Riding a Yamaha TW200 is really no different than any other license platted dual sport motorcycle. When it’s 50-Degrees Fahrenheit outside and your are riding along at 50-MPH, and when you factor in the Wind Chill Factory, it’s the equivalent to, or feels like 39.9° F degree’s. Lets say, roughly 10-degrees less.
It’s a sliding scale… No mater if your riding a motorcycle on city streets or Correro’s TransAmerica Trail, standing up through the sunroof of a car, running across a mountain top ridge like Usain Bolt, or going down a hill on a bicycle! Wind Chill is Wind Chill! Heck, you could be standing on G-Ma’s porch and experience wind chill!
WIND CHILL CALCULATOR
Lets say it’s it 40°F degrees outside, but your are trodding along at 35-mph. That’s going to feel like 27.7°F degree’s. But let’s take it one further step and the commute to and from that spot has you rolling at 60-mph. That’s going to feel like a bone-chilling 24.7°F degrees!!!
Want to play with the WIND CHILL Calculator? Check out this nifty tool!
https://www.weather.gov/epz/wxcalc_windchill
HIGHER LEARNING
Yes, your TW200 is still in 1987 mode and that’s OK! But put the 1920’s cotton garments away and get into some modern phys-ed wear! Choose what you will, AS LONG AS IT’S NOT COTTON! Cotton is totally fine for t-shirts around town, but NOT when you kick in the physical activities!
Think “sponge” when you say cotton!
• Understanding Layering from REI
(Where 98.999% of my outdoor gear has came from) LAYERING BASICS
• From ADVspec – Give this a read on the ideas of layering
(my DREAM Kit company): What is ADV Layering?
• I also have to mention the book “The Complete Walker I by Colin Fletcher and Chip Rawlins” as I have learned a great deal from this book! This is THE ONE BOOK that I have gifted to both staff and buddies more so than any other single book!!!!
Moto Adventures is very much an extension of backpacking, so I sought out the proverbial KING OF BACKPACKING – Colin Fletcher! I’ve written about this book previously at my previous work, “The Complete Walker IV Backpacking Book by Colin Fletcher and Chip Rawlins” and here “Planning a SCX10 Hike over Redonda Ridge OHV Trail 1W17“
TOP BASE LAYERS – LEVEL 1
Short Sleeve Shirt – Arc’teryx Cormac Crew SS Men’s
Short Sleeve Shirt – Champion Double Dry Performance T-Shirt
Short Sleeve Shirt – ADV SPEC CORE SHORT SLEEVE
TOP MID LAYER – LEVEL 2
Long Sleeve Shirt – Patagonia Capilene Midweight Zip-Neck Base Layer Top
Long Sleeve Shirt – Mountain Khaki Wool Shirt is no longer available – try:
> Outdoor Research Enigma Half Zip – Men’s
Long Sleeve Shirt – REI Co-op Lightweight Base Layer Long-Sleeve Crew
Long Sleeve Shirt – MAGCOMSEN Long Sleeve Shirts Quick Dry 1/2 Zip-Up
Long Sleeve Shirt – ADV SPEC CORE LONG SLEEVE (WHAT I WOULD LIKE!)
WIND PROOF VEST
Moto Vest – Discontinued Troy Lee Designs Moto Vest – try:
Moto Vest – Leatt Race Vest
Moto Vest – Little Donkey Andy Windproof Vest
ELBOW PROTECTION
Elbow Guards – Fox Titan Race Elbow Guards
TOP OUTER LAYER – LEVEL 3
Enduro Jacket – Acerbis DS Adventure (Discontinued) try:
> Acerbis Impact Enduro w/ Removable sleeves
Heavy Winter Jacket – Firstgear Kathmandu Jacket
BOTTOM BASE LAYER – LAYER 1
Shorts (Padded Liner) – What I have are the Fox Racing Tecbase Liner Shorts. Fox is no longer selling the padded liner short separate from their MTB shorts. So here is what I searched and would like to try myself!
