batteries has the advantage of allowing the wearer to continue to enjoy the heat when away from their motorcycle, but the unpleasant disadvantage that the batteries run out after a few hours. On the other hand, motorcycle clothing that uses the power of the bike does not allow the user to take away the heat after they have stopped riding, but gives relief from the worry of recharging or replacing batteries.
Motorcycle apparel that uses batteries is often marked 7 volts, and some others 12 volts. Heated clothing that is not battery powered comes with different power requirements depending on the manufacturer of the clothing, as well as what part of the body the garment is intended to heat. The required energy, or wattage, needed to power each item is usually marked as needing 77 or 100 watts of power. The amount of power each item uses can put undue stress on motorcycle alternators that don’t produce enough power, or clothes may not heat properly if they don’t have enough power.
It is important to follow the manufacturer’s care instructions when washing, repairing and wearing heated motorcycle clothing. Some clothing brands can be hand washed and others are dry clean only or have other specific care needs. Heated motorcycle clothing, when worn improperly or cared for improperly, can present a risk of burns or shock to the user. Some heated motorcycle garments come with a built-in heat and temperature controller, while other types require the controller to be purchased separately. Different clothing brands may perform differently and may not be compatible with each other, so it is important to contact the manufacturer of individual items if you have any questions about cross-brand compatibility.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
