Leathers or textiles for winter

[Steve R1]

Don't know if it's my age but this year I have really been feeling the cold. I ride all year in all weathers no problem. For winter I have a dainese one piece with no vents, I wear an alpinestars thermals and when it's really cold or wet an alpine stars eclipse wind proof jacket. I wear super tech R boots except when it's raining. The R6 has also been fitted with heated grips.

This has kept me warm n cosy over previous winters as I can regulate my temperature by taking layers off when it goes milder and putting them back on when it's cold, however for the first time I am feeling the cold much more this year, I have lost about a stone in weight so I don't know if that will play a part, but for the first time I am thinking of buying some textiles, but the thing that puts me off is keeping them clean, by commute is a round trip of 72 miles on the m6 , also won't they be drafty where they join at the waist, I changed from 2 piece leathers to a one piece to stop the draft.

Anyway do any if you use textiles, if so what, how do you keep them clean and are they warm.

I also only have two winters to do before I retire so is it worth shelling out on textiles

Thoughts appreciated

[MOzZereLLa]

I just bought a two piece Halvarssons armoured goretex jacket with storm collar and trousers with braces. I commute in these wth my alpinestars motocross boots and an Arai Tour X lid. It's perfect. I'll be selling my one piece Dainese suit next Spring together with some other kit as I just won't use them again.

For me, it has to be  "textile" but decent stuff isn't cheap. I can heartily recommend Halvarssons kit as it was recommended to me in a previous thread.

[Steve R1]

Cheers mate, am going to the bike show network eek so will have a look around.

[ash]

Heated garments...the way to go . I 've got some heated gloves now....they are just brilliant

[monkeyb0b]

Another vote for textile kit in winter but you definatly shouldnt skimp on it

[Steve R1]

Heated garments...the way to go . I 've got some heated gloves now....they are just brilliant

Don't the wires get in the way though, are they long enough to allow you to wipe rain off your visor? And if so do they flap about?

[m6rk]

I did 120 miles a day for two winters and in my experience the following works the best

GOOD textiles ( i used HG master V) with a thermal base layer. (leggings and full length top)
An EDZ heated gillet to keep my core warm
I found heated grips good enough (oxford sports worked well)
Either a neck warmer or full balaclava.

good luck

[komp]

got heated gloves too
they rock

[MOzZereLLa]

I've just bought a Klim goretex windstopper snowmobile balaclava for use under my Tour X. Should be very warm hopefully. Half UK price on eBay USA.

[ash]

Heated garments...the way to go . I 've got some heated gloves now....they are just brilliant

Don't the wires get in the way though, are they long enough to allow you to wipe rain off your visor? And if so do they flap about?

There is a bike loom which goes straight to the battery, and the end of that gets threaded between the tank and the seat with a bit of slack. The suit loom then goes between the suit liner with the connector coming out at your waist which plugs into the bike, and then up the back of the  suit itself with a wire going down each arm to the cuff (they tuck away up the sleeve behind the line when not plugged in). You plug the gloves into them, put the gloves on, climb on the bike and then plug into the bike loom. Once the engine is running, you can turn them on...they only draw 13 watts though so will run for a while with it off.

3 heat settings, with a button the back of each glove. The down side is that if there is an interruption in the power supply (killing the engine and spinning it back up on the starter), the current drain resets the gloves control chip, and that will require you just pull the plug out of the bike loom, and plug it back in...no biggie even with gloves on when stopped.

I had R&G heated grips on my G1 and they were OK, but the backs of your hands got cold as they were exposed, and the palms were scorching. Heated gloves have the elements in the right area's so much more comfortable.

[Kitb4460]

I wear textiles through the winter. Base thermal layers. And sometimes a pair of polis waterproof yellow leggings as and extra as my bottoms aint as waterproof as they used to be. And it gives an extra layer against the wind chill.
More layers than an onion 
Windstopper neck / chest thingy.
Never had heated grips or muffs last year. Fingers were a bit nippy a few times.
This year I have turned into a big puff.
Just ordered Tucano muffs.

[Steve R1]

I do use lots of layers and even two neck warmers when it's very cold,

I take the point re the heated grips, Warm palms cold back of hand....
Will have a look at the nec

Cheers for the advice

[clipper]

This year I have turned into a big puff
Just ordered Tucano muffs.

If you're warm you can concentrate on the road and the ride rather than how cold you're feeling
Hence you're much more likely to get home safely

Good call on the muffs I say, you can never have too much muff 

[LewisBeGoog]

I have ridden 80 miles per day through the last 3 winters and it has to be Textiles, HG Goretex stuff for me and heated grips. Pay special attention to decent neck warmers and keep the drafts out and you will be fine. I also have several thinner layers underneath and until it gets to about -5 never have any issues.