Shorts (Padded Liner) – Fox Racing Men’s Titan Race Short w/ Hip Pad
Shorts (Padded Liner) – M’S WOODCHUCK CHAMOIS 9.75″ | 3 HOUR
Shorts (Padded Liner) – Pearl Izumi Liner Shorts
Shorts (Padded Liner) – GORE WEAR C3 Men’s Cycling Liner Short Tights
In a class of their own – ADV SPEC CORE SHORTS
Shorts (NO PAD) aka UNDERWEAR – BASE LAYER 1
OK, so you know… Boxer briefs are snug and extend down your legs to your thighs (typically 31cm from waistband to leg). Boxers have the same length but are a much looser fit (loose in the legs). In my experience, boxer briefs are the most functional men’s underwear for the active performance minded folks.
Underwear – Duluth Trading Armachillo Cooling Box Briefs
Underwear – XEBEX Boxer Briefs (modal)
Underwear – EXOFFICIO Men’s Give-N-Go® 2.0 Boxer Brief
(first pair of non-cotton underwear I ever purchased!)
Underwear – ARC’TERYX PHASE SL BOXER SHORT MEN’S (My FAV’s!)
LONG JOHNS – LAYER 1
Long Johns – Those things to cover both legs to keep your “leglits” warm!
Long Johns – ADV SPEC CORE LONG LEG
Long Johns – REI Co-op Lightweight Base Layer Bottoms – Men’s
Long Johns – Thermajohn Fleece Lined Thermal Underwear Set
MOTO SOCKS
Moto Socks – One Industries Socks – No Longer Available
Moto Socks – STANCE OG MX Also try their Snow Socks
Moto Socks – SEALSKINZ Waterproof Cold Weather Knee Length Sock
KNEE PROTECTION
Knee Guards – Troy Lee Designs Knee Guards
GLOVES – DIGIT PROTECTION
| Gloves – Ride 100% BRISKER Fluo Yellow Gloves – See All The Ride 100% BRISKERS Gloves – Mechanix Wear MCW-WR-010 – Wind Resistant Winter Gloves |
EXTENTION / COLD WEATHER
| HIPPO HANDS have greatly upped my cold weather riding experience! I didn’t talk about them in the video, but while thinking more about gloves, the thicker you go, the less feel you have of the bike. With the use of the HIPPO HANDS, my winter riding experience has been completely CHANGED!!! AKA: #WinterRidingGameChanger !!! I am using the HIPPO HANDS BACKCOUNTRY — ENDURO AND DIRT BIKE MOTORCYCLE HAND COVERS. |
UNDER HELMET HEADWEAR –
THE BALACLAVA
Balaclava – Sparco 001483BI Balaclava
Balaclava – ILM Motorcycle Balaclava Cycling Mask
Balaclava – Acerbis 0016527.090.067 Thermal Balaclava
It’s not really the under the helmet part that needs additional warmth, it’s the front of the face and neck area that can use the wind cutting ability of a balaclava. But just what is this “balaclava” word all about?
The Balaclave is a type of headgear that was known in the 19th century as an Uhlan cap or a Templar cap. The name comes from their use at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War of 1854, referring to the town near Sevastopol in the Crimea, where British troops there wore knitted headgear to keep warm. Handmade balaclavas were sent over to the British troops to help protect them from the bitter cold weather. British troops required this aid, as their own supplies (warm clothing, weatherproof quarters, and food) never arrived in time. According to Richard Rutt in his History of Handknitting, the name “balaclava helmet” was not used during the war but appears much later, in 1881.
Race drivers In Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) sanctioned events must wear balaclavas made of fire-retardant material underneath their helmets. In racing events, hill-climbs, special stages of rallies and selective sections of cross-country events entered on the International Sporting Calendar, all drivers and co-drivers must wear overalls as well as gloves (optional for co-drivers), long underwear, a balaclava, and shoes homologated to the FIA 8856-2000 standard. Hence why I have the SPARCO version from my previous days in rally.
Happy Adventures!
If you are looking for Boots, give this thread a read:
https://www.tdubclub.com/2020/04/05/tw200-gaerne-oiled-balance-boots-yamaha-tdub-club/
