Arctic Circle riding gear

[Jonty]

Planning a ride to Nordkapp, most northerly point in Norway and Western Europe in summer months on the old Katana which offers zero weather protection!!!!

Am not sure about plug in heated gear for this old bike so looking at conventional clothing.

Here is what I am planning on taking:

[youtube]https://youtu.be/s_xlVjvGzsw[/youtube]

If anyone has done similar trip or has thoughts on gear (especially warmer boots), please do let me know!

[fossie]

I used to 'work' in the artic circle in the Army every Jan -March and although - 20-30 at times it was different cold as to here , however once in a while some of went back in the summer months as clear up party.. Temp's were on par with early summer here.. Even in Hell ( yes an actual village in the artic)..
Amanda and I went back with an ex Army mate a few years ago in a June , granted not on a motorcycle but clothing wise t shirt and a club hoodie was enough .. again it is a dry cold so dosen't feel as cold if you get my drift. Very odd to stand in front of a frozen waterfall in a t shirt .
As for heated clothing , to be honest it's a pain to replug in every time but also you warm up the core so much that you feel colder when off the bike . Builders merchants do a range of heated garments that are designed to be worn with full movement and are charged with USB so can be done in a hotel room in the evening when charging your phone and don't have the 'motorcycle shop mark up'
Basically what you've got for UK Autumn will be OK for Summer in North Norway .

Cold weather touring/riding is best summed up with keeping the extremities warm and the kidneys and you'll be fine ..
So heated grips ...Oxford intelligent grips wire direct to battery and turn them selves off after 30 seconds if you forget , but have multiple settings ...warm hands stop the vibes and keep your body from moving heat from core ...
Boots I'd say if going to Norway don't wear motorcycle boots , you'll need to walk to view the beauty and if wearing Altberg Hogg boots (They are like a combat boot but feel like slippers from day 1!! ) you will save space and wieght as you only need 1 pair of boots that are warm and waterproof ..but breathable .
Kidney belt ..wearing a kidney belt moderates the core and reduces the wee breaks and the body temp dosen't change as often It also act as a lumbar support .

Your biggest concern in Norway is the distances between places and tolls ....Toll roads go through the mountains none toll go round ...by many many miles .. I only say this as fuel range could be a thing..
Cost £15 a pint .. £170 for 3x burger and chips , 1 milkshake and 2 coffee and a piece of cake split 3 ways! That was in a diner.... a sandwich was £30..
Basically 4x the UK prices ...but they are paid 4x as much as us
Hostels are cheap and excellent as well as everywhere ..
Enjoy the scenery

[Jonty]

Thanks for your insight, if you could share on the YouTube video as well, would really help others there!

After 10 years despatching, I appreciate how debilitating it is when out on weather for long periods of time and dont want to do the trip and find I was underprepared, so shared my thoughts for ideas.

I'm working on premise that it will be 30 degrees here when I leave, hotter in Europe and then cool to around 45/5 degrees at Nordkapp, but as you know could fluctuate there and I'm expecting some rain too.

With gear in video I get cold toes, fingers, knees and chest, but it's always those bits, right?

I've thought about heated gear, ie grips and clothing but had no responses when I asked before if anyone used those on katana and grumpy advising against it on old Katana and last think I want is invest a load in those then alternator goes yet again and stuck with warm gear that doesnt warm

It's why I ask for other's experiences

Re boots these are the trickiest, dont ant to have to take 2 pairs of boots!

I wear Daytona Classics, great boots, but low and not warmest and on test ride at 1 degree found my toes cold and therefore not so easy to feel controls and affected my mood on bike and therefore enjoyment of ride.

They are comfortable enough for walks, but not sure if I could squeeze inner socks in and not sure how resilient battery heated socks are.

Will have a look into your boot suggestion and also kidney belt.

Re the trip itself, will do more videos on that, still need to decide if do it all myself or join a tour but thats 8k and its not quite same adventure BUT never have to worry about road closures or hotel issues as they sort it all and my trip last year to Canada really was trip of lifetime, that was self guided tour, worked well for me.

I used to work in Alesund so appreciate how expensive it is, I'\m not a big drinker, but everything cost and arm and a leg, so worth training my body now to start eating less

Thank you so much for taking some time out to share your insight!

