roadrunner
12-06-2009, 04:24 PM
hey all. the road testing is pretty much done and heres the conclusion.i ordered the tourmaster synergy heated jacket liner from motorcycle superstore($199.99 on sale for $179.99 with free shipping and a $20 gift certificate for use in January)at 4 o'clock one day and it arrived just after noon the next day. ( http://pnwriders.com/images/smilies2/laugh.gif ) the installation was super easy and can be done one eyed and one handed no problem. the hook up from the battery to the end where the jacket plugs into is plenty long. i used tiny zip ties in lieu of electrical tape along the way. the liner comes with a temperature controller that is to be secured to the thigh with an elastic band. this is an issue. i do alot of moving around on the bike and the thing come free of its mount easily. what i started doing was wrapping the band around the thing instead of how it is supposed to be done. as it is it only hangs about 10 inches or so when not secured. i found it easily when it broke free at speed. i dont like for iut to hang and i couldnt tuck it under my leg between the tank because it would turn off or change the temp setting. the clip mount tab for the thing is plastic and i dont see it lasting all that long if it were to be continually used. ill figure a better way to keep it in position before too long. the liner itself has a soft lined collar but i think youd have to have a really thick neck for it to fit snug. its no where near snug on me. the sleeve ends are cuffed which is nice but ive always ran into cuff-stack this time of the year. four, five or more cuffs later and circulation in the hands becomes an issue. i wear my liner under my leather jacket that has a zip in cuffed liner. the leather is also perforated inder the arms and down the sides. i can feel a slight temp difference in those areas but the tourmaster liner does a great job at blocking the wind as well as heat me. i doubt that ill wear the liner with my aerostich because im sure itll be way too hot. my race leathers are perforated as well and ill have to see what its like in that outfit. at a reasonable speed, the liner does a fabulous job keeping me nice and toasty. i mostly use low and medium. when i start out my ride i throw it on high for a few just to get going then its back to medium or low. under 55mph low works for me. 85-ish mph and i could stick with medium. the difference is not in the temp of the liner but instead the wind chill. ive used this liner now in 40 degrees, 38 degrees and 36 degrees. with my top being so warm, the rest of me stands out as being colder... the liner has stretchy material along the sides for a sung fit. its important that it be snug so the the heating elements are as close to the body as possible. the heating is pretty even. i dont have any hot spots. as i move around in my jacket i find nice warm spots here and there to add to whats already warm. nice. the back of the liner comes down a bit lower to cover the draft area. there are tiny pockets at the end of the sleeve that house the connecting lines for to add the heated gloves and theres also a stash area for the pant connecting wire. this set up will be good to add any of those extra pieces(gloves or pants) and will be controlled with the same controller that works for the liner. there are two hand pockets which are nice and warm by the time i get to use them. ...ive noticed no difference in how the thing works when sitting at a light or at speed other than the wind chill. i went with this brand because it came with everything needed to install and a temperature controller, heat wires in the collar and the ease of adding other heated items. for those of us who dont ride behind a windshield or any fairings, its a nice addition. ive rode all year since i started riding and i didnt really NEED this liner but it sounded like a good idea. im gonna ride reguardless what the temp is. the difference now with the heated liner is that im not gonna be near as cold as i used to be. id say its worth it. the next time ive got some money laying around ill probably get the pant liners. plug in and roll. :thumbup: