Ready for Winter
Almost. Still need to mount the Heidenau K66 SnowTex tires. But I have to say the Tucano Urbano Leg Lap Apron Cover Termoscud for the Vespa GTS
I’m still not able to make any long rides but I have been using the Vespa to run errands. The temperature has been cooperating in a manner that provides a clear picture of the Termscud’s cold busting power. Instead of the layers of polypropylene long underwear, jeans and my heavy insulated over pants, the Termscud allowed me to comfortably ride with jeans alone at 25F. I’m not often impressed with moto accessories but this had me smiling.
Fighting the Cold
Old age and a host of medical ailments have raised the challenge of the physical aspects of riding in winter. The Termscud apron will no doubt shave some of those old age years away. It’s not a nuclear weapon against the cold but it is a cruise missile.
I was skeptical of the ease of use of the apron. Others told me it was simple. Some said they loved it. More said it changed their lives. Ignoring all that I’ve ridden for years without it and have been too stubborn to change. Until now.
It is easy to use. Easy to install and has far more advantages than disadvantages. There are a couple of niggling little things that I’m sure would drive some to distraction. There’s a flap on the apron that allows you to access the ignition key. In practice it works but you have to reach at an odd angle. I’ll adapt but some may complain.
And in my configuration — the controller for the heated grips is under the apron. The only way to see what setting I’m on is to get off the scooter and peer underneath. Again, I’ll just set it once and leave it be. I’m not moving the controller. And when it gets really cold I don’t use the heated grips. Hello heated gloves.
Toasty Errands
Arriving at the Pump Station when the errands are done was different in two ways. I was warm. And I didn’t have the big bulky overpants. That was nice. Will still wear them when the temperature gets lower but for trips around town they’re not necessary. Well, they are armored…
And last — the appearance. I like the unusual look of the apron. Some may not. But if the choice is looking good or being warm. I know my choice.
I’ll post more about this thing over time.
Hi Steve;
Thanks for the heads-up on the insulating and protective Tucano Urbano apron. Like you, I deal with old age and a veritable plethora of medical issues, mostly arthritis, that conspire to keep me off my 650 Burgman during the winter months. I too have heated grips, heated gloves, heated vest and so on, but up here in The Great White North, I would guess that we must somewhat more snow than you. The municipal, county and provincial road crews do their best to keep the secondary roads (that we all enjoy) as free of snow as possible, but for me at least, the layers of hard-packed snow and the dreaded ‘black ice’ are far too commonplace to take a chance on winter riding. Add to that the notion that, at over 70, I worry about injury from falling more than I used to, and it just takes longer to heal. Now, all that being said, that apron you have looks like just the ticket if we ever get down to pavement or gravel again. Ride safe and I’ll see you in the spring!
Cheers,
Jim.
Aging and medical conditions have brought so many changes and declines that I seem to always be scrambling to keep up. Dealing with the cold is an obvious one. We have enough days in winter that the roads are clear and the only challenge is the cold that I continue to look for ways to manage them. But I certainly have the same concerns as you regarding a fall or injury. I haven’t gotten to the point where I won’t go out but I can sense that day ahead.
We’ll see how the winter riding goes this year..
I am glad your first experience with the Termoscud were good! I’ll be curious to see how easy it is to mount/dismount on a trip with many photo stops….
Seen them online, used by sidecar riders.
I have the leg shields on my cold weather rig (Scarlett) and with the Boxer cylinders warming my toes when needed, it’s been enough as my legs could always withstand (clad in layers of course) the cold better than my torso.
The mount/dismount process is simple and won’t cause any changes in the photo stops. So far can’t find any real problems with the apron. All observations are in the plus column. I’m anxious to see if the heat inside the apron can do the job the jugs on the Boxer engine does.
If there’s any problem right now it’s that the Vespa engine is acting a bit wonky. Stalls a bit when it’s cold. Could be the spark plug or air filter. Need to do some mechanical sleuthing…
Like Jim in the “Great White North” winter conditions here seem a little too dodgy to get into winter riding with the scooter. I did it on a bicycle equipped with studded tires for awhile but don’t have the company of crazy companions anymore. That being said your blog entry of winter adventures has intrigued me and the Thermoscud could have been a tipping point. Following your snow tire link to see what you were riding on I found the perils of winter riding entry. That was just about all I needed to know, the scooter will remain in the garage until the roads are dry again. Thanks for keeping us well informed.
