poor man's heated vest

[htuter]

I was looking for a convenient solution for heated vest for winter riding. We have not that much harsh winter in Istanbul and I was considering to invest on a heated gear which I will use for my daily commuting to work or riding in the city. We have snow only 7-10 days in Istanbul/ Turkey and when it does not snow the lowest temperature varies 3 to 10 Celsius degrees.
I am using a leather jacket or my revit one piece riding suite which has an outlet for heated vest cable. After considering several options from different brands I told my idea to one of my friend and he has offered me the most convenient solution that ever could be, which made me cancel my order for an expensive electric vest after testing it . He has a pair of carbon electric heating pads which he had ordered from famous chineese shopping site Aliexpress and in 20 minutes he has created the worlds most cheapest heated liner for me. We have attached the power cable directly to the battery and we have stuffed the power switch to the right fairing. It is basically on and off operation.
I have also built an extension cable which will stay on one piece riding suite all the time for easy plug in and out. The result was really satisfactory and it cost only 25 USD.
The key thing is to wear a tight softshell jacket over heated pads so that the heat generated by carbon wires could be transferred to the body with out any lost. This solution is not perfect nor Professional solution but it is very convenient, easy to carry and you can wear it with any jacket or ridign suit anyway it does not cost nothing at all. You can create your own a lot better than mine….
I am planning to sew the carbon heat pads in to my columbia softshell jacket as an option.

 

[sportsguy]

Love ideas like this! Not so sure that Chinese drop shipping site is "famous", but who cares. You can afford to see a few versions of this type of "jacket" burn out and still be in the money. Well done for the DIY effort! Stay safe and warm!

 

[MotoPumps]

Nice! Let us know how this works out longer term, comfort, durability, etc.

I see a nice local business springing up! ::018::

 

[htuter]

Sure I will update the long term review however my friend has been using it more than a year ( everyday he is commuting almost 70 km for his work on the highway on a naked bike and he has no issues ). If I am sober tomorrow morning I will attend to mad run which held by local rider club (omm riders). this is a riding ritual which happens every first january . we celebrate the new year with mad run and wish the new year would be a great year for riding. we will ride thru mountains and there will be cold weather and wind chill it would be great opportunity for me to test the poorman's heated vest.

 

[spklbuk]

I like it!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Karson]

Nice find and innovation!

Aliexpress is great if all you want is a 100% chinese clone. There's chinese "wholesale" prices, then there's chinese aliexpress prices.

Take a look at an NFL jersey from any of the hundred vendors selling them, for example. Lots of folks I hear from have great luck and often are 100% matches from the brick and mortar sporting goods stores where they bend you over and don't even give you a kiss afterwards.

I'm pro "made in usa" but when the sole source distribution of a product is from china anyway, it becomes moot. ::003::

 

[Ramseybella]

Is this the site?

What pad did your friend order?

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=Carbon+heat+pad&catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20140101070444

 

[htuter]

yes this is the one there are hundreds of suppliers and I think they almost offer the same product only switch type and some minor differences.
I remember one of the supplier do offer watterproof version of it with cost of 15 USD in more... ıf you are interested here is the link
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-seats-installed-Universal-fiber-car-seat-heater-system-Round-button-3-level-switch-seat-heater/1507189965.html
if waterproof version does not make sense you can go for the cheapest one.
Today I have tested the pads. After riding more than 5 hours in rainy conditions I have tested the performance in many different conditions such as high hudimty mountain passes, high ways with wind chill. During my trip average temperature around 5 celcius and I suppose together with the wind effect it goes far bellow than that. I can say the heated pads really works fine. When I turn it off I feel a bitter cold. I was using my one piece riding süite and I wear the pads over my thermal liner and I wear a tight softshell jacket over the heated pads which apply adequate preassure to the pads so that heat transfer to my torso was remain perfect.
only one issue with the power cable connectors the original ones are not good quality and fit into my usage purpose. I am looking for finding a better connectors to replace the current ones. ıf you forgotten to detach the connector before you leave the bike you can damage the cables... I am sure I have seen a magnetic type of connector which releases off it self and protect the cables. if I could find the website forgetting to detach the connector will not be an issue.
So far I advise this solution to everyone who are looking for lowcost solution. even though if one day I decide to invest on a proper solution such as Gerbing's or Exo I will keep this one for the pillion.. another option is built a heated seat by installing them bunder seat cover

 

[stutrump]

Dear htuter. I love your idea. Good man!! On a different note......I was in Istanbul for two days with work recently. I would like to say thank you to everyone in Turkey!! Istanbul is fabulous. Fantastic food, VERY interesting city and lovely people...especially the guy that owns Ibiza leather shop near the Bazaar. He is a biker (rides a BMW 800GS?). He chatted to me about bikes for ages. If you know him...please say thanks. I really hope to ride my S10 to Istanbul one day. Ive travelled to many, many places with work, and Ive lived abroad. Istanbul is very much top of my list for another visit!!!!