Heated Gear

Generally speaking, there are two groups or systems of heated garments and each group has advantages and disadvantages.

Traditionally, going back as far as the 80's, we have 12v motorcycle heated gear, powered by the vehicle's electrical system. The advantage is consistent power and long term heat provided to your garments. Great for long trips and every day riders. Several garments (jacket, gloves, pants etc.) can all be connected to the same controller. Disadvantage can be a more complicated setup, being physically connected to the bike.

More recent we have now a wide variety of 7v (7.4v) lithium rechargeable battery heated garments, useable on or off the bike. The advantage is obviously ease of use. Disadvantages are limited power supply both in duration and heat generation, having to keep batteries charged and not having the ability to connect several garments together.

Some hybrid systems can be powered either 12v or 7v. Some garments will have a built-in controller and others (the higher quality ones) will need a separate controller. There is a lot of cheap china junk out there in the mix as well.

If you want to do it right, plan ahead and speak with a heated gear professional before diving into heated gear. At Cyclebitz we have 30 years under our belt working with heated clothing and manufacturers going back to the days of Widder, Eclipse and today still in operation Warm & Safe. Come into the shop or contact us via email at sales@cyclebitz.com