Olympia one-piece suit and Gerbings electrics

[hcmiller52]

We just celebrated my buddy's 50th birthday last night and together, his wife and I, contrived to get him a Gerbing's jacket and controller and accessory plug adapter.

This morning, the issues start, dimming the joyous experience. First, there doesn't appear to be ANY way to route the controller wire through his one-piece Olympia riding suit. I'm flumoxed because I can't imagine any manufacturer not allowing for this accomodation since so many riders use heated gear. Are we missing something? I told him we could poke a hole big enough for the small coax connector inside a pocket with a red hot screwdriver, if need be.

Second. What's about a BMW dealer selling his wife this adapter plug for the accessory outlet on his F850 ST (they knew it was for this bike). I thought you couldn't use heated gear with CanBus?!

Thoughts appreciated.

Curt

[GrafikFeat]

I told him we could poke a hole big enough for the small coax connector inside a pocket with a red hot screwdriver, if need be.
Blow a hole through an expensive suit?
Why not a grommet setter? Or have a local canvas/tailor/sewing shop install it.
Maybe on the hip? Set some industrial strength velcro around it for a storm flap install.

I personally would get gloves instead of the jacket. Full suit should be plenty on its own.

http://blog.craftzine.com/grommetworkshop.jpg

Here's a link to do it yourself. (http://www.curbly.com/ModHomeEcTeacher/posts/4275-DIY-Ten-Minute-Grommet-Workshop)

[hcmiller52]

Blow a hole through an expensive suit?
Why not a grommet setter? Or have a local canvas/tailor/sewing shop install it.
Maybe on the hip? Set some industrial strength velcro around it for a storm flap install.

I personally would get gloves instead of the jacket. Full suit should be plenty on its own.

Here's a link to do it yourself. (http://www.curbly.com/ModHomeEcTeacher/posts/4275-DIY-Ten-Minute-Grommet-Workshop)The grommet is a great idea! Actually, my buddy is very disappointed with the quality of this particular suit and even more with Olympia's customer service. The suite laeks like a sieve in rain and he needs to pack a separate rainsuit. When he called Olympia about it, they told him nothing was waterproof.

I'm not sure where you live, GrafikFeat, but here in the Northeast, it gets mighty cold and no one piece suite comes close to giving the performance of a heated jacket. I ride in the teens if there is no chance of ice on the road and without heated gear, that's almost impossible.

Curt

[GrafikFeat]

I'm not sure where you live, GrafikFeat, but here in the Northeast, it gets mighty cold and no one piece suite comes close to giving the performance of a heated jacket. I ride in the teens if there is no chance of ice on the road and without heated gear, that's almost impossible.
Curt

True... I'm in the Pacific Northwet now... But I grew up riding on Long Island and all over the Adirondack Region. I used to use a snowmobile suit as hardly anyone had 4 season riding gear.
So yes to the jacket in your case of course.

For me cold hands is a huge issue. :hungover

Glad ya liked the grommet idea.

~ Jim

[dancogan]

The accessory plug will probably work fine as long as the controller isn't turned up much over 1/2 power. I've used mine successfully that way. But the best way is to run a connection directly from the battery. I thought all Gerbings clothing came with the battery direct wiring, with fuse installed.

And yes, when it's really cold it's important to keep the body core warm, not just for comfort but also to assure you maintain coordination and judgment. The Gerbings jacket works wonders on really cold days.

[basketcase]

When he called Olympia about it, they told him nothing was waterproof.Curt

That's a crock and the people at Olympia need to hear it.

My Roadcrafter is waterproof. I've ridden in torrential downpours at freeway speeds (behind K model fairings) and never been wet in it.

[seniorasi]

The grommet is a great idea! Actually, my buddy is very disappointed with the quality of this particular suit and even more with Olympia's customer service. The suite laeks like a sieve in rain and he needs to pack a separate rainsuit. When he called Olympia about it, they told him nothing was waterproof.

I'm not sure where you live, GrafikFeat, but here in the Northeast, it gets mighty cold and no one piece suite comes close to giving the performance of a heated jacket. I ride in the teens if there is no chance of ice on the road and without heated gear, that's almost impossible.

Curt

Not so Bubba Jive! I was riding a 750 Yamaha and a 1952 Panhead in the dead of winter ( down to temps of -15F ) in Iowa before they even thought of heated gear. You have to dress accordingly but it is not even close to almost impossible.

[hcmiller52]

That's a crock and the people at Olympia need to hear it.

My Roadcrafter is waterproof. I've ridden in torrential downpours at freeway speeds (behind K model fairings) and never been wet in it.I agree. So is my RoadGear stuff..and it's not even expensive gear like your Roadcrafter suit. To me, it's inexcusable. Curt

[hcmiller52]

Not so Bubba Jive! I was riding a 750 Yamaha and a 1952 Panhead in the dead of winter ( down to temps of -15F ) in Iowa before they even thought of heated gear. You have to dress accordingly but it is not even close to almost impossible.Correct, not impossible, just extremely uncomfortable and, as another here put it, dangerous. Curt

[From MARS]

I run my Gerbing's leads thru a hole, just big enough for the plug ends to fit thru one at a time, burned inside a leg pocket on my First Gear Expedition one piece. I hook the dual zone controller on the waistband, and tuck the extra wire from the plug in under the flap of the pocket. When I climb off the bike, there's only one lead to unplug and everything stores in the leg pocket when not in use.