[fossie]

All my bikes have Oxford Heated grips fitted and I use them all year , even my Katana's...always have they don't drain the electrical supply and you can leave them off , but they are there when /if needed.

Re feet .. The Altberg Hogg boot is all I have for work /play , ( my company now issues all the 200 riders with threse and have had NO complaints!) .. Decathlon Ski socks are what we wear and provide padding in the places you need and warm enough.

A pin lock in the helmet ( if you ar changing it or can fit on to yours ) Is a real bonus , as in dosen't fog up so makes life so much more comfortable, not having to flip open and close again in the visor stakes.

[Jonty]

Have had a look at Altberg site, interesting. Are they actually CE rated?

I'll have another look at heated grips but if I fit some I dont want extra control pad on bars, so maybe another brand. I just have perpetual fight with grumpy who feels electrical systems isnt up to it.

I wear Simpson M30, no pinlock for that, noisy, not most comfortable, but that's the helmet for me, I have brand new neotec 2 with intercom sitting in box for last 3 years, cant bring myself to wear it!

[stockcar]

Just an aside, a friend used to work trawlers all around the UK & Northern Europe ports and reckons the coldest he’s ever been was at North Shields….

[fossie]

The Altberg are CE approved as worn by the Police..
I have an issued Neotec in a box with top of the range bluetooth that fits inside and pin lock cost the company £450 ...won't wear it, much prefer the Shark evo 3 . Much better design , Scala rider fits outside so control easier to feel and adjust sound ... some times design over function don't cut it!( looking the part over doing the part.)

As for grips it is the control unit that stands the oxford apart 10 way adjustable ...as said you don't need to turn them on but it's nice to the option.

[Jonty]

The Altberg are CE approved as worn by the Police..
I have an issued Neotec in a box with top of the range bluetooth that fits inside and pin lock cost the company £450 ...won't wear it, much prefer the Shark evo 3 . Much better design , Scala rider fits outside so control easier to feel and adjust sound ... some times design over function don't cut it!( looking the part over doing the part.)

As for grips it is the control unit that stands the oxford apart 10 way adjustable ...as said you don't need to turn them on but it's nice to the option.

I like the integrated control unit grips....having a look at those and LED'ing everything to save power!

[Bob1000]

My recommendations....A few years ago I rode through Chile and Argentina right down to Ushaia at the very bottom. I bought a pair of Forma Adventure boots for the trip, and they are the warmest, driesr and most comfortable boots I've ever owned. Still use them daily now, so would highly recommend them, even when walking in them
Other gear was Klim trousers and jacket, (not the Badlands stuff, that is serious money). Up in the mountains I used a down jacket underneath, and just a normale base layer under that...never got cold. Gloves were Revitt goretex, and they were pretty good, but no heated grips to back them up, but grips would have been a big plus.
Helmet, Shark Evo 1 flip front...brilliant for touring, open face when you on back roads in nice weather, full face in rain or main roads...and I'd never travel again with a mate without an intercom...sena 10s was the best investment ever...

[Jonty]

My recommendations....A few years ago I rode through Chile and Argentina right down to Ushaia at the very bottom. I bought a pair of Forma Adventure boots for the trip, and they are the warmest, driesr and most comfortable boots I've ever owned. Still use them daily now, so would highly recommend them, even when walking in them
Other gear was Klim trousers and jacket, (not the Badlands stuff, that is serious money). Up in the mountains I used a down jacket underneath, and just a normale base layer under that...never got cold. Gloves were Revitt goretex, and they were pretty good, but no heated grips to back them up, but grips would have been a big plus.
Helmet, Shark Evo 1 flip front...brilliant for touring, open face when you on back roads in nice weather, full face in rain or main roads...and I'd never travel again with a mate without an intercom...sena 10s was the best investment ever...

Thank you for sharing!

I wear Daytona classics, great boots, comfortable to walk in, waterproof, repairable, but not warmest and short, am going to look at Altbergs and now Fromas

I wear trevitt eclipse mesh jacket in summer but will upgrade to slim marakesh next year, in silver, so a bit more visibility too and in colder times Oxford Mondial which is laminated, waterproof with removable thermal liner and have a down puffer jacket can wear underneath, but not needed that yet

Gloves are Richa Ghent, really good most of time, but now its colder going to try silk inner liners.

I have this brand new note just sitting there, really should try that!