Doug
Riding in snow and ice is, well, nuts. As I look back at some of those adventures I kind of cringe. It was interesting to take the challenge but I’m not sure I’ll do it again. That said, I still will ride on the cold, clear days of which there are many. The risk there is the possibility of ice. Not common and mostly a result of man made actions or the occasional stray spring pouring water on the road. But I’m comfortable managing that stuff.
I’ll keep posting my experiences in winter so you don’t need to try it yourself. The vicarious experience is often enough for so many things.
Hi Steve,
In my opinion the Termoscud is (almost) mandatory for evevyday use on winter. It makes a lot of difference keeping you warm while riding.
If it is not easy to use special trousers for riding on a daily basis, i think it´s the only pratical way to ride on cold winter.
I´ve tried other brands, but Tucano is better for higher speeds (above 50/60kms/h). It looks expensive, but it deserves every euro.
I use it on my Piaggio X8.
Ride safe,
Vasco
I’m impressed with the Tucano line of products. Definitely seem designed for frequent and easy use. And it does keep me warm.
When in northern Italy & Croatia winter time, that is all you saw S S ,” Scooter Skirts ” Elaine’s cousin said its takes a bit to get use to beginning of winter stop & go stuff in Milan. I’m surprise i haven’t seen any around the area. You are the first that I’ve seen, except for the wooden freight liners down Penn’s Valley , They have been tooling around for as long as i can remember
Those wooden freight liners (Amish buggies for those not familiar with the local descriptions) have a lot of utilitarian features like a blanket or apron.
We need to have breakfast sometime so you can get a first hand look at the Termoscud.
Ah, such wonderful timing for this entry of yours. 🙂
On Wednesday, late-AM, I made my tech-gig trip up to Gotham, riding Melody to Long Branch and catching the train to Penn Station. The plan was to catch, at the latest, the 8:20 PM train back and hop on the bike for home just as snow was supposed to hit the area. Between the marvelous dysfunction of NYC’s subway system (once upon a time, maintenance-related delays/shutdowns began around 11 at night; now it’s around 9:30), plus one job that was more difficult than anticipated, I didn’t get on a train out of Penn until 1 AM. By the time I reached Long Branch at 2:30, everything, including Melody, was covered in about one to two inches of snow. I had six miles to ride home, and most of it hadn’t been plowed or salted; let’s just say the ride along Ocean Avenue, the longest stretch by far, got very interesting on those Michelin CityGrips, good as they are otherwise. The good news was that, as it was the wee hours, I I only had two cars come up from behind me the whole way, but in once instance when I gently pulled to the side, Melody started to break traction…but I managed so save it without too much drama.
The actual drama, ironically, happened after I turned onto my home street, past the RR crossing, and just past the High School just a few blocks from the house. The City has finally gotten around to repaving the streets, but have only partially finished our street, and only put a “bottom” paving layer down. I now know just how slick that layer can get with a bit of snow and ice, because the second I hit it, the bike just swung wild and I low-sided. Fortunately, in anticipation of this, I’d slowed down to roughly 3-4mph, and not only was the slide brief, rider and bike emerged without a scratch. It was a bit of a chore lifting Melody back up, engine still running, without slipping and falling again, but I managed, and gingerly motor-paddled it back to the house, and parked it at the curb after an embarrassing attempt to run it up our 5% inclined driveway.
I had a nice glass of wine after that.
I’ve been curious about the Termoscud for some time, but what I really think I’m finally in the market for are those TO handlebar muffs. Between really good thermal undies and a decent pair of jeans, shirt, and riding jacket (with liner zipped in, natch), I can handle temps down to the low 20s everywhere except my hands. I’m still using the bottom-end and laughably-named Joe Rocket Sub-Zero gloves I complained about last year, but have augmented them with a pair of decent under-glove liners, which seem to bring the effectiveness threshold down to about 30° F from 35°. Still not doing diddly below that. Me and the wife are going to Philly over the holidays to visit her older son and his GF, so I’m insisting on stopping by RevZilla to try on better gloves, but I think I’ll also add those muffs to the mix. (How are those things with relatively bulky gloves?)
