Gerbings Heated Gear and my 09 RSV

[csogbk]

I just purchased my 09 RSV last month and as the temps turn somewhat cooler I am looking at installing my Gerbings. I have the pack that connects to the battery and controlls two inputs with adjustable knobs. Does anyone know off the bat if the 09 RSV will support that much power useage (ie jacket liner, gloves and pants)? I have no passing lamos or anything installed, would perhaps plug my ipod / gps in the accy. plug, I know I could add up all the watts but was hoping someone already knew?!

 

From the Gerbings Website the following watts are used, I would assume when the item is on at full power:

 

Jacket 77 Watts

Pants 44 Watts

Gloves 22 Watts

 

Edited September 25, 2009 by csogbk

[Sylvester]

You will not be able to run all three at the same time. That would drain your battery since the alternator couldn't keep up. I just run the gloves and full jacket and the jacket is on a thermostat, the gloves are direct. What I have done to make sure I don't drain the electrical supply is installed the carb heater disconnect which saves 70 watts and I leave my passing lights off while running the heat. I have no problems! I have installed the heavy stator (Buckeye Performance) on a friends Venture so he can run two sets of heated clothing. He loves that, but it ain't cheap.

 

Edited September 25, 2009 by Sylvester

[BuddyRich]

Here's where I have mine at. If your running everything you may want to turn the passing lamps off. I have the Kuryakyn volt meter and its always let me know when I was pushing it

 

See post 9 of the thread. Check the bottom for the knee blockers

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?threadid=41128

[SaltyDawg]

You can always pull the fuse for the carb heaters and get 60watts back, should be enough to run all that gear.

 

I have had mine pulled since I got the bike almost 3 years ago and I have ridden in temps down to 12 degrees for over an hour with no problems. Plus my RSV sits in an open garage so it gets as cold as the outside temp at night.

 

The thing you have to remember about any charging system is that when you load it up with external gear it takes longer to recharge the battery. A lot of people have problems with bikes especially big V-Twins because it takes so much juice to start them and they only ride 5-10 miles before shutting them off and then doing it all over again. It takes about 20 minutes at highway speed to recharge a battery after just starting one of those suckers.

 

So if you are planning on short trips with the heated gear you are going to have battery problems regardless of whether you are over taxing the charging system or not. In that case I would get a battery tender and put it on the bike every night.

[N3FOL]

Not sure how long you would like to ride in the cold and where. With my setup, I have Gerbings Gloves and Liner. With temps in the 40's, I can ride for an hour or two with no problems with just gloves, chaps, and my leather jacket. I do not have to turn on the liner. With temps in the 20's and 30's, I will just turn On my liner for a few minutes and then I have to turn it off. It will be just my gloves that will be turned On most of the time. Chaps is more than enough for my legs. As you know, you have good wind deflection right by your legs, so this is not an issue for me.

 

For Liners, Pants, and Gloves....that is really an overkill...you will sweat in the dead of winter.

 

IMO, Gloves and Jacket Liner and a good pair of Chaps will do the trick for Maryland riding. I live in PA. and work in MD....when you have your Gerbing gear all turned on...it is ideal that you are crusing down the highway so that you do not kill your battery.

[Seaking]

You can always pull the fuse for the carb heaters and get 60watts back, should be enough to run all that gear.

 

I have had mine pulled since I got the bike almost 3 years ago and I have ridden in temps down to 12 degrees for over an hour with no problems. Plus my RSV sits in an open garage so it gets as cold as the outside temp at night.

 

The thing you have to remember about any charging system is that when you load it up with external gear it takes longer to recharge the battery. A lot of people have problems with bikes especially big V-Twins because it takes so much juice to start them and they only ride 5-10 miles before shutting them off and then doing it all over again. It takes about 20 minutes at highway speed to recharge a battery after just starting one of those suckers.

 

So if you are planning on short trips with the heated gear you are going to have battery problems regardless of whether you are over taxing the charging system or not. In that case I would get a battery tender and put it on the bike every night.

 

Can you give a little 'learnin' as to what this 'carb heaters' thing is all about, why it's there, what it really does, if it's safe to run without it, pros cons stuff to be aware of if running with out it..

 

Ideally, running with electrical clothing gear on cold weather trips, you would get the speed up, turn the gear on to get the heat on and then turn it off.. on and off periodically enough to keep the chill off and yet not load down the charging system..

[csogbk]

Thank you all for your insight and replies! I have about a 30 min ride to work and of course pleasure riding every chance with much longer trips. Usually, the Gerbings pants, turned off are plenty to keep my legs warm, I can only imagine with the fairings on my RSV its going to make a big difference anyway. I dont anticipate riding with all three items on and running full blast, quite frankly the Gerbings will cook you even at low settings IMHO. More concerned about my bike if I forget or somehow crank all three up for a while or something. The Gerbings overpants really dont generate alot of heat but did keep me comfortable into single digits last year. I was able to ride my Suzuki C50T with all three on full blast, but of course no radio, carb heat, passing lamps etc on that bike.

