Friday, September 27, 2013

Listen to her...


We were up in Portland last weekend attending Vegfest and eating our way through the city,  thanks to Everyday Tastiness for showing us Back To Eden Bakery and Portland's vegan hotspots.

While driving around I wanted to stop at the Honda dealership to check out the new Honda Grom.

Honda Powersports
Needless to say they don't even touch the showroom floor before they are sold and they did not have one in stock. I'll have to wait until the new wears off and the showroom is flooded with closeout Groms they can't get rid of.

Honda Powersports

So we went to check out their extensive clothing and gear department. We looked at helmets, gloves and I tried on a couple of jackets... specifically the Ansai mobile warming units. Trobairitz bought one for our trip to San Francisco to meet Rogey and absolutely loved it. I on the other hand was more than a little skeptical of the three tiny heating elements keeping me warm so I dismissed it and went looking for much more stout heating apparel, high voltage, microwire technology, manly man stuff.



Trobairitz wandered off to look at girly girl stuff and said she'd meet me out on the showroom floor. I trotted off to look at more bikes, sit and make vroom vroom noises. She came along shortly after, toting a small bag stating she bought some socks and off we went to Native Foods for a late lunch/early dinner. Although anxious to show me her new socks, she waited until we were several miles away from the dealership (knowing I wouldn't turn around in PDX traffic) to reveal that she bought me the jacket I tried on earlier instead. She is a sneaky one and insisted that I wear the jacket.

http://www.mobilewarminggear.com/

Gentlemen, trust your woman when it comes to clothing, they know from which they speak! We got home, she charged the battery right away and had me try it on. It wasn't bad, but I was still skeptical that three tiny elements would keep me warm. The next morning we went out grocery shopping and I wore the jacket, in fact I wore the jacket with the heating elements on high and judging by the smile on my face my skepticism soon melted away.

Okay, but how does it perform on a bike at 60 mph in 45ºF temperature while raining?!? In the dark!

Let me tell you it performs quite well. I wore my 8 Layer shirt, a t-shirt and a very light sweater under the jacket, then my Aerostich Roadcrafter Light suit overtop and I was comfortable for the 22 wet miles into work. I turned the Ansai on at 50% and it produced enough heat to take off the chill and keep me focused on the ride.

I used it all week and I am impressed. It doesn't keep your arms warm but the waterproof shell does a better job as a windbreaker than my Columbia Windstopper jacket does. It is a stretch material and fits snug without making me feel like the Michelin man and it looks good. Or is it that I make it look good?

I've been trying for months, if not years, to figure out how to run all my heated accessories on my bike without frying the stator, regulator/rectifier or killing my battery. The anemic Tiger has a mere 350W charging system so I have to be diligent when using my heated grips, heated liner and now my new LED driving lights.

I should have taken my wife's advice sooner and bought the jacket when she bought hers. But like my helmet sticker says "My wife says I don't listen to her! (Or something like that)".




Yes, she takes such good care of me, I am spoiled; I love her so and forever in her debt. 

- Thank you babe, you're the best!



19 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. It does, she is so good to me and I'm enjoying the jacket more and more as the weather gets worse and worse.

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  2. So sweet of her, but not unexpected. If you let a woman wander off in a (moto) clothing store, that's what's happening ;-)

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    1. She's welcome to wander (moto) clothing stores anytime, maybe if she wanders the (moto) scooter store or (moto) cycle store the same thing will happen. "I really like this bike right here, I'm going to go look at something around the corner, *wink,wink"

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  3. Troubadour:

    I think I would get one too but no one sells them up here. You are so lucky that she is sneeky. I don't think I would have turned around in PDX traffic either.

    You didn't mention but . . . did you get an ORANGE one ? (or a blue matching one ?)

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast

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    Replies
    1. I am fortunate to have her, she spoils me so.

      She got me the black one as that is all they had, and a small at that. I do have an orange Columbia Windstopper if I need to color coordinate.
      You should be able to find them online: http://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/mobile-warming-classic-heated-jacket.html

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. Pretty thoughtful. You are very fortunate, but I'm sure you've already been told that....

    There is a moto-vlogger in Hawaii, 808yewtube, that sold her 250 Ninja and picked up a Grom and has posted a couple of videos. It looks small, especially if a "normal sized" (her wording not mine) person sits on it.

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    Replies
    1. She is thoughtful, I am fortunate and I tell her so everyday.

      I've been thinking about a scooter but when I heard about the Grom it piqued my interest.

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  6. Lesson learned. Listen to her (the first time!)

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    Replies
    1. I'll listen to you too Karen and heed your advice. Thanks ;)

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  7. Well I'm sold, Peg doesn't know anything about electric clothing so I'll have to tag along with your wife....her instincts seem to be right on.

    Early September at our VJMC meeting, one of the young guys showed up on a Grom and it drew a crowd. He told us that it was the 2nd one in MN and he knew the guy with No. 1.

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    Replies
    1. You could always drop subtle hints, however now that I think about it, maybe Brandy was just tired of hearing me complain about my charging system.

      The Grom would be fun to ride, but I wonder how it would make for a summer commuter.

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  8. Heated gear is very nice when temps drop below freezing, my vest only heats my torso leaving me with thoughts of heated sleeves but it's all good. Glad you like your thoughtful wife's purchase....she's a keeper!

    dom

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    Replies
    1. She is a keeper and I'll do my best to do so.
      I do have my Tourmaster full heated liner for weekend day rides but with my commute being longer and since I'm leaving for work in the dark and soon to be coming home in the dark I will take the car on wet days.

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  9. You actually documented that in writing! The proof is now there for everyone to see.

    (I agree that we should listen to our better halves. But don't tell anyone!)

    Nicely done.

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  10. I checked the Mobile Warming site and found they have a "Close Outs" page. Snagged the golfers version of the heated vest, which should be fine for AZ temps, at a very good price. It came the other day and the quality is first rate. Now to wait for the cold weather to try it out.

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  11. I'd like one of those stickers for the back of my honey's head!

    Oh, the Grom! I have not seen one yet myself, though I keep hoping. They are ordered and like you said, never hit the showroom floor!

    Now I hope Honda gets the message and makes enough to go around...I am dying to try one out!

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  12. You may get many opportunities to ride the Grom. Just sayin' being the Training Manager and all.

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