Glat to hear the ‘scud is doing the trick for you (mostly). Oh, as soon as I got back from the snowy ride, the wife gave me what I now refer to as the Tonto Speech, as illustrated here:
https://youtu.be/V60Kf-qXt2E
I’ve been in similar situations and can appreciate the challenge you faced. It can be terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. And like you, it was the only time I went down while riding — that slow speed low side in the snow. When it happens you realize the folly of what you’re doing.
I want to go to RevZilla to look around. But I’ve given up on non-electric gloves of any kind keeping my hands warm below the freezing mark. The muffs really help keep the wind off where you can effectively exist with gloves in the same manner as you would walking around. Bulky gloves are fine in the muffs once you get used to them. The challenge is using the turn signals. Takes some exaggerated motions to accomplish.
You’re wife was right to give you that speech. Heed her command.
What is the magic compound of your Hidenau tires.
Melted snow in shady places on a a downhill turn in below freezing conditions is one hell of a challenge even on 4 wheels….
Whats the magic? Thanks…
Soft rubber with an impregnation of silica for extra traction properties. Seems to work. The magic though — that’s all Vespa. Can’t reveal that secret to just anyone.
Helps to be at 32F and slushy where the compaction seems to turn things to water…
Well then…I wont help u solve your cold weather stalling difficulties.
Be well.
I used handlebar muffs to ride on cold nights in my low latitude neighborhood recently and I don’t think twice about it. I love them in cool or rainy weather. My bare minimum for riding is a mid sized windshield so your choice of a flyscreen to direct air on your chest is puzzling in winter. I threw mine away when it came with my used Vespa. Facing retirement in temperate climes I have my own list of things to deal with cooler and cold temperatures and the apron is there. When I leave the Keys I will simply have to ramp it up.
The flyscreen I have pushes the air above my chest. Hits me in the chin. Put the thing on for looks. It was a pleasant surprise to find it working as it did.
The apron could be the answer to a lot of things in cool weather — I’ll need to do more testing. How soon is retirement coming your way conch?
My winter set up is the Termoscud plus the tall OEM windscreen cut down to nose level. It keeps the wind off my hands. Very comfortable riding at 50 mph with the heated grips at 50%.
I’m surprised how warm 50 percent is on my grips. Or three lights in my case. I’ve never tried a tall windscreen. Perhaps something else to consider. In five or ten years I might pull the trigger on another good idea.
After reading all these cold stories I wanted to see what it was like myself, so I called Bill Leuthold for a meetup in NORTH Florida to experience some of this “cold”. We had a great ride and the morning cold air of 54 degrees made us both drag out our many layers; long sleeve t-shirt, a flannel shirt, and a rain jacket. I kept trying to turn on the heated grips, but I guess that option was not available on my LX. I greatly admire your riding spirit.
54F can feel awful cold. Especially if you’re not ready for it. But after some time in that you find it pretty simple to drop the temperature a bit and before you know it you’re riding below zero!
Have fun in that cold north Florida weather!!!
The “apron” sounds like a great idea, for those on two wheels that utilize what was called way back when Honda 90’s were in vogue, a step through.
Somehow doubt the so called motorcycles that are not step-throughs would use such a device. Then again any motorcycle I have operated; there was a large fairing in front so that accessory was not required; I did have a pair the large “muffs” for the ends of the handlebars and the levers, that reduced the flow of the wind and cold.
Then too I think back to the mid-1950’s when most automobiles of the area had car rugs for lack of a better term. Back seat and front seat passengers often would get chilly in the winter and you or often your grandparent would grab the rug to place over the knees etc to keep the heat in.
Those too these were the times of poor heaters in vehicles. Well recall British automobile imports to Canada post Second World War and they arrived here in Canada without heaters of any sort and often manual windscreen wipers. Imported vehicles were Humber, Austin A-40, Riley, Jowett. and Standard Vanguard; all gone, now. One reason Canada was the destination of the first post war immigrants to Canada; they came from the UK where living condition after World War Two were horrible with heavy rationing and few positions of viable employment.
I guess people are always looking for ways to stay warm regardless of what they’re doing. Blankets and aprons in vehicles is a strong tradition. I’ve always hated vehicles with bad heaters. I want to be able to get into a car and feel like I’m in a furnace. These days it’s one of the few times I feel warm!
I’ve seen apron like setups for motorcycles but I suspect they are not popular at all. Nothing macho about an apron…
What a great invention!
Kind of like adopting heated gear for the first time…”why ever did i wait so long?”
That’s for sure. I can be so dumb about things like that.