Want to ride in the colder weather without freezing your butt off (and your fingers and toes) but don't want to spend beaucoup dollars on a $150 Widder (without connections) vest or $150 and up for Aerostich Keanatsu gear(without connections) or $199 for a Gerbing heated liner (without connections)?

Well you could always take your current removable jacket liner (if it has one) and add your own heating wires and connection - but how many of us are that good with a sewing machine, etc.? Or we're just too busy to undertake modifications like this ourselve?

I have another solution for you: Let someone else turn your jacket liner, gloves, pants liners into heated gear.

http://www.cruzanengineering.net/heated.shtml

I personally like this idea since:
a) it is $70 - which is 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of other options like Widder and others.
b) you don't need to add yet another layer to an already tight fitting motorcycle jacket.

When I found this website I became intrigued and planned on placing and order to have Kristen's jacket liner made into a heated liner for her birthday.

I paid the $69.95 plus $6.95 return shipping charge and then sent out Kristens liner the Monday before the 16th (the 9th).

We waited patiently for it to arrive - and it came in the mail today (1/19/06). We hooked up the liner to the spare motorcycle battery I have in my tool chest. The vest is advertised to put out 48 watts - which is better than the widder vests of smaller size and equal to the Widder Vests of large size. It definitely got HOT!

You can't even tell that anything was done to the liner except for the fact that the fuse holder and the wiring connector are sticking out the bottom corner of the liner now.

I am very pleased with the results visually. I put the liner on (not able to zip the jacket of course) and plugged it in and turned it on by the switch. I could only feel heat on my back since that is the only place I was getting contact - but it was very warm - comparable to my Widder vest I think.

I consider this a great alternative to spending loads of money on another layer of gear over what you probably already have. Check it out - get heated.

Hopefully Kristen will get a chance to use it on the bike soon - maybe this weekend.

Thanks Christine! (she's the owner).

Ryan

__________________
Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

Cool solution without spending a lot of cash!!!
What I have found with my vest when it gets really cold like lower 20's (thats darn right cold for Texas) is to wear a t shirt then widder vest then a fleece shirt then my jacket, this way the fleece traps the heat from the widder in next to you.

But I have to say if my vest goes out on me I will try this option out!!!

__________________
05 K1200S (Street)
01 996 Mono (Track)

I can't wear too much between my Stich and shirt - I can maybe fit my Widder and a fleece. When I get the jacket to go with my Olympia pants I think I am going to get that liner doner and maybe the pants liners. Pant liners (I have the heated Widder chaps too) plus jacket will roast you.

I rode to work today using my vest in 23F temps - combined with my heated grips the only thing that started to get cold was my toes. I have a solution for that too.

__________________
Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

That's an awesome find. I wonder if it gets TOO hot for the nylon outer shell of one of the liners I have. I have a FirstGear liner which is nylon on the outside and fleece on the inside which would be awesome if it didn't melt.

I've thought about putting Dual-Stars on the Tuono and getting a heated vest, but I've not done it yet. The winter's short enough here that I just think I'll wait until warmer weather to start commuting every day. Even when it's in the 40s in the morning I haven't been riding to work. I did one day when it was cold in the morning, but half of my commute is on the slab. 80 mph in the cold on a bike with no wind protection is just more uncomfortable than it is fun.

__________________
-Steve

Shoot her an email and ask about your liner - she's done a bunch. I don't think it would get too hot - most jacket liners are made from synthetic material.

I believe that the Widder I have is polyester based taffeta (it could be real silk but I somehow doubt it).

I couldn't go without commuting on the bike, and being in a place as warm as that in the winter...I'd be riding. Get your heated gear and get on the bike!

__________________
Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

is there anyway to adjust the heat? Or is itjust on/off.

__________________
My Girl may be down, but she's not out

So much poop, so little toilet paper

Its just on/off.

So far I am very impressed with the vest. When I first took it out of the box, I was skeptical. I could see the fuse and hookup sticking out of the bottom, but where were the wires? I couldnt see or feel any. I figured I would at least be able to feel them cris-crossing around inside the vest. Eventually Ryan and I found them...they are TINY! I zipped the vest into my Fieldsheer jacket, put it on, and Ryan hooked it up to the battery. It heated up very fast and after about 5 minutes it was almost too hot to be wearing indoors. The wires feel like they are running all over around my core but no wires in the arms. But the few times I went riding when it was getting cold, the only things that got cold were my hands and my core. (heavier gloves are on order)
Now I just need a ride to test it out for real.

__________________
2002 Ducati M750S i.e.
1998 KLR250
1987 YSR50 #116, Squidbusters Racing
sold 1981 CB400T (2004 - May 2006)

I am a panther. I shall slip unnoticed through the darkness like a dark unnoticeable slippy thing.
-MirrorMask

If you look at the link to the company you will see that the basic connection is on/off - just like all the other heated vest companies. However, again just like all the other heated clothing companies out there, there is a thermostat controller available that lets you vary the heat.

You could also buy or use one that you already have, you'd just need to modify the connections to work if yours doesn't have SAE connectors.

__________________
Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

Nylon 6,6, which is the most common nylon fabric for clothing, has a melting point 491F. The wires they put in the coat do NOT get that hot.