If this works for you, the only thing you have to be aware of is putting the hole high enough inside of the pocket for the leads to run down from the waistband and back up to the jacket plug.

Tom

PS: My suit is waterproof, too.

[warredon]

I use a Gerbings heated jacket liner with my Olympia Phantom one piece suit. My Phantom has a second zipper pull all the way down at the bottom of the main zipper, and that is where I route my controller cable through and it works pretty well. I did need to purchase an extension though, but it wasn't very expensive. I think they come in three different lengths, and I bought the longest which if I remember correctly is 3'.

[hcmiller52]

Thanks, guys. These are some good comments and we'll put them to good use! Curt

[AKBeemer]

Gerbing heated gear can be run a Canbus equipped bike's auxiliary power ports with zero issue... at least my jacket on my 07 RT.

[jdmetzger]

That's a crock and the people at Olympia need to hear it.

My Roadcrafter is waterproof. I've ridden in torrential downpours at freeway speeds (behind K model fairings) and never been wet in it.

I think it all depends on the suit, the bike, the rain, wind, and lots of other factors. After getting my Olympia AST jacket in '07 (the top part of the one-piece suit in question), I rode through a ton of heavy rain (and hail) without a single drop coming through. In the meantime, I know a lot of people that own 'stich suits that have leaked on them. I also know people with Olympia suits that stay bone dry. The only thing keeping me from an Olympia suit is the lack of leg venting (so I can't wear it year-round without melting), and it's a bit hard to put on. Aside from that, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

[RoboRider]

I have the Olympia Stealth and Phantom. The Stealth is a Summer suit, perforated, and of course not water proof. The Phantom comes with an insulated, fully waterproof liner. That being said, I ride in downpours and the Phantom alone keeps me dry. You are not the only one who has told me that their Phantom leaks. Two guys told me recently (one yesterday!) that Olympia replaced the suits and the replacements were OK. So I don't get what the issue is, but it would make me angry to have a Phantom leak.

That being said, I do spray my Phantom with water proofing spray from REI to rejuvinate it. Works great, no issues.

I also use a Gerbings jacket. I just got off the Cherohala and rode in 25 degree weather with snow. You can keep warm without heat, but I agree that the liner heats you with no bulk, and I don't like bulk. With the jacket and heated seat and grips, I was actually hot. I don't use the Phantom liner except as a suit to wear in the hotel--I don't pack any "street clothes".

Finally, you do have to make a hole in the liner and the pocket. I think a soldering iron is a great idea although I just used a razor blade and it worked fine. A lack of a hole is my biggest complaint about the Phantom, but for the price and the quality, I got over it. I made my hole on the right side and into the zippered pocket. The contoller can actually then be put in the pocket if you don't need to adjust it while riding, or, at gas/food stops. It worked excellently for me.

On Canbus, I too wired my Gerbings directly to the battery. I'm not saying Canbus wont' work, but I like to sometimes keep the heat on while I'm refueling or taking a picture, and the Canbus shuts off when the engine shuts off. Of course, you can't just run heat all day with the engine off w/o killing the battery, but 5 or 10 minutes on medium heat causes no issues for me.

Robo

[Ridealot]

Simply hook your accessory plug with an inline fuse to the battery. Then the Canbus doesn't even know its there.

The newer bikes accessory plugs have some ridiculously low amp rating that its almost useless from the factory. You can run a GPS thru it, but not electric gear or charge the battery. Stupid design in my opinion.

[RoboRider]

I also wired my outlets directly to the battery. That way you can run whatever you want on them. Also, you can charge the battery with them and not worry about the key on key off wakeup the canbus deal.

[PlaneGeek]

That's a crock and the people at Olympia need to hear it.


Judging by their FAQ site (http://olympiamotosports.com/FAQ.htm#Electrical%20cord%20passage%20for%20Phanto m%20one%20piece%20suit.), I imagine they hear this question quite a bit.

[68820]

I also have a Phantom suit and Gerbings jacket liner. I wanted the wires to go out through the left pocket but didn't want to cut a hole that would fray. I solved it by having my tailor (Connie Tailor in Cary) make a button hole in the left pocket. The wire slides though and out the top of the pocket. The zipper almost closes, but this hasn't been an issue.

[Sit]

Semi unrelated - I have received the same response from Olympia regarding their stuff not being waterproof. I love their stuff, but have had issues with it leaking. Their response was to spray the seams with scotchguard. I have looked at my jacket and pants. The issue is the seams are not taped. Seems like a cost cutting lazy way of making a jacket and pants.

[hcmiller52]

I'm happy to report that we got my buddy all hooked up with his Gerbing's jacket and he's in ecstasy. Now, mind you, this is a guy who's been riding for 35 years and, like another commented, wouldn't need any of that heated gear stuff, would ride across Iowa when it's 40 below zero in a T shirt and all the rest of the macho stuff. He's already saying that he can't understand why it took him so long to go electric but would never go back. He believes he's now safer because he's not focused on the cold and he has much more freedom of movement without needing to wear all that bulk.

Curt