[SaltyDawg]

Can you give a little 'learnin' as to what this 'carb heaters' thing is all about, why it's there, what it really does, if it's safe to run without it, pros cons stuff to be aware of if running with out it..

 

Ideally, running with electrical clothing gear on cold weather trips, you would get the speed up, turn the gear on to get the heat on and then turn it off.. on and off periodically enough to keep the chill off and yet not load down the charging system..

 

To be honest nobody had figured out what they are actually for. The Royal Stars don't have them. I have had two RSV's and pulled the fuse on both of them and have had no ill effects.

 

They are supposed to keep the carbs from icing, but unless you are riding at very high elevations (like where planes fly) in high humidity I can't see how the carbs would ice up. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I haven't experienced it and I ride year round, with many many days below freezing and often in the teens.

 

Some folks have put a switch in to break the circuit from the sensor in order to shut the carb heaters off. I guess in case they felt they needed them in a pinch. To me it was just easier to pull the fuse.

 

I have heard no cons of disabling the heaters. The Pros are 60 big ones and they are all watts. That's another 5 amps to be used elsewhere, like heated clothing.

[Bloodbought1]

You can always pull the fuse for the carb heaters and get 60watts back, should be enough to run all that gear.

 

I have had mine pulled since I got the bike almost 3 years ago and I have ridden in temps down to 12 degrees for over an hour with no problems. Plus my RSV sits in an open garage so it gets as cold as the outside temp at night.

 

The thing you have to remember about any charging system is that when you load it up with external gear it takes longer to recharge the battery. A lot of people have problems with bikes especially big V-Twins because it takes so much juice to start them and they only ride 5-10 miles before shutting them off and then doing it all over again. It takes about 20 minutes at highway speed to recharge a battery after just starting one of those suckers.

 

So if you are planning on short trips with the heated gear you are going to have battery problems regardless of whether you are over taxing the charging system or not. In that case I would get a battery tender and put it on the bike every night.

 

Where do I find the fuse for the carb heaters?

 

Thanks

[Phoenix]

I have the Gerbings leather gloves and jacket liner. Riding when temps are in the teens, I only have to turn them on half on the thermostat control and I'm comfy to ride for hours.

 

I recommend getting the dual control thermostat so you can adjust your gloves and jacket separately.

 

The jacket liner has connections for the thermostat and for the gloves, so everything is neatly interconnected.

 

Of course it all depends on what your comfort level is. I don't use the heated gear unless it gets into the low 30's or below. Above that, leathers keep me plenty warm.

 

Phoenix

[SaltyDawg]

Where do I find the fuse for the carb heaters?

 

Thanks

 

Sorry I haven't been on for a few days. The fuse is located behind the Right Lower Fairing. You need to take the RLF off with the three bolts and you will see the fuse box on the front of the bike.

[Bloodbought1]

Thanks

 

I will be removing ASAP.

[Dave77459]

I ride a RSTD, and while I am not so worried about frostbite, my wife is when we ride two-up. It doesn't get as cold in Texas, but we did ride into the lower 30s last year.

 

How much excess output does a RSTD enjoy? Could it easily handle heated clothes (I have halogen passing lamps installed)? Maybe two pair?

 

Dave

[tsigwing]

I just purchased my 09 RSV last month and as the temps turn somewhat cooler I am looking at installing my Gerbings. I have the pack that connects to the battery and controlls two inputs with adjustable knobs. Does anyone know off the bat if the 09 RSV will support that much power useage (ie jacket liner, gloves and pants)? I have no passing lamos or anything installed, would perhaps plug my ipod / gps in the accy. plug, I know I could add up all the watts but was hoping someone already knew?!

 

From the Gerbings Website the following watts are used, I would assume when the item is on at full power:

 

Jacket 77 Watts

Pants 44 Watts

Gloves 22 Watts

 

 

On my 05 RSTD I had no problem running passing lamps, vest and gloves and have no problems currently running passing lamps, vest and heated grips.

[SaltyDawg]

I ride a RSTD, and while I am not so worried about frostbite, my wife is when we ride two-up. It doesn't get as cold in Texas, but we did ride into the lower 30s last year.

 

How much excess output does a RSTD enjoy? Could it easily handle heated clothes (I have halogen passing lamps installed)? Maybe two pair?

 

Dave

 

I'm thinking it would depend on what wattage the bulbs are. I can see the RSTD having a bit more juice available but I really don't think the audio system draws that much juice.

 

Just my thoughts.

[Bloodbought1]

Took the fuse out of the carb heaters today....Time will tell.......