Yeah think about it - they cant get hot enough to burn you or they wouldn't be a good solution!

The wires themselves are coated in teflon.

__________________
Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

Very cool! That's basically what I did for mine, but easier.

__________________
~Jayson

Actually is it hot. ooh I crack me up.

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Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

We wired the connector to the bike today so now she can use the jacket with the liner.

Even took the little CB out for a spin around the complex - she still gets up and goes. Such a fun little bike.

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Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

I think I am going to drop a note to MCNews.com about this.

__________________
Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

http://www.cruzanengineering.net/heated2.shtml

For those that want the traditional option of having another layer - CruzanEngineering is now offering their own heated vest - again well below the cost of the "big two" at $90 - this price includes the connections to run the vest as well.

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Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

for the colder months approaching

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Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

Seems like what I'm looking for, but I can't get the link to work. Keeps giving me an error.

They must be having server problems as I was just on the site yesterday checking out their new product offerings.

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Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

Hi

I was bored and doing wierd searches on Google and I found this thread.

Hi I am Chrissy of Cruzan Engineering.
Wow Falcn you said such nice things!
I am glad you are happy.

I saw the server thing. I think we did have a problem on the 23rd. Sorry

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My Name is Chrissy
This is Jello
Heated Motorcycle Gear www.cruzanengineering.net

HEYA! Kristen (mangeldbug) is the one that benefits from your work.

You should post up about your bike! That thing is sweet.

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Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

Ok Cool!

lol yes Jello is a monster. She makes the boy bikes cry.

__________________
My Name is Chrissy
This is Jello
Heated Motorcycle Gear www.cruzanengineering.net

Its getting to be about that time to break out my vest!! I loved it last year.
Thank you!

__________________
2002 Ducati M750S i.e.
1998 KLR250
1987 YSR50 #116, Squidbusters Racing
sold 1981 CB400T (2004 - May 2006)

I am a panther. I shall slip unnoticed through the darkness like a dark unnoticeable slippy thing.
-MirrorMask

I will definitely be ordering a vest soon. It was 46 degrees this morning. So much for the hot south. It's getting COLD already.

__________________
-Steve

46? It was freakin 32 here this morning!

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Even the Ninja must run....in the face of a Hurricane.

Man, it's usually 46 in the morning in November here.

__________________
-Steve

I think I may have to get a heated vest, and maybe something for my toes too. I've been wearing a bunch of layers, would be nice to cut that back some.

__________________
Even the Ninja must run....in the face of a Hurricane.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/bc/

wouldn't be the warmest thing but it sounds like it would work great for the 40s and 50s.

__________________
Eric
Old Bikes:
98' EX500, 03' 636, 98' EX250 & 06' 636

Current Bikes:
08' 848
1966 CL160 - Future Project

hmm. But does it breathe at all? If you sweat underneath it, the sweat can form a cold liquid layer underneath everything and then whatever you do, you will be cold.

__________________
2002 Ducati M750S i.e.
1998 KLR250
1987 YSR50 #116, Squidbusters Racing
sold 1981 CB400T (2004 - May 2006)

I am a panther. I shall slip unnoticed through the darkness like a dark unnoticeable slippy thing.
-MirrorMask

probably not but unless you're really moving around on the bike, you won't sweat at 40 degrees either.

__________________
Eric
Old Bikes:
98' EX500, 03' 636, 98' EX250 & 06' 636

Current Bikes:
08' 848
1966 CL160 - Future Project

I am anxiously awaiting the return of my Olympia LS Liner that I just sent to them. I also sent them a Widder vest that needed repaired. Both should be back this week.

Seem like nice folks.

Rick G

Did you get them back!?

__________________
Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

you'll be needing that with all that lake front crap up there in dogtown

__________________
Eric
Old Bikes:
98' EX500, 03' 636, 98' EX250 & 06' 636

Current Bikes:
08' 848
1966 CL160 - Future Project

Thanks to Falcn's post I had my Joe Rocket liner 'lectrified by Cruzan Engineering. I used it for the first time this morning (32 degrees) and couldn't be happier! Although I'd read that by using a heated liner/vest to heat your core, your hands would stay warmer - I was just a little skepical, but it sure seems to be the case. The liner was the only change to my normal riding gear and my hands were noticeably warmer when I got to work today.
The questions I sent to Cruzan were answered the same day & my liner was back to me 5 days after sending it to them. YMMV but I am a happy (and warm) guy!

__________________
Coffee makes me nervous when I drink it.

Awesome! I am glad it worked out as well for you as it did for Kristen.

__________________
Ryan
Racing is an addiction cured only by poverty.

This deserves a bump - its getting into the colder weather around here and it is only going to get worse!

I love my heated vest. I have had it for 2 seasons now and it still works as good as the day it came in the mail. I just used it this morning to fend off the nasty drizzly chilly morning air

__________________
2002 Ducati M750S i.e.
1998 KLR250
1987 YSR50 #116, Squidbusters Racing
sold 1981 CB400T (2004 - May 2006)

I am a panther. I shall slip unnoticed through the darkness like a dark unnoticeable slippy thing.
-MirrorMask