I would like to pick up heated clothing so I can ride year-round. I ride a 2006 Wee with the stock alternator, and only draw for my GPS. I am considering a set of Firstgear heaters, including socks, pants, jacket and gloves. Total draw comes to just under 150 watts, more than the stock alternator should have available.

Does anybody have experience with Firstgear equipment? Is there another brand that is superior?
Am I correct that keeping the temperature lower reduces draw?
Where do you connect your gear to the bike? I was planning to purchase one of Rick's auxiliary shelves and plug into that, does that make sense?

Thanks for all feedback!

Ran a couple years now with gerbing full jacket and gloves. Have not used pants or shoes, and that includes riding to Bancroft in winter (-20C or more). I am on the other side of the GTA from you.

A search of "heated gear" should give a plethora of info.
You can get a headlight cut-out from one source and run your heated gear, no sweat.
Lots of us do it all the time so, yes, it works.

I asked the same question on vstrom DOT info, and Gerbing was mentioned positively over there as well. So unless their prices are exorbitant, I'll prolly go that way.

Where do you plug in? I am getting annoyed with running wire every time I get a new appliance, so I was thinking of running a single wire from the battery to a fuse block / power terminal inside the fairing. From there it would be a simple matter to add anything new.

I keep hearing "headlight cutout switch", but that sounds like it would turn off my headlights -- not my first choice. If I could kill just *one* headlight I would consider it. More research!

I have a left low beam hot wire cutout switch. Just cut the B/Bl wire at whichever headlight you want to temporarily extinguish, extend the cut ends to a switch rated for at least 5A, and you have it. With low beams selected and the switch off, you're running with one headlight.

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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

If you unplug a headlight, and put the plug in upside down,
then that headlight will only function as a high beam lamp.
It will be off when the high/low switch is in low position.

... or you could just leave it unplugged.

(That's how my 2006 Wee works. I don't know if the new bike is the same.)

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Here's a thread I started on this a few months ago: School me on heated gear

I think there's a lot of good info in there.

I'm probably going to go Gerbing or Warm n Safe or a mix of the two with a one bulb cutout from eastern beaver.

It is also my understanding that running at 50% power would use 1/2 as much, so 50% = 75 watts. You might also be able to save some power by running LED's and be sure to use a voltmeter.

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"The first five days after the weekend are always the hardest."

-- My wife

First, thanks for the cutout switch clarifications. I am only running gloves, Garmin Nuvi 2555LMT gps and (maybe) a charger for my Blackberry, but if I go to a jacket liner I will probably take your advice and install a cutout.

Gloves: I bought Gerbing T5 gloves size Small, as recommended by the sizing chart. I returned them immediately because they were TOO small. I got the Medium, and the fit was snug. They are bulky but I can still feel the grips. I suspect on longer rides they might cause pain from spreading my fingers so far apart, but I doubt I'll be taking longer trips while needing these gloves anyway.

I powered up the gloves and I could only feel heat along the heel of my hand. There is probably heat being generated elsewhere, but I am not conscious of it -- I am only conscious of there being too much heat in that one little spot, consistent across both hands. Has anybody else experienced this? I am preparing to send them back.

I also have the Gerbing T5 gloves and for me the heat is absent from the middle finger tips while I hold the grips; purchased the gloves Nov 2012. If I stretch out my fingers I can feel heat. Called Gerbing and they want me to send them for an evaluation; only problem is it's December and there is a 4 week wait time. Told them I'll send them in after winter since they do have a lifetime warranty. I can feel heat on the top of my hand and in other fingers.

The T5s aren't as warm as the old Classic style gloves (no longer made). They had way more insulation but were bulkier.
I'd like to see Gerbings go back to making a serious cold weather glove because their stuff is good quality. A serious glove needs heat everywhere.

Something else to consider is lever material. A carbon-fiber lever draws less heat away from the glove than an aluminum lever. If you spend a lot of time holding the brake and feathering the clutch at low idle, this is a consideration.

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DL1000K6